This blog series covers the types of questions you can expect to receive in your MBA interview.
“Tell me about yourself.”
The first question your interviewer asks will likely be something general that invites the widest-ranging answer. This question comes in many forms. It could be as short and blunt as: Tell me about yourself. It could be: Walk me through your resume. It could be: Talk to be about anything you believe will enhance your candidacy for admission.
These opening questions require a three-minute answer. Think of it as an elevator pitch response. Naturally, your response should reiterate your commitment to pursuing an MBA and make it clear why an MBA will benefit your career and help you to bridge your past experiences with your future goals. It is okay to stay in a linear timeline: I did X and transitioned to Y. What's important is explaining the motivation behind your decisions. You can also share who you are via your three most impactful experiences.
Practice some possible responses to ensure you're not going wildly under or over the three-minute mark. Don't try to memorize anything word-for-word as this will lead to fumbling with your words or coming off as wooden. But have an outline in mind—some milestones you know you want to pass.
Some sub-questions you might answer to build your "Tell me about yourself"-answer are:
What was your path to this point? Did you always know you would pursue a career in business?
How has your work experience prepared you for business school?
Do you want to expand on any meaningful professional experiences and how they reinforced your interest in graduate business education?
What are your post-MBA career goals?
How will an MBA bridge your past with your future?
What fun fact about you could you close on?
Admissions committees like it when applicants include personality in their answers, especially when answering this question. Revealing something fun about yourself encourages a connection between you and the interviewer.