Basics of PI
While you’re in the interview hot seat watching for clues from your interviewer, he or she is busy watching you – looking for their own clues. Interviewers look for things they want to hear in your answers, or ways you handle yourself during the interview, or simply some sign that shows them what you might be like if you worked for them.
OBSERVATIONS OF THE PANEL
What’s your body language telling ?
Are you slouching? Relaxed is good, slouching is bad. Sit up straight, looking professional and yet as natural as possible. Also, be aware of any fidgets or extraneous body movements (tapping your finger or foot, clicking a pen) that can distract the interviewer from your words.
And don’t forget to add a warm smile as you speak, again in a natural way. Grinning wildly throughout is only good if you’re applying for a job as a smiley face.
By the way … if you’re nervous, don’t assume that’s a negative. They expect candidates to be nervous. Just practice a lot beforehand, be yourself during the interview, and remember to meet the interviewer’s eyes with that warm smile. Most likely you’ll begin to relax – at least enough to do your best, which is all we ask.
What kind of eye contact are you making?
This is so important, yet for many candidates difficult. Look in the eyes when you speak – also when they ask you a question. If your eyes are darting around the room, you may look bored or uneasy in your own answers.
Again, as with the smile, you don’t want to overdo it and create a staring contest. But easy eye contact during the conversational exchanges can help create that connection.
Are you showing your real self?
Whether you’re using canned answers or spontaneous answers, are you telling me what you think.They want you to say or the real story based on who you are and the experiences you’ve had so far? Use your answers – answers based in truth – to paint the picture of a great match as best as possible.
Did you take time to learn about us?
Whether you’re using canned answers or spontaneous answers, are you telling me what you think.They want you to say or the real story based on who you are and the experiences you’ve had so far? Use your answers – answers based in truth – to paint the picture of a great match as best as possible.
Did you take time to learn about us?
In addition to researching the institution, you need to research the institution. What is the course all about? What are the specialties of the division / department you’re interviewing with?
Use the internet to find out all you can – even possibly names of people who work there. Then put together a picture of who they are, as best you can, again looking for ways that you and the company match.
One question interviewers like to ask is “What do you know about us?” Your research will help you prepare for that, too, helping you shape your answers and even how you dress for the interview.
Do you have reasonable expectations?
Institutions not only want to know if you’re a good fit for the Institution, but they’re looking to make sure the institution will be a good fit for you. An unhappy candidate isn’t good for anyone. And no institution wants to go through the admission process again too soon.
Would you fit in with our company/Institution and culture?
There isn’t too much you can do about this. It’s just something interviewers look for and think about during an interview. Even if you give the best interview ever, they may know something about you that you don’t – and they may be saving you both a bad experience.
Again, just be yourself. It pays off in the long run.
Are you adaptable / flexible?
Institution often use behavioral questions, where interviewers ask you how you handled things in the past, to assess your ability to respond to new situations with ease and success.
If you prepare your experience stories well – things you’ve managed to improve or solve or help get done – you’ll present a picture of someone who does rise to the occasion without bringing their own rigidity into the picture.
Are you resourceful?
Once again, your experience stories (sometimes even life experience stories where appropriate) will help them see that you can manage to get things done without everything being handed to you on a silver platter.
Are you a problem solver?
We love these. Of course, you want to wait until you’ve gathered all the facts and are really sure there is a problem to solve. I’ve seen people come into interviews ready to fix the company – sure that their ideas would win them the job.
Stories about how you solved problems in the workplace are very good.
Are you someone who respects management?
As mentioned above, a company wants to know that you’re someone who will work well with managers and respect the company’s mission and culture. If your answers include stories about how you were smarter than management and saved the day, this won’t come across well.
Even if management was terrible, always tell your stories in a way that makes you look resourceful and capable, while not putting others down. Also … do your research ahead of time to make sure you really are in synch with this company. No sense getting an unwelcome surprise after you start.
Are you a self-starter?
While companies want you to work well with management, they also want to know you won’t just twiddle your thumbs and wait to be told everything.
I always look for clues that the person can operate independently, while still respecting the management structure and coworkers. Not that you can always figure this out in an interview.
Do you initiate useful change?
As mentioned before, most companies welcome employees who are looking for ways to improve things – better quality products, more efficient processes, saving them money. But they aren’t looking for someone just spinning out lots of ideas without focusing on what they were hired to do.
So when you talk about the improvements you’ve made, look for work-based examples that, if possible, relate to the job you want now.
Do you know who you are and what you really want?
Sounds so simple. But if your answers and stories seem to touch on too many disconnected things, you may be presenting a picture that is too disjointed to leave an impression the employer feels solid about. We are too complex to fully present ourselves in a single job interview. Don’t even try.
Be real and be natural, of course. But give them the pieces that help create that unified story we talked about earlier – one that matches the job you’re applying for.
This means taking the time beforehand to really think about yourself and the job – and how the two come together as a result of your past experiences, skills, abilities and personality. If you know this well, then your answers will flow more naturally.
Do you know your own resume?
Again, so obvious. Yet folks come into an interview not having looked at their resume in a while. And I’ve had people have to think a bit when I ask them about something right there on the resume they sent me.
Please give yourself some time to look at it before you arrive at the interview. You should also review it carefully when preparing stories to help you answer interview questions.
Quick Questions
Tell us something about yourself.
This is perhaps the very first question that is asked and it is also one of the most common questions asked in MBA interview. While answering it, be clear but brief and try to include the following areas in the answer:
- Educational and Professional Background
- Family Background
- Hobbies and other Interests
Where do you see yourself 5/10 years from now?
Another favorite question, which is thrown at the candidate to gauge his long-term goals and ambitions. Be succinct, practical but avoid cheeky responses like “in your chair.” Your answer should explain how you would use the course they offer, into the first 5/10 years of your career.
Why MBA?
A fresher (who has just finished UG studies) can say that a MBA would be his ideal launch-pad into the corporate world, as it would train and equip him with the soft skills as well as the tech-know-how of the corporate world. Whereas an experienced person can talk about the value-addition that a MBA would provide to his career.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
A tricky question but one of the most favorite PI questions at management institutes, that is intended to take the candidate out of his comfort zone. Talk honestly about a weakness but at the same point also reveal how you are combating and tackling it. Also make sure that your strengths and weaknesses don’t contradict each other.
What are your hobbies?
Research adequately on whatever hobby you have listed in your application. One of the interview panel members might share your hobby and you could be grilled easily. Only mention hobbies about which you have in-depth knowledge, instead of trying to impress the interview panel.
Why do you want to join this B-school?
The best way to answer this tricky question would be to talk about the following:
- To increase my soft-skills and confidence
- To improve my technical knowledge in the corporate industry
- To learn from the best about business management
What you have learnt from your failures?
Here, you can talk about how you have tried to face your shortcomings, analyzed them and then worked on their solutions.
What constructive criticism have you received from your boss?
The objective of this question is to know about your weaknesses. A wise way of answering it would be to talk about those weaknesses, which can be remedied by studying at a B-school.
Share an experience when you were out of your comfort zone.
B-schools look for applicants who can perform under pressure and also take snap decisions, sometimes without access to full information. So, make sure that your ‘experience’ demonstrates these traits.
These common MBA Interview Questions would surely help you to ace your preparation for getting into a management program from a reputed MBA college.
Some other General Questions
- What is your biggest achievement till date?
- What have you learnt from your failure?
- What is your biggest fear?
- What is your dream?
- If you get to rectify 3 mistakes in life, what will it be?
