MBA Application Fundamentals – Part 8: Ensuring You Shine In Interviews

UPDATE: This article was originally posted on October 31, 2021. It has been updated with new information and tips below. 

If you’re just starting to think about applying for an MBA, you may be overwhelmed with just how complex the process is. There are so many things that go into a successful application, which is why we created this series to walk you through all of the crucial steps of your MBA application process. 

Today, we’re zooming in on how to ensure you shine in interviews, as nailing this last step of the MBA application process is the difference between an admit and a ding. 

If you missed our previous posts in this series, no worries! You can catch up by clicking the links below:

MBA Application Fundamentals – Part 1: Creating your Test Strategy 

MBA Application Fundamentals – Part 2: Choosing your Schools

MBA Application Fundamentals – Part 3: Defining your Profile

MBA Application Fundamentals – Part 4: Securing Letters of Recommendation

MBA Application Fundamentals – Part 5: Crafting your Essays 

MBA Application Fundamentals – Part 6: Filling out Online Forms

MBA Application Fundamentals – Part 7: Preparing for Video Essays

 

What are the MBA interviewers looking for?

As you might’ve read in the Everything You Need to Know About The MBA Application Process guide, interviewers are interested in learning four distinct things during the interview process:

• Your interest in their program
• If you are as good in real life as you are on paper
• Your ability to communicate clearly and connect well with others
• If your values align with those of the school (or your “fit”)

The interview is their chance to connect and compare what they know about you so far, including information from your essays and letters of recommendation, as well as your application materials and test results. 

Often interviewers are alumni themselves or part of the admissions committee. Their job is to ensure that they find qualified, high-potential MBA candidates who fit the program and community and will become productive alumni post-graduation.

 

What are the different MBA interview formats?

MBA interview formats vary based on the school. Knowing the interview format will help you prepare, whether it’s a group, individual, or online interview.

Group: At Wharton and more collaborative programs, you’ll find yourself sitting alongside five to ten other candidates as part of a group interview. This group setting can show how you interact in teams, navigate conversations, and adapt to unforeseen challenges. In these types of interviews, the way you act is given much more weight than answers to questions like, “Why did you apply here?” This is the least common interview type overall. 

Individual: You may find yourself meeting one-on-one or with a small group of alumni or representatives from the admissions committee. At London Business School, expect a two-hour long interview complete with a case study and behavioral questions. Though specific questions asked and duration vary, this is the most common interview type. 

 

How do I prepare for my MBA interview?

Equally important to your interview performance is what comes long before you ever shake hands or log on for the interview itself.

Researching and preparing for the interview process will help you gather answers to questions like:

• What format does this MBA interview use: group, individual, or video?
• What questions will they ask?
• How do my own values and experience fit with the program?
• What might be seen as a weakness or source of concern in my application or essays?
• Who am I meeting—and what’s their background? What do we have in common?
• How can I ask great questions after the interview?
• What’s my post-interview plan?

Research the program

By the time you interview, you should know the program inside and out, including their values, specific courses you want to take, clubs you’ll join, and, specifically, how you’ll add to the community.

Ask yourself: what parts of the program will be most beneficial to your long-term goals—and how will you contribute to the program both as a student and as an alumnus/alumna?

If you’re not quite sure just how specific you should be, or the kinds of important connections you need to make to your own ambitions and values, refer to our MBA Resource Center for a wealth of examples and guides to get you on track.

As you research, don’t hesitate to contact alumni who work in your company or live locally. Heavily consider a valuable campus visit; this will give you a better feel for the campus culture and give you more context to draw from during your interview.

Don’t miss out on helpful admissions blogs, like Harvard’s MBA Voices or Michigan Ross’ MBA Admissions Blog. You can hear from admissions committee members and current students who offer helpful insider knowledge.

 

Rehearse your MBA interview answers

Rehearsing your answers to interview questions not only helps cure the interview jitters but also allows you to practice different ways of answering questions.

Luckily, there’s a wealth of information available on the internet when it comes to questions programs are likely to ask, so you should know ahead of time approximately what to expect.

 Check out this helpful guide from Clear Admit that lists, by year, round, and program, the interview questions you’re likely to answer.

Practice with a friend or colleague. Get into character. Make the scenario as realistic as possible. Ask them to throw in a few unexpected questions, push back on an answer or two and bring up a concern with your essay or career. The more realistic and challenging your practice is, the more likely you’ll succeed in the interview itself.

Practicing one-on-one with an MBA interview expert is one of the most powerful and worthwhile tools in your MBA application toolkit because it allows you to practice with someone you’re not familiar with and who knows a great deal about the program you’re applying to.

Working with an MBA interview expert is your best chance for success. They have the knowledge and the experience and know exactly which strategy you need to apply to your specific school. 

The Ellin Lolis team equips MBA applicants with the exact interview know-how so, when the interview comes, they’re confident, professional, and leave a lasting impression. 

That’s the expertise we brought when helping our client Laissa gain admission to London Business School. 

According to her, “Ellin helped me to prepare for the interview for London Business School. I was really impressed with how hands-on and helpful she is, providing me with insider, updated, and complete information to succeed in the interview. The fact that she closely monitors her students is certainly her great advantage compared to other renowned consultants in the market. I strongly recommend Ellin Lolis Consulting to everyone who wants to be accepted into a top Business School.”

Sign up for your 1:1 prep session here. Even a single session can bring you one step closer to an admit! 

 

Know your background

One of the most important elements of an MBA interview is checking for consistency. 

For example, let’s imagine you wrote about your passion for continuing your career in the healthcare industry in your essays, yet in your interview, decide to talk about your dream of launching an eSports startup. You can almost hear the cartoon brakes screeching!

As such, make sure you spend time going back through your application to freshen up on the topics you presented in your application. 

Then, spend time giving a verbal walkthrough of your CV during practice sessions. Know specific data and stats about your biggest accomplishments so you can show your achievements with concrete evidence. 

Understand how your experience, profile, community service, and application fit with the program—and think about ways in which you bring something unique to the community. CV run-throughs are common MBA interview questions, so practicing this in advance can ensure you don’t get caught up on a detail you forgot you added. 

While practicing, also keep in mind that your interview is an opportunity to sell yourself, but it’s also an opportunity to contradict yourself. It may sound simple, but stay consistent with your personal brand. If your essay said you’d like to become a partner at BCG, it’s best not to suggest in the interview your real goal is to start the Uber for jet skis. Consistency counts!

If you’re a non-native English speaker, spend time on the days leading up to your interview speaking in English. Exercise the part of your brain that controls language so that, when it’s time for the interview, you won’t be searching for words.

 

How can I succeed in my MBA interview?

On the day of your interview, be well-rested, well-prepared, and well-researched. 

Be ready to impress.

Whether your interview is in-person or online, make sure you’re well-groomed and your clothes are clean with a good fit. If you aren’t sure what to wear, we suggest dressing as you would for a job interview or an important meeting. As The Balance Careers suggests, when in doubt, dress up. 

 

What to expect from your MBA Interview

The interview will often begin with a walkthrough of your CV and experience or a few questions exploring your career and background. Be sure to give a chronological, clear, and consistent account of your experience, especially given the interviewer has already seen your essays and CV.

Storytelling is a helpful tool to use during an interview, and you can apply many of the strategies covered in the blog post, How to Use Storytelling to Write Standout MBA Essays, to your interview. Furthermore, instead of lofty, vague statements, remain conversational using language that is clear, concise, and compelling.

You should also consider what your nonverbal behavior is saying. Do you come across as animated and engaged—or do you seem bored and shy? Are you using the proper tone, hand gestures, and volume to present your best self?

Rely on your practice and research. Answer questions based on what you know about your own fit for the program, the program’s values, and, most of all, answer truthfully; it doesn’t take long with a Google search or a phone call to catch a lie.

Let’s face it: mistakes can happen but don’t dwell on it. Correct your statement if possible, but don’t let one slip up affect the rest of your answers.

 

What questions should I ask the interviewer?

The interview process is not over after the interviewer has asked all their questions. In fact, this might be one of the most important parts of the interview process.

After you’ve answered the questions, the interviewer will most likely ask: “What questions do you have for me?”

This isn’t a time to say “thanks, none come to mind!” This is your opportunity to create a solid connection with the interviewer, demonstrate your knowledge of the program, get great advice, and impress them as a curious and thoughtful candidate.

We have a long list of suggestions for which types of questions to ask based on who is interviewing you. Check out that post here! 

 

How do you leave a great impression after the MBA interview?

Your impression creation still isn’t finished! What you do after the interview can further shape the interviewers’ impression of you.

Within 12 hours of the interview, send a thoughtful email to your interviewers. Interviewers are usually required to submit interview reports within 24 hours of the interview, so if you miss your window, your note will not be considered. 

In the note itself, thank them for their time, reinforce positive points, and offer the chance for them to contact you should any additional questions come up. 

Furthermore, feel free to briefly cover points you may have missed or further contextualize some answers in your thank you email. The thank-you email is not designed to be an interview essay (though some schools like MIT and HBS, do require this). 

You can close your message with a brief statement that expresses your enthusiasm for the program and your interest in becoming a valuable member of the program.

After sending the message, you may also choose to find the interviewers on LinkedIn. Send them a connection request to give them a better sense of who you are.

While you may have the thought of really leaving an impression by sending a gift as a thank you to your interviewers, you’ll more likely be perceived as trying to influence their decision or, bluntly, engaging in bribery. A polite thank you email and a LinkedIn request are enough—and ethical!

 

Turn your interview into an admit

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 individual 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. 

 Not only can you take advantage of our iterative feedback process through multiple edits – 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. Hire our interview services here. VIP packages that allow you to work directly with Ellin sell out quickly, so make sure you sign up today!