The "Difficult Team" question

One answer I ask all of my clients to prepare is the "difficult team" story. The question goes something like this, "Tell us about a time that you had to work on a team that did not get along. What happened? What role did you take? What was the result? Based on this example, what would you do if your MBA study team members were not getting along with each other?" There are many variations to this question, as you can see below.


BEHAVIORAL INTERVIEWING
Please note that the example question above is compound. I included the second part (based on this example...) in order to demonstrate the purpose of the question (how you will behave at MBA).

Please do not panic - I have never heard of an interviewer asking the entire question at once. An experienced behavioral interviewer knows how to pace your story by asking follow-up questions. Let her do so rather than talking non-stop for five minutes. Remember - an interview should be conversational. It is not a speaking test.

Why do I encourage my clients to prepare an answer to this question? Because many schools ask some version of it. For example, I have recently seen instances from Kellogg, Wharton, IMD, and IESE interview reports.


THE QUESTION BEHIND THE QUESTION
Why is "difficult teams" a common question topic? Think about it. Even at independently minded programs like Chicago Booth, you will work in countless teams during your MBA experience. For example, you are likely to collaborate with others on class projects, business plan competitions, in clubs, consulting projects, international study trips, and so on.


TEAMS ARE HARD; DIVERSE TEAMS ARE EVEN HARDER
Even teams composed of members from similar backgrounds do not always agree. To make matters even more complicated, at MBA, you may often find yourself working in teams with people from different cultural and functional backgrounds (many countries, many professions and industries). In such teams, conflicts are even more common. How will you handle such disagreements?


INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
The core premise of behavioral interviewing is that your past actions indicate your future behavior. By asking you to share examples how you handled (and hopefully helped) difficult teams, your interviewer is trying to gauge if you can work well with your future project and study team members at MBA. Consciously or unconsciously, she may also be asking herself, "Would I want this person in my team?" By preparing multiple examples of how you helped improve team dynamics, you can increase the chances that she would answer, "Yes!"

THE QUESTIONS

1. Describe a time when you worked towards an important goal and had to address conflict between two or more team members.
2. Describe a time when you got an un-collaborative member committed to the team.
3. Describe the time when you solved a conflict between any two members of your team. (The interviewer specifically mentioned that the question does not imply a conflict between my team member and me).
4. Describe a scenario where you worked on a team and one of the team members was not pulling her weight. What did you do?
5. Tell us about a time that you had to work on a team that did not get along. What happened? What role did you take? What was the result? Based on that example, what would you do if your MBA study team members were not getting along with each other?
6. Tell me about a time when you experienced cultural conflict and how you handled it.
7. What has been your most difficult teamwork experience? 
8. Describe a situation in which you had to arrive at a compromise or help others to compromise. What was your role? What steps did you take? What was the result?
9. Tell me about a time when you resolved a conflict in a group.
10. Tell us about the most difficult challenge you faced in trying to work cooperatively with someone who did not share the same ideas? What was your role in achieving the work objective?
11. Have you ever been a member of a group where two of the members did not work well together? What did you do to get them to do so?
12. What is the toughest group that you have had to get cooperation from? Describe how you handled it. What was the outcome? 
13.  

Difficult Teams Matrix (Please fill out this chart or create your own version.)

	Keyword/Theme	Details/Examples
Problem	Cross-cultural conflict Cross-functional conflict Btwn you and someone else Btwn two other people (you mediated between them)
Action	Peacemaker / Bridge / Facilitator / Mediator Counselor Teacher Coach
Results	New idea Compromise Agree to disagree Resolution Mutual understanding Consensus
Lessons	How to resolve conflict in a constructive way How to find common ground How to persuade specialists to share information and collaborate How to negotiate with a certain cultural and/or functional mindset
Application	To MBA life	Club activity Study group Project team Consulting project

NOT A FAILURE QUESTION 
Please be careful. Questions about difficult team experiences are NOT the same as mistake or failure questions. Only offer examples of your mistake or failure when asked for them DIRECTLY.

In a mistake or failure, you were part of the problem. Your attitude or actions caused actual damage:

• Loss of time
• Loss of money
• Loss of reputation
• Loss of relationship (trust)

On the other hand, in a "difficult team" story, you were part of the solution.

Please prepare your answers, then practice them with mentors and trusted advisers. I wish you success!

OTHER RESOURCES
Best Tips / Hints / Tools / LINKS for brainstorming and structuring teamwork stories
http://www.delicious.com/admissions/brainstorming_teamwork

A CLASSIC BOOK ON TEAMWORK THAT I RECOMMEND
http://bit.ly/WisdomTeams

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-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

• Watch Vince videos on YouTube
• I invite you to follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/tokyovince and join me on Facebook.

Q and A

Q: HOW CAN I ASK GOOD QUESTIONS AT THE END OF MY INTERVIEW? 

A: TWO WAYS. 

• FIRST, PREPARE TWO OR THREE QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME THAT HIGHLIGHT YOUR STRENGTHS AND RELATE TO YOUR GOALS. 
• SECOND, KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN FOR INSPIRATION. IF YOUR INTERVIEWER SAYS SOMETHING DURING THE INTERVIEW THAT INTERESTS YOU, ASK FOR MORE INFORMATION.

The last 5-10% of every interview is perhaps the most important. You need to leave a strong final impression by asking good questions.

Your interviewer may ask

• Do you have any questions for me?
• What else can I tell you about School X?

TIP: be ready to ask at least 3 questions to confirm your belief that "school x" is your best match. 
 

Make sure your questions are:

• not easily answered by checking a website
• directly related to you and your goals
• relating to topics your interviewer is likely to know.
  
• appropriate to your interviewer (alum vs. current student vs. adcom member).

Nearly every interviewer gives you the chance to ask questions. If you fail to ask good questions, they will assume you are not very interested in attending their school. Think about it. MBA is going to be one of the biggest investments you will ever make. If you were buying a car or a house, wouldn't you have LOTS of questions to ask before making such an important purchase?

Questions for Adcom (professional staff, either at an off-campus "hub" interview location or on-campus)	Questions for Current Student (adcom volunteer on campus)	Questions for Alumni Interviewer (in your home country)
1. Ask about trends that affect your goals. For example, a client recently asked adcoms to confirm a rumor he heard that the school would open a new program on another continent. Since my client's long-term goals involve expanding to that market, he could ask about while reinforcing his future vision.	1. In general, you want to know her advice (based on her current / recent experience as a student at your "dream school).	1. You want to ask alumni for advice based on their experience before, during, and after attending your "dream school".
2. Ask questions about the school's future plans / mission / direction (but be sure to ask in the context of your goals).	2. What surprised you most after enrolling in School X? (In other words, how have your perceptions changed as you moved from applicant to student?)	2. How did attending School X affect your career?
3. Ask how the school is related to the alumni community in your city / country. Ask about ways the want alumni to be more active (if you can show your potential contributions).	3. Why did you chose this school?	3. How have you leveraged School X' alumni network in your professional (and/or personal) life?
4. If you know your interviewer's name before meeting her, use Google, LinkedIn, etc. to find out if the interviewer herself is an alumna of the school. If so, you can ask some "alumni-type" questions since she has a dual perspective (former student; current staff member).	4. What has been your most valuable academic experience, and why?	4. What surprised you most after enrolling at School X?
5.Ask if there are ways to contribute case studies or other curricula (based on your experience).	5. What has been your most valuable non-academic (club, experiential learning) experience?	5. Where else did you apply? Why did you chose School X?

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Getting In October 23, 2008, 4:53PM

The Admissions Interview: Your Questions

http://www.businessweek.com/print/bschools/content/oct2008/bs20081023_316382.htm

A good admissions interview involves asking questions as well as answering them. Here's how to be prepared

By Dan Macsai

During every business-school admissions interview, there's a moment where the tables turn. Usually, it's near the end, after you've been probed ("What sets you apart?") and prodded ("How was the workforce?"), and you're ready to head home. "So," the questioner chirps, "do you have anything to ask me?"


This is, of course, an optional request. But it's also an opportunity to make an impression, or blow your chances, says Randall Sawyer, director of admissions at Cornell University's Johnson School of Business. "You have to be prepared," says Sawyer. While asking smart, informed questions can set you apart, soliciting information that's readily available on a school's Web site ("What's your class size?") might irritate your interviewer.


What constitutes a "good" question? BusinessWeek recently spoke with several private consultants and deans of admission, all of whom recommended a variety of questions. Following are a selection, and some tips on how to ask them. And remember, these are general guidelines; the most impressive inquiries are case-specific.


What to ask deans, board members, and other officials:

• In your opinion, what really sets this school apart?

Officials know this is an important inquiry, especially if you're choosing between multiple schools. To win points, Sawyer suggests prefacing your question with some original thought (e.g., "I've read that Professor X just received the Nobel prize" or "As an entrepreneur, I was impressed with your 'Fund My StartUp Program"). Otherwise, you may get the retort: "Well, what do you think sets this school apart?"

• Can you talk a little about the student job search?

When you're about to drop $100,000-plus on an MBA, you're entitled to ask about career prospects, especially during the current financial crisis. But tread carefully, says Chioma Isiadinso, the CEO of Expartus, an admissions consulting company. Putting an official on the spot ("Can your school find me a job?") is awkward and offputting. Before you broach the subject, show enthusiasm ("I've heard great things about your alumni network") and emphasize that you're willing to be proactive.


For students, current and former:

• How have you most benefitted from attending this school?

This question is crucial, especially if the interviewer pursued your concentration. According to Sawyer, it shows that you're "in the game, and interested in success." Be careful with phrasing, though: "How have you most benefitted?" is much more engaging (and much less skeptical) than "Have you benefitted?"

• What was your favorite class? Who were your favorite professors?

O.K., these two are pretty obvious. But they're still good bets, says Dawna Clark, director of admissions at Tuck School of Business. Students (and former students) love to impart wisdom, especially with like-minded interviewees. Give them time to shine, and everyone wins: They'll get to relive a positive academic experience, and you'll pick up some inside information.

• What's a typical day like?

Beyond engaging your interviewer, this question shows you care about more than academic factoids, says Linda Abraham, president of Accepted.com, an online hub for college counseling. After all, you're applying for an experience. It's only human to care about the little things, like when and where you'll eat, sleep, learn, and let loose.


For anyone: 

• Is there anything else I can further address?

This should be your final question, says Beth Flye, the assistant dean and director of admissions at Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management. It's proactive, it's accommodating, and it's a great way to hint that you're eager to attend (as opposed to, say, asking when you'll get your acceptance letter). Also, on the off-chance that you made a mistake on your application, this request could spawn a shot at redemption.

Macsai is a writer for BusinessWeek. 

http://www.businessweek.com/print/bschools/content/oct2008/bs20081023_316382.htm

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Admissions Tip: Interviewing the Interviewer

Posted by Clear Admit on November 8, 2010, at 3:00 am
http://blog.clearadmit.com/2010/11/admissions-tip-interviewing-the-interviewer-5/

We’ve been offering a good deal of advice lately on how to conduct oneself and prepare responses to MBA interview questions.  Today we’d like to highlight the importance of thinking about what you might ask. Virtually all business school interviewers conclude their discussion by offering the applicant a chance to ask some questions about the program. While it might be tempting to claim that you’ve already learned all you need to know about the school, this is actually a great opportunity to gain additional insight, show your enthusiasm about a specific element of the curriculum or community, and demonstrate that you appreciate the opportunity to learn from your interviewer’s experiences.
Here are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind while thinking about what you might ask:

1. Focus on the positive. Now is not the time to conduct due diligence or express skepticism about a school’s academic program or career resources. You’re still marketing yourself to the adcom at this stage of the process, so you’ll want to project enthusiasm and demonstrate a desire to become more familiar with a program’s merits and your potential fit.
2. Avoid the obvious and the obscure. Because this is an opportunity to tap the interviewer’s unique knowledge and point of view (and he or she will assume that you did your basic research before applying), it’s best to avoid asking questions that could be answered by perusing the school’s website or speaking with anyone you might happen to encounter on campus. On the other hand, you don’t want to ask something so obscure or specific that your interviewer might not have an answer. Seeking the interviewer’s opinion on or impression of some element of the program often makes for a discussion that both parties will find interesting and enjoyable.
3. Mind your audience. Remember that students, alumni and admissions staff will all have a different perspective on and level of familiarity with the program, and that it’s wise to pose inquiries tailored to his or her experience with the school. For instance, alumni interviewers generally feel strongly about their schools but might not have the most current information on the academic programs and campus culture, so a good question might focus on the classes they have found most useful in their post-graduation career.

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END

Top of blog

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-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

• Watch Vince videos on YouTube
• I invite you to follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/tokyovince and join me on Facebook.

The Harvard Interview

HBS adcoms claim that you cannot prepare for their interviews since the questions are never the same. The fact is, you CAN and SHOULD prepare for your HBS interview, but not in the same way you would prepare for a blind interview like you will experience with Wharton, Stanford, Kellogg, Columbia, Chicago, or Tuck. 

HOW TO PREPARE?

Start by digging into to your application. What will others view as your weak points?

• As you listen to the question, start asking yourself, "how can I bring this back to my core message / key selling points?"
• In other words, structure any answer to eventually lead to stories that you know you want to tell from the outset.
• List the key points you wish to make (key words of your main strengths / selling points, with examples/stories you want to be sure to tell them before the interview is finished).
• Take a few slow deep breaths before you allow the first question to be asked.
• Take a second or two to compose yourself and be sure to think before you speak.
• Take control of the situation.
• Remember, about 93 percent of your communication in non-verbal so pay close attention to the signals you may be sending through your body language and vocal cues.
• When responding to the "loaded question," it is best not to rephrase and repeat what you heard. Loaded questions are often confrontational and filled with negative language.
• The worst thing you can do is get defensive or hostile in your voice or body. In your own words, relate to the issue and be concise. You may want to begin with something like, "I wouldn't describe the situation like that." A statement like this to begin with will also allow you to buy a little time think through your response.
• The bottom-line: Prepare yourself!
• In any situation always remember to respond rather than react.
• Don't let your defenses get the best of you. Remain calm and take some slow deep breaths so you can think before you speak. How you say what you say really does matter.

source: http://publicrelationsblogger.com/2009/07/make-sure-your-public-relations-is.html
You are welcome to read the reports below, but PLEASE remember that HBS adcoms will prepare questions JUST FOR YOU based on what you sent them (and what you DID NOT send). 
Onward and upward!


Vince

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Interview FAQ - MBA - Harvard Business School - Please visit this site for frequently asked questions regarding interviews:

http://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/interviews/faq.html
Next, please read my colleague Adam's Excellent post
http://adam-markus.blogspot.com/2009/10/hbs-mba-interviews.html

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Harvard / HBS Interview Reports

R1 applicant w/ AdCom in Tokyo 11/21 2009
Date: Sat, Nov 21, 2009
Location: HBS Tokyo Research Center
Interviewer: AdCom
Questions:

1.  Tell me about your professional experience
2.  What did you learn from your experience in previous assignment?
3.  Who helped you to build network with government?
4.  Tell me about your recent projects
5.  What is the difficult part of the project?
6.  How do your think about your recent projects?
7.  What is your long term goal?
8.  Tell me more about the company you’re planning to establish
9.  How do you think about HBS?
10.  What are you good about?
11.  What are you not good about?
12.  How will you prepare for HBS case study in term of communication?
13.  How do you think about your quantitative skill?
14.  If you can visit a place where you’ve never visited, where do you like to go?
15.  Will your company allow you to go there?
16.  Is there anything you’d like to add?
17.  What is you favorite sport?

R1 applicant w/ AdCom in Shanghai 11/24 2009


Date: Sat, Nov 24, 2009
Location: Shanghai
Interviewer: AdCom
The interview was a little bit different from what I expected. Overall, I did not get stuck and I was honest (in a good way) so no matter what the outcome is, I am happy. Thank you for your support.

The interviewer had been with HBS Admissions for more than 12 years and also presented at the Reception. She first told me that the Admissions Board has read the application and has come up with some questions, and to bear with her because she might stop me during my answer or jump to random questions. I do not remember all the questions but I think below covers 70% of them (I especially remember the ones that I didn't expect.

1. How is your work these days?
2. What is your leadership like?
3. As a student coming from Japan, how do you think other HBS students will view Japan and how can you contribute?
4. Is there anything we have not touched that you need to tell me?
5. What are your concerns if you were to attend HBS?
6. What is the most important thing you have learned at your work?
7. What do you like the most about your job?
8. Which country, other than the ones you have been to, would you want to go?
9. If you can do anything tomorrow, what do you want to do? She added that she wants to intentionally keep it broad.
10. What are you most proud of ? Again, she said that she wants to keep it broad.

Overall, she did not ask for the typical questions on achievement, failure, leadership but it seemed like she was testing my personal side.

I won't hear anything from them until Dec. 15.

R1 applicant w/ AdCom in Shanghai 11/24 2009


Date: Sat, Nov 24, 2009
Location: Shanghai
Interviewer: AdCom

In summary, questions she asked

1. What has surprised you about your new role?
2. What has been more straight forward?
3. So you cover diversity - what is your goal?
4. Have you ever travelled to any of the regional offices you cover?
5. Hows work going?
6. Tell me about your move from (former career function) to (current career function)
7. Tell me about your goal (as you see it). When do you think you will realize it
8. Tell me more about the shrinking population in Japan. Why do you think the government restricts immigration? Isn’t it counter-intuitive to what the government should be doing?
9. Tell me more about your  talent management company. Are there comparable firms in Japan? Are there any firms in Japan that already do this?
10. What is your strength?
11. If you were in a room with your new learning group what would you want them to know about you?
12. Tell me about a misconception someone may have had of you
13. What would you like your classmates to know about Japan?
14. How do you think the Japanese view non-Japanese?
15. If you could visit any city in the world where would it be?
16. Is there anything else I should know about it?

On the spectrum between Japanese and Western, where do you see yourself?

R2 applicant w/ adcoms in Tokyo 2/27 2009

I just finished HBS R2 interview. The interviewer was adcom. She was very friendly and conversational. However, I sensed some formalness behind the nice smile. I noticed she didn't go into details on why why why, but rather a whole range of different questions. The best thing I can say is to be prepared for the basic interview questions.

1. Tell me about your past, present, and future.
   
2. Do you like your job?
   
3. How do you manage a conflict?
4. Explain your typical day.
5. Give me 3 traits that your boss would say to describe you.
   
6. What would your boss say is your weakness?
   
7. Give me 3 traits that your friends would say to describe you.
   
8. What motivates you?
   
9. What is the biggest risk you have taken?
   
10. What do you do in your free time?
    
11. Is there a misconception of you from other people?
    
12. Surprise me.
    
13. Any questions you wish I had asked?
    
14. Any questions for me?
    

R2 applicant w/ adcoms in Tokyo 2/25 2009

1. Past Experience (Including why I made those choice).
   
2. The things you like about your work.
   
3. Why you think your company is focus to people rather than organization.
4. Tell me more about your first task (sales activity).
5. Tell me about the risk that you currently take.
6. Describe your typical day.
7. 5 ways your supervisor describes you.
8.  What will you do if you have to choose other profession?
9. The time people misperceived you
10. The interesting conversation you had within a week.
    
11. Please surprise me.
12. Anything you would like to talk about? (I told her about my goals and also why MBA + HBS).
    
13. Questions? (I could only ask one question).

R3 applicant w/ adcoms on campus 4/30 2008

1.      Introduce yourself 

2.      TOEFL

•  Why did you take TOEFL so many times
•  In which position is TOEFL test in Japan? 

3.      Music accomplishment essay and follow up questions

• Why did the conductor choose you as leader?
• What is the biggest problem to handle the challenge?
• How did you deal with the relationship with your senior?
• How did you lead the team to a success? 

4.      Future career goal

• What do you mean “restructuring”?
• How do you bring change to Japanese Hospitality industry? 

5.      Anything else to add? 

As shown, it was like Chicago interview I took in that she challenged me to ask many follow-up questions toward a single question. It was far from typical application interviews. She seemed to want to challenge me throwing some conversations, without asking some typical why MBA or leadership experience. 

R2 applicant w/ adcoms in Tokyo 2/27 2007

I had the interview with HBS admissions on Monday. Thanks to you, I think it went well. The female interviewer was kind and the interview went in a relaxed way.

1. Why are you interested in chemistry and why did you change your  career to  McKinsey?
2. What are good/bad things with your work in XXXX? - How do you see your colleagues?
3. How do you interact with people you do not like? - Are there any areas that you would like to be asked by admissions? - Who do you respect and why? - Are you prepared for the interview?  How did you prepare? - Why do you need MBA? - What do you think are the challenges for you in HBS?
4. Many people says that they worry about case studies. How about you?
5. Any questions?

R2 applicant w/ adcoms in Tokyo 2/27 2007

1. Career path
   
2. What do you like most in your work?
   
3. Respect leader and why?
   
4. What aspects did the leader need to improve?
   
5. Your leadership style
   
6. The difference of your reputation between before and after somebody knew you
   
7. Bottleneck at HBS
   
8. Are there any matters we should discuss?
   
9. Any questions?
   
   

R3 applicant w/ adcoms on campus 3/2 2007
I had a interview with an AdCom member of HBS on Monday. The lady was very friendly and very nice, so I could relax and be myself. 

1. Please introduce yourself.
2. Who do you admire the most as a leader and why?
3. What makes a good leader?
4. Tell me about your leadership experience?
5. What is your career vision?
6. Why MBA?
7. Why now?
8. Do you have any worry to participate in case study discussions?
9. What do you want me to know about you?
10. What didn't we talk about during the interview? 

R2 applicant w/ adcoms in Tokyo 2/27 2007

1. Walk through professional career
   
2. What is your typical day?
   
3. Future goals
   
4. Why you need MBA?
   
5. What would be the most challenging thing to achieve your goals?
   
6. Tell me about your leadership
   
7. Show me example when you grew a subordinate effectively.
   
8. Tell me a time when you handle difficult subordinate.
   
9. How did he respond when you change your management style from delegating to coaching?
   
10. Why HBS?
    
11. What is your uniqueness?
    
12. What will be your most challenging thing in HBS?
    
13. What would be your most difficult thing in the case studies?
    
14. What is the gap which your friends feel between your first impression and after they know you well?
    
15. What is the motivation for your dream?
    
16. How did you prepare for the interview?
    
17. Is there anything you want me to ask you?
    
18. Any Question?
    
    

I do not remember the exact order but she asked various questions and the 30 minutes passed so quickly.


R2 applicant w/ adcoms in Tokyo 2/26 2007
1. Short conversation (including explanation about interview process)
2. Q and A session  
・brief introduction (tell me about yourself, what kind of person you are~)  

→Why did you choose your present job?  

→What is the toughest part of your job?  

・Why would you like to go to business school?  

→ How would you like to change hospitals?  

・Why HBS?  
・What do you think about leadership?  

→ Tell me about your leadership experience  

・Is there anything you wish I would ask you in this interview?  
・How did you prepare for this interview?  
3. If you have any questions, please ask ~ 
Almost half of the interview time was spent in “Why B-school ~ Why HBS” part. 

Frequency Analysis of Harvard Business School Interview Questions

Based on a sampling of interviews conducted with Japan-based applicants since 2000

	A	B	C
1	Genre	Question	#
2	Introduction	Tell me briefly about your career to date.	8
3	Goals	Tell ma about your future career goal.	4
4		What motivates you?	2
5	Why MBA	Why do you need MBA?	4
6		Why HBS?	2
7	Job	Why did you choose your present job?	2
8		Tell me more about your first task.	3
9		What are your job responsibilities?	2
10		Explain your typical day.	3
11		What are good things with your work in XXXX?	6
12		Do you have any problems with your present job?	7
13		What changes would you make to your organization and why?	2
14		How do you manage a conflict?	2
15		Tell me about your recent project.	2
16		What is the difficult point in that project?	2
17		Why do you think you were chosen as a corporate-sponsored MBA candidate?	2
18	Leadership	How did you lead a team to a success?	6
19		Tell me about your leadership style.	2
20		How would people describe your leadership style?	2
21		Tell me about a leader you respect and why?	3
22		Take me through your leadership resume.	2
23	Relationship	Give me 3 traits that your boss would say to describe you as.	2
24		Show me example when you grew a subordinate effectively.	2
25		How do you interact with people you do not like?	3
26		How did you cope with that situation?	2
27		Is there a misperception of you from other people?	2
28		The difference of your reputation between before and after somebody knew you.	2
29	Experience	Tell me about a failure and what you learned from it.	4
30		What is the biggest risk you have taken?	4
31		How did you become interested in… (from resume)?	2
32		What did you do most earnestly at college?	2
33	Life in HBS	Many people says that they worry about case studies. How about you?	3
34		What do you think are the challenges for you in HBS?	5
35		What contributions will you make to HBS, your classmates?	3
36		Who would you like to sit next to during class?	3
37	Application	How did you feel about your application process?	2
38		What was the most difficult aspect about the application process?	2
39		How did you prepare for the interview?	6
40		Why did you pick your recommenders?	2
41		Did you apply to any other school?	2
42	Future	If you were to write a book 20 years from now, what will you write about?	4
43		How would you like to be remembered?	2
44	Finishing Q's	Any questions you wish I had asked? (what do you want to tell the interviewer that you have not already mentioned?)	7
45		Surprise me (a different variation on "any questions you wish I had asked you" in other words, your chance to tell something new about yourself that you hope will leave a strong final impression)	3
46		Any questions for me? (your chance to ask the interviewer some questions)	12

Need more reports? Here are some reliable sources

Clear Admit wiki: http://www.clearadmit.com/wiki/index.php?title=HarvardInterview

Accepted's Searchable database: http://www.accepted.com/mba/interviews/search.asp?bhcp=1
Also check here: http://delicious.com/admissions/hbs+interview_reports
and be sure to read
How NOT To Blow Your Harvard Interview | Poets and Quants http://bit.ly/fg0U4r

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-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

• Watch Vince videos on YouTube
• I invite you to follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/tokyovince and join me on Facebook.

The Kellogg Interview

General notes on Kellogg interviews

• R1 w/ Tokyo-based alumni usually held one first or second weekend of November 
• R2 w/ Tokyo-based alumni usually held at Eisai in late January or early February
• Your interviewer will ask you to evaluate yourself
• Kellogg asks each alumni interviewer to fill out quantitative (rankings comparing your others interviewed by that same alumni member) and qualitative (short answers following criteria found here)
• Do not panic if your interviewer is writing extensive notes. Similarly, do not worry if they do not seem to be taking any notes at all. Each interviewer has his or her own style of note-taking. Ignore their notes and focus on the conversation. Build rapport, show passion, empathy, and genuine interest in your interviewer's Kellogg experience.  
• If interviewing on campus - schedule on a weekday to increase the likelihood that you will be interviewed by (full-time) adcom staff (as opposed to a student adcom member)
• Students do their best, but adcom members usually have more experience and are therefore more likely to be able to focus their full attention on you rather than taking too many notes while you speak

Northwestern / Kellogg Interview Reports

Past clients who interviewed on campus were typically asked the following range of questions

ADCOMS #1

Evanston April 17, 2009

3rd Round On-Campus Interview 17Apr. 2009 (Fri)

Interviewer: Ms. E M (Assistant Director of Admissions)

Non-Alum, 2nd month with Kellogg, no experience working at other Business Schools, Very Friendly

Questions:

1. Tell me about your undergrad experiences (both Academic and Non-academic)
2. How/Why did you choose your 1st job?
3. How did you end up in your current job? (Transition from 1st job to 2nd job)
4. Post MBA goal and Why
5. Long Term Goal
6. Why MBA?
7. Why Kellogg?
8. How do you function in a team?
9. Do you usually (routinely) work in a team setting?
10. Tell me about your leadership style with an example.
11. What kind of impact can you make on Kellogg?
12. Any clubs you’re interested in?
13. Activities you’re involved in outside of work.
14. How do you see yourself relative to your peers?
15. Have you experienced any setbacks being the youngest person in your organization?
16. Anything else you would like to highlight?
17. Any questions? (twice)

ADCOMS #2

R2 applicant on campus Feb. 2009

I was interviewed by an admissions officer and most interviews on week-days seemed to be done by admission staff.

Date; February 6th

Interviewer; Ms. V L

Here are the questions.

1. - When did you arrive at Evanston? Have you met anyone from Kellogg before your interview?
2. - Tell me about your academic background and the reasons for your choices.
3. - Walk me through your resume and your career progress to date.
4. - What do you think is the biggest impact you have made in your organization?
5. - What do you think is your type of leadership and tell me about your leadership experience?
6. - Tell me about your accomplishment through teamwork.
7. - How do you resolve a conflict in a team?
8. - What do you think your colleagues appreciate about you?
9. - If your colleagues can change one thing about you, what do you think it would be?
10. - What is your short term/ long term goals?
11. - How can Kellogg help you achieve your goals?
12. - If admitted, what do want to do outside the classrooms in Kellogg?
13. - What do you currently enjoy besides work?
14. - Any questions?

ADCOMS #3

R2 applicant on campus Feb. 9, 2009

Date: February 9, 2009

Place: Kellogg On-campus

Interviewer: Mrs. J O (Admissions Officer)

30 minutes

I was instructed to fill in the form with following information

Name, STG and LTG

Questions:

1. When did you arrive?
2. Did you come to US only for interview purpose?
3. Career Progress
4. What is the greatest undergrad experience?
5. What do your colleagues describe about you?
6. Why MBA?
7. STG, LTG
8. Why Kellogg?
9. Teamwork Question
10. How did your colleague change you?
11. One thing you want to change about yourself
12. Leadership Question
13. What is your leadership style?
14. Where else did you apply?
15. Adjective describe you
16. Where in US did you live?
17. What do you do for fun?
18. Do you do any charity work?
19. What club do you intend to join?
20. Any thing you want to say? (One time)
21. Any question? (Two times)

ADCOMS #4

R2 applicant on campus Jan. 30, 2009 #1

Date: January 30, 2009

Place: Kellogg On-campus

Interviewer: Ms. A S (Admissions Officer and a Kellogg alumna)

Questions:

1. When did you arrive in Kellogg? When do you go back? Jet lag?
2. Tell me about your undergrad major experience. Why did you choose that major?
3. Tell me about your work history. Why did you choose that company?
4. Describe your team. How do you perform in that team?
5. Why MBA?
6. Why Kellogg?
7. Post MBA goal
8. What is your leadership style like?
9. How would you manage a conflict between people?
10. How do you convince people?
11. How do you manage yourself in an international environment?
12. What can you contribute to Kellogg? (Besides work experience)
13. What clubs do you intend to join? Any others?
14. Anything else you have not mentioned that you want me to know about you?
15. Any questions? Any others?

ADCOMS #5

R2 applicant on campus Jan. 30, 2009 #2

Date: January 30, 2009

Place: Kellogg On-campus

Interviewer: Ms. A S (Admissions Officer and a Kellogg alumna)

NOTE: It seems that admission officers are in charge of weekday interviews while students take care of weekend interviews.

Questions;

1. University experiences (academic, extracurricular)
2. Career progress
3. why MBA, why Kellogg
4. Leadership experience, leadership style
5. How are you going to develop leadership at Kellogg?
6. Conflict-solving experience, how?
7. Strategic experience in a project, how did you plan a strategy to achieve a difficult thing?
8. Short-term goal (STG) after Kellogg / My thought of key success factors in attain my STG
9. Impact I have made on my clients or my company
10. Contributions at Kellogg
11. Anything else? (twice)
12. Any questions? (three times)
13. What are you going to do after this interview?

ADCOMS #6

R2 applicant on campus Jan. 19, 2009

1. Who: Admission officer: Ms. A S (alumni)

2. Place: Admission office (her room/ no table/ just two chair)

3. Condition: Friendly/ Blind/ 50 minutes/ the admission checked my resume before we started (I gave her my resume before we started, and she asked me to wait for 5-10 minutes)

4. Questions:

• When did I arrive
• What have you done since your arrival?
• Tell me about your university experience
• Tell me about your extracurricular activity during university
• Don't you want to be a politician (after I talked about my experience in campaign office)?
• Tell me your career progress
• Why do you think that you could be awarded for top sales person (what makes you win this award)?
• How to solve the problems caused by the cultural difference.
• Why MBA?
• Why Kellogg?
• What do you do outside of your work?
• What extracurricular activity do you want to do at Kellogg?
• What is your goal (short/ long)?
• What kind of your quality that you have developed do you think will help you to work as a consultant in future?
• How is your analytical skill?
• What extra information you want to tell me?
• What extra information you want to tell me? (again)
• Do you have any questions?

ADCOMS #7

2009 R1 admit on campus

(Kellogg: 55 minutes w/ adcom, blind, friendly)

1. When did you arrive? 
2. What have you done since you arrived?
3. Walk me through your resume.
4. Why MBA and why now?
5. What do you intend to gain at Kellogg.
6. (Building on previous question) You are corporate-sponsored. How would you give back to your organization after Kellogg.
7. Describe your leadership style.
8. What role would you play in team activities at Kellogg.
9. What clubs or activities at Kellogg are you most interested in?
10. How would you enrich classroom experiences of other Kellogg students?
11. Describe ONE thing about Kellogg that you think sets it apart from other programs. (Why Kellogg)
12. Anything you would like to add that you think relates to your candidacy?
13. Q and A

STUDENT ADCOMS #1

2008 R2 on campus

As for Kellogg, things were a little bit unexpected because my interviewer was a 1st year student. She was nice and friendly, but it was difficult for me to control the overall interview. She was writing down EVERYTHING while I was talking, and she told me to stop and wait before I finish. So after the first two questions, I waited for her so she could finish writing, but then when I did that, she just jumped to the next question. Also, although she told me it was going to be conversational, she did not ask me any further questions to my answers. She did not let me add anything at the end either. Also it was challenging because she had me talk about three accomplishments in the beginning.

In case there are applicant who are applying for R3 and planning to do on-campus interview, I recommend making reservation on weekdays so that you will have higher probability to be interviewed by admission directors.(it seems Admission directors are off on weekends) But for me, having interview with a student was another chance to know more about Kellogg community and was a truly great experience which lasted about 45 minutes. (including warm up and cool down chat)

We started off with warm up (ice breaking) chat, such as weather and flight, and she told me her background. She was a 1st year student with finance background. She told me it was a blind interview (she had not seen my application) and that interview goes in chronological order

She asked:

1. Why did you become interested in your undergraduate study? Please explain in detail about your major.
2. Please talk about your extra curricular activity (in my case it was my golf club activity
3. Why do you think you were chosen as the captain of golf club at your High School and University?
4. Do you play golf a lot recently?
5. Have you ever done hole-in-one?
6. What do you recommend me to fix my slice?
7. Please tell me about your recruiting process?
8. I talked why IT industry why current company why my function
9. Please talk about your division and how you have progress your career.
10. What was the reason you got your promotion?
11. How did your responsibility change?
12. Please clarify, in specific, your responsibility.
13. Are you responsible to negotiate with client?
14. How do you compare your client (big Japanese company) and US companies?
15. Please tell me the situation where you took leadership and why it was effective?
16. What were difficult factors and how you have dealt with it?
17. What were factors became conflict and why?
18. Please be more specific about how you resolve the conflict?
19. Why MBA? STG? LTG?
20. Do you have specific firm you want to work for?
21. LTG: At this point do you have specific company you want to help? (my LTG is to be CEO and help company revitalize)
22. Why Kellogg?
23. What are specific classes and organization you are planning to join and why?
24. What do you do outside work? (aside from golf) Why do you like it?
25. Anything else you want to add? (She told her experience in GIM India and I told my business trip experience to India) What was your impression of the Indian city you have visited?
26. Is there any thing I can answer for you?
27. What was your impression of your visit to classes?
28. Cool down chat: What are you planning to do this afternoon?

Past clients who interviewed with Tokyo-based alumni were asked the following range of questions

Tokyo-based alumni #1

April 3, 2009

interviewer's brief introduction in Japanese

1. Walk me through your resume.
2. Why did you move to private sector? Why did you choose Company X?
3. What is the biggest learning while you were engaged in public sector?
4. Goals
5. Under the current economic situation, you will run a risk of getting no job. How do you treat with that?
6. As to your long goal, which area/category has the most promise from the perspective of your professional experience?
7. Why MBA? Why Kellogg?
8. What is the greatest accomplishment?
9. How do you contribute to Kellogg?
10. Other sales-point.

There are many laughs.

Then I asked my interviewer the following questions:

1. How did your Kellogg experience affect you?
2. Could you give me an advice for my partner to prepare for Evanston life? (He told me that he accompanied his wife and a baby)
3. What is the impressive class, faculty, student?

As to 1,2,4,5,7, he told the content is clear.

For 5, good idea! Your lesson is useful.

Tokyo-based alumni #2

R2 applicant in Tokyo Jan. 31, 2009

At Eisai

Condition

Friendly / Blind / 30 minutes / He had skimmed my resume before comming to the interview room

Basically we talked interactively. He seemed to have some agenda or direction as to what to ask in the interview.

Conducted in English.

I had a good rapport with interviewer. We enjoyed discussion and laughed a lot.

In the middle and the end of the meeting, he said he would grade me as very good.

Questions

1. Warm up chats: He introduced his career briefly.
2. Walk me through your resume.
3. Why did you join current employer? Why did you major in law at university?
4. Short term goal, long term goal?
5. What is your major accomplishment?
6. Why Kellogg?
7. How can you contribute to Kellogg?

Tokyo-based alumni #3

R2 applicant in Tokyo Jan. 26, 2008

Questions were mostly about my business:

1. Explain the business model of your current job.
2. Briefly explain your recent accomplishment.
3. How did you learn about Kellogg? Web site or people?
4. Why do you pursue MBA?
5. What do you think your expertise.
6. In what occasion do you feel most exciting?
7. What was the greatest obstacle in your project?
8. What was the key to solve the project.
9. Any questions?"

Tokyo-based alumni #4

R2 applicant in Tokyo Jan. 26, 2008

1. Just tell me about your self in 3 min (he added my hobby and outside activity)
2. Walk through your resume (he said my resume looks great and I did so many things!)
3. Tell me about your big achievement in your job (I added my strong leadership about my achievement)
4. Tell me abuot your leadership outside work
5. Why MBA
6. Why Kellogg 
7. Any questions?

Tokyo-based alumni #5

R2 applicant in Tokyo Jan. 26, 2008

Kellogg- Alumni interview

1. Please introduce yourself to me.
2. Could you walk me through your resume?
3. Please tell me your experience in which you took initiatives?
4. Please tell me your teamwork experience?
5. Could you tell me your significant business decisions in career?
6. Anything else?
7. Q and A

Tokyo-based alumni #6

R2 applicant in Tokyo Jan. 26, 2008

Interview Questions

1. Run through your resume.
2. Why MBA? (Following my answer: finance) 
3. Why do you want to study finance at Kellogg?
4. What are your career goals?
5. What is your significant achievement at work?
6. If other four people disagree with you but your opinion is right at group study of Kellogg, What would you do?
7. How you learned English?
8. Any questions?

Tokyo-based alumni #7

R2 applicant in Tokyo

Time: 18:00-19:20

Venue: Palace Hotel (Lounge), Otemachi, Tokyo

Ice breaking was in Japanese. The alumnus (turned out to be 42 years old, class of 2001) created a very comfortable atmosphere for me. He made very basic confirmations in Japanese, and then, we slid into English interview. As a whole, his questions were based on my resume. His typical "Japanese-English" made me so relieved.

1. Briefly summarize your career
2. Tell me about your career in the Indonesia Project (my first 3 year career)
3. ST and LT goal?
4. Why MBA?
5. Why Kellogg?
6. Tell me about your teamwork experience.
7. Tell me about your leadership experience.
8. What was the biggest difficulty in your career?
9. What was the most challenging part in your HR career?
10. What experience in your first project helps you with your current project? Any similarity?
11. How do you intend to change your company? What do you think the next generation energy is? (As I am in the energy sector.)
12. Tell me about your baseball story.
13. Anything to add?
14. Any questions? (again in Japanese, about 20 min.)

I really enjoyed my interview (a kind of chat!) with him in a very relaxing atmosphere. It was simply interesting to talk with him.

More reports here: http://www.clearadmit.com/wiki/index.php?title=KelloggInterview

Accepted's Searchable database: http://www.accepted.com/mba/interviews/search.asp?bhcp=1

Sample Kellogg interviews here (video recreations w/ an admitted client; I asked the same questions he was asked by student adcoms on campus; he repeated most of the same content that got him admitted)

Top of blog

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-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

• Watch Vince videos on YouTube
• I invite you to follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/tokyovince and join me on Facebook.