Top MBA Connect

Mistakes to Avoid Before the MBA Interview

1. Being late to the interview. Whether or not you are on time can actually make or break the interview. That's why you should do everything in your power to be there at least 15 minutes ahead of time. This ensures that you aren't rushed and that you don't look dishevelled.


2. Forgetting to bring the interviewer's contact information. Unfortunately, there are a lot of things in life that we can't control, including roadways and airline arrivals. Having the interviewer's contact information saved on your phone will make it easier to get in touch, if you end up being delayed en route to the interview.


3. Disrespecting the receptionist or students. While they may not be MBA interviewers, their opinions are often considered to be as important as those of the MBA admissions staff. That's why you should treat them the same way you treat your interviewers.


4. Not preparing questions ahead of time. Most MBA interviews allot time for you to ask questions. Don't assume that this is optional, since a lack of questions could show that you are unprepared and haven't researched the MBA program. That's why you should come to the interview with at least five well-written questions -- questions that can't be answered by reading the brochure or conducting a Google search.


5. Not researching the interview format first. Different schools have different formats ranging from 45 minutes to 3 hours. Luckily, there are a lot of great MBA blogs and forums out there where students share their experiences interviewing with different schools. Learn from their experiences


6. Not having a game plan. One of the most important things you need to do as part of the MBA application process is be consistent, which is why you should be clear on the story you will tell as well as how you will convey your personal brand during the interview.


7. Worrying. Just like there are a lot of things we can't control, there are also a lot of things we can't predict. That's why you should focus on being yourself, instead of trying to predict everything that will go wrong. Most of the things we worry about never happen, and the things that do go wrong are often the ones we don't predict.