It’s all about the pressure!

Ram and Rima are two very good friends preparing to get into premier management institutes. They have always studied together whenever they are preparing for the exam. Ram is very confident that he will easily get into one of the top business schools, but Rima is not very confident. Rima always wonders what it is that makes Ram so confident about getting into one of the top schools. The following is a conversation between Ram and Rima about MBA interview questions:

Rima: Hey, Ram, would you mind if I asked you a question?

Ram: Of course, not.

Rima: How is it that even after studying together and preparing together, you are so confident that you will get into a premier management institute and I am not?

Ram: It’s simple, silly. Since you are appearing fresh out of college, you have never faced an interview. Whereas I have appeared for numerous interviews when I was looking for a job. Hence, I am very confident that I will be able to crack the personal interview.

Rima: I have heard that personal interviews are very difficult. That most students buckle under the pressure and say something stupid to ruin their interview.

Ram: You are right. I know how interviews work. The interviewer wants to know how well the student can perform under pressure.

Rima: So, is that why you are always calm and composed, even when under so much pressure of the entrance examinations?

Ram: Yes, Rima. I think even you should start MBA interview preparation. Because, I think that it is the key to get into the top management schools in India. Personal Interviews are the rounds where you can beat any candidate, however smart they may be.

The thing about MBA admission interviews

Most students who are preparing to get into an MBA college are always worried whether or not they will be able to crack the interview. They are so worried about the MBA interview questions, that they forget that it is not just about getting the answers right. Aspirants are clear about expected questions about current affairs or previous studies. It is the thought of abstract questions that troubles them more.

Here, the main aim of the interviewer is not to know whether or not you know the answers to his questions. Rather, the main aim of the interviewer is to gauge your skills in critical thinking, more than anything else. Your ability to communicate and relate is much more important than whether or not you know the answers. One of the most important factors in MBA personal interview is how well you can perform under pressure.

Here are three tips which can help you take charge of the flow of your MBA interview:

1. Find out about the process of the interview

Every business school has a unique approach when it comes to conducting personal interviews and asking MBA interview questions. Different business schools look for different qualities and depending on what quality they value more; they have a different perspective on the interview. Find out in-depth about the interview processes of the different business schools where you plan to apply. The following questions may prove helpful in analysing the interview pattern:

What information about you will the interviewer have access to?

Some business schools provide the interviewer with the extensive details about the candidates. Others provide just a short bio of the candidates. You can benefit a great deal by knowing beforehand, how much the interviewer knows about you.

Who will conduct the interview? Will there be just one interviewer or a panel?

You must know beforehand who will be conducting the interview. There are subtle differences between answering to a single person, and answering to a panel. Usually, b-school admission interviews are conducted by a panel.

Where will the interview be held?

The venue and the time of the interview play an important part in planning for the interview. If the venue for the interview is in a different city, then you must plan the travel and accommodation accordingly. Give yourself a day to acclimatise with the new place before you appear for the interview. If you are well-rested and more comfortable in the new environment, you will be able to perform better.

2. Know and understand yourself and provide them with a view of the real you

Your answers to the MBA interview questions are your chance to reveal yourself to them. Speak about your past experiences, your current endeavours, and your future goals in a way that they can relate to.

Over and above the ability to be concise, it is also necessary for you to be able to relate your past with your present and with your future. Show them how your past experiences affected you and how they have shaped your present. Describe how your past experiences and your current knowledge will help you attain your future goals. If you have faced difficult situations in the past, describe how you dealt with them and emerged as a winner. Develop anecdotes which can relate to your past, present, and future, and use them to lighten the mood whenever necessary.

Don’t shy away when answering personal questions, especially about your past. Through an insight into your personal life, the interviewer can understand why you are, the way you are. Be prepared to narrate stories which can help the interviewer connect the dots between your past, present and future.

Precisely remember the details that you have mentioned in your resume. Even though the information is about you, there are chances that you might forget it when subjected to pressure. Have a specific goal in mind, do not leave your goals open for interpretation.

3. Prepare for MBA interview questions that may take you by a surprise

MBA Interview questions can sometime be the most curious and startling of the questions you might ever hear in an interview. These questions may relate to anything, current events, history, or even your own past. Expect such questions so that they don’t catch you off guard. The motive of the interviewer is not to startle you, but to find out how you can deal with situation that may catch you off guard. Maintain your composure and your presence of mind to be able to deal with such questions. This is one section of the interview which you can easily turn in your favour by simply displaying the right temperament.

You can also guide your answers to such MBA interview questions through your experiences of the past. Relate the question to similar situation which you might have faced in the past. Come up with analogies that can help you explain your answer in relation to the problems that you faced in the past. Moreover, you can conclude the answers by explaining how your experiences have made you more capable to attain your goals.

Pay heed to the basics: First impression is the last impression

This might sound very cliché, but it is one of the most important part of an interview. How you present yourself can say a lot about you well before you actually start speaking. The failure to adhere to the basics of presenting yourself can hurt your chances of cracking the interview more than you think it can. Here are some pointers which you can follow and the things that you should avoid when appearing for MBA personal interviews.

Things to follow:

• Dress formally for the interviews. This shows that you are serious about the interview.
• Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and friendly expression.
• Maintain eye-contact with the interviewer during the interview. Be confident.
• Maintain a good body posture at all times.
• Be comfortable with who you are.
• A positive attitude during the interview can never hurt your chances.

Things to avoid:

• Do not become defensive when challenged or questioned about any incident, idea, action or opinion.
• Avoid speaking negatively about your past experiences.
• Do not come across as desperate. No institution ever wants to admit a desperate student.
• Do not address the interviewer incorrectly; ‘Sir’ and ‘Madam’ are the most convenient options.
• Switch off your phone during the interview. Nothing can be as important as the interview.

Can you share with us an interview success story from your past? What single aspect/factor helped you crack the interview? Kindly share your experience in the comments.

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