B-School Interview Hacks: What top candidates dont tell you!

There is an art to creating a personal brand that highlights your strengths and sets you apart from other applicants during an MBA interview. Remember that your interviewer will bring memories of past interactions with other strong applicants to your brief meeting. The essence of an MBA interview is to connect with the interviewer on a personal level while remaining professional. Here are my top tips that you can use to significantly improve your chances of getting admitted to top MBA programs.

1. Create a repository of impactful stories.
The most successful MBA applicants I've encountered master the art of nailing the basics. They recognize that gaining entry to a top-tier school transcends the mere presentation of factual details.

In my view, a pivotal aspect of preparing for an MBA interview lies in curating a repository of substantial formative experiences and stories. These narratives spotlight diverse facets of your character and the skills you've honed along your journey in a manner that truly resonates with the interviewer. MBA interviews often delve into behavioral inquiries probing past experiences, strengths, weaknesses, diversity, and potential contributions to the school community. Expect discussions on your career vision, ethical considerations, and how you perceive and interpret the ever-evolving landscape of the business world and your strengths in the area. The situational questions can be answered well if you have created a thorough repository of experiences and exemplary instances.

You may check out common frameworks like STAR(Situation Task Action Result), PAR (Problem Action Result), and CARL (Context Action Result Learning) that can help you structure your stories to highlight key moments, experiences, and learnings.

2. Know what, when, and how much you should say

Even in interviews with highly qualified management consulting applicants, there were cases in the INSEAD admissions interviews I conducted where the dialogue seemed long-winded, unbalanced and incoherent. Some applicants who want to secure one of the coveted spots in the highly competitive programs unintentionally focus too much on presenting their achievements and often repeat every point on their resume. This approach, even if well-intentioned, can inadvertently give the impression of arrogance or a lack of self-confidence during the interview.

Even if most interviewers have read your CV before or during the interview (which you shouldn't assume), they see the interview primarily as an opportunity to learn something beyond the written facts. They want to gain insight into your interpersonal skills, motivation, maturity and team dynamics. It's important that you pay attention to subtle cues from your interviewer, such as signs of waning interest or a desire for more specific answers. Recognizing these signals and adapting your communication style is a skill that is honed through experience and a strong sense of self-awareness.

Learning this skill early in your interview preparation will greatly increase your effectiveness. Balance and brevity in your answers can help you present yourself as a well-rounded candidate with much to offer beyond your accomplishments.

Moreover, I deem it crucial to ensure you've addressed all the topics that illuminate the strongest aspects of your profile. In my sessions with applicants, I encourage them to recollect the most impactful narratives they must cover, even if it means taking the lead and guiding the conversation towards the desired topics.

3. Research your interviewer if you can

With the exception of a few schools, most business schools will provide details of your interviewers in advance. Exceptional applicants who want to stand out from the crowd take the initiative and research their interviewers extensively on professional platforms or on the school's website. The aim is to find additional topics of conversation that can leave a positive impression on the interviewer.

In the business world, it is common to research potential partners or clients in order to build rapport and convince them of your proposals. An MBA interview requires a similar level of preparation and research. I recommend jotting down key points on various topics that can create a deeper connection with your interviewer or provide valuable ideas to break things up.

4. Be prepared for the most obvious questions.

If you're struggling with general questions like "Why an MBA program?" "Why this school in particular?" or "Why is now the right time?", then this might be an indication that you should be more intentional about your preparation for the goals essay. Simply repeating what you briefly outlined in your essay isn't enough.

Make an effort to provide multi-layered answers during the interview. Your answers should be tailored to give the interviewer a comprehensive understanding of your motivation, a thorough research of the school's offerings and a strategic outlook on your goals. Be prepared to go into great detail if the interviewer asks for further clarification. Insufficient preparation for these basic questions in an MBA interview could indicate a lack of due diligence on the part of the applicant, considering that an MBA program carries significant financial costs and opportunities.

5. Ask questions during the interview.

Most interviewers take time for your questions at the end of the conversation. This isn't a mere formality, but an opportunity to demonstrate genuine interest in the program and your ability to engage in meaningful dialogue. By taking advantage of this opportunity, you can make a positive impression and build a connection that will strengthen your candidacy.

If your interviewer is a former student, strike up a conversation about their personal B-School journey. Tap into the wisdom of someone who has travelled the path you aspire to

Here are a few examples of questions you could ask:

1. When you think about your MBA experience, what do you wish you had done differently?

2. Could you share your perspective on your time at the "ABC School" and the most valuable lessons you learned from your MBA studies there?

3. What advice would you give to a prospective "ABC School" student?

If your interviewer represents the admissions committee, you should adapt your questions accordingly:

1. Could you elaborate on the "XYZ (specific) diversity and inclusion initiatives" within the program? How could I contribute to advancing these initiatives?
(Show a sincere interest in helping to improve the program)

2. I'm very interested in using my experience in the "XYZ" industry to enrich the case collection or repository. Are there opportunities for students to participate in the design of case studies as part of the curriculum?
(expresses willingness to contribute expertise to the program)

3. I recently heard about the improvement in the ABC Business School's national ranking, which I find impressive. Could you provide some insight into the specific initiatives or programs that have contributed to this improvement? I'm very interested to better understand recent developments.
(Showing genuine interest in the school's progress)

Get personalized advice tailored to your specific situation. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need help navigating your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process. We do not cap discussion hours with our applicants
Speak with us if you are looking for a detailed and comprehensive interview preparation experience.

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
MBAGuideConsulting
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