General discussion on interviews

Question

1) Which would you prefer, a phone interview or a face-to-face interview and why?

2) When asked about examples of times where you lead / faced a challenge / etc., would you bring up new examples not mentioned in your application or discuss the experiences mentioned in the app in further detail?

3) What is the most challenging interview question you've been asked?

4) If asked if there are any other schools you've applied to. Would you say you'd rather not discuss that? say the truth? bend the truth?

4) If asked "what do you wish we would have asked you?", what would you say?

helg · Answer

Following to #1. Is it a good idea to compile draft answers to generic interview questions and have this draft in front of you during teh phone interview?

eazyb81 · Answer

I'm particularly interested in the answers to these two; any b-school interview vets want to help us out?

venky1979 · Answer

In my opinion the interview must sound conversational and that it shouldnt give an impression that u are reading out stuff over the phone if u can manage that it would be great idea.

if not crisp bullets/memory refreshers would be best

johnnyx9 · Answer

I think its okay to talk about things in your essay if you're approaching them from a different angle. But if the essay question is "Tell us about a time you faced an ethical dilemma," and then you get the exact same question in the interview, you should come up with something different.

The hardest question I was asked was "How do you want to be remembered after you are dead?" I realize a lot of interview questions are asked because they just want to see how you think and how articulate you are, but I still thought this was a pretty lame question.

venky1979 · Answer

I would advise to prepare atleast 3 examples and even on themes that are not part of essays becuase say for example if u are focussing on a strength you cant talk of just one example and say its ur strength. If its really a strength you do need couple of examples that consistently demonstrate the strength

same holds true for times where you lead / faced a challenge/weakness
Have you lead only once?? only one challenge in ur life??

Nsentra · Answer

what if it's a blind interview (i.e. they only read your resume)? should be ok then, no?

venky1979 · Answer

Even then its good to be prepared with more than one example. 

Take for example ethical dilemma (its actually a test of how you handle difficult situations to which there are no right answers)
If you wish to showcase your abilities as consistent and not just a one off case where u were lucky then you must have couple of examples up ur sleeve.

BTW if interview is blind its a good idea to use the essay directly as an example becuase interviewer hasnt read it yet.

eazyb81 · Answer

How do you know if the essay is blind? Do they just come out and say it?

venky1979 · Answer

Yes they do
example Kellog Interview is blind resume based.

helg · Answer

Chicago GSB clearly states in the alumni interview invite that the interview will be blind.

rhyme · Answer

Face to face. I can read the persons reactions then, they know I'm not reading from my notes, and I can try and connect on a more personal level. No question, Id pick in person every single time.

Doesn't matter because interview are blind - unless were talking about HBS. If we are talking HBS, the interview isn't blind, and they are going to ask you about what you wrote, not about something totally new. Otherwise, use your essays. They are well thought arguments and you know the stories COLD (or you should by now). You dont risk getting hung up on the details of a story you havent practiced, or end up going down irrelevant crap thats not realy germane to the question because you've edited that 20000 word story to 400 words already.

I refrain...

I say "Of course, given the competitive nature of the MBA admissions process, I accept that statistically, I need to apply to more than one school. However, you should know that, without a doubt, X is where I want to be next year."

Well, that depends on what they already asked me!

General discussion on interviews

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