Preparing for MBA Interviews: Tips
Your Introduction
In almost all cases, an interview commences with you being asked to introduce yourself. Don’t take this lightly: the manner in which 
you do this is very important-it is the first window that the panel has into you and serves to set the first impressions.
Keep in mind the following points about your introduction:
- Try and do more than just repeating the details that you have filled in the form that most institutes give to candidates before the interview-the panel already has this with them.
- Highlight your achievements and unique qualities.
- Try and structure your introduction. For example, you can first talk about your family background, then academics, then hobbies and interests etc-don’t mix them all up.
A good idea may be to write down the major points that you wish to cover in your Introduction. This will make sure that you do not miss anything you wanted to cover.
Academics
Candidates, especially freshers, are strongly advised to revise their Academics. They could certainly be asked the fundamentals/ basics of the subjects that they have studied during their graduation and the applications of these concepts/ theories.
I have seen that often candidates are asked to specify their favourite subjects and are asked questions on these.
Think about the practical applications of all that you have learnt. This is particularly important for students from an Economics/ Commerce background, who could be asked about latest developments from the world of business and how these relate to the subjects that they have studied.
Work Experience
For candidates with work experience, besides asking about your role in the company where you work, the panel could probe candidates on the following aspects:
- You should know your firm’s major competitors, its strategy; and about the industry in which it operates.
- You could be asked about how recent major developments in the sector where you work may impact your company
- Be ready to be able to express your opinion about the future possibilities/ outlook for your industry.
In addition, I suggest that you remain aware of some basic facts and figures about your company and the industry in which it operates.
General Awareness/ Business Awareness related questions
You must try and read a newspaper every day. The word ‘every day’ here is important, for it may not be enough to pick up the newspaper only on weekends or only twice or thrice a week. Similarly, just glancing through the headlines may not be sufficient, for you will struggle to grasp the details of major events/ developments.
Besides a newspaper, a good ‘general news’ magazine with a sufficient level of detail (such as ‘Frontline’) may be useful.
Career Goals
Spend some time genuinely thinking about your career goals: do not just mug up something to repeat during your interview.
I suggest you read a little about the MBA course. Why are you interested in studying the subjects that the MBA course offers? While you answer questions pertaining to your career goals, you could talk about the subjects that you are interested in or the methodology used in the MBA course-for example, the use of Case Studies, ‘live projects’ with companies, the summer placement experience, interactions with people working in the corporate sector through guest lectures etc.
Hobbies/ Interests
Be genuine: do not invent hobbies! I also suggest that you read a little about your hobby or interest area.
Next, keep track of the latest important developments in your area of interest. It could be a change of rules in a sport, for example. Or some Indian doing well at the world stage etc.
Your Strengths and weaknesses 
Once again, be genuine about these. Also, be ready to be asked to substantiate what you say with examples: the panel could ask you to describe situations when you demonstrated certain strengths. For weaknesses, you could also speak about how you are trying to address them.
About the Author: Sidharth Balakrishna, the author, is an MBA from IIM Calcutta and has been involved in MBA coaching for well over five years. He has also written the best-selling ‘An Introduction to CAT-Tips from an IIM Alumnus' published by Pearson Education. He can be contacted at bsiddharth_2001@yahoo.co.in
Link to his book: http://www.pearsoned.co.in/web/books/9788131729694-Introduction-to-CAT-Tips-from-an-IIM-Alumnus.aspx
Author: SIDHARTH BALAKRISHNA
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