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Fail-proof strategy for acing that ISB PGP Interview
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Updated on: 01 Sep 2023, 09:54
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With the commencement of the ISB application submission, a significant number of applicants have already embarked on the next phase of their journey and are seriously preparing for the upcoming interviews.
The ISB interview follows a standard format in which hosts come to the table with clear expectations and assess the credibility of the applicant's goals for a ISB PGP. The ISB interview consists of three main components, with a possible fourth element consisting of an estimation or short case study question.
1. The introduction or the elevator pitch
More often than not, the ISB panel will begin the interview with the straightforward “Tell us about yourself” question, also popularly known as the elevator pitch.
Keep in mind that the interview panel will be bringing a long memory of previous interactions with other candidates to your brief meeting. Since you only have a brief moment to make an impression, you must keep in mind that you cannot tell your entire life story in two minutes. Therefore, your response should be a well-crafted narrative that reveals the many facets of your personality and ensures that you will be remembered by the interviewers long after the other candidates have presented their pitches.
To be honest, in a highly competitive program, it's not enough to simply provide the panel with information they don't already know from your application. Instead, create a multi-part speech that shows your uniqueness in all the important areas: professional, personal, and community involvement.
2. The Goals Discussion
Among all the questions posed during an ISB PGP interview, the one concerning your motivation for applying to the ISB PGP program holds the utmost significance. Failing to articulate well-founded goals that align with the PGP is the primary pitfall leading to rejection for many applicants.
"I need PGP to advance my career and broaden my skills," for example, will not elicit the same level of enthusiasm as "I recognize that my strong technical skills as a Computer Science Engineer are well-suited to Product Management roles; however, in discussions with business development teams, I frequently experience gaps in understanding macro and microeconomic forces that shape businesses. To establish the product-market fit, I need the comprehensive PGP experience to emerge as a Product leader with greater business sophistication and an in-depth awareness of market needs."
You will answer the question about goals with confidence and poise when you have talked to professionals who work in the industry and function you are targeting, and when you have thoroughly examined the skills required and future growth opportunities in light of your long-term ambitions. Talk about the companies you want to work for, the roles and responsibilities you will have over time, and the lesser-known specifics of the types of projects that will demonstrate your knowledge. Surprise the interview panel with your well-researched insights about a particular company, as well as your opinions on current events in that industry.
3. Case study or Guesstimates While not every ISB PGP interview will involve a case study or estimation question, if you are a relatively young applicant with about 2to 3 years of work experience, there is a good chance that you will be asked a case-based question about your professional background or future aspirations. This is an opportune time to demonstrate both your industry knowledge and maturity to make a positive impression on the panel.
As an example, an applicant with only 2 years of overall work experience (in supply chain consulting) was asked for a case study on designing the warehouse inbound process. The applicant laid out a clear thought process as this type of question was discussed during our mock interviews. It is best to anticipate the questions after discussing them with an expert and prepare for everything and anything!
Regardless of your experience, the panel may ask you a guesstimate or a case question to gauge your reasoning process. Take this challenge in stride and hold your ground firm as you walk the panel through your thoughts and ideas.
4. Personality questions and Extra Curricular The interview panel will most likely ask you Situational questions in order to evaluate your leadership potential and how you respond to high-pressure situations at work.
These questions will be along the lines of "Tell us about a time when you had a conflict at work. How did you handle the problem?" or "How did you gain a foothold in a French team without speaking the language fluently?"
However, you may not always be questioned about your hobbies and extracurricular activities. In this instance, you can always take the initiative to steer the conversation into something that will enlighten the panel. I always advise candidates, "Know what you want to tell the interview panel about yourself, your X Factor. Do not wait for them to pose pertinent questions to you. Take control and steer the discourse! Nobody on the panel wants to have a boring talk, so make a good impression by being spontaneous and exciting. "
How else would you expect to be able to speak about your ascent through the ranks of local Toastmasters, you're skydiving or mountain climbing adventures, the book donation campaign you organized in your native village, or the tailoring boutique business you set up to supplement your family's income? Pocket all the potential gain from this opportunity to interview for PGP.
The most critical aspect of preparing is interviewing practice! Each feedback loop from an expert will provide significant value.
Chirag Bansal (ISB CO'21, Product and Fintech Expert) and I, Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD CO'19, Supply Chain & Operations Strategy Expert and Ex INSEAD MBA Interviewer) are offering limited spots for coaching ISB applicants together for acing the ISB R1 interview. Speak with us if you are looking for a detailed and comprehensive interview preparation experience.
It is almost a certainty that during the interview, you will be asked/quizzed/grilled about your goals.
In the ISB application, you would already have mentioned your goals, in the short-term/long-term goals essay.
Hence, during the interview, do not deviate from what you've mentioned in the goals essay. You cannot invent new goals during the interview. It's hara-kiri, but I see many candidates surprisingly doing that .
What you have to do during the interview, is to defend the goals that you've already mentioned in the goals essay, in the most eloquent manner. -- Ashish.
It is almost a certainty that during the interview, you will be asked/quizzed/grilled about your goals.
In the ISB application, you would already have mentioned your goals, in the short-term/long-term goals essay.
Hence, during the interview, do not deviate from what you've mentioned in the goals essay. You cannot invent new goals during the interview. It's hara-kiri, but I see many candidates surprisingly doing that .
What you have to do during the interview, is to defend the goals that you've already mentioned in the goals essay, in the most eloquent manner. -- Ashish.
I absolutely agree with you on the goals. That's MBA interviewing 101: read your essays and résumé thoroughly and retain what you wrote when you are interviewed.