UPDATE: This article was originally posted on March 27, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
With business increasingly taking place across borders and popular industries (we’re looking at you, tech) moving at a breakneck speed, INSEAD is a more popular target for business school applicants than ever.
Though INSEAD offers two intakes each year, the increased attention the school has garnered makes it more competitive than ever to earn a spot at this prestigious business school.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your INSEAD admissions interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included sample interview questions to ensure you give your INSEAD application your best shot.
How the INSEAD interview works
As one of the most elite business schools in the world, landing an interview with INSEAD is no easy task.
Thus, if you have passed to the interview phase of the INSEAD application process, congratulations! This is already an exceptional achievement.
INSEAD interviews, since they are conducted by alumni, tend to be slightly friendlier than interviews conducted by the admissions committee. Nonetheless, the interviewer is still trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are, how interested you seem in the INSEAD program, and if you fit well with the program’s global community.
Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test how well you handle diversity and conflict. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions.
Our clients who have interviewed with INSEAD in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and demonstrated a genuine interest in their answers. For some clients, questions were far more personal in nature, covering topics like their childhood and family upbringing. Other clients reported their interview was strictly professional, so make sure you’re ready for anything when you interview with INSEAD.
Who will interview you?
INSEAD has a rich tradition of alumni conducting admissions interviews. You will have to complete two interviews, each with a different alumnus or alumna, in order to finish the interview portion of the INSEAD application.
Will the interviewer have read my application?
Yes. When you are provided with your interviewers’ contact information, you will also be asked to send them your application in PDF format. You are not required to send your motivational essays, but the rest of your application must be sent. As such, your interviewer may ask you about anything included in that PDF.
Keep in mind, however, that your interviewer will not have seen your video essay responses.
How long will the INSEAD interview last?
45-60 minutes.
Who is INSEAD looking for?
(Photo courtesy of @insead on Instagram)
“The accelerated full-time MBA programme curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities, and we are looking for smart, well-rounded candidates who believe that business can be a force for good.” Minh Huy Lai, Managing Director of the INSEAD MBA Program
Every year, INSEAD searches the globe for outstanding, globally-minded professionals. More than 80 countries are represented in INSEAD’s typical MBA class. With a strong emphasis on diversity, collaboration, and global mindset, there is a lot of variation in the INSEAD class, with previous work experience ranging from 3 to 8 years. 
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, INSEAD is a highly values-driven community that values diversity, adaptability and teamwork — and professionals who are adept at putting these values into practice in their daily lives.
According to INSEAD’s admissions committee:
“The MBA Admissions team are looking for people with intellectual curiosity, personal qualities to contribute to the many INSEAD activities and a desire to stretch themselves in a rigorous academic programme. We welcome applications from around the world regardless of race, religion, gender, colour or financial status. Our aim is to build an exciting, dynamic and diverse student body.”
How can you prepare for your INSEAD interview?
Though no interview is 100% predictable, INSEAD interviews do tend to center around a fairly standard list of MBA interview questions, as well as questions that focus on your international experience and ability to thrive in diverse environments. As such, we have prepared some model questions below that previous candidates have received in their past INSEAD interviews.
Trends in Recent INSEAD MBA Interviews
As INSEAD continues to evolve its MBA program to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world, certain trends are emerging in its interview process. Candidates should be aware of these developments to ensure they are well-prepared.
Global Leadership and Diversity
INSEAD places an even greater emphasis on leadership in a global context. Alumni interviewers are increasingly asking about candidates’ experiences working in diverse teams and how they have handled cultural differences. Expect questions about how you have navigated complex, multicultural environments and how you plan to contribute to INSEAD’s diverse community.
Resilience and Adaptability
In light of recent global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, INSEAD interviewers are probing more deeply into candidates’ resilience and adaptability. Questions like “Tell me about a time you faced a significant setback and how you handled it” are becoming more common. Be prepared to discuss moments in your career where you demonstrated perseverance in the face of adversity.
Social Responsibility and Ethics
As businesses become more socially conscious, INSEAD’s focus on responsible leadership has intensified. You might be asked how you have contributed to your community or how you plan to use your MBA to drive positive social impact. Ethics-related questions, especially about your values and how they guide your leadership decisions, are on the rise.
Handling Crisis Situations
With the world becoming increasingly volatile, interviewers may ask you to discuss how you have handled crises or led through uncertainty. Be ready to provide examples of leadership during challenging times and how you maintained team cohesion and morale.
What questions are asked in the INSEAD 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 INSEAD 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.
RESUME
- Tell me about yourself. / Walk me through your resume.
- Expect follow-up questions like what made you change careers? Why did you choose ________________ for your career? Why did you choose your university/major?
- What is missing from your resume that you’d like to tell me about?
- Tell me about what’s challenging in your current role.
- What do you do outside of work?
- What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
- What accomplishment are you proudest of?
- How have you contributed to your community?
WHY MBA / WHY INSEAD
- What are your goals?
- Why do you want an MBA?
- Why now?
- Why INSEAD?
- What other schools did you apply to?
- If you got into all of them, which would you attend?
- How do you envision yourself being involved in the INSEAD community? / What clubs will you participate in?
- How will you enhance the diversity of the INSEAD class?
TEAMWORK
- Describe a difficult team situation you have had to deal with in the past. How did you overcome/fix the situation?
- Can you give an example of a time when you worked in a multicultural team? How did you navigate any cultural differences?
- What would you do when a team member wasn’t pulling his own weight?
- Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult teammate/boss. How did you handle the situation?
LEADERSHIP
- Who do you admire as a leader?
- Have you held leadership positions at work?
- Tell me something about your leadership experience.
- Have you faced any challenges as a leader? How did you deal with them?
- What kind of leader are you?
- Tell me about a situation where you had to lead during uncertainty. How did you ensure that your team stayed motivated and focused?
MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL
- What are your two main strengths?
- What are your two main weaknesses?
- What do people misperceive about you when first meeting you?
- Tell me about a time when you demonstrated resilience.
- What does diversity mean to you, and how have you engaged with diverse environments?
- Tell me about a time you failed. How did you handle the situation?
- Tell me about a time you faced an ethical dilemma.
- Describe a situation where you had to make difficult decisions under pressure. How did you ensure that your team or project stayed on track?
CLOSING
- Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
- What is special about you that should make me recommend 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 INSEAD, 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 to 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 INSEAD interview through mock interviews tailored to your profile.
What to do if you get a question you weren’t prepared for
Despite your best preparation, it’s likely that you’ll encounter a question you didn’t anticipate. The key to handling such moments is staying calm and confident.
First, take a moment to gather your thoughts. Taking a deep breath or a sip of water can give you a few extra seconds to formulate your answer. Remember, the interviewer is often testing your ability to think on your feet. If you get really flustered, take a drink of water to give yourself an extra minute to think.
If you’re struggling to find an example from your experience, you can rely on a hypothetical response. However, it’s always better to use a real-life example, even if you modify the scenario slightly to fit the question. Regardless of the nature of the question, ensure that your response aligns with INSEAD’s core values—global perspective, diversity, and leadership.
Effectively tell your story during your INSEAD 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.
Our tailored approach was critical to helping our client Rodolfo secure a spot at INSEAD. In his words:
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. Hire our interview services here. Our 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
