Top 32 Personal Interview Questions for MBA| PI Prep Guide

Common Admission Test 2023 ( CAT )

8 mins read127.1K Views11.4K Comments
Abhishek
Abhishek Dhawan
Senior Executive – Editorial
Updated on Jan 27, 2023 11:29 IST

The most crucial stages for MBA admission includes Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) round. Here are 32 most commonly asked questions in the PI round.

Personal Interview questions

Personal Interview Questions: For MBA admission, candidates must appear in the Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GD/PI) rounds of B-Schools. Preparing for MBA entrance exams is not as difficult as preparing for GD/PI because every exam has a syllabus from which questions will be asked. One only needs to devote a good number of months to cover the exam syllabus. However, for GD/PI there is no syllabus and no pattern. Candidates may be given any topic in a GD and asked any question during the PI round. 

It takes a lot of effort to clear these rounds as one doesn't know what will be asked and what will be the most appropriate answer. While preparing for MBA admission, candidates often wonder what the top questions to prepare for clearing the PI round are.

As it’s now time to work on PI rounds for IIMs and MBA admission 2023, aspirants must be searching for the types of questions asked in these rounds. Questions in PI round are mostly connected to the candidate's academics or job/internship that they mention in their resume. Chances of facing questions based on hobbies, past jobs, projects and areas of interest are very high in an interview. However, it is not easy to guess what questions will be asked in a PI round of a B-School. But there are a few very common questions that are asked at almost all kinds of interviews. Candidates preparing for MBA admission must prepare these common PI questions well.

Top 32 Personal Interview Questions for MBA Admissions

A personal interview round for MBA admission is basically a personality assessment test in which the admission panel has a good opportunity to know a candidate and the candidate has a good opportunity to present their best aspects. It is more of an interpersonal interaction which include professional as well personal questions. Here are the most commonly asked questions in MBA personal interview round for admission:

1. Tell us something about yourself.

2. Why do you think should we give you admission in our college?

3. What are your key skills/ greatest strengths?

4. What is your greatest weakness?

5. What is your greatest achievement?

6. Where do you see yourself five years down the line?

7. What are your career goals?

8. What are your short-term goals?

9. What are your long-term goals?

10. Why do you want to join this College/B-school?

11. Why MBA?

12. Why marketing/ finance/ etc. specialisation?

13. Why this particular programme?

14. What are your hobbies and interests?

15. Who is your role model?

16. Who inspires you?

17. What is the difference between a good manager and a good leader?

18. Why should we admit you?

19. Walk me through your resume/profile.

20. What is your biggest failure or challenge?

21. How will you contribute to the class if we choose you?

22. How will you contribute to the campus if we choose you?

23. How will you add value to the campus if chosen?

24. What is your expectation from this MBA programme?

25. How do you deal with failures?

26. How do you deal with criticism?

28. What have you learnt from your failures?

29. Discuss a situation when you were a leader.

30. Where else have you applied? What other calls have you received?

31. What are the newspaper headings that grabbed your attention?

32. Do you want to ask or know anything (about the college)?

Also Read: Personal Interviews: 5 Situations That May Stump You

Download
GDPI Prep Guide

GD/PI Experience of IIM Students

Check out the articles below to know how these students converted IIM Interview calls. 

Student Name

IIM

Personal Interview Link

Akshay Mehendiratta

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Anchal Taatya

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Ananya Mishra

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Pratham Mani

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Omkar Mukherjee

IIM Calcutta

Read Full Interview

Vaibhav Jatin Shah

IIM Shillong

Read Full Interview

Parth Agarwal

IIM Kozhikode

Read Full Interview

Anshul Aggarwal

IIM Kozhikode

Read Full Interview

Ankur Parmar

IIM Kozhikode

Read Full Interview

Priyanjit Biswas

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Ruchika Bhartiya

IIM Bangalore

Read Full Interview

Parth Agarwal

IIM Bangalore

Read Full Interview

Ankit Anand

IIM Bangalore

Read Full Interview

Pratham Mani

IIM Calcutta

Read Full Interview

Aditi Agarwal

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Gursimran Ahuja

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Biswanath Chakraborty

IIM Indore

Read Full Interview

Nishant Shah

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Biswanath Chakraborty

IIM Bangalore

Read Full Interview

Achintya Bhattacharya

IIM Bangalore

Read Full Interview

Biswanath Chakraborty

IIM Lucknow

Read Full Interview

Shubham Varshney

IIM Ahmedabad

Read Full Interview

Shubham Ranka

IIM Calcutta

Read Full Interview

Dhiraj Bedi

IIM Calcutta

Read Full Interview

Wasim Khan Pathan

IIM Calcutta

Read Full Interview

Check CAT Cut offs and predict calls from IIMs and other Top MBA Colleges, whether your CAT score is 70 percentile, 80 percentile or 90 percentile. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and eligibility of all MBA Colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict IIM & Non IIM Calls

Read More:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Personal Interview

Q: How should I answer the ‘tell us about yourself’ question?

A: This is one of the most common questions asked in a Personal Interview. This question asks you to summarize yourself in brief. Mention your accomplishments and future goals. Tell the interviewers how your achievements have helped you for your future goals. Explain what you are currently doing and what are you looking forward to in the future.

Q: How to answer ‘Why MBA’?

A: When appearing for an interview in a B-school, be ready to expect this question. An answer to this question will give the interviewers an insight into your future goals and why MBA is important to you. Interviewers want to know why you chose that particular institute. Explain to them your career plan and how MBA would help in achieving your career goals. You can also share the skills that you think that you will acquire while pursuing MBA that will become an asset for you in the future.

Q: How to answer the ‘Why should we give admission to you’ question?

A: To answer this question, do a background check before appearing for the interview. Know about the B-school and the specialisations it offers. The institutes are looking for students who bring value to the campus and academic life. You must seem enthusiastic, motivated, and confident and open to new opportunities and experiences. Do not talk about the beauty of the campus or the location, but rather be thoughtful of your answers.

Q: Is it necessary to wear formals to the interviews?

A: Yes, you must be dressed well before appearing for an interview. Your clothing talks a lot about you and being well dressed makes a good first impression. Opt for formal wear, subtle colours and relaxed fitting. You need to be comfortable and confident during the PI. If your outfit is not right, it will show in your body language. 

Q: Should I carry my resume to the interview?

A: Yes, you must carry a well-written resume to the interview. Highlight all the achievements and skills related to the course studied in graduation, acquired during a job or internship and other such achievements in the resume, so that the interview panel gather a good amount of knowledge of your academics and profession without asking. 

Q: I have two years of professional experience. What should I carry to my Personal Interview for MBA?

A: You must carry a copy of your resume, portfolio or work sample neatly stacked in files, a notepad and a pen. Apart from these, if you have certificates of extra currucular activities, sports, theatre, public speaking, projects, etc., you should carry those too. The most important thing to carry for a PI round is self confidence. 

Q: How to answer, ‘What are your weaknesses’ question?

A: When an interviewer asks you about your weaknesses, honesty is the key. An important element here is showing self-improvement. In your answer, include the steps that you are taking to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Talk about the skills that you are learning to improve yourself.

Q: What are the must-haves before an MBA interview?

A: When appearing for a Personal Interview at a B-school, do a background check. Make sure that you know enough about the institute that you are applying to. Also, know about the programme and specialisation that you have opted for. Carry all the necessary documents properly filed in a folder.

Q: How to tackle a tough question in an interview?

A: No matter how well you prepare, there will always be a trick question that you haven’t anticipated. Make sure that you are confident and honest with your answers. Be polite and answer the questions. Even if you think that the answer is wrong, take your time and you can always ask the interviewers to give you the opportunity to answer better. Be calm and confident.

Q: How to close an interview?

A: When you are done with the interview, always have a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Ask them about the next steps and remind them about your strengths and key skills. You can also talk about how the B-school will help you in your career and that the programme is in line with your future goals. Always carry a smile and end the interview with a humble greeting.

Q: How to answer, ‘Where do you see yourself in five years’ question in a PI round of MBA admission?

A: To answer this question, talk about your future goals and your career path. Tell them how the MBA/PGDM programme you have chosen is going to help you in realising those goals. Talk to them about the skills that you will acquire in the MBA programme and how they will be beneficial for your career. However, don't bluff or share lofty goals. 

Download this article as PDF to read offline

Download as PDF
clickHere
About the Author
Abhishek Dhawan
Senior Executive – Editorial

With a creative soul, Abhishek is inclined towards anything in the creative space be it drawing, painting, craft, or writing. He has been working in the ed-tech industry since he started his career. Besides creative... Read Full Bio

Download Important Dates for MBA/PGDM Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

Aug '23

XAT 2024 Exam registration

Dec '23

XAT 2024 admit card download

Aug '23

SNAP 20223 Registrations

Dec '23

SNAP 2023 admit card download...

Aug '23

NMAT 2023 Admit Card Issuance ...

Aug '23

NMAT 2023 Resceduling Window

11 Feb '23

IIFT 2023 Result

9 Jan '23

IIFT 2023 Answer Key Release

19 Mar '23 -

4 May '23

MAT 2023 IBT Exam 1 registrati...

19 Mar '23 -

10 May '23

MAT 2023 IBT Exam 2 registrati...

9 Mar '23

IBSAT 2022 Selection Process R...

23 Feb '23 -

4 Mar '23

IBSAT 2022 GD-PI

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in

Comments

d

Who will conduct the CAT 2023 exam?

48233945
Anshul Gupta

Contributor-Level 6

Yesterday

CAT Exam Date 2023- Indian Institutes of Management (Iims) will conduct CAT 2023 on (expected) last Sunday of November 2023. This year, IIM Lucknow will be coordinating his CAT exam coordinated by IIM.

S

Sonali Kumari singh

Contributor-Level 6

Yesterday

CAT 2023: Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) Lucknow is expected to conduct CAT exam 2023 November 26 (Sunday).

d

What are the CAT eligibility criteria?

d

deepika maurya

Contributor-Level 10

Yesterday

CAT eligibility criteria:Common Admission Test is a postgraduate admission test, thus the minimum eligibility criteria are graduation. Students who have scored 50 percent or more (45 percent or more in the case of Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe, and PwD candidates) can apply for Common Admission ...CAT eligibility criteria:
Common Admission Test is a postgraduate admission test, thus the minimum eligibility criteria are graduation. Students who have scored 50 percent or more (45 percent or more in the case of Schedule Caste, Schedule Tribe, and PwD candidates) can apply for Common Admission Test. The graduation degree can be in any course but from a recognised university. Final-year graduation candidates and professional degree holders such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI), and Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India (ICWAI) are also eligible to apply. For more information, you may visit the Shiksha CAT exam page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam). I hope this will help you.

S

Saurabh Kumar

Beginner-Level 1

2 days ago

The eligibility criteria for the Common Admission Test CAT are as follows:-1. The candidate must have a Bachelor's degree with a min aggregate of 50%. For SC/ST/PwD candidates min aggregate of 45%. 2. There is no age limit to apply for CAT exam. 3. Candidate must be citizen of India, Foreign nati...The eligibility criteria for the Common Admission Test CAT are as follows:-
1. The candidate must have a Bachelor's degree with a min aggregate of 50%. For SC/ST/PwD candidates min aggregate of 45%.
2. There is no age limit to apply for CAT exam.
3. Candidate must be citizen of India, Foreign nationals with valid passports can also apply, but their eligibility criteria may differ.
4. Candidates appearing in the final year or awaited results can also apply.

d

What is the CAT application fee for 2023?

S

Sonali Kumari singh

Contributor-Level 6

2 days ago

Candidates who wish to appear for CAT 2023 can fill the CAT form at the official website. While filling the form candidates will be required to pay the CAT registration fee of 2300 for general category and Rs 1150 for reserved category. The fees structure for the CAT application form is:1800/- fo...Candidates who wish to appear for CAT 2023 can fill the CAT form at the official website. While filling the form candidates will be required to pay the CAT registration fee of 2300 for general category and Rs 1150 for reserved category. The fees structure for the CAT application form is:
1800/- for General category and. Rs. 900/- for SC/ ST/ PWD category.

d

What is the CAT cut-off for IIM Ahmedabad?

S

Soyam Singh

Beginner-Level 5

2 days ago

As per the latest guidelines fees for the general category is 2300 rupees and for reserved categories it's 1150 rupees. Also visit their official website regularly so that if there's a change you'll be notified early.

d

How much percentile is a good score in the CAT exam?

S

Saurabh Kumar

Beginner-Level 1

2 days ago

A good score in the CAT exam is usually above the 90th percentile. However, the percentile required for admission to top management institutes may vary depending on factors such as the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam, and the specific admission criteria of the institute. Ca...A good score in the CAT exam is usually above the 90th percentile. However, the percentile required for admission to top management institutes may vary depending on factors such as the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam, and the specific admission criteria of the institute. Candidates who score above the 99th percentile are generally considered to have an excellent score and have a high chance of being called for interviews by the top management institutes. It is important to note that the CAT score is only one of the criteria for admission to management institutes, and other factors such as academic performance, work experience, and performance in the selection rounds also play a crucial role in the admission process.

d

How can I apply for the CAT exam 2023?

P

Praveen Singh Patel

Beginner-Level 5

2 days ago

Candidates who wish to appear for CAT 2023 can fill the CAT form at the official website, iimcat. AC. In. While filling the form candidates will be required to pay the CAT registration fee of 2300 for general category and Rs 1150 for reserved category.

d

Where can I download CAT result from?

P

Praveen Singh Patel

Beginner-Level 5

2 days ago

The CAT result 2023 is available only on the official website of IIMCAT for download. Test takers can check their result and download the scorecard by using their CAT login IDs. To check the CAT 2023 result, candidates need to follow the below mentioned steps: Visit the official website (iimcat. ...The CAT result 2023 is available only on the official website of IIMCAT for download. Test takers can check their result and download the scorecard by using their CAT login IDs. To check the CAT 2023 result, candidates need to follow the below mentioned steps: Visit the official website (iimcat. AC. In).

d

What are the IIM selection criteria through CAT?

P

Praveen Singh Patel

Beginner-Level 5

2 days ago

Candidates who meet the CAT cut off, are shortlisted for What and PI. Final selection for IIM admission is based on candidate's overall profile CAT score, academic score, work experience, category and What and PI score.

d

Why is CAT considered a difficult MBA entrance exam?

48233945
Khushoo Kohar

Contributor-Level 9

2 days ago

CAT (Common Admission Test) is considered a difficult MBA entrance exam for several reasons:High competition: CAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India, with thousands of candidates appearing for the exam each year. The level of competition is very high, and only a small percenta...CAT (Common Admission Test) is considered a difficult MBA entrance exam for several reasons:
High competition: CAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India, with thousands of candidates appearing for the exam each year. The level of competition is very high, and only a small percentage of candidates are able to score high enough to secure admission to top MBA colleges. Complexity of questions: The CAT exam is known for its challenging and complex questions, which test candidates' analytical and logical reasoning skills. The questions are designed to assess candidates' ability to think critically and make decisions under pressure. Time pressure: CAT is a time-bound exam, and candidates have to answer a large number of questions in a limited amount of time. This puts a lot of pressure on candidates and requires them to be efficient and accurate in their responses. Negative marking: CAT has a penalty for wrong answers, with a deduction of one-third of a mark for each incorrect response. This means that candidates have to be careful in their answering strategy and cannot afford to make too many mistakes. Dynamic exam pattern: The CAT exam pattern is not fixed and changes every year, making it difficult for candidates to predict the type of questions and difficulty level they will face. In summary, CAT is considered a difficult MBA entrance exam due to high competition, complex questions, time pressure, negative marking, and a dynamic exam pattern. However, with proper preparation, time management skills, and a strategic approach, candidates can increase their chances of success in the exam.

d

Is XAT tougher than CAT?

B

Biswajit Mandal

Contributor-Level 6

3 days ago

CAT Vs XATOne of the key differences between CAT and XAT syllabus is the varying topics and sections. CAT does not have Decision Making section and GK section but XAT exam has DM and GK as separate sections. Another key difference is the XAT Vs CAT difficulty level. XAT is considered a bit more d...CAT Vs XAT
One of the key differences between CAT and XAT syllabus is the varying topics and sections. CAT does not have Decision Making section and GK section but XAT exam has DM and GK as separate sections. Another key difference is the XAT Vs CAT difficulty level. XAT is considered a bit more difficult than CAT exam.

1572 Institutes accepting CAT

Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 4.6

    Placements

    4.6

    Infrastructure

    4.5

    Faculty & Course Curriculum

    4.7

    Crowd & Campus Life

    4.5

    Value for Money

    4.7
    (40)
  • |
  • Total Fees: ₹ 24.61 Lakh
  • |
  • 2 years
  • |
  • Full Time
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 4.8

    Placements

    4.9

    Infrastructure

    4.7

    Faculty & Course Curriculum

    4.7

    Crowd & Campus Life

    4.8

    Value for Money

    4.8
    (26)
  • |
  • Total Fees: ₹ 24.50 Lakh
  • |
  • 2 years
  • |
  • Full Time
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 4.7

    Placements

    5.0

    Infrastructure

    4.7

    Faculty & Course Curriculum

    4.7

    Crowd & Campus Life

    4.3

    Value for Money

    4.7
    (4)
  • |
  • Total Fees: ₹ 23.20 Lakh
  • |
  • 2 years
  • |
  • Full Time
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • 4.4

    Placements

    4.2

    Infrastructure

    4.5

    Faculty & Course Curriculum

    4.4

    Crowd & Campus Life

    4.3

    Value for Money

    4.7
    (37)
  • |
  • Total Fees: ₹ 10.40 Lakh
  • |
  • 2 years
  • |
  • Full Time

Upcoming MBA Exam Dates

24 Mar '23 - 25 Mar '23: GE & PI in Mumbai
25 Mar '23 - 26 Mar '23: SRMJEEM 2023 Exam Phase 2
Mar '23: IRMASAT 2023 result declaration
Mar '23: CMAT 2023 admit card download starts
15 Mar '23 - 6 Apr '23: UPESMET 2023 Registrations Phase 3

We use cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse the site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.