10 MBA Interview Questions & How to Answer Them

Every year thousands of MBA hopefuls spend countless hours preparing their application documents, but for some reason they spend precious little time on preparing for the most important part of the application process – the interview.

Not every program requires one, so if you are called upon for an interview, first congratulate yourself and then prepare like you would for any job interview. Not unlike many successful endeavors, preparation is the difference between a positive and negative outcome.

Here are 10 MBA interview questions that you will most likely be asked:

1. Tell me about yourself.

You will almost certainly hear an open-ended question like this, but don’t let this seemingly “easy one” fool you. Where do I start? How much history do I cover? What is the interviewer after?

The best answer is usually an updated version of your elevator pitch – like the one you formulated as a college senior. The interviewer is testing your communication skills. Remember, the hallmark of business communication is to be succinct. The optimal answer includes a combination of personal characteristics – “I’m a natural leader” – along with your professional and academic accomplishments. It’s usually best to start with your most recent or significant accomplishments. Don’t go into too much depth or spend more than two minutes in total. End on what you want to achieve with your degree, e.g., “With an MBA I hope to someday start my own business or manage a large division.”

2. Why are you interested in this school or program?

This is the opportunity to demonstrate how much research you have done. You can briefly talk about conversations you may have had with alumni, faculty or current students; you should also reference the program’s specific fields of study, teaching philosophy, concentrations, electives, the capstone project, networking opportunities and more. Make sure you know what you are talking about and do not try to wing it! The most convincing way to answer this question is to attend an information session and/or an actual class. Many programs encourage applicants to experience firsthand what it’s like to be back in the classroom. Prepare a thorough answer that includes every aspect of what distinguishes the school and/or MBA program from others. This innocuous question can get you eliminated if you misread the school’s strengths or management philosophy.

3. Why did you choose your undergraduate major?

At first blush, this question seems like a layup for business majors and a potential problem for non-business majors. In reality, this question is a layup regardless of your major. Liberal arts and science majors have an opportunity to describe the value of their education in broad terms, in a way that emphasizes the virtues of STEM, reading, writing and critical thinking. Non-business majors may be more apt to question conventional wisdom or current business practices. On the other hand, business majors should emphasize their passion for a particular business discipline and the importance of either diversifying that knowledge or furthering their understanding of it. Every journey is different and the only thing that matters is that you’ve arrived at the realization that you need more formal education. No matter what your major, don’t make the mistake of discrediting your undergraduate degree or institution.

4. Discuss an ethical dilemma you’ve faced at work.

This is a test of your personal character and critical thinking skills, but it is also a backdoor way of asking how trustworthy you are. Ethical dilemmas most often occur in times of stress and duress. Admissions counselors look for applicants who can take a stand, even an unpopular one, when called upon. Stacy Blackman, a consultant who helps applicants secure places at MBA schools like Harvard, warned that applicants should “expect to be asked a number of questions that will help interviewers gauge how life has tested you and how you responded to that test.” It is almost certain that you will hear some form of this question over the course of the interview.

5. How would you like an MBA degree to impact your career?

This is a reality check. Applicants do more harm to their candidacy when they sound disconnected with reality, “I expect to burst out of the gate as a rock star entrepreneur or the new CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Having high expectations is an admirable trait as long as they are grounded in reality. Nothing would please an MBA Director more than seeing every MBA graduate become a CEO but having a career blueprint based on reasoned assumptions is a more likely path to the top. Setting your sights on a position within your department that requires an MBA is a classic example of why someone returns to school. In addition, don’t be afraid to identify more aspirational career goals or talk about how an MBA will enrich your life in ways other than financial reward.

6. How would your colleagues and/or supervisor describe you?

This question tests your awareness of how others perceive you. Matt Symonds, an MBA admissions consultant, recommended that to answer this type of question, you need to strike the right tone. “A lively conversation should not encourage you to give cute or flippant responses. Nor should a friendly atmosphere encourage you to lower your guard,” he warned. You should have a general sense of what was said about you in your letters of recommendation and reiterate those points. One approach is to focus on the types of tasks that you are assigned, “My colleagues turn to me when there’s a problem because they know I’m very technical and love a challenge.”

7. What are your weaknesses?

In an earlier question we discussed how to address your strengths. Now comes the flip side. The most common approach to answering this question is to reveal something that is both a strength and a weakness, such as “I’m a workaholic” or “I don’t delegate enough and tend to micro manage projects.” Those answers will earn you a pass but it is much better to identify a “weakness” and then give examples of things you’ve done to address them. The question about weaknesses reveals whether you have done an honest self-assessment and are open to continuous improvement remedies. Remember, deciding to get an MBA is the result of a personal assessment and an acknowledgement that you’re open to continuous improvement.

8. Discuss a time where you “failed” and how you handled it.

Albert Einstein famously said, “Failure is success in progress.” The world’s most accomplished people in every field have failed at some point in their careers. You can talk briefly about the emotional toll of a failure but move on quickly to the lessons learned and how they have helped you succeed.

9. What are your interests outside of work?

This is a typical question to end an interview and one that allows you to engage with the interviewer on a more personal level. Your hobbies and favorite pastimes communicate the range of your interests and passions. Finish off this question with whatever excites you outside of your day job.

10. Is there anything you would like to ask me?

The two most important parts of the interview are the beginning and the end. Every interview ends with a chance for you to ask the interviewer something about the program. Make sure to prepare a list of questions in advance but don’t ask anything that is already answered on the website. The best questions demonstrate your understanding of the program and challenge the interviewer to defend or expand upon something about the program.

Here are a few examples of questions you could ask:

• Many MBA programs emphasize the importance of leadership, how does this program deliver on that promise?
• What changes, if any, have been made to the program since the financial crisis?
• What innovations or new courses have been added in the last few years?
• How active are alumni in influencing the school’s mission?
• What distinguishes the faculty in the graduate program?
• Ask the interviewer what attracted them to the program.

These questions represent only a handful of the more common ones you can expect to hear during an interview. But don’t be surprised if you hear one of those seemingly innocuous questions – just take a breath and give it your best shot. If you have invested the necessary time to prepare, trust that the words that follow will reflect positively on your candidacy.

Categories: MBA