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4 Keys to MBA Admissions Interview Success

October 9 2014 By The MBA Exchange
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You put your heart and soul into preparing your b-school application, and it has paid off! You just received a coveted invitation to interview. As the final step in the process, this 30-minute dialogue can make or break your chances for admission. Feeling stress? That’s okay. In fact, that’s a good thing. Now it’s time to harness that energy in constructive ways so your interview will convincingly demonstrate why you should be admitted.

From having advised thousands of MBA applicants on interview strategy and tactics, The MBA Exchange has discovered that success boils down to 4 key factors:

1. Approach the interview as a “sales” discussion.

Remember the last time you made a major purchase in-person? What convinced you to write a big check? You believed and trusted the salesperson. You understood the features and benefits of what you were buying. It’s the same thing with an MBA admissions interview. Help the “customer” (i.e., the interviewer) buy into you and see why you belong in their MBA program.

2. Show confidence without arrogance.

If you don’t believe in yourself, why should the interviewer? Be candid about your strengths and weaknesses. Demonstrate insight and passion about your goals. Let facial expressions and body language silently confirm your conviction. Convey humility by discussing your goal-related needs.

3. Answer the question — and more.

Of course, you should provide a response that addresses the question. However, don’t stop there. Use the topic to also reveal something additional about your candidacy that is relevant and positive. Seize the opportunity to showcase a strength because it might not happen again.

4. Expect unexpected questions.

The worst approach to interview prep is to memorize answers to specific questions that you think will be asked. Not only will your replies seem rigid, but you’ll be lost for words if and when asked a different question. Rather, it’s best to have a collection of positive examples in mind that you can adapt to anything that the interview asks. Yes, this requires being nimble and aware. But this approach ensures that your responses will always be candid, authentic and beneficial.

Interview preparation is full of uncertainties: Who will interview me? What should I wear? How long should my answers be? etc. Therefore, interview prep is even more difficult and open-ended than producing an application. Friends and relatives may be eager to help you practice, but their well-intended advice can do more harm than good. MBA admissions interviews are very different from college and job interviews.If having an experienced professional provide interview guidance and support sounds like a good idea, just give us a shout. Our team includes former admissions officers and MBA grads who have been on both sides of the desk — as interviewers and interviewees. They’d love to help you win!