Six Steps To Succeed In Your MBA Admissions Interview

You’ve put in countless hours in the classroom, slaved over your application, and aced the GMAT. Admissions to the b-school of your dreams is as good as guaranteed, right? Not quite. In today’s uber-competitive field of MBA applicants, the interview may be the deciding factor in whether or not you make the cut. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to set yourself up for interview success. Let’s count down six must-do MBA interview strategies.

1. Do Your Research

With so much information at your fingertips, walking into an interview unprepared can be a critical misstep. Spend ample time researching schools, programs and even the interviewer her or himself. (Thank you, LinkedIn!)

In the cases of comprehensive interviews, your interview will likely have received your entire application, including everything from your transcript to your essay. Knowing as much as you can about the interviewer can help you feel more confident and empowered.

If you're walking into a blind MBA interview, meanwhile, the interviewer will know no more about you than what’s listed on your resume. Advance research can help you identify what to highlight in order to maximize your limited interview minutes.

In addition to using the school’s website, reach out to your social network, as well. The more you know -- and show you know -- the better impression you will make -- not only in terms of your knowledge, but also in demonstrating vital initiative.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

Conducting research is only part of the interview equation, however. An equally important aspect? Learning how to effectively apply the research you've amassed. There’s no substitute for practice so enlist a friend, family member or other volunteer to help you replicate the b-school interview experience, especially if you want to study for an MBA in Business.

MBA.com, the official website of the GMAT, has assembled a handy list of commonly asked business school interview questions. Some b-schools, such as Bentley University’s McCallum Graduate School of Business, will also take the guesswork out of the process by providing a list of their own commonly asked questions.

Given the accessibility of these tools, failure to know what to expect and to prepare your answers accordingly can mean the difference between making a positive impression and ending up in the reject pile.

3. Dress for the Occasion

When preparing for you MBA interview - the old expression, “You only have one chance to make a first impression,” holds true -- particularly when it comes to interviews. While you may have tons to offer, failure to dress accordingly and “look the part” will interfere with how you are perceived by the interviewer.

While a suit used to be the only way to go -- and still is, if you're meeting with an admissions officer -- make sure to take the location and interview occupation into account, as well. For example, if you’re meeting with a software start-up executive at a local coffee shop, a suit may be overkill. (If you’re unsure, however, it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed.)

Also, it doesn’t matter how nice your clothing is if it’s wrinkled, ill-fitting or stained. Lay out your outfit the day before to make sure everything is in appropriate condition and ready to go.

4. Honesty Matters

The interview -- particularly in today's increasingly common holistic admissions processes -- serves a very real purpose: To help the interviewer get a better feel for who you are as a person and what you have to offer the b-school community.

Aside from the fact that getting caught in a lie can be the quickest route to rejection, you’re also doing yourself a disservice by not showcasing your own unique skills, accomplishments and talents. Focus on being yourself while answering questions as truthfully and authentically as possible. Resist the temptation to memorize responses, however, as this can have the opposite effect.

Don’ worry about being who you think the interview wants you to be. Why? Because the interviewer wants you to be YOU. In fact, that’s the whole point.

5. Move On

As in life, an interview will sometimes catch you confused and/or at a loss for words. If you can’t understand a question, feel free to ask the interviewer to repeat it. if you still can’t answer, acknowledge that this particular subject is causing your difficulties, and move on. While apologizing, rambling, and stewing over it will only make the situation worse, moving on offers the opportunity to demonstrate a sought-after “soft” skill in today’s complex business landscape: resilience.

6. Say Thank You

Interviewers see hundreds of impressive candidates, many with similar backgrounds and skill sets. So how do you keep your name fresh in their minds after you walk out the door? It’s simple: Write a thank you note.

Compelling thank you notes don’t have to be long and formal. Even a simple email expressing your gratitude and reiterating your interest will go a long way. Referencing a particularly interesting part of your conversation or following up on a specific issue, meanwhile, will further enhance your candidacy.

While it’s natural to stumble into the pitfall of thinking of the interview as a necessary evil, another mindset can help you best leverage this step in the b-school application process to your advantage. Rather than dreading it, think of the interview as one more opportunity to show prospective schools why you’re the right candidate.