Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Business School Interview Questions & Tips

I was going through my old files and found tons of business school interview questions, tips, and pointers. Most of this stuff was passed around various email lists at Stanford GSB, HBS, Wharton, Kellogg, and Columbia.

Anyhow, rather than keep this information locked up, I thought it'd post it here so anyone can use it to prepare for there interviews. I'll do it in a few posts which information about specific schools.

Here is a great compilation of generic business school questions you should be ready for in your interview:
-------------------------------

Discuss your career progression.


Give examples of how you have demonstrated leadership inside and outside the work environment.


What do you want to do (in regard to business function, industry, location)?


Why the MBA? Why now?


Describe an ethical dilemma faced at work?


Describe your career aspirations?


What would you do if not accepted?


What are your long- and short-term goals? Why?


Why are you applying to business school?


Why does this school appeal to you?


What is an activity you are involved in? Why is it important to you?


Talk about experiences you have had at work.


Why are you interested in a general MBA program?


Why did you choose your undergraduate major?


Discuss yourself.


What contributions would you make to a group?


Name three words or phrases to describe yourself to others.


What is most frustrating at work?


How would co-workers describe you?


Describe a typical work day.


Have you worked in a team environment? What were your contributions to the effort?


Discuss any experience you have had abroad.


How did you choose your job after college?


What do you do to relieve stress?


It's two years after graduation, what three words would your team members use to describe you?


Describe a situation where you brought an idea forward, and it failed.


How do you define success?


What would you do if a team member wasn't pulling his own weight?


Is there anything you would like to ask me/us?


Have you faced a situation at work where you had to convince your colleagues

describe your idea of a manager


What character will you chose that represents your long term professional goals?


Describe an interesting experience from work


How will you contribute to your class?


Tell me about a problem you faced at work and how you resolve it.


What has been difficult/challenging about working in teams?


What extra-curricula activities are you going to participate in?

Why this school? Why now?



How are you in a team setting?


Describe a time when you worked with a team and the team didn't see eye to I on an idea. What did you do to make it work? What didn't you do to make it work?


How I will use my current skill set in my next career after business school?


If someone approached me with an idea, would I take the risk of developing the idea if they would not?


What is something from your past that you wish you would have done differently and why? The experience can be from work, school, other activities, or from your personal life.



Who is a client you admire and why?


Since submitting your application, how have you continued to take leadership roles?


With all of your experience, why do you need an MBA?


What makes you think that you are prepared for the academic rigors of XXX?


Which of my skills would help me most in my post-MBA career.


Tell everything there is to know about yourself.


How do you see yourself in 10 years


What should I remember you?



Tell me about your past experiences, don't tell me about your accomplishments as your resume details those, but more your thought processes as you went through those experiences


If you are in a situation where a team member is not pulling their weight on the team what would you do?


Describe how you have dealt with a difficult person you had to work with


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

hi! thanks for the article, this isnt specific to business school, but if you have a moment please also check this list i compiled of the 50 most commonly asked interview questions, why they are asked, any hidden motives and exactly how to answer the questions!
50 most common interview questions and answers

Ryan said...

Great, fantastic, superb questions!

http://www.mockquestions.com

Anonymous said...

Great article. I also found this helpful j.mp/cQKzqS