(1888PressRelease)
November 16, 2006 - Gaining an MBA can be expensive, but also worthwhile as it could get you into jobs that would otherwise be closed off.
The qualification alone, however, will not do this - it will only help you get an interview. Once you're in that interview room, your resume and MBA become less and less relevant. What becomes more and more relevant is your performance during the interview.
Gary Hatchett, a seasoned interviewer with experience of recruiting for investment banks and consulting firms (two of the principal jobs that MBA students apply for) has just completed a gruelling schedule in the US where he interviewed over 100 MBA students from the top schools such as Harvard, Wharton, Columbia and Chicago.
"I have been interviewing at these schools year in and year out, and it actually appears that the standard is going DOWN not UP!" says Gary.
"I'm not sure what is driving it," he continues, "perhaps they have the belief that their resume is sufficient and that the interview doesn't count that much."
"Well they need to realize that once they have been invited into the process, it's the only thing which counts. At the end of the day, when I am discussing candidates with my fellow interviewers, we almost never turn to a candidate's resume. The majority of discussions focus SOLELY on interview performance."
"I am staggered by the number of people who I interview who have not gone through a round of interview training or practice beforehand. Not only does this mean that they undersell themselves, their capabilities and their experience at interview, it also means that they view interviewing with us as being a 'practice round'! How likely are we to give offers to people like that? Not likely at all", says Gary.
So how should you prepare for the interview. Gary has five key tips:
1) Research what the company is looking for. Quite often you can find this explicitly stated on their website or in their recruiting literature. If not, show some initiative and call the recruiting manager
2) Research the interview process. Will there be 'case' interviews, behavioral interviews, problem solving tests, group exercises? Make sure you know so that you can prepare for each.
3) Package your skills and experience. It is a little-known fact that there are actually very few interview questions about your skills and experience. Make sure you practice your response to each one, and treat it as an opportunity to sell yourself rather than just giving your interviewer information.
4) Understand and practice any special types of interview. If there is a case interview, then make sure you understand exactly what these entail, and talk to your careers service to get practice doing these cases.
5) Practice, practice, practice. There is no substitute for practice to make sure that you are cool, confident and collected in the interview room. Practice with the careers service, practice with your friends, practice by yourself. Whatever you do, practice!!!
