Interview Overview

1. HBS interviews (like MIT's) are based on your application. Unlike the blind interviews conducted by most schools, the interviewer has read your essays and other material already. Be prepared to supplement and explain what you have already submitted.
2. HBS wants to see fit. Have examples of leadership. Know why you want a case-method school.
3. Be ready to respond to any questions about weaknesses or gaps in your application.
4. Prepare to explain reasons behind your career choices, your motivations, and why you think you can succeed.
5. They frequently ask questions about what you do in your free time or personal reading.
6. Do think of a few other examples of leadership, teamwork, challenges, etc. to have in your back pocket.
7. You have to know about your long term goal in detail.
8. Get 2-3 examples (for different aspects of your background) on every key point (When you lead, Working as a team, When things have gone wrong etc.) so that you can cover any angle

Sample Questions

1. Undergraduate Experience
2. Why did you choose your particular major?
3. What were the positives and negatives of the program?
4. What classes did you enjoy most and why?

Work Experience

1. Describe your current career history. Why did you make the choices you made?
2. Why did you choose to work at your job?
3. How did you transition into your current field (if your undergraduate major was something different)?
4. How did you get your job? What have you learned there?
5. What is your typical day/week at work like? What is your role?
6. How has your role progressed over time?
7. Why are you good at what you do?
8. How many people do you supervise? Are they direct reports?
9. What project are you currently working on?
10. What was your biggest challenge at work, and how did you handle it?
11. Any relevant quantitative/analytical experience at your job?
12. Any international experience?
13. Describe a recent conflict at your workplace, either with a subordinate, supervisor, co-worker, or between other parties. How were you affected and how did you handle it?
14. What is the most frustrating aspect of your last/current job?
15. If the conflict was with your supervisor, put yourself in his/her shoes. What would you have done then?
16. Describe the decision-making and solution process in one of the initiatives you led within your firm

Leadership Questions

1. Please describe your leadership resume, starting with whenever you like
2. How has your leadership style evolved at your job? Provide examples other than ones mentioned in your essays.
3. What is your leadership style? What do others think of your leadership style, in terms of your strengths and weaknesses?
4. Describe a time when you helped someone succeed
5. What would you do if you were the CEO of your current company? What changes would you implement?
6. What do you think makes a great leader? Who is your favorite CEO and why?
7. How do you create accountability and create a strong team?
8. What leadership skills do you hope to gain out of HBS?
9. When did you lead a team? When did you have to develop someone on the team?
10. Describe a time you had to implement a change and make your team follow you
11. Describe a leadership style you admire and try to emulate
12. Describe a leadership experience where you had to depend upon another person/other people for success
13. Provide leadership examples not mentioned in your essays, outside of work
14. What leadership roles have you taken on since you submitted your application?
15. What would you do if a team member wasn't pulling his own weight?
16. Describe a situation when you’ve brought forward an idea and failed

Career Goals

1. What are you short-term and long-term goals? 5, 10, 15 years out?
2. What would you definitely not go into, post-MBA?
3. Why do you want to pursue your particular career?
4. What companies in your chosen industry do you like and why? What US company would you most like to work for?
5. Why are you switching industries?
6. Why do you want an MBA? How will it help you achieve your goal?
7. Are you sure a general management curriculum is in line with your future plans?
8. What do you think will be most challenging in achieving that goal?
9. What issues will you tackle once you achieve your long-term goal?
10. What could cause you to change your career goals?
11. What do you see yourself doing for your summer internship after your first year?

Left-Field Questions

1. What is the one area of business that you are not interested in?
2. What would you do if MBA was not an option for you?
3. What would you do if you could not pursue your desired career goals?
4. Describe an instance out of your college/work experience that you would’ve handled differently.
5. How do you deal with setbacks, frustrations?
6. What do you consider to be the most pressing issue in Global Business today?
7. Name another industry facing similar challenges to the industry you work in. Explain why they are similar.
8. If you could sit next to anyone in class, who would it be?
9. Tell me about a time you felt culturally ill at ease and how did you cope with it?
10. How would you critique the admissions staff?
11. What are the top three emerging technology trends?
12. What do you do to relieve stress?
13. In two years after graduation, what three words would your team members use to describe you?

Personal Questions

1. What do you do outside of work? What do you do for fun?
2. What inspires you most and why?
3. Describe an instance when you helped someone succeed
4. What movies and books do you like? How have they made an impression on you?
5. Which publications/websites do you read on a regular basis?
6. In one of your essays, you mentioned a particular weakness – how will you overcome it?
7. If you had to write a book, what would it be about?
8. What is a common misconception about you and how would you tackle that?
9. On a scale of 1 to 10, compared to your peers, rank yourself in analytical ability. In drive? In confidence? In being better than people?
10. Many Wall Street applicants are interviewed every day…how are you different?
11. Why did you pick your recommenders? What do you think they said about your strengths & weaknesses?
12. How do you think you are as a contributor to the community?
13. Name three words or phrases to describe yourself to others
14. Describe any experiences you’ve had abroad
15. How do you define success?

Entrepreneur Questions

1. Why did you want to start your own business? What motivates you to succeed?
2. Elaborate on the company you have started. Why did you go into that field?
3. If your company were to succeed, what would it look like?
4. How would you secure funding for your company?
5. What will you do with your company once you are enrolled?

School Specific

1. Why HBS?
2. What classes are you most interested in and why?
3. Which extracurriculars will you become involved with, if accepted?
4. How will you contribute to HBS? What would you add to the class?
5. What was your first impression of the school?
6. What do you think your biggest challenge in HBS will be?
7. What do you hope to get out of HBS, in and out of the classroom? Which specific skill-sets are you hoping to pick up?
8. How do you expect to be able to balance your time at HBS, given the heavy academic workload?

Follow-up Questions for the Interviewer

1. Discuss special interests and ask how the school may help you to pursue them.
2. Ask about faculty research and interests, especially in areas that concern you.
3. Inquire about the school's philosophy, approach, and direction.
4. Inquire about facilities (library, computer equipment), housing, and campus life.
5. If financial aid is critical to you, ask about aid sources, its availability, and the name of the person responsible for administering the program.