Part 2 Experience 2 : Detailed Interview Day and Questions
Interview Day:
I arrived at SP Jain’s Mumbai campus early in the morning, around 9 AM. The atmosphere was filled with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy as candidates from diverse professional backgrounds gathered. I struck up conversations with a few fellow candidates, exchanging our backgrounds and motivations for pursuing an MBA. As an engineer with over four years of experience in the software industry, I felt both prepared and eager to tackle the interview.
Different Interview Day and Questions
Interview Day:
I arrived at SP Jain’s Singapore campus at 8:30 AM for my scheduled interview. The ambiance was professional yet welcoming. I chatted with other candidates, which helped ease some of my nerves. Among them were professionals from various industries, including finance, healthcare, and consulting.
Panel Composition:
This panel had two members: a senior professor specializing in global business strategy and a seasoned executive from the tech industry. Their combined expertise indicated a comprehensive evaluation process.
Interview Start:
Me: “Good morning.”
Panel: “Good morning. Please, have a seat.”
Professional Experience-Related Questions:
Professor: Walk me through your resume.
Me: [Discussed my engineering education, professional roles, and significant projects.]
Executive: What are your short-term and long-term goals?
Me: “Short-term, I want to gain expertise in international business management. Long-term, I see myself leading global operations in a tech company.”
Professor: Why MBA at this stage of your career? Why SP Jain?
Me: “I believe that now is the perfect time to gain a global perspective and strategic management skills. SP Jain’s unique curriculum and global campuses align perfectly with my career goals.”
Executive: What motivates you to join SP Jain?
Me: “SP Jain’s emphasis on global exposure and its strong network in the tech industry are significant motivators for me.”
Personal Qualities-Related Questions:
Professor: What are your key strengths?
Me: “My analytical skills and ability to work under pressure are my key strengths. For example, I led a critical project under a tight deadline, which was successfully delivered.”
Executive: What are your weaknesses?
Me: “I tend to be overly critical of my work. However, I am learning to balance self-critique with constructive feedback.”
Professor: How will your peers benefit from your experience?
Me: “My peers can benefit from my technical expertise and my experience in managing cross-functional teams.”
Situational & Behavioral Questions:
Executive: What is your greatest achievement to date?
Me: “Successfully leading a project that increased our system’s efficiency by 40%, resulting in significant cost savings.”
Professor: Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict. How did you handle it?
Me: “In a team project, there was a disagreement over the approach. I facilitated a meeting to discuss everyone’s viewpoints, leading to a consensus and a successful project completion.”
Executive: Do you have any questions for us?
Me: “How are club leadership roles assigned?”
Learning from the Interview:
The interview highlighted the importance of being prepared with specific examples that demonstrate your skills and experiences. It also underscored the need to show how you can contribute to the school’s community.
What the Panel Looks for in a Candidate:
The panel looked for clarity in career goals, a strong motivation for pursuing an MBA, and the ability to contribute to the program’s diversity and learning environment.
SP Jain Global MBA Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Professional Experience-Related Questions:
- Tell me something about yourself, or walk me through your resume.
- What are your short-term and long-term goals?
- Why MBA? Why now? Why SP Jain?
- What is your Plan B if your primary goal does not happen?
Personal Qualities-Related Questions:
- What are your key strengths? Can you give some examples?
- What are your key weaknesses? Can you give some examples?
- How can you add value to the class? Why should we take you?
- Any reasons why we should not select you?
Interests and Hobbies Related Questions:
- Why do you pursue this hobby, and what have you learned from it?
- Can you tell us about your interests?
Situational & Behavioral Questions:
- What is your leadership style? Can you give an example of a project you led?
- What would you describe as your greatest achievement to date?
- Give me an example of a time you failed.
- Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict. How did you handle it?
- Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a client’s expectations. What happened, and how did you attempt to rectify the situation?
- Do you have any questions for us?
Other Questions:
- How are international exchange students and schools assigned?
- How is club leadership selected?
- What are your current responsibilities at your current organization?
- What project piqued your interest the most?
- What motivates you to join SP Jain?
- How will your peers benefit from your experience?
- Tell me about your family history.
- Why pursue an MBA with the specialization you have chosen?
- What are your views on girls’ education and how parents influence a child’s education?
- Why have all the engineers in the group chosen finance?
- Quote three instances from the recent past on national or international levels that had ethical issues related to finance.
