Starting the process of getting an MBA is an exciting journey that is full of challenges and opportunities. The interview process, especially when it comes to behavioral interview questions, is one of the most essential parts of this journey. These questions are meant to assess your previous professional behavior and forecast your future behavior in similar situations. You can answer these questions with confidence and poise if you use these excellent strategies.
1. Understand the Purpose of Behavioral Questions
Knowing why MBA interviewers ask behavioral questions is essential before discussing strategies. By asking you about your past experiences, the interviewer hopes to learn more about your problem-solving abilities, teamwork skills, leadership qualities, and ethical standards. As they say, the best predictor of future performance is past behavior.
2. Prepare with the STAR Method
The Situation, Task, Action, and Outcome of the experience you are narrating are all covered in detail by the STAR method, which is an organized approach to answering behavioral interview questions. This approach will guarantee that your response is clear, concise, and pertinent to the query.
- Situation: Set the context for your story.
- Task: Describe what was required of you.
- Action: Explain what you did.
- Result: Share the outcome of your actions.
The following answer has been prepared keeping STAR approach in mind:-
NIT Raipur organizes National Level Science Exhibition every year. While I was in 2nd year of my B.tech, I decided to form a team of three and participate. I knew that the competition would be difficult as there were teams from our senior batches too, who had more knowledge than us. But we were determined to make it to the top three rankers in the exhibition. A week before the exhibition we were to showcase the projects on which we have been working on. The faculty coordinator discarded the project made by my team, because one of the seniors was also working on the same project and did it better than us. Coming up with a new project in a weeks time seemed challenging. My team and I started working on the second project without wasting a second. I consider completing the project as the biggest achievement less because I managed to stand 2nd among all participating teams, but because of the what I learnt during the process. I learned that in a competition, one should have a check on what his competitors are doing.
3. Reflect on Your Experiences
Consider your prior experiences, both personal and professional, before the interview. Consider times when you proved to be a leader, overcame obstacles, collaborated with others, or faced tough choices. It will be simpler to adjust to different questions if you have a repertoire of stories.
4. Showcase Your Soft Skills
Strong soft skills are also valued in MBA programs, in addition to academic achievement. Provide examples of your leadership, teamwork, emotional intelligence, communication, and flexibility in your responses. If someone asked you about a time you led a team, for example, do not just concentrate on the result; highlight the way you inspired and interacted with team members.
5. Practice, But Don’t Memorize
You should plan and practice your answers but do not try to memorize them. The way you answer should sound natural and authentic. Practicing with a friend, teacher, or Bprep mentor can help you better tell your stories and feel more at ease with them.
6. Tailor Your Responses to the MBA Program
Learn about the MBA program’s values and way of life by researching it. Change the way you answer to fit these values. For example, if the program is known for encouraging people to be entrepreneurs, talk about times when you showed that you were creative and willing to take risks.
7. Ask Clarifying Questions
Do not be afraid to ask for more information if a question is unclear. This reveals that you have thought about the question and desire to give the best and most appropriate answer.
8. Stay Positive and Professional
If the question makes you think of a bad thing that happened, try to frame your answer positively. Focus on what you learned or how you grew from the experience. Always maintain a professional tone, even when talking about tough topics.
9. Follow Up with Questions
Usually, you can ask questions at the end of the interview. This is a great chance to show interest in the program and get any questions answered. Consider what questions you want to ask based on your knowledge about the program and your career goals.
Conclusion
Though behavioral questions can be challenging, they can also be a great way to show off your skills, experiences, and suitability for an MBA program if you are ready for them and have the right mindset. Remember that the most important thing is to be honest, thoughtful, and straightforward when discussing your experiences.
