Doubtless, preparing for an MBA interview can be a challenging task. However, one of the easiest ways to ace it is by putting yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. In this webinar, Dr. Don Martin explains what applicants should do before, during, and after the interview. He also runs a live mock interview and shares some invaluable tips on how to impress the admissions committee.
As a former Dean of Admissions at Chicago Booth School of Business, Columbia University, Northwestern University, and Wheaton College (IL), Dr. Don was responsible for the evaluation of more than 125,000 applications. Now, he speaks on college and university campuses all over the world, writes articles and blogs, and has provided one-on-one coaching for more than 600 business school applicants – with a 97% acceptance rate and more than USD 16 million in funding. The good news is that you can access some of his invaluable resources and articles for free.
In 2008, Dr. Don founded Grad School Road Map (GSRM), in conjunction with the publication of his book, Road Map for Graduate Study: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students. Grad School Road Map is an invaluable resource for prospective graduate students pursuing study leading to a Master’s degree, MBA, JD, MD, and Doctorate.
The MBA interview: before, during, and after
You’ve made it! After working hard on your MBA application, you’ve been finally invited to an interview. In the first part of the article series, we learnt about the importance of research and preparation regarding the admissions committee and the actual MBA program specifics. In this webinar, Dr. Don affirms that understanding the interviewer’s perspective and doing your homework is essential. Prepare, prepare, prepare! You should have responses to potential MBA questions. At the same time, Dr. Don advises students not to memorize answers but to go with the flow to sound natural. When answering questions, try not to ramble but do not give excessively short answers either. Dr. Don encourages prospective students to be themselves and talk openly about their strengths and weaknesses. As first impressions last, always be polite and say “Thank you!”
During the actual interview, you should try to understand the interviewer’s perspective. Dr. Don says that the interviewer might be a member of the admission staff, a student or an alumnus, someone who’s definitely received interview training and has read your resume. While the evaluation continues until the very end of the interview, Dr. Don reassures that the interviewer wants you to do well. They realize you are nervous and will be observing you to learn three main things: what you know about the program, what your communication style is, and if you are a good match. So, once again, be honest and positive.
Phew, the interview has passed! The truth is that after the interview, perhaps you won’t hear from the interviewer until you receive a notification. However, you can always send a thank you note. Dr. Don says that from the interviewer’s perspective, that goes a long way!
Tips on how to understand the MBA interviewer’s perspective better
While there’s no secret formula to passing an MBA interview, Dr. Don speaks about the importance of honesty as one of the best ways to ensure success. For example, take one of the most common MBA interview questions, “Tell me something about yourself!” Dr. Don says it’s recommended to share something unique (not related to your CV) and more about your short- and long-term goals and how they align with the MBA of your choice.
Dr. Don goes a step further and creates a simulation of an MBA interview. In the mock interview for the webinar, Dr. Don is interviewed by his GSRM colleague Debby. To present the importance of being honest and distinctive, he starts with information about his family and travel experiences. When asked about his interest in the MBA program of his choice, Dr. Don is specific and expresses strong interest, which is validated by the fact that he’s even spoken with students to learn more about the program. When he talks about his strengths and weaknesses, Dr. Don is open and even shares his friends’ perspectives to create a clearer picture of his personality. Along with all the valuable tips, one of the most important takeaway messages from the mock interview is to always smile to make a good and lasting impression.
If you want to learn more about the interviewer’s perspective, you can watch the full webinar and find answers to some frequently asked questions. You can also get Dr. Don’s book or schedule a free 30-minute consultation at www.gradschoolroadmap.com. Should you wish to purchase Dr. Don’s book, watch the full webinar to get a special 50% discount code.
