When you apply for an MBA program, an interview is one of the most important parts of the process. Whether you are interviewing with an admissions committee officer or an alumni interviewer – it’s extremely important that you make a good impression on them. Last time, I talked about how to make a terrible impression on your interviewer (the things you should avoid doing in your interview). Today, I’m breaking down five things you can do in your interview to communicate confidence, leadership, and excellence to your interviewer.
1. A Good, Strong Handshake
You really should use a strong, firm handshake to greet your interviewer. A handshake communicates confidence, the ability to lead, and self-assurance. Use a firm grip, not a death grip. Keep your wrist firm, but not locked like a shotgun. Pump your hand 2 – 3 times, smile, and look into your interviewer’s eyes while you shake their hand. Clasp their hand slightly when you release the handshake, and say something like “it’s wonderful to meet you, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me today!”
2. Direct, Assertive Eye Contact
You need to make direct, assertive eye contact with your interviewer when you meet with them. Look straight into their eyes with an open smiling face, and an open forehead. Don’t stare into their eyes like you’re looking into a crystal ball. 3 – 5 seconds of direct eye contact when you shake their hand, and direct eye contact intermittently spaced through the rest of your interview are what’s appropriate, and needed.
3. Get Your Interviewer Talking About Themselves
Match the interviewer’s general demeanor and get them talking if you can. If they talk enthusiastically and quickly, you should try to match their energy and enthusiasm. If they are brief and professional, try to match their professionalism and style in your own conversation. Everything they say and the way in which they communicate is all information that you have at your disposal to help make the interview go well. Get your interviewer talking about themselves with questions like “why did you decide to get involved with interviewing prospective students?” And listen, listen, listen.
4. Ensure They Know How Excited You Are About their School
Your interviewer is taking time out of their own life and work to meet with you because they care about the community they represent. Even if this isn’t your top school, always communicate very specific information to your interviewer about why you like the school they represent. Speak about the location and all of the excellent opportunities that it affords you. They have likely completed internships and jobs in the city your target school is located in. They have explored all of the restaurants in the area with their own friends, and biked and run through the streets in the surrounding town. Talk about one specific, and widely known fact or story about your school which excites you. Does your school have a great basketball team? Talk about how you had your friends over to watch the game and you sang the fight song at halftime.
Even if this school isn’t your top choice, you want the interviewer to walk away feeling like you will likely matriculate if given the opportunity. You want your interviewer to be able to picture you in the school environment which they are familiar with.
5. Early is On Time. On Time is Late.
This is a very self-explanatory point. Show up early to your interview in case your interviewer is pressed for time. If you show up on time, or even five minutes late – you are delaying a process which could have begun a few minutes early. Even if your interviewer is late, be respectful of their time and be there approximately fifteen minutes before you are scheduled to start. This is a common sense courtesy to them for taking time out of their lives, and it is always better for you to wait on them than for them to wait on you. Also showing up early might give you more valuable time to interact with them.
There are many complex things which go into making an interview successful, and these are just five of them. I wrote about five things you should avoid doing in your own interview here, and could speak for hours about all of the ways in which you can tweak your presentation and the stories you tell your interviewer to make an outstanding impression on them, ensuring a good recommendation. If you’re interested in hearing more of the details and learning more of the strategies you can use to optimize your chances for success, reach out to me directly at transcendadmissions@gmail.com.