Introduction
There are probably an infinite number of questions that can be asked in an interview. Nevertheless, the following is a representative list of questions you may encounter. They are organized by type of question and/or by the type of interview in which they are most commonly found. At the bottom, you will also find a list of questions by functional areas commonly pursued by SOM students/alumni.
You should be prepared for any or all of these questions in your interviews- particularly those focused on what motivates you and what qualifies you to pursue a given career path/job role. As part of your preparation, you may wish to write out your answers, perhaps in bullet-point style, to ensure that you can identify and communicate the key points of your answers at any time. To improve your answers, review your resume and identify examples from your experience that illustrate your points. Use these specific examples to reinforce your strengths and to contribute detail to the overall story you wish to present to the interviewer.
Please note well the following two points:
Anything on your resume is fair territory for the interviewer to explore.
Technical questions are often asked. If you are specializing in Finance, for example, the interviewer may ask, "How do you value a company?" If you have not taken the first corporate finance course, tell your interviewer. You are not expected to know what you haven't taken yet.
Personal
These are often part of the "fit" interview that focuses on who you are as a person. This kind of question can appear in any type of interview. The questions in the first group are followed by hints to help you structure your answers.
| . Tell me about yourself. This common opening question is designed to let you talk and relax. You can choose any combination of events to describe. Interviewers don't want an autobiography. Keep it to two to three minutes--max! Your 60-Second Commercial is a good opening for your answer. Be prepared to elaborate. |
| . What are your goals? Describe carefully. You can talk about where you want to be, but don't give a canned answer--"I want to be in management." |
| . Tell me about your experience at your previous employer. Always be positive. If there was a problem, don't provide details. Talk about what you learned, how you developed, and how you can transfer these skills to the new position. |
| . Under what type of supervision do you work most effectively? They want to know if you can work independently and take direction. Talk about being self-motivated and that you work well in diverse situations. |
| . What challenges you? This is a character question. |
| . If your best friend were here, what do you think s/he would tell me about you? Clearly, this is trying to get insight into your character and how you think others view you. |
| . What was the last book you read? It is asked to see what your interests are. |
| . Are you fluent in [language]? Be prepared for the rest of the interview to be conducted in that language. The interviewer is looking for honesty and ability. |
| . What are your hobbies? This is designed to see if you are a wellrounded individual. |
| . With whom are you talking? How have you been doing? Cite comparable companies. Any offers yet? |
| . What is the biggest contribution you made to your former company/organization? |
| . What are the three most important events of your life? Why? |
| . Who are your heroes? Who has most shaped your life? |
| . How do you define success? |
| . What are your career goals? |
| . Where do you see yourself in five years? In ten years? |
| . How would your friends describe you? Your colleagues/coworkers/classmates? |
| . What makes you stand out among your fellow students? |
| . How do you see your fit in our company? |
| . What are your expectations and goals for this position? |
| . What is most important to you with regard to job satisfaction? |
| . Why do you want to work for us? How did you happen to find us? |
| . Did you get an offer from the firm you worked for this summer? |
| . Do you have other offers? Why would/wouldn't you take our offer over one of the others? |
| . Why do you want to relocate? |
| . Are you willing to relocate every two years or so? |
| . How do you feel about travel? |
| . To what extent have you traveled in your past jobs? |
Industry/Job/Company/Organization
These are found in all types of interviews. In behavioral interviews, they are often buried amid more specific examples of how you handle situations, stay abreast of industry news, and analyze/manage data. See also the sections dedicated to specific functional areas. The first two questions are followed by hints to help you structure your answers.
| . Why are you here? This means: Why are you interviewing with XYZ Company? This is where you want to use your research on the company and demonstrate how you can meet the company's needs and how it meets your needs. One applicant answered, "Because you invited me!" This is not the answer interviewers appreciate. |
| . Why should we hire you? This is your chance to really shine! Sell yourself. Show your fit for the job. |
| . Why are you interested in ________? |
| . What makes you want to be a _______? |
| . What do you think this job requires? |
| . What do you predict is going to happen in this industry in the next 5 years? |
| . How would you go about evaluating a business? |
| . What do you know about our company? |
| . Who do you see as our most important competitors? |
| . What other types of jobs are you considering? |
| . With what other organizations are you interviewing? |
| . What criteria are you using to evaluate the organization for which you hope to work? |
| . What two or three things are most important to you in your job? |
| . What are the attributes of your ideal job? |
| . What parts of the job do you think you will find least satisfying? Why? |
| . What do you think it takes to be successful in this industry/company/job? |
Education
These are common in the "fit" or resume review types of interviews. A behavioral interview will focus on your thought process in deciding to attend certain institutions, pursue degrees, etc. The first two questions are followed by hints to help you structure your answers.
| . Why did you choose Yale? This one is designed to determine why you made the choice and how you made the choice. If you applied to several schools and Yale was the only one that selected you, you don't need to provide all the details. |
| . What do you like most about Yale? With this question, they will assess your fit with the company. |
| . Why did you decide to get an MBA? |
| . What other programs did you consider attending? |
| . What made you decide to concentrate in _______? |
| . What have you learned at Yale that will help you in this job? |
| . What extracurricular activities are you involved in here? Why did you choose these particular activities? Do you hold any leadership positions? |
| . What electives have you taken? Why? |
| . What courses at Yale have you enjoyed most/least? Why? |
| . How do you balance the different priorities MBA student life presents? (This is very typical when it is known that you also have a spouse and/or children.) |
| . How are you different from other Yale students? |
Resume Review
Many of these questions focus on industry, company/organization, or functional skills.
| . Walk me through your resume. Focus on accomplishments and your thought process in making transitions. |
| . What is the most important thing on your resume? Why? |
| . What should I know about you that is not on your resume? |
| . What was the most important thing you learned from your previous experience/internship? |
| . Given that you have no background in this field, why do you think you will be successful? What interests you about this field? |
| . You have five minutes to describe the most relevant and specific items in your background that show you are uniquely qualified for this position. |
| . What particular expertise do you have that would lend itself well to this position? |
| . Demonstrate/illustrate skills that you can transfer from past experience. |
| . What are the immediate and future problems you would expect to face if we hired you for this position? |
| . Describe the most difficult job you have ever had to perform. |
| . Why did you spend X years as an (architect, Peace Corp. volunteer, financier, etc.) before coming to Yale and how will this experience help you in this job? |