Done with CAT? How did it go?
You
must now be taking time out – after all the months of hectic preparation for
the exam! Aaah! Now to put your feet up, and wait for the results due in
January..
Well,
you’re just missing the whole point then! Acing the written test, is just
the beginning.
Your
CV, Group discussions and Personal interviews are the REAL MATCH WINNERS. Only
a minority
~ 30% – of those called for the process, make it through the college.
Unfortunately,
not many MBA aspirants realize this fact – until they get rejected at one..then
two.. or more, of their dream B-Schools – and then realise, with panic,
that their dreams are slipping away..and it’s too late! All because of lack of preparation for the interview.
This
is often the case, even with students having good written test scores.
Preparing
for an interview, is not just thinking of the typical generic questions, which
do get asked. There are many credible sources online that give you the most
popular MBA interview questions – right from Tell me about yourself, where do
you see yourself in x years to Which specialization you are looking at taking
up. We don’t want to bore you with the same details again.
Instead,
we will talk about the other crucial aspect of MBA admissions – Your CV.
Your CV can give you the command to steer your MBA interview in
the direction you intend it to. Let’s see how.
1. Highlight
your Managerial acumen
Needless
to say, the panel is looking for managerial genes while they judge your
candidacy. List out all the instances your have held positions of responsibility in your professional journey. From being
a part of the college festival to heading a college literature club, list them.
Be
specific about your achievements as a part of these roles and highlight any significant
contribution you’ve made. Significant co or extra–curriculars, matter, too!
If
you’ve made a mark at a District, State or National level in any field of arts
or sports, that should be highlighted. It shows that you’re an overall
achiever.
2. Showcase
Goals and Initiative
Many
of us don’t have impressive achievements. Then what? A great way to make up or
add to this, is to showcase a preparatory certification on your CV. When the
question of specialization comes up and you state your preference – the panel
is right away looking for indicators on your CV, to show that you are you have
at least thought of your goals. For instance, if you say Finance is your
intended specialization or area of interest, you either need to have few years
relevant experience or a powerful finance certification, right?
A
popular choice is FLIP’s Finance & Banking Fundamentals online certification program. It shows your
initiative, and gives you a solid foundation in key finance concepts, financial
markets and banking business; ideal for candidates aspiring for an MBA in
Finance.
You
can check FLIP’s
industry endorsed certifications in Banking and Financial Services
Similarly,
if the preference is marketing, a relevant certification – such as list of professional courses in
finance will help your case.
Remember
– don’t box yourself in by saying this will be your specialization. You can say, “This is
what interests me. I’m learning more about it, so I can make an informed
choice.”
3. The
hobbies!
Many
times candidates list out ‘Watching Movie’s & ‘Listening to Music’ or even
– seriously – ‘surfing Social Media’ as a hobby! These are ‘time passes’, not
something you should have on a professional CV!
Hobbies
show your depth and passion – Interviewers respect people who have the in-depth
knowledge that comes, from having an absorbing hobby, over the years.