Advice from Chicago Booth Interviewers
Many blog posts offer interview tips from the admissions committee’s point of view, but today’s post from the Booth Insider blog at the Chicago Booth School of Business shares feedback straight from the Admissions Fellows who have or will soon conduct interviews with those lucky Round Two applicants.
Keep in mind that Admissions Fellows are second-year MBA students who have been chosen after a rigorous selection process to assist the Booth admissions committee in evaluating applications and interviewing for fit. They are people who, just two years ago, were in your shoes and know exactly where you’re coming from in this lengthy, often stressful process.
Through a series of quotes from ten Admissions Fellows, a few common threads emerge: be prepared; come with stories; strike a balance between professional and personable. It’s interesting to note that the advice given by each individual probably reflects the personality of the interviewer. For example, Juan says, “Relax! It is a conversation, not a job interview!”. I surmise that his interview style is pretty laid back and off the cuff.
Dane, on the other hand, reminds candidates to really prep for the interview with a friend to ensure you’ve eliminated excessive industry jargon that could cast doubts about your ability to communicate. This is solid advice that everyone should pay attention to, but one can likely imagine a more traditional interview experience with Dane.
My general preference is to interview with an alum or second-year, since it’s often a more relaxed exchange. But only you can know which option is the best fit for your personality style. In any scenario, it’s always good advice to try and develop a rapport with your interviewer. People tend to hire, or recommend, those with whom they’ve made a personal connection.
Check out the original post to see what each of this year’s crop of interviewers has to say, and for more interview advice, read my recent US News post, How to Master MBA Interviews.
