An invitation to Wharton’s Team Based Discussion can be as nerve-wracking as it is exciting. But with preparation and the proper mind-set, it can be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your ability to think on your feet, respond under pressure, and collaborate with others.
To ace the interview, consider the following tips:
1. Prepare thoroughly. After you receive the scenario, create a proposal and know it inside and out. Practice your presentation, out loud. Present in front of a mirror, or to a live-audience of friends. Be sure that you feel confident about your ability to present your idea in a relaxed way, showcasing how you thought through the exercise. While you don’t want to memorize your presentation word-for-word or sound overly rehearsed, you do want to be able to describe your idea in an articulate way.
2. Anticipate questions and think through possible responses. Consider what questions may arise from your teammates about your proposal and write out responses to them. The more people you can share your idea with and collect questions from, the better. After working with an idea for a long period, it will become harder and harder to poke holes in it. Let your friends, co-workers, or parents help you with this process.
To begin, ask yourself the following questions:
What are the benefits of your proposal for students? For Wharton?
What are the risks of your proposal?
What assumptions are you making?
3. Be able to articulate the “why?” behind all the components of your proposal, as well as the “why not?” for other potential possibilities. This is important because (most likely) your proposal will not be selected. However, if you can find other students who have a similar “why?” as the foundation of their ideas, it will help you to collaborate with them and contribute to the discussion.
4. Be a team player. We cannot stress this enough. While there is an aspect of competition to the interview, the Team Based Discussion is an opportunity to show your collaborative nature. Don’t try to “win” by pressuring the group to select your proposal or taking up all of the air time. Instead, demonstrate how you will fit into the MBA community by being inclusive and showing curiosity, humility, and adaptability. Articulate your thought process clearly, be positive and encouraging of others’ ideas, continue to move the group forward by summarizing ideas, and question respectfully. Remember that the point of the exercise is to drive towards a strong team outcome; the better the team interacts together, the better all of you will look individually.
5. Set yourself up for a professional virtual appearance, as Wharton will once again facilitate the Team Based Discussion using a virtual format.
Understand the platform that you’ll be using; if it’s new to you, download the platform and practice with a friend or family member to gain some comfort prior to your interview.
Opt for a clean, uncluttered background or select a plain virtual background (forget the beach, mountains, or the Golden Gate bridge).
Place a light in front of you so that your face is clearly visible on the screen (backlighting will result in shadows). You may want to take a test run with a friend or family member around the same time of day as your interview to confirm that they are able to see you clearly (this will ensure any natural light in the room isn’t casting shadows).
If possible, ask others in your home to log out of any high-bandwidth activities during the time of your interview, or consider hardwiring your computer into the internet. You may also want to perform an internet speed test (you can find via google).
6. Day-of tips:
Wear a business suit.
Make your notes available, but do not read them directly or rely on them for more than a memory trigger. It helps to use a larger font, with key words bolded so that you can find your reference quickly.
Pace yourself when speaking. (When nerves hit, people tend to speak more quickly.) Use hand gestures to emphasize your points, and make eye contact as much as possible with the other attendees.
Stay calm in the event of a tough question. Collect yourself by taking a deep breath or a sip of water. Don’t feel the need to launch into a response prior to gathering your thoughts.
As much as possible, relax and try to enjoy the experience. This will be representative of the dynamic you’ll live in for the next two years. Ensure it feels right to you.
Related blog: How to Approach Wharton’s Essays