Harvard Business School - MBA Interview Preparation Guide

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The HBS interview is designed to assess your fit with the school's culture and values, your motivations for pursuing an MBA, and your potential contributions to the HBS community. The interview is typically conducted by an admissions committee member who has thoroughly reviewed your application, making the conversation highly personalized.

Candidates have reported that the HBS interview is:

• Highly Customized: Interviewers delve deep into specific aspects of your application. For instance, one candidate was asked, "Tell me about how you chose your college," prompting a discussion about decision-making processes and personal values.
• Rapid-Fire Format: The 30-minute interview is fast-paced, with interviewers posing a series of questions in quick succession. This format assesses your ability to think on your feet and articulate your thoughts concisely.
• Behavioral and Situational Probes: Candidates have reported questions like, "How was adapting to U.S. pop culture when you first arrived here for college?" and "Tell me about a time you failed." Such questions evaluate your adaptability, self-awareness, and resilience.
• Focus on Clarity and Depth: Interviewers often seek clarification on specific points. For example, one applicant was asked, "What do you mean by 'leading a team' in your resume?" This underscores the importance of being precise and providing depth in your responses.
• Assessment of Cultural Fit: Questions such as, "Why HBS?" and "What will you contribute to the HBS community?" aim to gauge your alignment with the school's values and culture.

Key Takeaways from Past Candidates:

• Preparation is Crucial: Given the interview's depth, thoroughly review your application and anticipate potential questions related to your experiences and choices.
• Authenticity Matters: Be genuine in your responses. Interviewers appreciate candidness and self-reflection.
• Stay Composed: The rapid pace can be challenging, but maintaining composure and clarity is essential.
• Engage Thoughtfully: Demonstrating introspection and the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue reflects well on your candidacy.

• Why did you choose your undergraduate institution?
• How did you adapt to new cultural environments, especially if you studied abroad?
• What are your core values, and how have they influenced your decisions?

• Walk me through your resume.
• Discuss a significant professional achievement and its impact.
• Describe a challenging situation at work and how you handled it.

• Provide an example of a time you led a team.
• How do you handle conflicts within a team?
• Describe a situation where you had to influence others without authority.

• Talk about a difficult decision you made and the outcome.
• Describe a time when you had to make a decision with incomplete information

• What is your biggest weakness, and how are you addressing it?
• How do you handle failure or setbacks?

• Why HBS?
• How do you plan to contribute to the HBS community?
• What clubs or activities at HBS align with your interests?

• What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
• How will an MBA from HBS help you achieve these goals?

Within 24 hours of your interview, HBS requires a written reflection. This is an opportunity to:

• Reflect on the interview experience.
• Address any points you feel you didn't adequately cover.
• Reiterate your interest in HBS.

Tips:

• Be concise and genuine.
• Avoid repeating content from your application.
• Use this space to provide new insights or clarify previous points.

• Be Authentic: Share genuine experiences and reflections.
• Be Concise: Practice delivering clear and succinct responses.
• Know Your Application: Be prepared to discuss any part of your resume or essays in detail.
• Research HBS: Demonstrate a deep understanding of what makes HBS unique and how it aligns with your goals.
• Practice: Conduct mock interviews to become comfortable with the interview format and question types.