This article is in continuation of the first part of Interrogate Your Persona which can be accessed at Part 1
About Personal Interviews
One of the most interesting and intriguing aspects of MBA preparation is that of Personal Interview - the last big step to your final call into your choice of Business school. This last leg is about self-interrogation of your persona. In the last 6 years of being a faculty for CAT, SAT and GMAT – I have had a wonderful and a rare opportunity of interacting with students of various age groups and it seems that there are some aspects of our personality which at every age we find difficult to explore and introspect. But this introspection that happens while students prepare for personal interviews gives students a chance to work on their personalities and correct the flaws which they themselves had been unable to identify.
Let’s take a look at some other very important and commonly asked questions in PIs:
This list, of course, can go on and on depending on how you molded the interview for yourself.
No matter what your academics and potentials are, your final selection depends on your interview performance as well. In short, it is not about being good candidate but it is all about being good interviewee. One mistake at the interview can actually shatter your dreams. To reply in a better manner to every conversation, you need to understand what purpose every question serves.
You’ve definitely messed up your chances if you have:
Dressed up badly - There should be nothing casual about your dress or your look. A pleasant yet neat look just got you more points and please! Make sure your nails are clean and cut – you can go to the extent of getting a manicure and it does not matter whether you are a male! Watch the perfume or the cologne and nothing flashy – remember it’s an interview for a professional course.
Lied – don’t lie, be genuine and this is important coz the panel is not a fool. They have interviewed many like you and me and have perfected the art of identifying liars who do no good to themselves. So please, be honest and genuine and you’ll see the confidence in you – beaming!
Exhibited a bad body language - too casual, too stiff, feet and arms crossed – just lost you a seat.
Not watched your mannerisms – take permission to enter, wish the panel, take permission to have a seat and look pleasant. When you are done with the interview, thank them for their time and wish them a good day and walk your way out, without banging the door!
Not listened to your questions well - the scene described above explains this point quite well!
Most importantly, if you have not communicated your purpose or interest for a career in management, you have definitely not done justice to your interview.
So, be well prepared for your interview, take guidance from whosoever you think has the knowledge to guide you. Accept the feedback and work towards getting your responses right!
And yes! Watch out this space for more on all about MBA Prep and don’t waste time! Just bring your queries to us!
An MBA from the prestigious NMIMS, Mumbai, Tanya is an expert English mentor for the GMAT and the CAT. Her rich experience of mentoring students for the GMAT spans various countries and continents! Tanya currently anchors the development of the GMAT offering at Roots Education and mentors the CAT aspirants at MBAGuru, India’s fastest growing CAT coaching, for the English section and the GD-PI stages.
Holistic career guidance at personal level provided @MBAGURU helped me in not only cracking CAT but also in discovering weaknesses and path to conquer them.
