EMBA World
• • •
Executives, The Wharton School at UPenn, the responsibilities and demands of the education about your personality with
describes, “Interviews are one-on-one and on work life and personal life then trying to figure a snap of your fingers, what
with a member of the Admissions Commit- this out in the interview will sink your objective would it be?
tee. They last approximately 45 minutes. We of getting accepted. To get you started and deter- ✔ T ell me about your most
focus mostly on job history and why an MBA mine if the EMBA is right for you try the Execu- satisfying experience at your
is necessary. We are looking to see if the indi- tive MBA Self-Assessment Form on the EMBA company?
vidual has positive interpersonal skills and has World website (www.EMBAWorld.com). ✔ T ell me about an experience
examples of leadership in his/her past.” working with a difficult col-
league?
Since the whole person is the objective even
Sample Questions
✔ T ell us about an ethical busi-
traditionally taboo subjects may have a place ness situation you faced?
here. For example, if you volunteer, belong to a HErE ArE SAMPlES OF BASIC QUESTIOnS
political group, are active in a religious group, yOU CAn ExPECT TO BE ASKED: Sample questions to
or even play an instrument, all help to color the interviewer:
the picture of who you are and what separates Sample Interview Questions: ✔ A re there any major changes
you from the next candidate to walk through ✔ T ell me about yourself, or, how anticipated at the school for
the door to be interviewed. would you describe yourself? the upcoming year?
✔ W hy have you chosen this ✔ W hat industries do graduates
Since business is a global discipline it is advis- particular program? come from?
able to discuss your international experience ✔ What ar e your interests out- ✔ W hat do you consider the
including business overseas, family that may side of work? greatest strengths and weak-
live in another country, a foreign language you ✔ W hat are your plans after nesses of the program?
may speak, and ability to work with people in graduation? ✔ H ow would you describe the
other cultures. Admissions directors value in- ✔ W here do you see yourself in EMBA teaching methods?
ternational experience. five, ten years? ✔ W hat is the percentage of
✔ W hat are you looking for in the students who change careers
Before we look more closely at the actual types Executive MBA? after graduation?
of questions asked, the applicant will want to ✔ W hat are your greatest (It never hurts: Send a note of thanks to
ask questions as well, and it is ok to be inquisi- strengths/weaknesses? the people you met, especially to pro-
tive. But avoid asking questions that can be ✔ Who r ecommended our pro- grams under serious consideration.)
answered in the school’s literature like, em- gram to you?
phasis or strength of the program, size of class ✔ W hat would you do next year if Interview Discussion Points:
etc. Asking for tips or insights on juggling you did not get accepted into
•
W
ork experience
work with school is reasonable and might re- business school?
•
C
onflict resolution and problem
veal some interesting tricks of the trade. Try ✔ W hy should I choose you over solving
to get a feel if your career and background is another applicant?
•
R
elationship with peers and
the right fit for the school. If the prospective ✔ W hat questions do you have superiors
EMBA has a pharmaceutical tract then in- for me about the program?
•
P
ersonal successes and failures
quire how this would work for someone not ✔ W hat do you do in your spare
•
Pr
ofessional successes and
in the same field. time? Hobbies? Last book read failures
for pleasure?
•
Ability to manag
e change
✔ T ell me about your most chal-
•
Extr
acurricular activities:
How to Respond
lenging experience at your volunteer work, hobbies, and
company and what did you other personal and professional
Have you ever considered why bus doors are al- learn from it? accomplishments
ways opposite to the driver’s seat? Or why man- ✔ T ell me about a stressful ex-
•
T
aking the lead from comments
hole covers are round? These classic interview perience and how you coped made by the interviewer, you
questions by top consulting firms are meant with it? can feel free to continue discus-
purely to judge your intellect and reasoning pro- ✔ H ow would you describe your sion on a given topic. Keep the
cess. They want to see how you think and draw personal philosophy? conversation interesting and on
conclusions in a cogent and meaningful way. The ✔ W hat is the biggest failure a professional level. ■
same is true of the sample questions in this article. you’ve had to deal with?
Do not take them lightly, but also, do not sound ✔ W hat have your supervisors
scripted. Instead, carefully prepare your responses. criticized most about your Biography
If you have not given the consideration as to why performance? Jason Price is the Director of EMBA World.
you want to go back to school or fully understand ✔ I f you could change one thing
14 | CEO
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