INSEAD Interview report

Below is my report on the two interviews I had with INSEAD alumni. First off I must say I gave each a copy of the complete application, essays and all. Maybe this is not the usual practice, but then my profile is too boring without the stories told in the essays. Both interviewers had read the essays, or at least browsed through them.

My first interview was in a cafe, the alumnus was a friendly guy, totally different background and work experience than mine. He asked the usual questions and the rest came as a natural conversation. All in all, we talked for an hour and a half, or a bit more. He also talked a bit about himself and this hour and a half flew by surprisingly fast. The questions:

• Why an MBA now
• Walk me through your resumes, starting from school
• Are you applying to other schools
• Are you sure you will be able to pay for tuition
• Are you sure you want to leave your job in the middle of the crisis
• What do you think of the crisis, what will happen withthe banking system in our country, what will happen with our currency, do you think the PM is reacting adequately (we discussed this for half an hour or so)
• What is you leadership track record
• What do you do in your spare time
• Any questions? I had a couple of questions about the alumni network and that was it.

The second interview – it was an expat living here, again very friendly, actually friendlier than the first interviewer. Again a completely different background, he runs his own IT company. We conducted the interview in his office, in contrast with the previous interview it was a much more formal setting. Although the guy was friendly, he made a serious effort to make me back up my claims and defend my ‘why MBA’ thesis, he also shot quick questions requiring improvisation. In short, he was a very experienced and smart interviewer.

• Why INSEAD
• How did you learn about INSEAD
• Why did you go to Fontainebleau, did you visit a class
• What do you hope to learn there (he was either not totally convinced by the answer in my essay, or trying to see how thoroughly I had researched the school)
• What are your short-term and long-term goals. Do you know people in this industry that you mention in your goals essay? Whom do you know?
• How will you finance your MBA
• Walk me through your resume (that was long and detailed, we talked about what I learned from every position I mentioned)
• Again the same discussion about the crisis, currencies in Eastern Europe, do I agree with the government’s actions, how would I attempt to solve the problems in my country, etc.
• Give me one single reason, besides what we discussed so far, that I should recommend you. Here I opted for a quick smart-ass answer, as opposed to a thoughtful but slow one. I think my response was adequate and funny. He put on a neutral-looking smile and wrote something down.
• Any questions?

After the second interview, I started freaking out and in fact I still am. This guy made me talk very much in depth about my goals, I was perfectly honest with him and told him that if the crisis continues  I expect not to be able to find a job easily and I shared with him some of the uncertainties that plagued me when I was making the decision to apply. Was I too honest for my own good there, no way to be sure. Then again, in this climate, I would really like to know what applicant with financial background is certain and fully confident about her goals. I also keep replaying in my head the discussion we had on the crisis and I’m thinking that I could have defended my opinion in a much stronger way. It is normal for me to freak out after exams and such, so this is not big news, but I wish I could control it.

The final decision is due by June 5th and according to the rumours online the adcom will not meet before May 26th. I’ve played the waiting game before, so let’s go.

Tagged: INSEAD