There are some aspects that you, as a B-School aspirant, need to keep in mind and prepare for, before taking the Interview.

(a) Dress code: As Interview is a formal occasion, you are expected to be dressed for the occasion. Men should wear a freshly-ironed formal full-sleeve shirt and trousers, polished formal shoes (black or brown), belt and a tie (knotted properly). Do not forget to sport a 'clean look' on the day of the Interview. Use a mild deodorant.

Women can wear salwar-kameez / saree / skirt & shirt. If you have long hair, neatly plait it or tend to it in a manner that it does not look unkempt. The bit about formal shoes applies to you too. Of course, sandals meant for formal occasions are fine.

(b) Entry into the Interview room: You may be asked by one of the panel members or one of their assistants to enter the room. At the door, ask for permission to enter, "May I come in, Sir / Madam?" Relax control. Don't be in a hurry to rush to the table. Greet the panel (using the appropriate salutations) with a smile. On being asked to sit down, thank them.

(c) Sitting posture: Sit comfortably in the chair. You may cross your legs if you wish to. Your arms may rest on the arm-rest of the chair or on your lap. The folder that contains your certificates and other documents should be kept on your lap, and not on the table. Remember, the table belongs to the panel. Avoid postures that reflect a casual attitude. For instance, avoid rocking the chair or placing one leg horizontally over the other leg.

(d) Body language: While a lot has been written and documented on body language, it will suffice and will actually help you if you can be your natural self. While you might feel that you need to 'project' yourself to the panel, the 'real you' will end up showing itself by way of your body language.

Members of Interview panels are experts who can easily spot the inconsistency between what you are saying and what your body language conveys. Use gesticulations. Lean a little forward to show the panel that you are interested in what they are saying / asking. In doing so, do not lean or rest your arms or elbows on the table.

(e) Language to be used: Use formal language and speak in English only. Some of us have the habit of mixing up English with the vernacular. Avoid doing this in the Interview. Do not use slang. Use short sentences that convey the meaning of what you wish to say. Avoid using complicated sentences and long drawn-out explanations.

(f) Conduct inside the Interview room: Listen carefully and attentively to the questions asked. If you are unable to comprehend the meaning / hear the question, request the panel member to clarify / repeat the question. Always speak in a slow, measured tone in a manner that everyone in the panel is clearly able to hear and understand what you are trying to say. There is no need to 'spit out the answer' for the question(s) asked. Take a few moments to collect your thoughts and then answer. Maintain eye contact with the panel at all times and convey a pleasant disposition to the interviewers, irrespective of the mental state you are in. Remember, there will be a certain amount of nervousness when you go for an Interview. But, you have to take care that such nervousness does not get the better of you.

Interviewers chiefly look for students who are fit to pursue a management course at their institute and whether they have the potential to become effective managers. They look for candidates who have clear ideas, breadth and depth of knowledge, and the ability to look at things in a balanced manner. They also look at the moral and ethical value system of the individual concerned, and how the candidate will be able to contribute to the industry and the society at large.

Some of the key qualities that you, as a B-School aspirant, are expected to possess are:

• Good level of knowledge
• Clear understanding of core concepts of various issues
• Clarity of thought
• Communication skills
• Personality, attitude, and the way you react to situations
• Thought process in terms of career planning

TYPES OF QUESTIONS ASKED IN AN INTERVIEW

Before getting into the types of questions that you could possibly be asked in an Interview, you need to understand that the job of an Interview panel is to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for that particular B-School. In this regard, they may put 'any question under the sun' to you and you are expected to answer such a question. On being asked personal questions, you are expected to answer in a mature manner, and not take the "this is a personal matter and since I do not know you personally, I cannot answer this question" – Neither are you expected to give flippant answers to seemingly innocuous questions. While you may not know it, every interviewer asks questions with a sense of purpose. Make sure that you answer every question with sincerity. Not doing so could jeopardise your selection prospects.

• Tell us something about yourself.
• Why do you want to do a course in management?
• Questions related to personal background
• Questions related to one's personality (strengths / weaknesses)
• Questions on academics
• Questions on career planning
• Questions on GK & current affairs
• Questions on hobbies and extra-curricular activities
• Questions on job profile and other organisation-related matters (for those with work experience)

Two important questions that are asked in most Interviews at top B-Schools are:

(a) Why do you want to do an MBA?, and

(b) Tell us something about yourself.

Since such questions are more-or-less a certainty, you should prepare for them well in advance. Having a readymade answer for these kinds of questions will not help you as you could easily falter in the Interview. What you would be better off doing is to have broad reasons which could form the basis for your answers in the Interview. This would make your answer look more natural than 'a mugged-up / by-rote' answer. Prepare well for a question like "Tell us something about yourself". The question that would follow could well be based on what you say in response to this question.

Personality-based questions like, "Tell us about your strong / weak points" are frequently asked and you need to be prepared for them well before the Interview.

Most of the top B-Schools ask a large number of questions on the subjects you have studied during your +two and your graduation. Most questions are essentially conceptual in nature. However, it is seen at several Interviews that students are unable to answer these questions successfully. By answering these questions correctly, you are sending out a message to the Interview panel that you have taken the right amount of care to prepare thoroughly for the Interview. Excuses like "I studied this a long time ago" will certainly not be appreciated by the panel.

You could be asked questions on career planning such as, "Where do you see yourself five years from now?". As well, you could also be asked questions on current affairs / general knowledge, and the hobbies that you pursue. Answers to questions from these categories would be a reflection of what you do in your leisure, and how deeply involved you are in what you do. For instance, if you were to state that 'reading is your hobby', then be prepared for questions on what books, magazines, and newspapers you read; who your favourite author is; what the last book you read was; why you like the author and his style of writing; what are the other books of the author that you have read; who the editors of the magazines and newspapers you read are; what the cover story of the latest magazine that you have read is; what the headline in today’s newspaper is, etc.

Applicants with work experience are likely to face a large number of questions on their job profile, key learnings, the industry they work in, the organisation they work for, and the competition in the industry. However, this does not mean that they will not be asked subject-based questions at all.

In a nutshell, Interviews are as important as any other component in the selection process, and possibly the most decisive. Be thoroughly prepared, for on this depends your future.