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Interview Sample Questions & Suggested Answers
Interview Sample Questions & Suggested Answers
Justify your decision to pursue the MBA programme?
Don't tell the panel that you are looking for a "challenging job in a good firm with lots of money, status
and glamour". Instead, you must convey to the interview panel that you have made a rational and
informed decision about your career choice and your intended course of higher study. There are broadly
four areas which your answer could touch upon :
• Career Objectives: You could talk about your career objectives and how the two year MBA
programme will help you achieve them.
• Value Addition: Value addition will essentially be in two forms knowledge and skills.
• Background: This is where you connect your past to your future. If you are an engineer, try and
say that the MBA course and your engineering degree will help you do your job better in the
company that you will join. You should be able to convincingly justify how your engineering
qualification will help.
• Opportunities and Rewards: You could also at this stage mention the opportunities that are
opening up in organizations for management graduates. At this stage mentioning superior
monetary rewards for management graduates may not be a bad idea.
Why do you think you would enjoy your chosen area of study (Eg: Marketing)?
Marketing is key to the success of any organization and the function has always appealed to me,
because it requires a combination of creativity, strategic and analytic ability all qualities that I feel I
possess. Through discussions with some of my seniors, I have a pretty good idea of what it's like to
work toward taking up a marketing job, and I know I will enjoy the work.
How do you spend your spare time?
I have a good collection of books of different genre and enjoy reading. In addition, I love driving during
late evenings or on rainy weekend afternoons. Also, for the last two years I've been volunteering at the
local children's hospital on Saturday mornings.
What are your weaknesses?
I used to be somewhat disorganized, but eventually this got me into trouble when I missed an
appointment I hadn't written down. It was clear that I had to learn how to be more organized. So, with
the help of my senior colleague we worked out a system that I still use today. Not only do I stay on top
of things, but I'm more efficient, too.
The first thing you need to do prior to interviewing is assess yourself. This includes listing your
strengths and weaknesses, your accomplishments and achievements, reviewing your strong and your
weak subjects, and recording some of the key decisions you have made in your life.
You should then review your interests, the disappointments you've encountered, your work environment
likes/dislikes, your business and personal values, your goals, needs, restrictions, and life style
preferences. It would help if you're ready to practice answering the following potential questions
Top MBA Institute Personal Interview Tips (PI)
What to Expect in an IIM Personal Interview?
The focus of a Bschool interview can range from specific questions about your job to broad
discussions on life. Approach the interview as a conversation to be enjoyed, not as a questionand
answer ordeal. It may be about your hobbies your recent crosscountry trip. This doesn't mean that the
interviewers are not serious. It just means that you're being sized up as a person and a future
professional in all your dimensions.
Try to be your witty, charming, natural self. Donot try to put on. The interviewers will be able to see
your masks through. Students, faculty, admissions personnel and alumni conduct interviews. Don't
dismiss students as the lightweights.
It is important to have a good idea of "What you consider to be your greatest strength, why and what are
some examples that show this", before you go into an interview. Although the interviewer will most
likely ask some pointed questions, you may also encounter something as broad as "So, tell me about
yourself." These open ended questions are usually the ones that help you lead the interview.
Either way, you should have in mind what you want to convey about who you are before you go into any
interview. Lack of preparation is a common complaint among interviewers, and if you are prepared, you
will stand out among your competitors.
First steps on how to approach an interview?
Do your homework
Have well thought out answers for questions such as "What are your strengths? Why are you right for
that particular business school? Why is that particular program right for you?"
It shows organization and forethought if you know some specifics about the program to which you are
applying and can explain why those features fit well with your career goals. For example, if you are
applying to the Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI), through some simple research you will
discover that they are strong in Human Resource Development. Perhaps, you have worked with a
recruitment company or have been a trainer in an institute. Relate these in the interview.
Don't Waste Time
Don't waste time discussing things that are already indicated on your application. You can elaborate if
the topic illustrates something about your character and preparedness for the bschool experience, but
do not be redundant.
Remember that the first impression you create is very important. When asked to say "something about
yourself", most candidates just blurt out their schooling, college, marks and qualifications. All this is
already there in the application. Why tell the interviewer something he/she already knows. Ideally, you
would want to use this opportunity to show how you are different from the thousands of other
applicants, not to blend in to the crowd.
A final word on approaching this question. After you have said what you have to say don't venture any
further. Don't drone. You just might say something foolish. Sometimes interviewers don't interrupt in
order to give the candidate the impression that he has not spoken enough. This is just a stress/error
inducing tactic. Don't fall for it. If the pause gets too awkward for your liking, just add something like,
"Is there something specific that you would like to know about me"