With b-school within reach, Pamela Chin Foo hopes the interview won’t be a stumbling block
Interviews are the last hurdle before admission. They can make or break it and it’s probably fair to say that maybe only half of the bulk going to interviews will be eventually accepted.However, I do not believe interviews are about skills, or about the candidate’s worth. Interviews are the single subjective step in an admission process. To put it shortly, I think that if one goes to the interviews, it means the admission committee has already approved that you’re good enough to study there; but interviews are there to evaluate if you’re fit for the school.
And it’s not so much about competition (although we know it is).
To me, fit is a bit like love: it has to go both ways or it won’t work. A motivation one can put into logic and describe well in essays, will not “sound” or “look” right in a face-to-face interview unless one is truly convinced about the benefits of a b-school for oneself.
My Interview Preparation Method:
Review the reasons why you applied to the school at the first place.
And review your essays. As interviews take place somewhere around a month after the application submission, you may need to refresh.
Have these reasons changed? The thought process of an MBA application doesn’t stop when the file is submitted and it’s likely that you’ll better know what you want from b-school at the time of interviews. As a result, some of the b-schools you originally applied to may be less relevant than others.
Now that you know why you can take from the school, review what you can give to the school, and preferably something more than your successful career and fat IQ. Of course this point is about how unique you are, but also how willing you are to share this uniqueness.
Does your style of sharing match the b-school’s style for this? For instance, an introverted person may not like a b-school which likes to put individuals on the spot, or a driver may feel frustrated at having to “carry” a group of other people who think differently.
Then think of what you would like to tell the b-school about yourself. Something that’s not in the essays, though preferably related. Who are you? What matters to you?
Also think of what you would like the person in front of you to tell you about the b-school he/she represents.
Of course, some people will do very well with a more straight forward approach and tips that can be found in various places on the internet. I needed more.
Love is...
Going to an interview, for me, was like going to a blind date. I knew both brides (b-schools) from their CVs. I knew that I could bring something to both, what each could bring to me and, to be honest, it was a bit of a head London Business School (LBS) vs. heart HEC Paris call.
The blind dates proved decisive.
During the two interviews I had with HEC Paris alumni, I felt the conversation flowed naturally. Although I was on the spot with the usual questions, my answers were straight forward and I could tell that the interviewers were having as much a good time as I was. I was genuinely thrilled (but not so surprised) to find that I was accepted to the programme… just 2 days before my LBS interview.
It’s possible that this announcement weighted badly on my performance at the single LBS interview. I was literally out of reasons why to go there. I knew I was capable to go there, but I had no motivation to. The interview ended up being as boring as it could possibly get without insulting anyone, and my application was unsurprisingly rejected.
HEC Paris Interview Presentation sample :
Following some demand from a few readers, I’m uploading my interview presentation:
• My presentation to the HEC MBA interview
A Few Tips for the HEC Interview Presentation :
1. Pick a topic you like and feel passionate about. Whatever that is. What’s important is that your personality goes through. Don’t forget that this presentation will lead to the more meaty part of the interview.
2. Don’t overload your presentation. The important part is you, not the dozens of slides or data that you’ll put together. Given the time length of the presentation (10 mins), avoid putting up more than 10 slides.
3. Finally, review your presentation with a friend. An outside eye is fundamental in detecting unclear or useless elements. This review is also important to check if you’re OK time-wise.
Paméla Chin Foo is in the first year of the MBA at HEC Paris. Her blog was originally published on August 18th 2009.
Student Reviews
Cultural experience
I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.
Internationality and diversity of opportunities
About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.
Great selection of people
While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.
Best in France for Grande ecole
A prestigious business school. Languages are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments.
The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.
Diversity and quality of fellow students
Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.
The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs
The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.
HEC Paris awaits you
HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.
A dream institute
Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions.
The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!
Good choice for a career boost
The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.
Cultural experience
I have met the most competent and diverse batch in this school. These people not only thrive on their own but also makes sure that you are doing it with them. The professors will take your had and walk you through all milestones and make sure you are not left behind. I have found their extracurriculars extremely engaging. There was always a room to have social life after academic life. The only hindrance is the location of the school, it is slightly outside city and living in city is expensive.
Internationality and diversity of opportunities
About my programme I would say it is very international and flexible: we have the opportunity to choose exactly the courses we want. But at the same time, the frame of the campus is crucial in students' life and enable us to create friendships.
Great selection of people
While HEC's MBA is highly selective, I really enjoy the type of people HEC's selects to make sure everybody gets the best out of their MBA experience and networking opportunities. Not only it's an incredibly diverse pool of people (~60 nationalities) but most importantly they make sure to let in friendly empathic and curious people.
Best in France for Grande ecole
A prestigious business school. Languages are important. It is better to have a scientific baccalaureate with excellent grades in high school and good assessments.
The courses are well designed as per the latest trends and practicality of learning in stressed upon. Overall, a very good experience.
Diversity and quality of fellow students
Very international and interesting place to be and opens a lot of opportunities, however the administration is very french and facilities are subpar (gym, classrooms) meaning the academic affairs is pretty much useless and lastly we are graded on a curve which can create a toxic environment because of the competition. With that being said the pros outweighs the cons by far.
The quality of the teachers, the campus, the clubs
The school is very international indeed, we have courses with international students and share things with them within the extra academic life (in the social clubs especially). We have great career prospects if we prepare ourselves well - however, the global curriculum is still very finance-oriented, which is a pity for other interesting domains of the company world, which does not rely on finance only. The social clubs are good practice for the management and for now, are quite independent.
HEC Paris awaits you
HEC Paris is really a nice place to do a master's in business. Many classes are useful and interesting (corporate finance, financial accounting, contract law…), some are less - but the curriculum is to be reviewed in the year to come. Regarding the student life, it is incredible, with about 130 clubs, lots of great parties with even greater people. The Jouy campus offers a lot of opportunities to do sports, and you can breathe fresh air every day. HEC also helps a great deal to find an internship or a job.
A dream institute
Enrolling in the HEC MBA was by far the best decision I made for myself. The people and faculty are great, with lots of opportunities to meet people and expand your horizons. Very nice campus where I have had some good running sessions.
The alumni network is superb and very helpful. It also has a good support system for entrepreneurs. Would definitely recommend it!
Good choice for a career boost
The classes were extremely practical and relevant to the current challenges that businesses are facing. You have access to a wide range of professionals and good career prospects once you leave the university.
