5 MBA Interview Questions and Answers

If you are applying to a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, you may need to participate in an interview before you’re admitted. If they like what they see on your resume and application, an interview allows the recruitment committee to get to know you better. 

Although it’s essential to provide solid answers to the questions you’re asked, your interviewer wants to see your personality, charisma, and self-awareness. The most important part of an interview is the overall impression you leave with the interviewers, from your polished appearance to your question-and-answer preparation.

Landing an interview for an MBA program is an accomplishment already, so take a moment to feel proud of yourself for making it this far. One way to prepare for a confident and natural interview conversation is to practice answering common MBA interview questions to arrange your thoughts beforehand. Review these five MBA interview questions to practice talking about yourself while gaining a better understanding of what the interviewer wants to know. 

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Sample MBA interview questions and answers

In your interview, the admissions committee or interviewer will ask you several questions to understand more about who you are as a person, your career goals, and behavioral interview questions that can provide insight into how you might handle the MBA program. You should practice answering these questions naturally, rather than rehearsing a specific answer in order to illustrate your personality. Doing so can provide the interviewer with an idea about how you will fit in with the other students and the instructors. 

1. Tell me about yourself. 

What they’re really asking: This is a classic first interview question. Your interviewer wants to see that you have a structured and cohesive answer. Questions like this also provide insight into your personality and how you would fit into the culture of the MBA program.

How to answer: You can talk about your background and your key accomplishments, as well as other notable experiences from your undergraduate program. You’re an expert in this topic already, but preparing beforehand is important because it allows you to align your answer with why you’re right for the program. Keep your answer concise (two to three minutes). Remember that you’re interviewing for your MBA, so tailor your response to point out that the graduate program would benefit from having you. 

Other forms this question might take: 

• How would others describe you?

• What are your career goals?

2. Why do you want to earn your MBA at our school?

What they’re really asking: This question allows you to continue talking about yourself and provides an insight into your personality, how you view the MBA program, and what’s important to you. You can also share with the interviewer how an MBA fits into your overall career goals. 

How to answer: You can demonstrate your research by explaining how this particular program will help you address your career goals. Explain what makes this school unique or special to you. You might mention opportunities you can access at this school, partnerships the MBA program has you want to participate in, or how this MBA will help you in your current position. Other reasons you might prefer this program include class sizes, distinguished faculty, job placement record, location, or networking opportunities. 

Other forms this question might take: 

• Why is now the right time for an MBA? 

• What makes our program attractive to you?

3. Tell me about a time when you saw a problem and took the initiative to implement a solution. 

What they’re really asking: Your MBA interviewer wants to know more about your leadership qualities and teamwork experience. Situational questions give insight into your past experiences and how those experiences will affect your participation in the MBA program. 

How to answer: This question can come in many different forms, but the core concept remains the same: How have you shown leadership in the past, what have you learned from these experiences, and what is your leadership style? You can prepare several anecdotes about times when you worked with a team or positively impacted a project. 

Other forms this question might take: 

• Tell me about a time when you were the leader of a project. 

• Tell me about a time you had to teach someone something. 

• Tell me about a time you had to motivate others to achieve a goal. 

4. What do you foresee to be your biggest challenge in an MBA program?

What they’re really asking: This question allows your interviewer to see that you have realistic expectations of the MBA program and that you’ve thoughtfully considered your potential to be successful in your studies. 

How to answer: Give a thoughtful answer that shows your interviewer that you’ve both considered and made plans to accommodate the challenges and rigors of an MBA program. You can show your ability to be introspective about your potential challenges, as well as overcome them and continuously improve. You can also demonstrate your research of the MBA program by mentioning specific resources at the school that will help you overcome challenges. 

Other forms this question might take: 

• What are your concerns about getting an MBA?

• What do you think will be the most demanding aspect of earning an MBA?

5. What is your greatest weakness?

What they’re really asking: Your interviewer wants to see that you can self-assess your strengths and weaknesses and develop strategies to overcome them. The focus isn’t necessarily on what you name as your greatest weakness but rather on how you navigate the question with humility and confidence. 

How to answer: Everyone is good at something, and everyone can take steps to improve. Spend some time self-reflecting and determine one or two areas where you could use improvement. Provide anecdotes to back up how you learned about these weaknesses and what you did to overcome them. 

Other forms this question might take: 

• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? 

• Describe any criticism you’ve received from friends or coworkers. 

What questions should you ask your MBA interviewer? 

One of the last questions you may be asked is, “Do you have any questions for me?” It’s a good idea to prepare a few questions to ask about the school or the program. Asking questions demonstrates that you’ve done research into the program and you’re taking the decision to attend the school seriously. It also helps show that you will be an engaged learner on campus or in your online MBA program. 

If you aren’t sure what to ask, you can consider questions like: 

• What sets this program apart from other MBA programs? 

• How can this program help me develop relationships in my chosen industry?

• How does this program assist candidates in further developing leadership skills?

How to prepare for your MBA interview

Practicing MBA interview questions is a good first step, but you can also do other things to prepare for a successful MBA interview. It’s important to avoid memorizing lines because you won’t be able to predict how the conversation will flow and exactly what questions your interviewer will ask you. You might find it’s better to identify three or four anecdotes and experiences that demonstrate who you are as a person and what you can accomplish in the program. You can adapt these talking points to a wide variety of questions in a natural, cohesive manner. 

You can also think of other personality traits, interests, or anecdotes you can share that help your interviewer get a more complete picture of who you are. If you have volunteer experience, travel experience, or a passion for a hobby, you can find ways to connect these to your answers to show a broader spectrum of who you are. 

Prepare for MBA interview questions on Coursera

Practicing MBA interview questions is a great way to prepare for a confident and successful MBA interview. As you consider earning your MBA, you can find flexible programs on Coursera that work with your schedule.

For example, you can earn your Master of Business Administration from Illinois Tech, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop managerial skills for organizations involved in the technology sector. You might also consider the Master of Business Administration (iMBA) from the University of Illinois, and with this program, you can increase your leadership skills while building a global network of colleagues. 

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