15 Commonly Asked MBA Interview Questions

Securing admission to the best business schools requires nailing your MBA interview questions and providing compelling responses, as recruiters are interested in learning why a candidate thinks getting an MBA would be worth a career.

Commonly asked MBA interview questions are based on personality, career prospect, industry vision and situational questions. Interview is the last phase in the MBA admissions process and this portion involves candidates sitting down with college admissions professionals to discuss their qualifications and talents to determine whether or not they are a good fit for their university.

Table of Contents

Top 15 Commonly Asked MBA Interview Questions
Personality-Based MBA Interview Questions
Career-Related MBA Interview Questions
Industry-Related MBA Interview Questions
Situational MBA Interview Questions

Top 15 Commonly Asked MBA Interview Questions

The top 15 most asked MBA interview questions related to introducing oneself, the reason that encourages candidates to pursue an MBA, why they should be accepted, and much more are explained below in detail.

1. Introduce yourself

Briefly and directly address your background, experience, and accomplishments in responding to this question. Keep your answer to a maximum of two or three minutes, and include the main topics you want to discuss about the program or institution.
Get ready to declare your experience as an undergraduate and the rationale behind your significant selection.
Talk about your experience at work and achievements, both previous and present.
Speak about your professional goals and the route you've followed to discover your priorities in your field of choice.

2. What encourages you to pursue an MBA?

The second question interviewers will ask is, "Why do you want to pursue an MBA?" Describe your motivation for pursuing a master's degree in business administration and how it will enable you to realize your professional objectives.
Stress the specific skills you wish to acquire and how they apply to the industry, profession, or area of interest. Why did you decide to pursue this degree now?
Interviewers are looking for a thoughtful, well-researched response to the work that the candidate is eager to take on. To demonstrate your willingness to join the course, answer holistically

Also Check: Top 10 Online MBA Colleges in India 2023

3. What makes you want to enroll in this business program?

This MBA interview question may be asked directly by the interviewer, or they may inquire "why you're interested in this program or area." It would be best to outline why you are the ideal candidate for the program or institution.
Considerations include the faculty, culture, curriculum, industry contacts, and job placement. Explain what makes the program or school unique and why you are interested.
The interviewer will be able to see you as a prospective college student, thanks to your response.

4. Why should we accept you?

When interviewers ask you upfront why you should be selected for the program, they are attempting to put you under pressure. Use this MBA interview question to show that you can manage topics currently and provide evidence to support your answers.
Talk about your accomplishments, highlight the skills you've acquired thus far in your career, and describe how your training and work history will help other participants in the program.

5. Talk about your leadership accomplishments.

Business school interviewers are looking for future capable executives. Provide many instances from your career, volunteer work, or community involvement where you showed leadership. Talk about the initiatives you led and the results you achieved.
What part do your skills play in the situation, and what life lessons have improved your leadership abilities?

6. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Regarding your strengths and weaknesses, you can be asked two separate questions or one combined question. Whatever the situation, the interviewer seeks proof of your humility and self-awareness.
Start by outlining your shortcomings, for example, by sharing anecdotal evidence of how you overcame a personal weakness.
From there, handling strengths is easy: Pick one or two that set you apart from the competition and support them with concrete examples.
Begin by noting a personal trait and how it contributes to quantifiable positive results.

Also Read: MBA Lateral Entry 2023

7. Which facets of your present position appeal to you?

Take this opportunity to talk about your current role and your interests. Talk about how your experience from this work will help you in the future.
Explain how doing specific tasks helped you discover your passion or how your coworkers might have encouraged you to get an MBA.

8. What are your goals, both short- and long-term?

Your short-term objectives should include tasks you can complete immediately, along with a strategy for doing so.
Your passions and interests motivate you to pursue your long-term goals, and an MBA can help you better realize them in the workplace.

9. How might you progress in your job with an MBA?

Your answer to this critical MBA interview question will determine your motivation for pursuing an MBA, so be sure to answer it fully. This is the time to justify why, in your opinion, getting an MBA is essential for you right now.
And why an MBA might yield better outcomes than any other degree in your subject of interest. To give a more thorough answer, you may also outline your long-term goals.

10. Do you work well in a team? Explain.

Just as crucial as leadership qualities are team building and supportive capabilities. You want to come out as understanding but stern. Don't forget to provide specific examples here as well.

Also Read: MBA Entrance Exam Syllabus 2023: Exam Pattern, Preparation Tips

11. What do your friends, boss, and coworkers think of you?

Highlight your personal and professional qualities. If they say supervisor, it's probably the same individual who authored your recommendation letter.
Avoid making things up as a result since any inaccuracies could raise questions. Try to present an honest picture of yourself here.

12. What is your strategy for optimizing your resources?

Though the question and its answer are similar, "Why this school?" differs. This is because responding to this question will need a far more thorough examination of the department and the resources it offers.
The interviewer or admissions committee will soon determine that you are not as interested in the program if you have not completed your study.

13. Did you apply to any other universities?

A challenging question in an MBA interview. Though it could seem confrontational or irritating, don't interpret it that way. Instead, answer the question, enumerate a few universities you're considering, and justify your selections.

14. Explain a time when your manager was incompetent and how you handled the circumstance.

Another challenging query. It would be beneficial if you addressed this subject without painting your manager as being incompetent or suggesting that they were the reason behind the conduct and that you dealt with it in a non-aggressive manner.
This will demonstrate your development and maturation as a person and in your career.

15. Do you have any questions or issues regarding the program or the school?

If you can inquire about the program or the admissions procedure, prepare one or two good questions for the interviewer. Sincere questions reveal your interest and past learning. To show that you are actively listening during your time together, try to probe deeply into topics as you are talking.
Stay away from asking questions you can get the answers to by looking up on the school's website or promotional materials; this will hurt your chances of coming across as unprepared during the interview.

Also Check: Top 10 Online MBA Colleges in India

Personality-Based MBA Interview Questions

Some interesting personality-based MBA interview questions, like describing yourself in 5 words as the most inspiring person in your life related to the choices that you have made and have created a significant impact, are listed below :

How would you characterize yourself in 5 words?
Who is the person you adore in life, and why?
What particular quality or ability makes you stand out?
When someone meets you, what is the first thing they notice?
Which three choices have you made that have had the most significant impact on your life?

Also Read: Top 15 Qualities of MBA Students

The most critical seven career-related MBA interview questions that test the individual interest and skill in pursuing the program are listed below:

After graduating in five, ten, and twenty years, where do you see yourself?
How do your skills and experience support you in achieving your professional goals?
What kind of impact do you hope to have on your field of expertise or industry?
Why don't you continue your job and work toward your professional objectives?
Why pursue an MBA program?
What particular skills would you wish to develop to meet your post-MBA goals?
After earning your MBA, what would you do if you could not achieve your desired outcome?

Also Read: Top 10 MBA Skills to Boost your Career

Some industry-related MBA interview questions that focus on the issues that the industry today is facing, the skills required for effective management, and the area of experience are listed below.

Describe three recent advancements in your area of expertise.
In ten years, how do you believe your industry will look? What noteworthy alterations do you think will take place?
What is the most urgent problem facing your industry?
Which remedy would you recommend?
Which five skills are necessary for effective management in your industry?

Also Check: One Year MBA Programs in India

Situational MBA Interview Questions

Some tricky and twisty situational MBA interview questions to check the spontaneity of the students are listed below:

Tell me about an instance where you showed leadership.
Tell about a situation where you had to make a moral choice. How did you resolve that?
Give an account of a formative event. Why do you feel that way?
Explain a failure you experienced and the lessons you took away.
Tell of a moment you had to face and overcome adversity.
Tell about a time you resolved a problem between members of a diverse team.

Also Check: Online MBA vs Distance MBA