Interview question - What clubs would you like to join?

Question

When asked about clubs you would like to join in interview settings - is it OK to provide 4 or 5? (Of course briefly explaining the rationale behind choosing the clubs) or really expand on just a few?

Also, can they all be professional clubs or does it show that a person is well-rounded, if its a mixture of professional and personal interests.

Any thoughts are welcome!

RyanCJW · Answer

If it were me, I'd probably try to narrow it down. From what I've seen - first year MBAs will not have the time for four or five clubs, so do your research - find the few that you're most passionate about and learn more about them. Looking into all of them, you'll likely discover that while four or five might appeal to you at first glance, two or three will really speak to you and will be clubs where you'll really feel you belong. Those clubs are the ones I'd want to elaborate on.

Clubs are your chance to make an impact on the campus and area outside of the classroom. Definitely, if at all possible, try to expand beyond solely professoinal-related. Clubs are also probably your best opportunity to meet like-minded people who you can become closer with.

Anyway, this is just my opinion. If you're going to try all four or five before making a decision, that's totally understandable and shows that you have a wide variety of interests and you should answer this way, just know that that type of answer COULD give the impression that you'll be spreading yourself too thin.

Good luck!

cheetarah1980 · Answer

You are correct. First year students do not have time for 4-5 clubs. Yet many of us seem to wind up in 7 or more. Talking about 4 won't really raise any flags, but talking through the rationale for that many is just time consuming so you might as well cut it down.

For your interview speak to 2 or 3. Interviewers just want to see how you'd use all aspects of the school, how you'd contribute, and that you've done your research. No one is holding you to these answers or thinking that these are the only clubs you will join.

highhopes · Answer

Okay, first off, I think this is kind of a dumb question (on the interviewer's part, not the poster's part). I say this because most times it's not surprising based on what the person has already told you. You're going into consulting and you want to be in the consulting club? Well golly, gee.

Second, if this question is asked & you know enough to turn it into things that you would like to do with a specific club, that is probably best (I want to use my programming background to fix the finance club website, I want to build out an interview tool kit for retail interviews, blah, blah, blah)

The next best tactic is to relate it to your background somehow, but I would stick to the "unique" clubs here. Like I said, if you're looking to change careers to marketing and you say that's why you want to join the marketing club, that's boring.

Interview question - What clubs would you like to join?

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