Global Institute For Corporate Education

MBA Interview Tips MBA interviews have begun. With only two (maybe three) months left for the interviews, it’s time you start working on your interview skills. A typical interview will start with an ice breaking question and this is the chan…

MBA Interview Tips


MBA interviews have begun. With only two (maybe three) months left for the interviews, it's time you start working on your interview skills. A typical interview will start with an ice breaking question and this is the chance where you can floor the interviewer and drive the interview.

Tell Us About Yourself

One of the most common ice breakers ” Tell us about yourself” can put you at a serious disadvantage if not handled convincingly, But as we noted above, it can also help you drive the interview. This is where the elevator pitch comes in.

What is “Elevator Pitch” ?

Elevator pitch, the term is more of a western/ Wall Street phrase (At least it was, now it is as universal as capitalism). Corporate offices in the west are generally high rises and typically the floor you set on translates into your position in corporate hierarchy. Such an arrangement makes top bosses inaccessible to a lower level employee. More often than not, only time you have access to the top guys is the time in elevator.

Hence the term , “Elevator Pitch”. What can you tell him in two minutes or less, so that he takes notice of you.

Why Elevator Pitch

Since you only have two minutes or so to impress the other person, it is very important that your Elevator Pitch is as sharp as it can be. Within those two minutes you have to impress the interviewer. She already has your resume or application in front of her . Where you come from, Your father's occupation and your academic achievements are all in front of her. So use these two minutes to tell her what is not there on the newspaper. Your skills, your interests, your hobbies stuff that sets you apart.

Practicing your elevator pitch will help you in removing the chinks. In an interview, when you get a chance to introduce yourself, your practiced Elevator Pitch will help you come out as an individual who can articulate. Someone who knows how to best use the opportunity. First impression, they say, is a lasting impression.

How to go about it?

Your elevator pitch should ideally be a 60 second elevator pitch. Of course, you should leave enough hooks in place, just in case you have to extend it on the spot. Within two minutes or less you should be able to tell the interviewer,

Who are you?

Why you are here?

What sets you apart?

Your elevator pitch should be such that it leaves the interviewer with no option but to ask for more. Your introduction should answer all of the above questions, but at the same time drive the interviewer to ask more related questions. That way, you are in the driver seat and interviewers are just playing along. Of course, anybody sitting across the desk is champion in his/her chosen field, so don't assume that they will fall for it; But this is where your three months of practice and fine tuning will come in.

Best way to go about writing a perfect elevator pitch, is to actually jot down your achievements and history that you think will get you noticed. Write about them in detail and keep shortening them without losing the essence of your message. Once you get there, practice it as much as you can. More practice will help you in fine tuning your pitch.

You can get together with a group of friends and rehearse your elevator pitch with each other. That will help you in simulating the real world environment and will also get you the all essential feedback.

Get going. Start prepping!!