If you’ve made it to the interview stage of the MBA admissions process, you’re probably wondering – how much does the interview really count? A strong MBA interview performance alone won’t be enough alone to get you admitted, but it’s certainly possible to lose out off the back of a poor interview.

Generally speaking, schools don’t invite people to interview if they don’t believe that they have the potential to be a student on their MBA programme. The interview is all about getting to know you better, understanding how the MBA fits with your goals and what you would contribute to the cohort.

Interviews are typically 30-45 minutes long, and you’re likely to be asked about aspects of your work experience, your motivation for doing an MBA and your rationale for that school. You may also be asked questions about your strengths, weaknesses, achievements and failures. Leadership is another common theme for MBA interview questions. Interviews are typically conducted by senior members of the Admissions Team or alumni. In some cases, faculty members conduct MBA interviews.

Schools are not trying to catch you out in the MBA interview and it may even feel more like a conversation. The interview is just one aspect of your application and schools will consider interview feedback alongside a range of other factors, including your academic qualifications, essay questions, work experience and letters of recommendation.

If you’ve been invited to interview, then you do have a reasonable chance of being admitted. But it’s by no means in the bag!

If you’d like some help with interview preparation, or to do a practice interview and get some feedback – get in touch! My practice interview service includes a mock interview and a post-interview debrief session. I’ll review your CV and submitted application in advance, so the interview will be tailored to you and your target school. You will come away with feedback on your interview performance, as well as strategies for improvement.