Interview Preparation

Interview Tips & FAQs

innovation

eBook02
 Table of contents

Chapter Topic Page

No. No.
1 General Guidelines for MBA Interview
situations
1.1 How do I greet the Interviewer?
1.2 If you don’t know the answer to a
question
1.3 How to handle abstract questions
1.4 Explaining academic performance
graph
1.5 What kind of Body Language should
you use? 1-28
1.6 Do you have to ask questions at the
end of the interview?
1.7 What is the significance of the time of
the interview?
1.8 Why does the panel typically ask you to
introduce yourself?
1.9 How to deal with questions based on
strengths and weaknesses
1.10 How to tackle questions related to
 your hobbies
1.11 How to construct the perfect answer
on 'Career Objective'?
1.12 Which field of management would
you like to specialize in?
1.13 Why do you want to pursue an MBA
from this institute?
1.14 Where do you see yourself five years
from now?
2 MBA Interviews: Do’s and Don’ts
2.1 Popular “Do’s” in a PI 29-32
2.2 Popular “Don’ts” in a PI
3 Stress interview
3.1 Why do the evaluators conduct a
stress interview?
33-36
3.2 How do interviewers generate stress in
the interview?
3.3 Do's and Don’ts
4 Formal dressing for MBA interviews
4.1 Importance of Formal Dressing
4.2 The ‘V’ effect & the ‘T’ effect 37-44
4.3 Men’s interview Attire
4.4 Women’s Interview Attire
Chapter 1: General Guidelines for MBA Interview
situations

Students often have queries regarding various kinds of

questions and situations faced in an interview. A few
situations in an MBA interview may need specific
attention. You may go through the situations and
suggested means to address particular problem.
1.1 How do I greet the Interviewer?
It is vital to greet the interviewer appropriately; after all,
this is your first chance to impress your interviewers and
showcase your strong and confident personality. Let’s
breakdown this process and identify what you need to
do:

1
Entering the room:
If you are asked to come into the interview room a few
minutes after the previous candidate, always knock on
the door before entering. Also, remember to close the
door behind you. Always ask (in an audible voice) for
permission to enter the room. 'May I come in, Sir?' Thank
the interviewers after they give the permission.
Sitting Down:
It is better to keep standing till you are asked to take a
seat. When the interviewers ask you to sit down, say
"Thank you, Sir/Madam" before sitting down. If not
asked, seek their permission.
Inside the room:
Stand with an erect and good posture. You should greet
the interviewers by saying "Good Morning." (Or an
appropriate greeting to suit the time of the day). Avoid
greeting all of them in a sequence; instead look at all the
interviewers in the eye and nod at the same time while
wishing them. A smile in the face really helps. Remember
first impressions last forever. Exude confidence (loud
voice, firm handshake) and show respect and humility.

2
What do I say when leaving the interview room?
When the interview ends, you should smile and look at all
the interviewers in the eye, say "Thank you" - and through
nods and gestures, try to tell the interviewers that you
liked the experience. When you walk out of the room,
make sure to take your certificates and also close the
door behind you when you go out.
1.2 If you don’t know the answer to a question
There may be more than one reason for your inability to
answer a question and hence it is advisable to consider
the following
 If you are unable to understand the question
clearly, you may request the interviewer to
rephrase the question or break it in parts in case it
is lengthy. This will give you additional time to
evaluate a good answer. Example: "Sir, can you
please rephrase the question so that I can
understand it completely and accurately" or "I
could not completely understand the question".
 If you have taken your time and still sure that you
cannot answer the question, admit it humbly. Tell "I
don't know sir": Never be afraid to admit the fact
that you do not know. You are not expected to

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 know everything. In fact in stress interviews it is
very likely that the interviewer will ask such
questions which are certain to get a “don’t know”
response from the candidates. In such cases, take
a moment to consider the questions from all
possible angles and see if you can suggest an
answer. If not, you may suggest that you are not
aware of the topic/answer.
 If you cannot recall a fact say the name of a
recently appointed Chief Minister of your state you
can always specify things you know about the CM,
so it shows you are aware and it’s just the name
that has skipped your mind at that moment. This
may show presence of mind.
 It’s not advisable to make a guess but if you feel
that you can make a calculative attempt, you may
request the interviewer to allow you to make a
guess. This way you have made it clear that you
are attempting an answer without being 100% sure.
This may be seen as damage limitation in case of a
wrong answer.
 In case of abstract questions, it is not the exact
answer but the thought process that matters. So, if
you are asked what will you do in a specific

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 situation, think about the possible solutions and
suggest one as per your discretion with logical
reasoning.
1.3 How to handle abstract questions
In an interview, not all questions are predictable. Hence,
it is important to prepare yourself for elements of
surprise. Sometime, interviewers ask random questions
to see your response.
For example, what if an interviewer were to ask you:
1. “If you had a choice between being invisible or flying,
which would you choose?”, or
2. “if you see a friend of yours stealing from a store, how
will you handle the situation?”, or
3. “How many cricket balls can be fit in this room?”
These “thinking questions” are designed to challenge
and test your analytical mind. The interviewers may pose
these questions to test your reasoning skills basis
certain objectives in their mind.
It is important to note here that there isn’t necessarily a
right or wrong answer or even a definite answer to these
questions. What matters is the approach you take to
answer or solve these questions. You may take time to

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fully understand the question, form a logical approach to
a solution and work on it.
For example, in case of being “invisible or flying”, flying
may be seen as a candidate’s ambition to grow in the
corporate world and invisible may be seen as somebody
who is shy, reluctant or on the opposite end a person
who works towards goals but does not crave attention.
Both are acceptable as long as you present the logic for
your choice. This question is from “Microsoft” interview
process and one of the selected candidates answered:
‘That’s easy I would choose being invisible since then I
could fly.’
1.4 Explaining academic performance graph
What if your academic performance graph is going
down?
 The easiest way to tackle the falling academic
graph is by handling the technical questions well. If
you can answer the domain specific questions in
the interview, you may justify lower grades by
stressing on your ability to grasp the core
knowledge.
So you may suggest that your grades do not
reflect your knowledge.

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  If not above, you may want to divert the attention
of the examiner from your grades, (which is your
weakness in this case) to your areas of strength
(maybe some extra-curricular activities, hobbies,
current affairs etc.). The lesser the time spent
discussing your poor academic performance, the
better. If you could subtly (through your hobbies,
extracurricular activities etc.) show that you do
possess perseverance and the ability to put in hard
work, it would be a definite advantage for you.
 Low grades do not necessarily mean low calibre.
You may not be interested in your subject, but you
may have done a lot of reading on some topics that
interest you (e.g. astronomy, history, epics etc.).
Although, if you want to take this route you have to
be very well prepared on the suggested topic as
you will definitely be questioned on the same.
1.5 What kind of Body Language should you use?
Body language is the composition of posture, gestures,
facial expressions, voice etc. As you may have heard
before “it is not what you say” but “how you say it” that
makes a bigger impact.

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How to conduct yourself inside the interview room:
 Make sure your body language is sufficiently
receptive. Don't turn away from the interviewer, or
wrap your arms around your chest. Don't gaze out
of the window as that gives the impression that
you are not interested in the interview process.
 Make eye contact while answering with all the
panel members.
 If you are feeling nervous, you could concentrate
on controlling your breathing. The way in which

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 you breathe affects the rhythm and pace of your
speech.
 If you do not know what to do with your hands,
clasp them or put them on your lap. Avoid small
repetitive movements like continuously moving
your feet, smoothing your hair or nibbling your
fingernails.
 You can use hand gestures to stress certain points
but subtly
 Smile and nod where appropriate. You may also
laugh when the interviewer does. You want to show
you have a personality and you’re paying attention
to what’s being said.
 Don’t lose your cheerfulness and enthusiasm
during the interview.
Do's Don'ts
o Use hand gestures to o Point at some-one (rude)
stress certain points o Shake your feet
o Show that you are (nervousness)
listening o Move your hands
o Smile vigorously
o Show your palm
(aggressive)

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1.6 Do you have to ask questions at the end of the
interview?
It is recommended that you wait for the opportunity to
ask questions to the panel. Not all panels may extend
you the courtesy of asking questions of them. But if you
are given an opportunity to ask a question, you are
expected to ask intelligent and relevant questions. You
should not ask questions just for the sake of it.
Questions with obvious answers or with readily available
sources for answers do not get you any plus points. The
acceptable questions focus on learning and professional
development.
Bad Questions:
 Questions pertaining to the evaluation process,
weightage attached to the interview.
 Questions which are too personal.
Some Acceptable Questions:
 What are the opportunities of lateral learning in this
school?
 What are the key challenges students are expected
to overcome to be successful?

10
  Is it possible to get an opportunity to be exposed to
cross-functional domains and learning?
1.7 What is the significance of the time of the
interview?
Let’s have a look at what happens in interviews
scheduled at different times during the day:
Even though the above points need to be kept in mind,
the scheduled slot is not in your hands. So, do not worry
about the time factor, the evaluators are professionals
from the industry. They have the experience to evaluate
the candidate at any time of the day!
In the earlier part of the day:
 The interviewers are relatively fresh & relaxed and
take longer time in interviewing the candidates.
The interviews could be as long as 30-45 minutes.
 You may like to answer the questions in greater
details.
 The interviewers often like to cross examine your
arguments.
In the latter half of the day:
 The interviewers usually become a bit tired.

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  Moreover, as several interviews have to be finished
in the day, the interviewers usually shorten the
interviews to between 10 and 15 minutes.
 You can try to be brief and to the point.
 A little bit of humor and wit could also help a lot in
making a positive impact on the interviewers.
 You should try to look energetic and cheerful (and
not dry, as it will have a similar effect on the
interview environment).
1.8 Why does the panel typically ask you to introduce
yourself?
The most common way to begin an interview revolves
around one simple question: Tell us something about
yourself. This question, though seemingly simple, is the
one that sets-up the whole interview. An imprecise
response here can do irreversible damage, as
this question is the window through which you let the
panelist into your life and thought processes.
Common mistakes made while answering this question
type:

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  Majority students are not sure about this question
and can never really nail down the details that they
would like to share here.
 Majority of the students suffer from the common
problem of being too wordy with this answer.
 Students either provide irrelevant details or they
provide opinions that are not justified.
How to approach this question type?
In this question, you should ideally form a road map with
your background information acting as a guide. Make
sure the answer is clear, crisp and concise. In this
question, you provide a brief introduction about yourself
and your achievements, and should not list every
certificate you have won, every competition you have
taken part in, your detailed academic performance and
so on. All you need to provide is succinct information
about your background, academic performances, and
strengths and any important activity that you might be
doing at the time. You can also provide a passing
reference to your hobbies and activities.
The candidates must answer such a question in a way
that it brands them and drops innocuous teasers for the
panel to ask subsequent questions. This is the

13
opportunity to lead the interviewer into your comfort
zone.
1.9 How to deal with questions based on strengths and
weaknesses
Strengths and weakness based questions are extremely
common part of interviews. Why does the evaluator ask
you this question?
 To find out how well you understand yourself.
 To find out how your strengths are related to your
past experiences and to future expectations.
 Every person has some weak points. The
evaluators would like to know whether
you understand what your weaknesses are and
how you plan to remove these weaknesses.
 Now that we have covered why this question type
is asked, let’s explore the most stated strengths
and weaknesses.
"Most Stated" Strengths:
Attribute Operational Definition
Hard work Long hours, emotional attachment,
physical energy, self discipline

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Analytical Strength Clarity of thought, ability to see
relationships among diverse
concepts.
Initiative Ability to be a 'self starter'
Attention to Detail Thoroughness, orderliness, self-
starter
Leadership Vision, communication by example,
consistency between action,
thoughts and deeds.
Persuasiveness Logical, oral and written
communication skills, negotiation
skills
Entrepreneurship Ability to seek opportunities and
enlist support of low-cost
resources, creativity and business
acumen
Value for 'Values' Desire for qualitative upgradations,
missionary zeal
Influencing without Political acumen, social sensitivity
Positional Power
Perseverance Self-confidence(not dogmatism),
managing disappointments,
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 innovation
Team skills Ability to manage and work in
group and with individuals from
diverse backgrounds. Sensitivity to
the needs of group members.
Good Ability to put points across in a
Communication manner that others understand,
Skills fluency is important
"Most Stated" Weaknesses:
The weaknesses that you state should have a positive
connotation and a remedial plan.
Attribute Negative Positive
Connotation Connotation
Over-Confident Do not Believe in what I
understand do
limits of my
capability
Set Very High Do not Ambitious
goals understand
limits of my
capability
Stubborn in Do not consider Have good value

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implementation ground realities, system
of rules, difficulty in
regulation, dealing with
values etc bureaucracy and
real-life problems
Procrastination - Fall behind time Take time to
put off things to schedules etc. analyze problems,
a later period consult with
others before
taking decisions
Slow Starter Take too much Take time to
time to decide on analyze problems,
ideas and plans consult with others
before taking
decisions - so that
in the long run
better
implementation
State those weaknesses that do not really affect your
capability as a manager. 'Bad handwriting' is something
you can consciously work on, but it is not a fatal error if
you fail to correct it. On the contrary, you do not want to
state 'poor memory' or 'no awareness of computers' as
weaknesses in an interview session.
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Simply stating those weaknesses that are necessarily
strengths can be a problem at times. The interview may
turn around and say 'I asked you for your weakness, and
you are telling me about your strengths'. In this case, it is
critical to have examples or instances where your
weakness has let you down, or held you back in some
way.
How do you decide on your strengths and weaknesses?
Consider the following points when you decide on what
strengths and weaknesses you have:
Past Experience: You should be able to justify your
strengths and weaknesses by stating past experiences
usually ask you instance and examples. Examiners
usually ask you instance where you demonstrated a
particular strength or where a weakness landed you in
problem.
Future Expectations: You should be able to justify how
your strengths and weaknesses are going to help in
achieving your future expectations. For example, if you
are opting for a role in finance, good analytical skills
would be an advantage. If you are opting for a career in
HR, team skills and values become important. For a
person interested in marketing, 'getting along well with
people', 'persuasive skills' etc. becomes important.
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Interviewers would ask you questions on how your
strengths and weaknesses can help in achieving your
future expectations.
1.10 How to tackle questions related to your hobbies
The first thing you need to begin with is the definition of
the word ‘hobby’. A hobby is a leisure time activity that
you are passionate about. It reflects your ability to learn
from areas other than academics. It is an opportunity to
show a well-rounded personality and highlight
personality traits like leadership, team building, etc.
One of the key challenges is to figure out how to answer
this question and on quite a few occasions, you might
just not feel confident to showcase the activities that are
your actual hobbies. Keep in mind the following while
quoting a hobby:
 Activities preferably after school years- the more
recent the better.
 Common place activities like reading, watching
movies, etc. which do not require working in groups
or any physical activity will require rigorous
validation through deep and varied knowledge
about the field.

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  How it has added value and shaped your
personality is to be highlighted.
 Depth of interest to show a strong passion for the
field and not just a passing interest.
 Achievements in hobby need to be demonstrated
(any awards won, participation at renowned
competitions etc).
On quite a few occasions, we under-estimate ourselves
and do not feel confident about our hobbies. Remember,
your objective is not to showcase your professional skills
with the answer to this question. What you need to
showcase is that you are a multi-dimensional personality
with varied interests. Even the simplest of hobbies, like
watching movies, can be justified by exhibiting your
passion for the activity. Remember, hobbies are there for
providing joy and mental relaxation. You should not be
embarrassed or feel shy to share your true passions; the
only thing you need to keep in mind is that you need to
showcase your conviction for the same and exhibit that
you are a passionate individual.

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1.11 How to construct the perfect answer on 'Career
Objective'?
One frequent question in interviews is: What are your
career objectives?
Asking you this question is to assess your clarity about
the career you are going to take up. In other words, your
suitability (your understanding about what you are
heading for, attitude, aptitude and goal etc.) vis-à-vis the
institute / course is being ascertained by the interview
panel.
Many students err here as well, as they are not able to
relate their career goals adequately enough to their
answers. Students generally ramble in their answers and
are not able to accurately pin-point their career objective.
On occasions, this confusion is borne out of an inherent
lack of clarity about one’s goals in life. Because of this
reason, it is extremely important that you think deeply
about this question and nail down the correct response
for the interview panel. Remember, not being clear about
one’s goals and objectives reflects very poorly on you
and in a way, showcases that you are ready for taking up
the given course.

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How should you answer this question?
Answer the question in a manner that encompasses your
academic background, and your interests, linking it to
your career goals. Remember, your career goals:
a. Should have a co-relation with your academic
profile. In case your academic profile does not
match career goals, then you need to showcase
you have done sufficient work in the field that you
wish to work. This might be through internships,
online courses, trainings, or projects.
b. Should showcase that you have rationally thought
out your future and goals.
You need to form an answer keeping the above points in
mind. Once you do that, you are ready to tackle this
question head-on in the interview.
1.12 Which field of management would you like to
specialize in?
One common question you can encounter in interviews
is: Which field of management would you like to
specialize in? Why?
Why do evaluators ask this question?

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  To know that you have thought over what subject
you should specialize in and your curiosity to know
about the different areas in Management.
 You should demonstrate that you would like to do
an MBA in a particular field because there is a
"need" for you and not because it is the latest fad.
 You could say that you would like to do an MBA in
a particular field because that functional area
"interests" you.
 To assess your career goals, degree of focus,
reasoning for it.
 If you state a functional area for specialization,
more questions could be asked on it.
How should you answer such questions?
 Find out your area of interest. Also, be clear about
how the field of your specialization relates to
 Your Strengths and Weaknesses
 Your educational qualifications
 Work experience
 Future Expectations and Ambition in life.

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Are you comfortable with the area of specialization you
would like to opt for? Once you say that you would like to
specialize in a particular field, evaluators would ask you
basic questions on the same. You can demonstrate
that there is a need for you to specialize in the particular
area.
Do some introspection. If you can convince yourself that
you need to specialize in a particular area, then you
can also convince the interviewers.
Poor answer: "I am not sure as to which field to opt for,
but I think Finance will be good as there is more money
in it."
Analysis:
 Too short to reflect your knowledge of different
fields of Management.
 No adequate reasons for choosing Finance as the
field of specialization.
 Focus is money and not career or job satisfaction.
Examples of possible good answers:
For a candidate with no work-experience:
"I have had no industry experience, and hence do not
have exposure to functional areas like Finance,
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Marketing and Systems. I would like to get an idea of
these subjects in the first year of MBA and be in a better
position to decide which functional area to specialise in.
I am certain that I will be comfortable and successful in
any functional field."
If you would like to specialize in a functional area where you
have prior work-experience:
"I would like to specialize in Systems. I have experience
in the "Software Industry", in particular to coding and
software programming. However, since I lack knowledge
of functional areas like finance and operations, I could
not play an effective role in client interaction. These
skills, I feel I would learn when I specialize in Systems
from "…" Moreover, an MBA would open up new
opportunities for me in the field of IT Consultancy."
1.13 Why do you want to pursue an MBA from this
institute?
Why do the evaluators ask you this question?
This question is in two parts.
 First, the evaluators would like to know - why you
want to pursue management.

25
  Secondly, the evaluators would like to know how
much do you know about the Institute you have
applied to.
Do's
 Talk about your career objectives and strike
relevance between the MBA program and your
career objectives
 Highlight the nature of the program and the value it
will create in terms of industry readiness
 Mention the salient strengths of the Institute, its
pedagogy and how it fits with your career goals
 Give examples of some well-known college alumni,
their career progression and how the institute
helped them (if you know)
 Give examples of people from the Institute you
have met (this shows that you did your homework)
Don'ts
 Don’t tell the panel that an MBA is a gateway to
money, power and glamour
 Don't compare with the other Institutes

26
  Don't brag about facts that you are not sure of (I
believe that 50% of the class gets foreign
placement)
 Don't give blanket statements like "This is the best
Institute in the country" or "I will not get in anywhere
else".
1.14 Where do you see yourself five years from now?
One of the trickiest questions in the interview is to ‘where
do you want see yourself five years from now’? Though
the panel is aware of the fact that answering such a
question is difficult, it is to your credit if you can answer
with some clarity.
The challenge here is to show a progression in career
and the way the organization will help in achieving the
same. Focus should be on different phases of career
advancement-learning, contributing, leading and
strategic planning. For this, it is recommended that you
be clear about the key responsibility areas of the role
which you are applying for and how this role graduates
into roles of higher responsibilities.
Success in answering this question depends on your
career goals and how the organization nurtures them
professionally to offer you opportunities to learn,

27
contribute and grow. Remember, this question actually
depends upon on the clarity you have for your career
goals. Once you have clarity with your career objective
and which direction you want to invest your energy in,
then you can set-up the various landmarks for your
development and identify your progression over a five
year period.
Two important things to keep in mind for this question
type:
a. Remember, you need to talk in terms of skills and
learning. You should now talk in terms of positions
that you wish to achieve over a five year period. If
you quote 'you want to be the CEO of a company',
then you should be ready for some heavy grilling.
b. The interviewer knows that this is a tough question
to answer; it is not possible to predict the future.
Keeping this at the back of your mind, if you can
showcase clarity in your approach and your career
path, that alone is sufficient for this question.

28
Chapter 2: MBA Interview: Do’s and Don’ts

Your objective in an interview is to convince the panel

why you are suitable for the specific MBA program.
Therefore what you say and do carries a lot of weight.
You should strive to make a positive first impression to
build confidence for the interview and improve your
chances of selection.
To achieve the above objective, you need to be careful
with how you present yourself in an interview. There are
certain things you need to exhibit and then, there are
others that you should most definitely avoid.
Given below is a list of do’s and don’ts in an interview.
These are basic rules that you should follow
with utmost care and sincerity in the
interview.
2.1 Popular “Do’s” in a Personal Interview
 Make a good first impression through your
appearance, greeting, smile and posture.
 Use assertive tone, clear pronunciation and correct
grammar.
 Focus on self-presentation by dressing
appropriately

29
 In case of a handshake with the panellists, make
sure it is a firm one. Firm does not mean bone-
crunching.
 Maintain eye contact with the interviewer(s) but do
not stare or rush. Acceptable eye contact is when
you look at each members for a few seconds
before moving on to the next.
 Do research on the B-School and the courses it
offers.
 Do demonstrate sufficient grasp of the key
graduation concepts.
 Do have sufficient knowledge of your key projects
& papers.
 Do have ready well thought out and logical
answers for basic questions like introduction, why
this company, strengths etc
 Do support your answers with examples, wherever
possible.
 Do learn to handle criticism with grace and
maturity.
 Do equip yourself with a strong knowledge of the
company (in case of prior work experience).
 Do use humour when an opportunity presents itself
 Do demonstrate confidence, grace and poise in
your answers and gestures.

30
  Do take time to consider the question when in
doubt and seek additional information as may be
necessary especially when it comes to tricky
questions.
 Do make concrete goals in planning for your
career.
 Do present yourself as a multi-faceted personality
with the ability to learn from both academic and
extracurricular activities.
 Do ask intelligent and relevant questions if given
an opportunity.
 Do carry all the relevant documents and
certificates.
 Do thank everyone at the end of the interview, take
2-3 steps back facing the panel and finally shut the
door gently when you leave.
2.2 Popular “Don’ts” in a Personal Interview
 Don't be arrogant, overaggressive, or
vain.
 Don't show lack of focus or energy.
 Don't make excuses for any negative
facts on your academic or personal
record, such as below average marks.
 Don't criticize past institutions of education.
 Don't display a noticeable aversion to schoolwork.

31
 Don't be uncertain or indecisive with your answers
 Don't display prejudice or bias.
 Don't be late for the interview. It is preferable to
reach before to give yourself time to settle down.
 Don't contradict your own answers.
 Don't glorify experiences dating back to formative
years of schooling.
 Don't forget: You are the one who provides content
to the interview, and you have control over what
you are sharing with the interviewer.
 Don’t rehearse your answer to the point of recital.
 Don’t lie or guess.

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Chapter 3: Stress Interviews

Before learning how to tackle stress interviews, let’s try

to understand what are “stress interviews” and the
psychology that operates behind these interviews.
"Stress interviews" are an offbeat way to see how
candidates react to unusual circumstances under
pressure.
Suppose, in an interview the interviewer asks you a
question and starts dialing his phone and talking to his
team members while you are answering. If this happens
more than once, how do you handle the situation?
Think about it while we go through the basics of stress
interview.
3.1 Why do the evaluators conduct a stress interview?
The interviewer is judging you on tact, cool temper,
courage, self-command or control. Such interviews
reveal whether you can take logical decisions under
demanding circumstances. These aspects combine to
form essential reasons why you might be placed under
stress in interviews.

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3.2 How do interviewers generate stress in the interview?
 The panel says nothing when you walk into the
room and just keeps staring at you for a while
 Bombard you with a spree of rapid questions
 Keep insisting that your answer is not correct or is
missing key details even though you may be
certain
 Cut your answers repeatedly
 Express doubts about your calibre and integrity
 Accuse you of bluffing
 Laugh or mock at you
 Look disinterested (yawning, looking at the ceiling,
talking to the co-interviewers while you are
answering a question)
 Two or three interviewers ask questions at the
same time
 While all of the above may seem annoying to you,
this kind of an interview may present you an
opportunity to showcase your soft skills at the
highest level.

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3.3 Do’s and Don’ts in a Stress Interview
Do’s in a Stress Interview:
 Maintain your poise and composure
 Exude confidence from your body gestures and
arguments.
 Establish and maintain eye contact.
 In case interviewers are asking several questions
at a fast pace, you should try to answer one
question at a time. You may seek their approval to
answer in the said manner.
 The interviewers may oppose a stand taken by you;
you should be able to appreciate their point of view
also, i.e. you should be able to recognise the pros
and cons of any issue. This is about your ability to
accept feedback but not being fickle as long as you
are convinced about your answer. You can always
say "Sorry, we have a difference of opinion, but I
firmly believe in what I have said."
 Ask for information when it's lacking, and state any
assumptions you use.

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Don'ts in a Stress Interview:
 Don’t get offended. Handle things professionally.
 Show anger or get agitated under any
circumstance.
 Show signs of nervousness like no eye contact,
mumbling, clasping hands, etc.
 Try to create unnecessary humour.
Now, remember the situation at the beginning of the
topic. While it is rude on part of the interviewer to talk on
his phone while you are answering, if it happens
repeatedly you suggest a different time for the interview
since the interviewer seems busy. This way you are
handling the situation proactively without hurting
anybody’s sentiments.
Remember, while it is important to not be aggressive;
equally important is to not be timid at the same time.
There is always a professional or diplomatic way of
handling the situation.

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Chapter 4: Formal Dressing for MBA Interviews

4.1 Importance of Formal Dressing

Some of the perceptions panel can form solely from your
appearance are:
 Your professionalism.
 Your level of sophistication.
 Your credibility.
Whether these perceptions are real or imagined, they
underscore how your appearance instantly influences the
opinions of strangers, peers, and superiors.
Your clothing and grooming should not distract. Rather,
they should direct attention to your face and particularly
your eyes. When you connect with someone else's eyes,
they tend to listen.

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4.2 The ‘V’ effect & the ‘T’ effect
Typical formal attire has an advantage because it can
easily direct listeners to your eyes. A light shirt under a
closed dark business jacket forms a “V” that opens
toward the face.
A contrasting tie or scarf can heighten this effect.
Wearing some red in the tie or scarf can help draw the
eyes of your audience to your own
In contrast, a flashy belt (buckle) can draw the eye to the
waist. Bright buttons, shiny tie tacks, colourful lapel pins,
big metal watches, or other conspicuous jewellery can
also draw the eye. The same goes for clothing that is
tight, shiny, or loud.
Fit or Misfit?
Ask yourself:
 Is it appropriate for the kind of interview?
 Does it fit properly?
 Will I stand out (in a positive light)?
 Do I feel successful and confident wearing it?

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4.3 Men’s interview Attire
1. The Suit
 Choose suits neutral
in colour - charcoal,
navy, or grey. Black
suits, while in style,
are less appropriate
for an interview.
 The pant leg should touch the front of the shoe and
fall just above the heel in the back.
 The suit jacket should be buttoned while standing
and unbuttoned to sit. Do not button the bottom
button of a three or two-piece suit.
 Avoid suits with double-breasted jackets.
2. The Dress Shirt
 Choose shirts in white or light blue.
 If possible, have your shirt professionally
laundered.
 Always wear a long sleeve shirt.
 Pointed collars give a more professional image
than button-down collars, yet both are acceptable.

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  Avoid shirts with insignias on them.
 The shirt's sleeve should extend beyond the suit
jacket sleeves by 1/2 inch.
3. The Tie
 Wear a conservative tie with subtle patterns or
solid colors.
 Ties should be of good quality and made of 100%
silk.
 Always wear a tie that is darker than your shirt.
 Tie your tie to fall in the middle of your belt.
4. Socks, shoes and belt
 Wing tips or lace up conservative shoes are the
most appropriate. Loafers should be used for
business casual.
 Choose black, brown or burgundy shoes.
 Shoe colour should match your suit or be of a
darker colour.
 Shoes should be in good condition and polished.
 Socks should match the colour of your suit and
cover your calves.

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  Belts should be in good condition and match the
colour of your shoes.

5. Accessories
 Men should limit accessories.
 Jewellery should be limited to 3 pieces.
 Accessories include a watch, ring, handkerchief,
lapel pins, cuff links, and tie tacks.
 A dress watch should be worn, avoid athletic
styles.
 Avoid bracelets, necklaces, and visible piercing.
6. Grooming
 Facial hair should be neatly trimmed (moustache,
sideburns), beards are not recommended for an
interview.
 Hair should be neat and conservative, not touching
the collar of your shirt.
 Heavy cologne should be avoided.
 Nails should be clean and manicured.

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4.4 Women’s Interview Attire
1. The suit
 For a conservative organization,
a skirt suit is still considered the
appropriate interview attire.
 A pantsuit, while acceptable for
some organizations, is still
considered less formal.
 Hemlines should be knee length
or longer. Miniskirts are not
appropriate.
 Make sure the suit flatters your
figure and is a good fit, not too
tight or too loose.
2. Shoes
 Shoes should be pumps or slingbacks, do not wear
shoes with open toes, open heel, or ankle straps.
 Shoes should be of good quality leather.
 Shoe colour should be darker than your suit.
 Heels should be 1-2 inches.

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  Hosiery should be worn with a skirt to match your
skin tone or suit.
 Skin coloured hose should always be worn with
short sleeve suits to create a balanced look.
3. Accessories:
 Jewellery should be kept minimal and
conservative. Remove all facial piercing except
earrings.
 Follow one of the following rules when
accessorizing for an interview.
 The 5 Piece Rule: Wear only 5 accessories -
earrings count as 2; watch counts as 3, allowing 2
additional accessories, or
 The 13 Piece rule: Wear only 13 accessories
remembering to count each button on your suit
front and sleeves as individual pieces.

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4. Makeup and Grooming
 Makeup should be natural
looking, better toned down
than so loud that they
remember your eye shadow,
but not you.
 Nails should be clean and
manicured, avoid overly long
fingernails and nail art.
 Nail polish and lip colour should not be too trendy
or bright.
 Hair should be clean, neat in appearance.
 Perfume should be applied very lightly, if at all.
Good soap and antiperspirant will allow the
interviewer to remember you, not your scent

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