{"id":50400,"date":"2020-11-12T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-12T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=50400"},"modified":"2020-11-08T13:38:24","modified_gmt":"2020-11-08T20:38:24","slug":"seven-tips-for-mba-interview-prep-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/seven-tips-for-mba-interview-prep-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Seven Tips for MBA Interview Prep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kp15446gcoz47p1vpn9ol6gj-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Seven-tips-for-MBA-interview-prep.jpg\" alt=\"Seven tips for MBA interview prep\" class=\"wp-image-69376\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>An invitation to an MBA interview is an achievement and cause for celebration, but&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/preparing-for-your-mba-interview-questions\/\">the interview itself<\/a>&nbsp;can be a daunting prospect \u2013 if you are not properly prepared. Make the most of this opportunity by following our tips for a successful interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-preparation-is-everything\">1. Preparation is everything<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While you may not have control over the questions you\u2019re asked, you can prepare a set of flexible responses that you can apply to commonly asked questions. You should be able to discuss the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A walk through your resume&nbsp;<em>(focus on what you accomplished and learned at each job, and why you transitioned to the next position)<\/em><br><br><\/li><li>The reasons you chose your undergraduate school<br><br><\/li><li>An example of an extraordinary achievement in the context of your job<br><br><\/li><li>An example of how you influenced stakeholders to bring an idea to fruition<br><br><\/li><li>An example of when you led a team to produce quantifiable results<br><br><\/li><li>An example of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/writing-about-resilience-in-the-face-of-failure\/\">when you failed and what you learned<\/a>&nbsp;from that failure<br><br><\/li><li>Your career goals and future ambitions<br><br><\/li><li>The top reasons you want an MBA&nbsp;<em>(make it school specific, explaining why the school is ideal for you, and what unique qualities you would bring to the school)<\/em><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-structure-your-stories\">2. Structure your stories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Frame your answers to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/5-elements-telling-attention-grabbing-story\/\">tell a story<\/a>. If you follow a clear structure you can ensure you don\u2019t leave out vital information while simultaneously displaying an organized mind and confident communication. I suggest loosely following the S-O-A-R framework: Situation-Objective-Action-Result. (I also suggest adding one more letter to the acronym: L for \u201cLearned\u201d.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>SITUATION<\/strong>: Give background and context to the situation such as where you were working, what your role was, and who were the stakeholders involved. Be succinct, yet specific.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>OBJECTIVE:<\/strong>&nbsp;Describe what your goal was, and any obstacles that complicated the situation.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>ACTION:<\/strong>&nbsp;Discuss how you proceeded toward your goal, and how you&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/writing-about-overcoming-obstacles-in-your-application-essays\/\">overcame an obstacles<\/a>.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>RESULT:<\/strong>&nbsp;Quantify the impact that you had on the situation.<br><br><\/li><li><strong>LEARNED:<\/strong>&nbsp;Tell the interviewer what you learned about yourself, leadership, or business from the experience.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your response should take no more than about 2\u20133 minutes. You don\u2019t want to bore the interviewer with a lot of unnecessary information. Once you\u2019ve got your top stories down, when you\u2019re on the spot you\u2019ll have a reservoir from which to draw that will be easily adaptable to the interviewer\u2019s questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-practice-practice-practice\">3. Practice, Practice, Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Practice is the key to successful preparation. Make sure you find at least two people with whom you can sound out your answers. A close friend or family member is often more willing to put in the time but may be less objective when it comes to constructive criticism. An acquaintance, colleague, or teacher can give you good feedback on your first impression or body language without the hindrance of knowing you too well but may be less inclined to be negative than someone who loves you faults and all. Because of this it\u2019s important to find a variety of practice partners to work with. More practice means you are better prepared, and you do want to practice \u2013 a lot \u2013 however, you don\u2019t want to end up sounding over-rehearsed and unnatural. No memorized, robotic answers allowed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We recommend setting up a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\/interview-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">mock interview or interview coaching<\/a>\u00a0from an Accepted professional to help you strike the right balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-stay-relevant\">4. Stay relevant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say they ask you what accomplishment you are most proud of. In your heart of hearts, it might have been working two jobs to put yourself through university. Now that&nbsp;<em>is<\/em>&nbsp;quite an accomplishment. But if it was more than say, three years ago, you need to pull from something more recent. You don\u2019t want the interviewer to think your best days are far behind you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it truly was a significant achievement from your past, you can use it. But bring that accomplishment into the present by explaining how it influences your values or interests right now. Show progress from past to present and how you are building on it for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep your answers relevant to place as well as time. Customising your examples to show connection to a particular school will help you connect to the adcom on a personal level and show them why you are an ideal candidate for their program. Pick up on any relatable aspects of the course curriculum, school values, or alumni community and showcase them in your answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-hit-the-right-tone\">5. Hit the right tone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember the adcom is trying to imagine you fitting in with future alumni. You want to communicate your fit in the way you present yourself, including body language, the way you speak, and even what you wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a conversation between humans so be natural and at ease. Don\u2019t list off your academic results like a machine\u2013 all that information is on your transcript. The interview is your chance to show who you are as a human being, not a set of grades or publications. Focus instead on your accomplishments in the real world, collaborating with others, and working as a team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t be argumentative or object to a line of questioning. Stay friendly, open, and communicative \u2013 the sort of person one would want to have a conversation with again in the future. Try to match your interview style to the culture and tone of the school and your chosen course. Some schools are more informal, some more conservative.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/which-mba-program-is-right-for-me-the-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-an-mba-program\/\">Researching your school<\/a>&nbsp;is part of good preparation and can help you decide which is the right program for you. Once you know that you can show the adcom why you are right for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-roll-with-it\">6. Roll with it<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some schools like&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/mit-sloan-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">MIT<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/harvard-business-school-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Harvard<\/a>&nbsp;grant non-blind interviews. That means the interviewers have full access to your resume, essays, and letters of recommendation, though to what extent they\u2019ve reviewed them is variable. Your interviewer could be an experienced senior member of the admission committee or a new member of the team. Many schools rely on alumni or current students to gauge the compatibility of applicants, and they typically only see your resume. For this reason it is extremely helpful to prepare for different styles of interviews so you can feel comfortable and self assured in each situation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes an interviewer may throw a surprise question into the mix, just to see how you handle pressure. That curve-ball question is a great opportunity for you to prove your worth under fire. Keep calm and draw on that reservoir of prepared examples \u2013 the right preparation means you will have something relevant in the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They will also want to know&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/6-tips-for-talking-about-your-weaknesses\/\">how you deal with problems and failures<\/a>. Take the time to go over your resume (or have an objective person check it) for any discrepancies, holes in your work history, or problematic areas that the interviewer may pick up on so that you don\u2019t feel blindsided. And if they do ask, embrace it! This is your chance to demonstrate your resilience in the face of obstacles, your ability to learn from mistakes, and your talent in converting adversity to accomplishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be honest \u2013 don\u2019t try to fudge things to make yourself look better. You can admit when something went wrong but make sure you show how you grew from the experience and what you were motivated to do as a result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-group-interviews\">7. Group interviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some business schools, such as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/wharton-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Wharton&nbsp;<\/a>and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/michigan-ross-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/\">Ross<\/a>, require group interviews so they can easily identify the leaders and team-players. This is a framework that merits its own preparation as the dynamics can be more unpredictable. You don\u2019t know what sort of people will make up the group or what task you will be asked to perform.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\/interview-assistance?utm_campaign=Blog&amp;7_Tips_MBA_IV_prep&amp;utm_source=blog#tab-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Signing up with an interview prep service<\/a>&nbsp;is the perfect way to make sure you are ready to think on your feet and deal with a high-pressure situation. How do you show natural leadership qualities without steamrolling the other applicants? Allow space for a team effort without being a pushover or shrinking violet? Can you collaborate easily within a team, making your voice heard but not alienating your teammates? Compete with other alpha candidates without becoming dictatorial? These are all skills that can be developed, practiced, and achieved with the right preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The interview process gives you the scope to express who you really are, to jump off the page of your application and present yourself as a three-dimensional future MBA graduate. A successful interview is within your grasp if you put in the groundwork and take advantage of the fantastic resources available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our expert admissions consultants will work with you one-on-one to help you prepare for your interview. Check out our<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\/application-packages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">\u00a0MBA Services Packages<\/a>, including mock interviews, interview prep, and admission guides and get on the road to being ACCEPTED!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kp15446gcoz47p1vpn9ol6gj-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Michelle-Stockman-Accepted-Consultant.jpg\" alt=\"admissions expert\" class=\"wp-image-64552\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Michelle Stockman is a professional journalist, former Columbia Business School admissions insider, and experienced MBA admissions consultant.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/service-request-michelle\"><strong>Want Michelle to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/cs\/c\/?cta_guid=e432888e-251c-4d0a-b70c-c20a9f878534&amp;signature=AAH58kEk49JWu2rBlnUfodo2K5nVX2jgYw&amp;placement_guid=7779a425-5086-4c71-9d0a-535e35bc7b89&amp;click=d2101505-1047-4fad-a2c8-33b27659736d&amp;hsutk=abf1fb657dac49a615b12d9a70e14551&amp;canon=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.accepted.com%2Fseven-tips-for-mba-interview-prep%2F&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.accepted.com%2Fcategory%2Fmba-admissions%2F&amp;portal_id=58291&amp;redirect_url=APefjpGT9YUBpsn8alI3PNe8cz2Yxjg-DQp4e-SKgqQf4Z2GoR24ACqZUWIps7oFq4-xebL0x4fQoljvcixBpVJJPmNaOWcPjpeUZHIgL8Vj1s_stvyQaHMooF9NAVQSni_j-ubcp499Y9jZ-PyUJM0d75TkoluSIuKlNUtNknfX9AufkRp1ulQC5Bp7hEjMm3tYburAZ3O0bCSUOVOo2WkvPZN99XuBhs82BvgjIqtDErQEZUp9PzIKLZIfWEqJTXgr4PB4dU-YzBFrERLZMO7EEetBfszK8w&amp;__hstc=76425034.abf1fb657dac49a615b12d9a70e14551.1604861474969.1604861474969.1604866304120.2&amp;__hssc=76425034.4.1604866304120&amp;__hsfp=1586148359&amp;contentType=blog-post\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.hubspot.net\/hubfs\/58291\/mba-interview-prep.jpg\" alt=\"Prepare for your interview with an MBA admissions pro!\" width=\"450\" height=\"150\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/reports.accepted.com\/mba\/guide\/perfect-answers-to-mba-interview-questions\" target=\"_blank\">Perfect Answers to MBA Interview Questions<\/a>, a free guide<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/9-tips-for-team-interviews\/\">9 Tips for Team Interviews<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/preparing-for-your-mba-interview-questions\/\">Preparing to Answer Your MBA Interview Questions<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/seven-tips-for-mba-interview-prep\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">This article<\/a>\u00a0originally appeared on\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.accepted.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.accepted.com\/mba\/services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">help you get accepted<\/a>!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An invitation to an MBA interview is an achievement and cause for celebration, but&nbsp;the interview itself&nbsp;can be a daunting prospect \u2013 if you are not properly prepared. Make the most&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,939,775,113,243],"tags":[1008,1091,2131],"class_list":["post-50400","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-interview-advice","tag-mba-interview-tips","tag-mock-interview","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50400","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50400"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50401,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50400\/revisions\/50401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50400"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50400"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}