This year, we looked back at hundreds of interview reports shared by our clients from the past decade to identify trends or changes in the ways that MBA programs approach interviews. We suspected that over time there might be more technology-related or industry-related questions, for example. However, on the contrary, the question lists showed striking consistency, even across different countries. This outcome made us wonder about MBA programs’ willingness to evolve. Why haven’t the ways that business schools evaluate applicants changed? Thinking of our clients, we couldn’t help but wonder: If business schools aren’t changing their interview approach, how should applicants adjust their strategy when technologies and industries are always changing? This post is our answer to that question.
What Business Schools Want
Each year, MBA programs field applications from every industry and whitecollar role under the sun. At the same time, new technologies drive industry transformations and shape job trends. Amid all these changes and variance in applicant profiles, business schools continue to evaluate applicants based on their readiness for the rigors of MBA study, the clarity and credibility of their career goals, the strength of their soft skills, and their fit for the program. There lies the task of every MBA interviewee.
You Should Be Ready for MBA Studies
Each applicant has a unique set of educational and professional experiences from which to draw and create a compelling profile. Preparedness for MBA studies can be proven by a blend of professional experience, specialized knowledge, and standardized test scores. When it comes time to interview, applicants are expected to be ready to talk about how their professional experiences and specialized knowledge have prepared them to tackle an MBA. You may be asked about why now is the right time for you to enter an MBA program, what leadership experience you have, and what your values are. Strong answers to these questions will showcase your skills, strengths, values, and motivations.
You Should Have a Clear Career Goal
Building on your preparedness, you will be asked about your career goal and what inspires you to pursue it. Above all, your career goal should be personal and you should be able to talk about what interests you about this direction. Depending on your goal, you might point to changing strategies, technologies, and impact opportunities that are fueling your desire to get an MBA. One common motivator is digital transformation, which is an ongoing phenomenon across most industries. Alternatively, some applicants are motivated to pivot their careers because they feel their current career potential is limited. Regardless of your motivation, you should be able to talk about why this is your goal and which aspects of it intrigue you, such as contributing to supply chain stability or creating new investment opportunities in emerging markets. Lastly, your goal should be achievable. Successful career outcomes are proof points that MBA programs rely on to continue to market their high job placement rates.
You Should Know Why You Need an MBA
Being able to express why an MBA is the logical next step between where you are and where you want your career to go is essential in the MBA interview. Often this topic is accompanied by a question about why now is the right time for you to start an MBA. Ｗinning answers to these questions will show self-awareness and knowledge about the current state of your career, as well as skills, knowledge, and experience gaps. For example, an engineer seeking to move into product management would want to talk about the need to develop public speaking and project management skills during their MBA. Alternatively, a fast rising business development professional might want to continue with the same company but they can see that without an MBA, their next promotion might be six years away, so they need to build strategic thinking abilities.
You Should Be a Good Fit
For universities, putting together an MBA class is as much about community building as it is developing next-generation business leaders. During an interview, you should be prepared for questions about why you applied to this school and what you will bring to the program or how you will contribute. Your answers should show that your values align with the values or mission of the program, that you are familiar with the curriculum, and that you have learned about campus and community life. There are many ways to accomplish this. Some schools make it easy by asking about their culture directly in the essay question, such as Duke Fuqua School of Business’ “Team Fuqua” spirit. If prompted, you might mention talking to an alumnus and their strong suggestion that you take advantage of the campus career center. Or, if you are making a pivot into a different industry, role, or both, you could point out the advantages of the university’s connection to your target location, such as Boston University’s proximity to the health and biomedical industry.
You Should Sell Your Soft Skills
Another traditional MBA interview staple are questions about so-called “intangibles” or soft skills. A common topic in this category is leadership – your experiences, your style, important characteristics for leaders. Beyond leadership, teamwork and collaboration, problem solving ability, growth mindset, and relationship building are common question topics. When the leadership question comes up, it’s ok if you haven’t been a people manager, you just need to find another example of a time you led a project or took initiative. If you’re taking courses outside of work to keep your skills up-to-date, talk about why that’s important to you. If you build exceptionally good relationships, tell stories about tight knit teams or valuable bonds you fostered with clients.
[Conclusion]
If you’ve read this far, then you know the TL;DR of this post is: You shouldn’t change yourself based on historical data of MBA interviews. Being authentic and telling your best stories will always be your best chance to gain admission to your target MBA programs. There is no shortcut when it comes to the MBA interview. To learn more about how we help our clients develop and tell their best stories, book a free 20-minute consultation today.