UPDATE: This article was originally posted on January 29, 2020. It has been updated with 2024/25 information and tips below.
With a strong focus on leadership and an idyllic location on the shorts of Lake Geneva, the IMD MBA is one of the most popular MBA programs in Europe.
However, with impressive recruiting statistics and the close-knit network built among members of IMD’s small class, competition to join this elite MBA is more difficult than ever.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your IMD admissions interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included sample interview mocks to ensure you give your IMD interview your best shot.
How the IMD interview works
Making sure you shine during your IMD interview is no easy task, especially considering the school’s somewhat unique approach to MBA interviews.
Unlike most other programs, IMD holds assessment days, during which it conducts personal admissions interviews and has candidates complete a series of other tasks, all of which determine the committee’s final decision.
According to IMD’s website:
This is your chance to shine! We offer virtual or in-person assessment days – a vibrant journey of exploration which involves a mix of individual and group tasks in addition to your interview. Ace it, and you’ll earn a spot in the prestigious IMD MBA program.
On assessment day, candidates will first complete a personal interview with a member of the admissions committee. This will focus on questions related to your background, career plans, and interest in the IMD MBA.
After the personal interview, you will be required to complete an individual assignment (similar to a case study). You will be given the question and will have around 30 minutes to prepare. You will then give a short presentation to your evaluator.
Following the individual assignment, you will participate in a group discussion and make an impromptu team presentation. Before the assessment day, you will receive a business case via email and will begin to discuss it with members of your small group during this phase of the day. After about an hour, your team will present your conclusions.
Who will interview you?
You will interview with a member of the IMD admissions committee. The committee will also be evaluating you during the entire assessment day process.
Will the interviewer have read your application?
Yes. The interviewer will have read your entire application. Past reports indicate that interviewers develop specific questions based on your application, so make sure to take the time to review what you presented.
How long will the personal interview last?
30-60 minutes
Who is IMD looking for?
(Photo courtesy of @IMDbusinessschoolmba on Instagram)
“We want to see candidates who understand the magnitude of change and opportunity the business world is facing. You will need to convince us that you have a vision of what lies ahead and of your desire and capacity to play a part in shaping the future of our world.” IMD Admissions
Every year, IMD scours the globe (44 countries are represented in the current class) for the outstanding professionals given the honor of joining its annual class of around 100 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” IMD student, yet the average admitted student for the Class of 2025 has a GMAT score of 680 and 6 years of work experience.
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, IMD is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the GMAT/GRE and university grades), IMD seeks candidates who possess the following qualities:
Trends in recent IMD MBA interviews
Recent feedback from candidates interviewing at Booth highlights several notable trends that you should consider when preparing for your interview:
Reflective Leadership: IMD places a significant emphasis on “Reflective and Responsible Leadership,” aiming to develop leaders who can manage complexity and ambiguity while making ethical decisions. Questions are increasingly geared towards understanding how candidates reflect on past experiences and adapt their leadership style accordingly.
Sustainability and Global Perspective: With IMD’s focus on sustainability and global challenges, interviewers are more interested in candidates’ views on global issues and their potential role in solving them. Expect questions that require thoughtful analysis of global business trends and sustainability practices.
Experiential Learning and Impact: IMD’s curriculum highlights experiential learning, so interview questions often revolve around how candidates learn from hands-on experiences and apply these lessons to create a tangible impact in their work environments.
How can you prepare for your IMD interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, IMD interviews do tend to center around a fairly standard list of MBA interview questions. As such, we have prepared some model questions below that previous candidates have received in their past IMD interviews.
What questions are asked in the IMD MBA interview?
The questions below are drawn from our clients’ interview reports, as well as from sites like clearadmit.com. Though these are not all the potential questions you could possibly receive during your IMD interview, preparing for these (and any follow-up questions you think you might be asked) should give you a very solid foundation for your interview.
STARTING UP QUESTIONS
- Tell me about yourself. (Expect follow-up questions)
- What do you like to do in your free time?
- What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
- Name three firms you would like to work at after your MBA.
- Why do you want an MBA?
- Why now?
- Why IMD?
- What role do you see yourself playing in the IMD community?
- What clubs will you be involved in?
- What other schools have you applied to? If you get into all of them, how will you choose where to go?
- Why is our small class size interesting for you?
LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK
- Tell me about a time when you didn’t get along with your team. What did you do?
- Tell me about one instance when you disagreed with your boss and how you handled the situation.
- What is your leadership style? Can you give me an example?
- If you faced someone on your team who wasn’t pulling their weight, how would you handle the situation?
- How do you demonstrate reflective and responsible leadership?
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- How would your friends describe you?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- Tell me about a time when you were pushed to your limits at work.
- Tell me about a time when you applied a lesson from a past failure to a new project. What was the impact?
- Can you tell me about a time when you faced a morally ambiguous situation at work? How did you navigate this, and what did you learn?
- Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision with limited information. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?
- How do you see sustainability playing a role in your industry, and how would you incorporate sustainable practices into your work?
CLOSING
- Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
- Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
- Questions for me?
We have found that answering real interview questions on the spot is a much better means of preparation than reading lists of interview questions for most candidates.
We highly suggest you take a look at mock interview questions and sample interview responses before your interview.
Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of real interview mocks from IMD, as well as detailed guides to help you prepare for questions ranging from “Why our MBA program?” to “Tell us about a time you failed.”
The Ellin Lolis Consulting MBA Resource Center is your one-stop shop for interview success. Click to join!
If you’re still not quite confident with your interview skills, our interview experts can help you craft your answers or prepare you for the IMD interview through mock interviews tailored to your profile.
What to do if you get a question you haven’t prepared an answer for
Despite your most diligent preparation, you will almost always receive a question you had not prepared.
First, stay calm and take a deep breath. You have already made it this far in the process, and one question will not trip you up!
Second, make sure you directly answer the question the interviewer asked you. For example, if the interviewer asks you about a time you had to deal with a difficult manager, make sure to tell a story about a difficult manager and how you handled the situation.
If you’re having trouble thinking of an answer or an example to support your answer, however, take a drink of water to give yourself a few more minutes to think. If you really can’t think of an example from your personal or professional experience, you can use a hypothetical answer about how you would act in a certain situation.
Finally, assume that the interviewer is testing how you think on your feet and respond to questions you didn’t prepare in advance. Though your answer might not be as polished as if you’d had weeks to rehearse it, smile and confidently respond to show you can handle any question they throw at you.
Effectively Tell Your Story During Your IMD Interview
One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA interviews is that candidates fail to tell compelling, well-constructed stories about their profiles while also nailing the basics.
Striking this balance between sharing STAR-format examples that show off your background while also presenting strong answers to questions like “Why do you want an MBA?” is a challenging task that requires significant thought and preparation.
Because of this, it’s no surprise that, on average, 50% of interviewed applicants walk away without an offer.
This is why our interview preparation process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting is known as the best in the industry. We offer customized 1:1 support that ensures you’re able to turn your application’s strengths into compelling answers that show fit and sell your profile in any type of interview. That’s why 98.9% of our complete consulting clients get into at least one of their target schools.
Not only can you take advantage of our development process through multiple sessions – you can also benefit from a single session! If your budget is tight, our interview experts can focus your session on a single aspect of the preparation process, from workshopping your answers to providing mock interviews.
Forget simulation platforms or long lists of tips – our 1:1 preparation focuses on playing to your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses to turn you into an interview expert. Our interview packages sell out quickly, so make sure you sign up today!
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
