The Rotman MBA Interview – What to Expect + Sample Questions

UPDATE: This article was originally posted on February 5, 2020. It has been updated with 2023/24 information and tips below. 

For an increasing number of students worldwide, Rotman School of Management is at the top of their business school target list. 

However, with impressive recruiting statistics, a visa program for MBA graduates, and the Creative Destruction Lab, the competition to join Rotman’s elite MBA is more difficult than ever. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Rotman 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 Rotman interview your best shot. 

 

How the Rotman Interview works 

Making sure you shine during your Rotman interview is no easy task. 

Rotman interviews, since they are conducted by the admissions committee, tend to be highly personalized and based on your whole application. 

During the interview, the interviewer is also trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are and how interested you seem in the Rotman program.

Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test just how collaborative you really are. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions. 

Our clients who have interviewed with Rotman in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and demonstrated a genuine interest in their answers. Though questions do tend to focus on standard MBA interview questions, be ready for anything. 

 

Who will interview you?

You will interview with a member of Rotman’s admissions committee. 

Rotman prefers conducting in-person interviews whenever possible, but they will continue doing virtual admission interviews if they are unable to meet our international applicants in person. 

 

Will the interviewer have read my 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 Rotman interview last?

30 minutes. 

 

Who is Rotman looking for?

Source: Rotman’s website

“We believe that exposure to a rich diversity of viewpoints makes for a superior learning experience, and pride ourselves on building a diverse class of exceptional individuals who will go on to make the School proud as professionals and alumni.” Rotman Admissions 

This year, Rotman’s admissions team selected 284 students for the honor of joining their prestigious MBA program. With a focus on academic and career excellence as well as on diversity, Rotman admits to the Class of 2025 had an average of 5 years of work experience and GMAT scores of 673 (slightly down from 674 last year).

Nonetheless, Rotman looks beyond demonstrated brain power and seeks to compose a diverse class of leaders from around the world. 

 

How can you prepare for your Rotman interview?

Though no interview is 100% predictable, Rotman 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 Rotman interviews. 

SAMPLE ROTMAN INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

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 Rotman 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

1. Tell me about yourself. (Expect follow-up questions)
2. What are the highlights of your CV?
3. What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
4. Name three firms you would like to work at after your MBA.
5. Why did you quit your previous job?
6. Why do you want an MBA?
7. Why now?
8. Why Rotman?
9. What will you bring to Rotman?
10. What excites you the most about Rotman?
11. Why are you interested in a Canadian MBA program?
12. What other schools have you applied to? If you get into all of them, how will you choose where to go?
13. Have you visited campus? Spoken with alumni?
14. How have you innovated in your career in the past?

LEADERSHIP & TEAMWORK

1. Tell me about a time you had to handle a conflict. 
2. Tell me about one instance when you disagreed with your boss and how you handled the situation
3. Tell me about a time you faced a challenge as a team. How did you handle it?
4. How do you explain leadership?
5. What is your leadership style?
6. What do you think are the three most important qualities a leader must possess? Why? 

MISCELLANEOUS BEHAVIORAL

1. Tell me about a time you failed. 
2. Tell me about a time when you were pushed to your limits at work.
3. How would your friends describe you?
4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
5. Tell me about a time you benefitted from networking.
6. If someone is not performing as you expect, how do you handle the situation?

CLOSING

1. Is there anything else you would like us to know about you?
2. Is there anything you wish I had asked you?
3. 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 Rotman, 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!

Finally, just because your interview is likely to happen on Zoom this year doesn’t mean you can relax and assume your non-verbal cues don’t matter. Though body language is not as apparent on camera as in person, it’s still an important aspect of the interview you want to make sure to take charge of. 

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 Rotman 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 Rotman 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. 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!