Interviews
have always been an aggravating and trying experience. Everybody gets jittery
when it comes to interviews. Top B-Schools in India typically interview
only those applicants whom they're seriously considering for MBA or PGDM admission,
so the biggest hurdle is cleared when you get a call from a top b-school in
India because it means they are offering an opportunity. Relax! Don't panic!
You need to overcome the nervousness. Yet remember the first impression is the
last impression. You only have one chance to leave the first impression when
you meet someone for the first time. Take heart from the fact that esoteric topics
will not be asked and neither questions pertaining to management disciplines.
The majority will pertain to your life and experiences—so saying that the
questions will be about you—and surely you can answer those. Demonstrate your
capabilities and qualities and how well you can serve them. Just like studying
for your last final exam being prepared will ensure your success in the
interview
Irrespective
of which one of the top B-Schools in Indiayou choose, theten Interview Tips
given below will help you understand and prepare for the interview process.
As your first step
Try
to reacquaint yourself as you have represented yourself in your application.
Revisit what you have done, what you have achieved, contemplate pivotal moments
in your life and bring forth your major achievements and failures. In doing so,
you shall refresh this basic knowledge in your mind and can perform at your
very best during your interview.
Though
most of the interviews at top b-schools in India are clear opportunities for
their representatives to learn more about a candidate's personal background,
his aims, reasons for selecting a specific school and experiences, general
awareness, interviews can vary in their difficulty levels dramatically. So
prepare yourself best about what you know about yourself.
Prepare your portfolio
You
should invest in a good quality folder which can hold your documents, like
copies of your resume, references, list of questions, awards, and a notepad. In
most cases, a copy of your resume will be with the college but it will speak
well for you and show them you are an organized individual when you come ready
to supply it. Ensure that each document that you carry is systematically filed
so that when asked, you can quickly reference it during your conversation.
Otherwise, the anxiety to locate a document can cause nervousness when you find
yourself fumbling through your portfolio to extract the necessary documents.
Go through common interview questions and prepare
accordingly your responses
One
more key to success at interviews for PGDM admission at top
b-schools in India is preparing responses.
Your aim should be to try to find out what you could be asked and to
compose concise responses which focus on certain examples and
accomplishments. For remembering your
responses you can put them in a story form, which proves to be a good tool at
the time of interview. You don't have to memorize responses (in fact, it's best
not to), but do develop speaking points. Give examples to prove your strengths.
Acknowledge your weaknesses when asked. Not being able to describe your
weaknesses, signifies that you lack self-awareness. Do not worry, everyone has
a weakness. Brush up your communication skills. Remember without effective
interpersonal skills, having only a good technical knowledge, will not take you
anywhere. Be a good conversationalist. Use eloquent speech to dazzle the
interviewers with.
You
have to prepare well for a MBA/PGDM admission interview. Make notes of
interview questions which are most likely to be asked. Practice makes perfect
so practice your answers. This will raise your confidence.
Be confident, candid, authentic, upbeat, focused,
and concise
The
quality and delivery of your responses is the key to your success. Your aim
should always be to be authentic and respond truthfully. Provide examples of
accomplishments in focused concise responses. This preparation will help you to
ideally avoid long, rambling responses that bore interviewers.
Though the content of your
responses is paramount, an uncouth, uncultivated body language can be a reason
not to take you on. Smiling, solid posture, eye contact, active listening, and
nodding are effective forms of body language. Unrefined and unpolished forms of
body language include fidgeting in a chair, slouching, mumbling, playing with a
pen, touching your face, brushing back your hair, chewing gum, or looking off in the distance
Overlook the interviewer's lack of emotion
Some
interviewers can be stoic and refuse to give the candidate any inkling as to
whether he/she is making a positive impression. In such cases, it is best to
tune out the interviewer's lack of emotion and focus on your answers and not
allow yourself to be distracted aiming only to answer the questions posed.
Concentrate on showcasing your abilities...
Never assume the interview questions will always be
experiential
Some
B-schools, in particular, like to understand applicants' motivations and tend
to ask questions like "What motivates you? "What are values? and
"What gives you purpose in life?" The key here would be to expect and
prepare for them in advance.
Handling Persistent questioning
At
times you might come across a tough interviewer who will be pretty persistent
in getting to the bottom of how much you know. He will continuously go deeper
into a subject, asking you to be specific. Remember you have studied it. Do not
give way. This pressure tactic can be disconcerting but if you know the trick
it would be to simply stay on topic. Take heart from the fact that he is
essentially asking you about a subject that you know quite well—you! You will
be fine.
What should you wear?
Ensure
that you look presentable while dressing for the MBA/PGDM admission interview.
Your attire should reflect your best self, behoving a management student. Other
than the instructed specifications, a professional outfit is appropriate for
almost every situation. Avoid tacky and brash clothing and accessories Refrain
from using strong colognes, perfumes, hair sprays, and other fragrances. These
should be used sparingly as to not distract the interviewer. Important details
like shoes being dirt-free and your clothes ironed and laundered should not be
overlooked. Jewellery and makeup should be kept to a minimum. Being well
groomed will keep you calm and not allow you to look fidgety and nervous
A thank you note?
You
could send across a brief thank you note after your interview, the same day or
the next is ideal—and you could mention specifics from your conversation or
your visit. Sending it by email is fine.
Asking for feedback?
No!
Never do that! It will show you in a poor light. Anxiety is natural but asking
for feedback proves you lack good judgment and confidence. Be patient and leave the rest for the
admissions committee.
Calling
the admissions office and asking if they have all your files or if an interview
decision has been made might create a negative effect on your candidature
framing you as belligerent. Do your best to remain calm as interview decisions
begin to unfold. Do not try to second-guess your status. Have faith in yourself
and patience
Be
calm and collected. Do not compare yourself, as you are special, go with that
confidence and preparation. It's just an interview.
Good
Luck!
