Common MBA Interview Questions

Tell me about yourself.

This universal, completely open-ended interview question has the potential to trip
you into a bottomless pit�don�t let it. Prove that you�re well-versed and have the
ability to articulate and structure your thoughts. Keep your answer around 2-3
minutes, and make sure to focus on your undergraduate education, your work
experience and accomplishments, and your career goals. Everything you talk about
should lead to why you�re right, and why the school would benefit from you pursuing
an MBA there.

Why do you want to receive an MBA? Why now?

Explain your motivation for pursuing a graduate business degree and why you feel
now is the right time. Describe how an MBA will help you achieve your career goals
and emphasize that the degree is a critical part of your plan.

Why are you interested in this school or program?

Show that you�ve done your research. List all of the reasons you feel the school or
program is ideally suited for you, whether it�s their faculty, facilities, course
offerings, class size, student activities, job placement record, networking
opportunities or location. You want to convey that this school is one of, if not
the top choice for you.

See Also: 7 Things MBA Admissions Deans Want To See In Your Application

What has been your most challenging or rewarding academic experience so far?
Think back to your time as an undergrad�your favorite (or least favorite)
professors, classes, projects and organizations. If you�re going to talk about a
challenge you faced, describe how you were able to overcome the challenge and turn
it into a positive or successful experience. If you�re talking about a situation
that was rewarding, explain why it was rewarding and what you gained from the
experience.

Discuss a time when you were a leader.

It�s very likely that the interviewer will be interested in your leadership
skills�this is common among MBA interview questions. Have several specific examples
ready that illustrate different forms of leadership, from leading a team, to taking
the ethical high ground, to making a positive impact.

Can Ahtam, Assistant Director of Admission for Bentley's Graduate School of

Business, says that the best answers always involve potential students' involvement
with extracurricular activities or organizations outside of their workplace. "We
can see that they are doing things that allow them to develop valuable skills like
organizing events, managing people and other resources, and creating value in a
certain area," he says.

What do you like most about your current work?

This is an opportunity to direct the conversation toward something you're truly
passionate about. What do you love about your job, and why did you choose that
particular career path? What do you find rewarding or satisfying about what you
currently do? Even if you�re unhappy in your current position, you should be able
to name at least one good thing about it�this shows you�re able to find positivity
in a negative situation.

What kinds of changes would you make at work if you could?

Describe how you would make positive changes within your workplace. Make sure to
keep your ideas business-related�maybe creating a new team within your firm or
reaching out to a new industry. This shows that you�re innovative and that you know
how to improve and impact a business.
How would your colleagues and/or supervisor describe you?
Highlight both professional and personal characteristics that will indicate what
kind of student and classmate you�ll be. Just remember that your supervisor is most
likely the one who wrote your recommendation, so the interviewer already knows what
they�d say. That means don�t make something up! Paint an accurate picture of what
you�re really like at work.

What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

Coming up with strengths is fairly easy�you know what you�re good at. Pick two or
three that would set you apart and back yourself up with a few examples. When it
comes to weaknesses, it gets a little harder. You may be nervous to admit a
weakness for fear that it�ll turn the interview south, but the interviewer will
probably be more interested in how you handle yourself during this tough question
than your actual answer. After you state a weakness, make sure you�re able to
recover from the blow by leading the conversation back to a positive.

What are your short- and long-term goals?

Your short-term goals should be concrete and achievable, while your long-term goals
should line up with your passions and personality. You should include at least a
couple of business and career-oriented goals so you can show how an MBA would play
a part in helping you achieve them.

If you�re admitted to our program, what do you think your biggest challenge will
be?
For interview questions like this, prove that you�re aware of the demands of a
graduate degree program and that you�re ready to face them. Be candid, explain how
you�ll address the challenge, and show that you�re thinking about how to manage
your time and resources wisely.

Do you have any questions for me?

You�ll most certainly be asked if you have any questions yourself, and you
definitely should. You want to show that you�re serious, that you�ve done your
homework, and that you�re putting a great amount of thought into the process. Here
are some questions you could ask:
What do you think sets this business program apart from others?

What major changes do you see on the horizon for this program?

How does your program work to develop relationships with the business field or X
industry?

If you were in my position, with my goals, what would you say are your program�s
biggest advantages to me?

Be Prepared
If you�re getting ready for a graduate degree interview, make sure you prepare with
these MBA interview questions. Take the time to carefully consider your answers,
and make sure those answers truly convey your skills and passion for the business
world. If you do that, the nerves may not fully subside, but your interview will be
a success!