MBA Admissions Ep. 16: How to Thoroughly Piss Off Your MBA Interviewer

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How can a great interview enhance your MBA application? What do interviewers look for in their conversations with applicants? What questions can you expect to encounter, and what’s the best way to answer them? What are some common pitifalls that even strong candidates make all the time? What blunders should you avoid at all costs?

For answers to these questions and more, check out this discussion between Matt McDonnell (GMAT Ninja Admissions Consultant) and Charles Bibilos (founder of GMAT Ninja).

Armed with an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, plus an extensive history as a student interviewer at Tuck, Matt is excited to share his insights on the interview process. Drawing on his first-hand experiences, he'll outline both common pitfalls and insider tips to help you knock your MBA interview out of the park. Some highlights include:

1. When your interviewer asks about your resume, use it as an opportunity explain the “why” of your educational and professional history. What has led you to the schools and jobs you’ve picked? What has driven your choices and transitions? Filling in these gaps will help your interviewer conduct a fruitful conversation, which will help you put your best foot forward.
2. When explaining why you like a school, show that you’ve done your homework. Prove that you understand what makes a school unique, and connect this understanding to your professional goals.
3. When your interviewer asks about a conflict or failure you’ve experienced – the best answer is an honest one. If you don't have a great story, it’s better to admit this candidly than to make one up. Your interviewer is less interested in the details of your failures than your ability to learn from mistakes.
4. Have good questions for your interviewer. When they ask – “any questions for me?” – that’s your cue to demonstrate your interest in the school. Avoid "yes-or-no" questions that can be answered with a quick glance at their website. Rather, pose open-ended queries that showcase your genuine curiosity.

Along with these tips, Matt presents numerous, painfully revealing, often hilarious stories of interviews gone horribly wrong. As he points out, it’s possible to sink an otherwise excellent interview with a single, ill-considered reply.

On the other hand, if you take his advice to heart, you’ll be well on your way to making a great impression on your MBA interviewer.

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For more on Matt McDonnell and his unique, wide-ranging experiences in the MBA world: https://www.gmatninja.com/matt-mcdonn...

For more on Charles Bibilos, his love of international food, and his contributions to ornithology textbooks: https://www.gmatninja.com/charles-bib...
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Chapters

00:02 Introduction
01:00 Q1: Tell Me About Your Resume
04:57 Q2: Why an MBA? Why Here?
08:35 Q3: Tell Me About A Failure or Conflict
12:44 Q4: Any Questions For Me?
16:38 Horror Story #1
18:50 Horror Story #2
20:35 Horror Story #3
22:04 Matt’s Final Advice