During a B-School Interview, what should one NOT do? That’s what this blog is all about. We recently had a blog on “Commonly asked questions during B-School Interviews” – You can read that blog here.
Mistakes to avoid during a B-School Interview
In this blog, we will be covering 5 mistakes that candidates usually make in a B-School Interview.
Not Maintaining eye contact and/or abnormally lowering your voice
This is kind of two separate points that will end up doing the same thing from the Interviewer’s perspective – Make it look like you’re not confident, or like you’re lying.
For example: During your Interview, when asked about your work experience, if you suddenly lower your voice because you only have work experience in a startup, then even if you did have work experience, the Interview panel will automatically start doubting whether you worked or just have a certificate to cover up a gap year.
It is very important to maintain eye-contact with at least one of the panelists, as much as possible, throughout. Also, whatever you say, speak with confidence and a clear voice. Just don’t suddenly lower your voice because it never comes off well. It can convey that you’re trying to cover something up.
Don’t take extreme stances during your B-School Interview
There is nothing wrong with having opinions that are on either extreme of any scale. However, during Interviews, it’s not a great idea to show that off.
If you seem to give the opinion that you lean toward the right on a political standpoint, they will provoke you to the point where you might, without realizing it, give widely unpopular views on very highly controversial topics. That’s not good.. AT ALL..
It’s not okay to say, without great conviction, that: Virat Kohli is the best Captain right now, or when compared to any past Indian captain. Or that, if given the chance, you would have every Politician educated well. Or any other extreme stance like this.
Even if the Interviewer agrees with you, they will take the other side and provoke controversial opinions that you might not follow entirely.
Listen to the Panelists in your B-School Interview
During your Interview, sometimes the professor might just slip into a teaching mode to help you understand something. If you recognise him slipping out of the Interviewer mode, learn to stay quiet and understand what he’s saying – Don’t jump in and say “Oh yeah, that’s what I meant”.
When your Interviewer corrects you and you jump in mid sentence to say that you were going to say just that, or add two extra points to back-up your opinion, you will come across like you’re trying to be overly aggressive in your opinion or like you’re getting defensive all of a sudden.
When the Interviewer takes time out to tell you that the CAA has its origins from back in the 1990s when the first refugee crisis started, that’s not your time to jump in and say, “But the ACT was only passed recently – so none of that matters”.
In short, something that is very important to convey to your Interviewer is that, you’re capable of being able to listen when they are talking.
Don’t try to be too cute!
A very common piece of advice for B-School Interviews is: Steer the Interview where you want it to go. But the other half of that sentence is “But, don’t try to be cute”.
Talking too much about some interest of yours, say Football, and trying to give analogies relating to the same interest for an entirely disconnected topic turns Interviewers off.
Another category of “Being too cute” is saying cliche statements like My strengths are that I have no weaknesses (or) My weaknesses are that I have no strengths or that I try too hard. I’m sometimes too perfect for my team mates.
In short, don’t try to be over-cute or extra smart. It will very likely turn your panelists off.
Don’t anticipate and try to answer the next question
The sentence is self explanatory – When you’re asked a question, answer that one question. Don’t think that they’re setting up for something else and continue on answering that without them asking you the answer to that question.
For example, if you have less than a year of work experience after a degree in Computer Science and you’re asked whether you like your current job, answer that question alone. Don’t continue on and answer why you’re planning on doing an MBA after a CS degree, or why you’re doing an MBA after this little experience, or anything like that.
Maybe they’re setting up for some question – But don’t unnecessarily give your answer to a question that you think they might ask.
If you want to see this content in a Blog format, you can check out out here!
That’s all for this blog folks. Stay tuned to our Blog to get updates on CAT & B-School Interview Prep. If you have any questions, definitely post them in the comments section below!
Article written by Praveen Thankasala – A perpetual mis-match between what I want to do and what I actually do. Aahh.. I’ve got to go sleep again.
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