harvard business school
Securing an invitation to an MBA interview is more than just a milestone. It will be a thorough examination of the application's potential. An invitation to an MBA interview means that the admissions committee recognizes the attractive qualities of your application and means you are one step closer to the finish line.
As Harvard Business School distributed interview invitations to selected applicants on Wednesday, HBS alumnus, former HBS MBA interviewer, and mbaMission admissions consultant Devi Varavaneni shares what applicants can expect from an HBS interview. We provided insight into what you can do and tips to ace the interview.
What you need to know about your interviewer
HBS MBA interviews are typically conducted by someone on the HBS admissions committee. According to Vallabhaneni, HBS interviewers come to interviews well prepared. They read the application from cover to cover and may even research the company and extracurricular activities.
“When I was on the HBS admissions committee, I would spend several hours preparing for the HBS interview,” Vallabhaneni says. “This is something I took very seriously, preparing some questions in advance and knowing the candidate well enough to be able to change the questions as the conversation progresses. I wanted to keep it.”
casual conversation
The actual interview time at HBS is 30 minutes. During this time, the interviewer will learn more about you during the conversation. Vallabaneni says applicants should expect casual but personal conversations.
“The HBS interview is truly a conversation: a high-level, compelling, yet personal conversation between two people,” says Vallabaneni. “It's best to think of the interview as a chat with the executives at your company or the dean of your business school. They both have a lot of knowledge about business and can get to know you right away. HBS The same goes for the interviewer.”
know your story
Master your story, from big accomplishments to small intricacies, to prepare for your interview. Vallabhaneni also recommends adding a personal touch to your story.
“…I may have written about my love for Chinese food in the personal section of my resume, but I haven’t thought about the last cooking class I took ever since. This was two years ago, by the way. It was a good story,''' says Vallabaneni. “I never particularly tried to find weaknesses in my interviewees' stories, but I started by asking them about interesting interests and hobbies they mentioned from time to time. Maybe you just asked about it. Familiarize yourself with the entire application before the interview, even the parts that seem trivial.”
Source: mbaMission, Harvard Business School
Following page: London Business School MBA Interview Tips
