Contact Vince

See http://vinceprep.com for information about Vince's services.

I provide the most intensive, effective MBA interview preparation service in the world. My interview coaching clients get results because I help them figure out what to say (logical content), and how to say it (impressive delivery).

LOGICAL CONTENT
I teach some of the world's top engineers and scientists at The University of Tokyo how to present their ideas on paper and in person.

IMPRESSIVE DELIVERY
I am a professional stage actor who has performed with The American Shakespeare Center.
At Stanford, I studied improv theatre with Patricia Ryan Madson, who has taught everyone from college students to Silicon Valley executives from companies like Google how to tell believable stories.

I provide one-hour mock interview sessions with feedback. I also provide extended multi-hour training. We begin with an initial diagnostic mock interview, which helps me determine your strengths and weaknesses. In subsequent sessions, we can work on strategy, answer modeling, and mock interviewing.

For Vince's latest tips, plus service details, please go here. Then, please contact Vince when you are ready to start your preparation.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Nerves

A client just asked me how to stay calm in the interview. 

Here are two tricks I learned from Patricia Ryan Madson, my improv coach at Stanford. 
  1. Breathe - sounds obvious, but the breath controls our "fight or flight" instincts. Slow down, take a few deep breaths (without "sighing"), and look at your interviewer.
  2. Notice the mundane. Look around the room. Take note of everything you see. Day One of Patricia's improv class, we ran around the room pointing at objects and naming them. "Clock!" "Carpet!" "Chair!" "Student!" After a minute of this catharsis, we paused and observed the effect. The room had come to life. Suddenly, we noticed the brown drapes, the open door, the pile of shoes and backpacks in the corner. I have never found a better way to get "in the moment." Of course, you cannot run around screaming and pointing at objects during your interview, but you can use your inner voice to notice and comment on reality. "The interviewer is wearing a blue tie." "He is holding a black stick pen and staring at me." "Oh, my hands are shaking." No matter what you observe, just keep your awareness by saying, "Isn't that interesting." This "moment of zen" should help you stop monologuing so you can enjoy the conversation.


 

-Updated by Vince on 14 March 2012

 

  • I am a graduate admissions consultant who works with clients worldwide

  • If you want my help preparing for your interview, please email interviews@vinceprep.com

  • Let me know when you plan to interview and when you want to practice with me

  • I will confirm if I have the capacity to help you

  • My interview service details and fees are here

  • Please note that initial consultations are not offered for interview training
 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The MIT Interview

MIT interviews can be tough b/c they are NOT BLIND. 

As with HBS, your interviewer (an adcom member) can and will refer to your essays / dig deeper during the interview. She or he is NOT likely to ask typical questions (WMTYR, teamwork, leadership, goals, etc.)

It can be friendly / conversational, but you need to be prepared to answer new questions with new examples.

I also encourage you to research and practice behavioral interview techniques.


Please do your best!

MIT instructions (accessed at http://mitsloan.mit.edu/mba/admissions/MITSloan_interview_guide.pdf on 3/2011)

The MIT Sloan MBA Admissions Committee conducts Behavioral Event-Based Interviews. 

The concept behind Behavioral Event Interviews (BEI) is past behavior is a reliable indicator of future response in a similar situation.

BEI is different from the traditional screening interviews:

  • Instead of asking how you would behave in a particular situation, the interviewer will ask you how you did behave.
  • Expect your interviewer to question and probe your answers.
  • The interviewer will ask you to provide details and will not allow you to theorize or generalize about several events.
  • The interview will be a structured process that will concentrate on areas that are important to the interviewer, rather than allowing you to concentrate on areas that you may feel are important.
  • You may not get a chance to deliver any prepared stories.
  • Most interviewers will be taking copious notes throughout the interview. 

What the Admissions Committee is looking for

  • The interviewer will be looking for concrete and specific examples revealing one or several of the following traits during the interview:
  • Influencing others: the ability to influence a person, group or organization.
  • Relationship building: the ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
  • Drive: the ability to set an objective and achieve it.

Preparing for BEI

  • Recall a recent situation that showed favorable behaviors or actions, especially involving work experience, leadership, professional relationships, teamwork, planning, etc.
  • Prepare short descriptions of each situation; be ready to give details when asked.
  • Be sure the story has a beginning, a middle and an end.
  • Be honest; don’t embellish or omit any part of the story.
  • Be specific. Don’t generalize about several events; give a detailed accounting of one event.  The interviewer will not give you the benefit of the doubt if there is something missing from your story.



2009 R1, interviewed w/ adcoms in Tokyo

1. Interviewer: Rod Garcia, Director of MBA Admissions
2. Length of Interview: about 45 min.
3. Questions asked:
He used to ask one big question and made several questions to dig down my answers.
1) What do you do know?
- What is your task in that business?
- How could you established such a big and exciting business?
- Please tell me about your past professional experience.
2) Tell me about the time when you have to persuade people or organization to influence others.
- Please give me example of the dialog you had with your peers.
- Why and how do you think their supports made your current partner give your company exclusive right?
3) Please tell me about the time when you had to put yourself into uncomfortable environment
- Why the executives come late to the meeting?
- What did you do and learned in through the task?
- How did your attitude change since this experience?
4) What do you want to do after MBA?
5) Do you have any questions? (for 2 times)
6) Do you have anything else you want to mention?
4. Overall impression: Rod was really friendly but professional. He asked me a lot of questions about my past experience.


2007-2008 
The 2nd round interview was in Tokyo with adcom (#2 guy below Rod Garcia). It lasted 30 mins.

Questions:

1. What kind of quality or talent I bring to my workshop?
2. What is my personal (not job related) goals in the future?
3. What kind of preparation do I do for my personal goals?

and then related to my answer on 3rd question, he continued to ask:

4. How do I rank MIT for my MBA selection?
5. Why MIT?
6. Is there anything I would like to tell him?
7. Question for him

The interviewer was taking notes of my comments, but the overall atmosphere was mild with some smiles from him.

More strategy and reports here:


 

-Updated by Vince on 14 March 2012

 

  • I am a graduate admissions consultant who works with clients worldwide

  • If you want my help preparing for your interview, please email interviews@vinceprep.com

  • Let me know when you plan to interview and when you want to practice with me

  • I will confirm if I have the capacity to help you

  • My interview service details and fees are here

  • Please note that initial consultations are not offered for interview training