YOU MAY have thought that interviews were all about getting factual information about you — they are not. Business schools interview you to gauge your personality.

The interview tests: the interpersonal dynamics and rapport you create; the skill and maturity of your interaction; your honesty and openness; your confidence; your communication skills; your drive and purpose towards goals; and your knowledge of the school and passion for its programme.

But don’t be fooled: the interview is an exam. Take care about your appearance. Arrrive early and follow formal protocol. Take your cue from the interviewer: if he or she lowers the formality of the event, follow suit.

Be ready to talk specifics: know details about the school and its programme. Have prepared examples and stories on possible major question topics: goals, leadership, achievements, strengths and weaknesses. Be ready for questions if your profile appears weak or trajectory unclear. Don’t be defensive about profile weaknesses. Admit them, state your planned remedy and move on.

One of the hidden perils of interviewing is saying too little. Be ready to talk at length about where you are coming from, why you need an MBA now and what you plan to do with it. You need to breathe life into your candidacy through stories, observations and insights. Give enough detail and share enough passion to rouse the interviewer’s interest. Remember that creating a rapport is more important than any single thing you say.

If your interviewer is savvy you will get behavioural rather than factual questions. These delve behind the patterns of your behaviour to get to preferences and motivations. Typical behavioural questions include: what it is about your career goals that motivates you? How does your leadership style reflect who you are? What is your preferred role in a group, and what does that say about you? A factual question may ask how often you have been promoted.

If you don’t get a chance to ask questions naturally during the interview, you can expect to get a formal chance to ask questions at the end. Use your questions to sum up and refocus your interviewer on your strengths, goals and resonance with the programme.


Precis from MBA Admissions Strategy, by A. V. Gordon (£13.99).