Editorial
interviews
or are women and so on. Use the business school profiles on www.topmba.com/ management issues. Depending on the candidate, the interview can last between
scorecard and in the QS TopMBA Career Guide to find out as much as you can. 40-60 minutes.”
Preparation: Take your CV and business cards. Have a list of targeted questions Toulouse Business School, the Aerospace MBA, France, says: “The objective
to ask the interviewer: asking how long the course is at the interview is not going to in an interview is to get to know the candidate as well as possible; we therefore expect
impress because you should know this by now. Allow an hour for extra travelling the person to speak candidly about personal strengths and areas of development.
time to ensure you arrive early and use this spare time to take in the environment Our belief is that the more honest we are with each other, the clearer we will
you find yourself in. Know your CV inside out and be prepared to explain it all in mutually be about whether this is the right MBA for you and whether you are the
minor detail. Look up the school’s website and see what you can learn about the right student for us!
interview process. Some may even tell you in detail what is expected of you by phone. "We also want the MBA to be a concrete project for the potential student and
Others may prefer to keep you on your toes. we will challenge interviewees on how they will get the most of their MBA
Know your interviewer: As business schools differ in their teaching methodology, experience in Toulouse and afterwards. Multicultural teamwork is a crucial part
so do they differ in their interviewing styles. It’s highly recommended that you find of our program and we will question candidates about their contribution and
out as much about that as possible. You can do this by searching thoroughly through commitments in the classroom.”
the school’s website; calling the admissions office directly (after
all, they genuinely want you to succeed in the interview so are
likely to be the best points of contact); and by speaking with school
“Is this cheating? No. It is called good preparation and good research.
alumni. Alumni are almost always happy to talk to prospective
candidates at the schools they attended. Find out where the
Schools will value your proactive approach and if it means it gives you
nearest alumni chapter is to you and contact them, or visit them
a fighting chance of getting into the school, so be it.”
at the QS World MBA Tour (www.topmba.com). Ask the alumni
– if they can remember - what their interview experience was like.
It is quite possible that, after being accepted, they got to know the
admissions people well so why not try and find out a little more about them? Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Netherlands, which
Is this cheating? No. It is called good preparation and good research. Schools has a 15 month International full time MBA program, says: “We seek, through our
will value your proactive approach and if it means it gives you a fighting chance of interviewing process, to gain a better understanding of the individual described
getting into the school, so be it. within the application with respect to their general personality and motivation for
Expect the unexpected: We asked a sample of business schools to tell us about doing an MBA (is the plan feasible and realistic and has the candidate thought
their different school interview styles and the kind of questions they might ask. carefully through the process? Are there clear post-MBA goals?). Is there a desire
“At Warwick Business School, UK, all shortlisted applicants to the full-time and preparedness to ‘manage diversity’ and work closely in tight-knit teams, a general
and Executive MBA programs are interviewed. Each interview is an informal awareness of issues facing the intersection of responsible business and social
opportunity for us to learn more about the applicant, their background and aspirations responsibility and a fit with the RSM MBA program?
as well as a chance for the applicant to establish whether the Warwick MBA is the “Clearly, these issues must be demonstrated with a strong command of the
right fit for them. English language and demonstrate effective communication skills. We take an
“The interviews are conducted either with a member of faculty or senior intimate and intense approach to interviewing. We see the interview as a final step
member of the management team. They can take place either at Warwick or by in a one-on-one counselling based approach to admissions: a ‘getting to know each
telephone. Generally, the conversation will include a discussion about the applicant’s other’ period that culminates in a personal interview.
career history, their likely contribution to the program and their career objectives. “Our interviews can happen on the phone or in person. We reserve the right
“We will be looking to assess motivation, leadership potential, teamwork skills, to request multiple interviews. Interviews usually last about an hour and can involve
expectations, English language ability and awareness of wider business or speaking with faculty, key program representatives or alumni.”

TopMBA CAreer Guide www.topmba.com 87
MBA_FALL_08_pp_066-287.indd 87 14/8/08 17:41:30
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