I am nervous facing an interview in IP says some of the MBA students, we are providing few solutions and tips for your nervous
Q&As for B-school Interviews:
Just getting a good score in CAT 2011 is not enough to get a seat in your dream B-school. Personal interviews too play a very important role in MBA admission process. These interviews check your readiness for MBA programme
The interview is a personality and skills test. The admission panel is looking for someone with a sound grasp of academics, self-awareness, clarity of goals, and a well-rounded personality. Typically, these sessions last 30 minutes to an hour and are designed to assess qualities that aren`t easily detected in your written test.
In an attempt to help you ace your MBA interviews, we list five most frequently asked questions and how you should answer them..
Tell us about yourself?
Ans) This is the most frequently asked question not only in an MBA interviews but also in a job interviews. You should summarise your goals, professional capabilities, achievements, background (educational and family), strengths, professional objectives and anything about your personality that is relevant and interesting. Since this is the first question asked it is important to make a good first impression. This question represents an opportunity to lead the interviewer in the direction you want him to go.
Why do you want to pursue an MBA programme?
Ans) You should be prepared about this question because you need to show that you`re 100% convinced that an MBA will help your career goals. You should not sound indecisive. In the answer to a direct question on this subject, you must convey to the panel that you have made a rational and informed decision about your career choice and intended course of higher study. Try to show that an MBA will help you achieve both targets of career objective and value addition. If you have some facts and figures, you can show how many opportunities are there for MBA graduates.
What are your hobbies and interests?
Ans) Be very careful in answering this question as you maybe cross questioned on the same. When you specify your hobbies, do not lie. For instance, if you like reading novels, you may be asked what kind, which authors, of whether you agree with the endings. Make sure you talk only about novels you have actually read.
Who is your role model and why?
Ans) Your role model will reflect you as a person. So it is advisable to be very sure on how you answer this question. To answer this question, think of those personalities who embody the qualities that you most admire and that would be most valued in the position you`re applying for. Explain why you look up to them and how they have influenced you either directly or indirectly.
If not selected, what will you do?
Ans) You must have a strong backup plan. Another way to answer is I would give my best to this programme. However, if I am not selected I would try to learn from my mistakes and get ready for another interview.
Top 5 Must-Watch Movies for B-school students:
Sometimes a movie can teach you the biggest lessons of life. It is for this reason that B-school students are recommended to watch movies to learn about management and other related issues like morality, conspiracy, greed, capitalism, human emotions and management. They depict the best and worst of human nature and give us an insight on how a human mind works.
It is for this reason that Bloomberg Businessweek conducted a survey of top 30 B-schools of America and asked the deans to name their favourite movies with a business theme or lesson and to explain their choices.
This listing is useful for students currently enrolled in a business school or contemplating to do a MBA as these flicks will provide a kind of silver-screen curriculum on leadership, ethics, and the exercise of power. The list contains a mix of classic and modern films, documentary and fictional works, comedies and dramas.
Inside Job
Year of release: 2010
Starring: Matt Damon, William Ackman, and Daniel Alpert
Recommended by: Judy Olian, dean of the UCLA Anderson School of Management
Story Line: A shocking post-mortem of the most important and impactful global economic crisis in decades, pointing to shared responsibility across many financial institutions, government organisations, and business leaders.
The Wizard of OZ
Year of release: 1939
Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, and Ray Bolger
Recommended by: James W. Dean Jr., dean of the University of North Carolina`s Kenan-Flager Business School
Story Line: A very famous classic among children, the movie showcases Industrial Age perfection in the Emerald City. One must see the production methods that were used only a few years later to build tanks and airplanes for World War II, and in many American industries for decades afterward. Another great link that the film depicts is the relationship between war and business.
The Social Network
Year of release: 2010
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake
Recommended by: Bob Dammon, dean of Carnegie Mellon University`s Tepper School of Business; Judy Olian, dean of the UCLA Anderson School of Management; and James W. Dean Jr., dean of the University of North Carolina`s Kenan-Flager Business School
Story Line: The story based on Facebook is inspiring to million viewers worldwide. A timely look at the inception of social media, the story demonstrates both the power and profitability of a great idea, as well as some real-world entrepreneurial challenge
The Godfather
Year of release: 1970
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
Recommended by: Paul Danos, dean of Dartmouth College`s Tuck School of Business, and Robert F. Bruner, dean of the University of Virginia`s Darden School of Business
Story Line: This story will teach you never to mix business and feelings, and that no business is personal. Any B-school student could watch it for some valuable immersion into an aspect of American culture and a lesson in adherence to personal values.
A Christmas Carol
Year of release: 1984
Starring: George C. Scott, Frank Finlay, and Angela Pleasence
Recommended by: James W. Dean Jr., dean of the University of North Carolina`s Kenan-Flager Business School
Story Line: Based on Charles Dickens`s novel, the film addresses the most fundamental question of what business is about. The emotions and how money can make someone blind and insensitive to emotions and relationships make this movie a must watch for B-school students.
Tips for MBA students to make themselves more employable:
Nowadays just doing a Master`s of Business Administration (MBA) is not enough to get your dream job. Since the corporate world is very competitive, demanding and dynamic, there are other skills that you should be proficient enough to secure your dream job with your dream salary. In an attempt to help you reach your career goals, we are offering you tips to make yourself more employable-:
1) Enhance your soft skills: You must enhance your communication skills, presentation skills and soft skills. For those who`re not confident about their soft skills, joining a finishing school to develop your personality, body language, inter-personal and social interaction skills will be beneficial.
2) Be a team player: It is very important that you can work in a team, coordinate with your colleagues, communicate with them effectively and make proper adjustments.
3) Develop leadership skills: Since you will be hired at a managerial position after completing your MBA, it is very important that you`re able to manage a group of people. For that you need to develop leadership skills.
4) Knowledge building: You should be updated with latest trends in your field. It is important to keep on doing courses to update your knowledge. Participate in all kinds of group activities like group case studies, simulations, industry interaction programs and inter- college level academic and extra-curricular competitions to keep yourself updated.
5) Develop corporate awareness: An employer is not only looking for a MBA degree but also the application orientation of the student. Students in B-school study the concepts of management in their classes but hardly understand how this knowledge can be applied in real business scenario. Thus there is a gap between theory and knowledge. To be able to bag the coveted job you must understand what business is all about and how you can contribute to the growth of any organisation.
6) Strong Network: To be a successful professional, you must be well connected and have a strong networking with people in your field. Having a good network and being active on social networking sites will be useful for you.
7) Carefully selecting internships and placements: You must select a good/ reputed company in your field for internship as it is the only opportunity where you can exhibit your skills by translating them in performance. At the same time, you learn about a particular industry, how it functions and its operations in detail. Ensure that you select an internship in the same profile or industry you intend to work in future.
5 things to consider before taking a Career Break for MBA:
After working as an engineer for several years with a leading company, 27-year-old Amit Saxena quit his job to study MBA from a prestigious B-school in the USA. Since the first day he picked up his first job in 2002, Saxena has been saving an education fund. While most of his colleagues splurged their income on leisure, Saxena just had one mind in goal to save money so that he could pursue MBA from n Ivy League college. By the time he joined Harvard Business School in 2007, he had saved Rs 20 lakh. It was this meticulous saving all these years that he was able to pay the course fees of $80,000 per year.
Today Amit is very satisfied man. He is currently working as a CEO of a media organisation and is earning thrice than what he was earning in his previous job. He feels that taking a study break was the best decision he made and it was worth all the sacrifices.
Like Saxena, many professionals choose to take a career sabbatical to pursue higher studies. There is a rising trend where many professionals are choosing to step out of the boardroom after a few years to study further. This trend is due to the fact that there is growing realisation among Indians that investing in one`s higher education will lead to rich dividends.
It is for this reason that executive MBA courses offered by prestigious IIMs and Indian School of Business are becoming very popular among Indians, and despite having the same fees as two-year programme see many executives signing up for it. Also since the duration of most executive MBAs is one year, the professionals do not have to take a long break.
Advocating that there has been a surge in number of professionals signing for executive MBA, Arjun Srivastava, head, consumer practice, Egon Zehnder, an executive search firm, tells Economic Times, "Over the past 4-5 years, there has been a 20-25% increase in the number of people taking a break from their careers to pursue an MBA. In fact, those who have this degree from an institute in India choose to get another one from abroad sometimes."
When should you take Career Sabbatical?
Mostly people take a career sabbatical to do executive MBA after three to five years of working. Whereas there are other categories of professionals who take a break from their career after 7-8 years of their career, or in some cases 10-12 years. The last two categories of professionals opt for short-term management courses.
However, before taking the plunge you should be sure if this sabbatical will enhance your career prospects. If you want to switch to a different industry, research on the options and career path that you would like to take. Interact with people in the field to understand the skills you need to acquire and then choose the course.
Few points to consider before going on a career search:
1) Research: Besides researching if the sabbatical will enhance your career prospects, take two years time to do a proper groundwork
2) Prepare a Budget: Calculate the expense you`re likely to incur. This will include tuition fees, living expense, medical and family needs
3) Save: Open a separate savings account for the education fund. Also try to clear all debts before you take a sabbatical
4) Get medical cover: Get adequate medical cover because as soon as leave your company, you will lose the medical insurance provided by your employers
5) Stay connected: If you want to return to the same job, keep in touch with your boss and colleagues.