How To Prepare For The INSEAD Interview

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By: Melissa Jones, Fortuna Admissions on April 20, 2018

The INSEAD interview is a dynamic one. Unlike other business schools, none of

its interviews happen on campus. Instead, INSEAD draws upon a pool of selected

alumni interviewers around the world to help evaluate applicants in the cities

where they live. Interviewers are given a lot of latitude, which means there』s a

lot of variability in terms of format, style and tempo. It makes it difficult to

know what to expect.

It』s a sharp contrast to programs like Harvard Business School, where you』re

paired with someone from the admissions office who』s read your entire file and

tailored specific questions for you (for insights on the HBS interview, view this recent article by my Fortuna Admissions colleague Karla Cohen). At an

INSEAD interview, you can』t assume whether your interviewer has read your file

or not. By empowering alumni to support candidate assessment, the school is

sending a clear signal about how much it values its extended community.

As an expert coach at Fortuna Admissions, and former Assistant Director for

INSEAD』s MBA Program in France, I』ve advised countless MBA hopefuls on the

idiosyncrasies of the its admissions process.

Here』s what you need to know about the INSEAD interview to prepare for

admissions success.

What to expect in the INSEAD interview:

Format:

Expect to be matched up with two interviewers in your city of residence.

INSEAD tries to pair you with one alum who has a similar profile to yours and,

for diversity』s sake, another alum with a very different background. Do your

homework by learning more about your interviewers prior to showing up. At the

minimum, do a Google search and skim their LinkedIn profile. Consider what you

might have in common, which can make for a useful ice-breaker.

Timing:

Many formal interviews are contained to a 30-minute window, while others last

up to two hours. And while it』s unusual, I』ve had clients with interviews that

stretched into four-hour chat sessions due to common interests and personal

chemistry (it』s rare, but it happens). The point is, create a buffer in your

schedule and prepare to be flexible.

Tone:

Much depends on your interviewers』 personality and what they do

professionally. Some interviews are more casual and 『conversational,』 possibly

convened in a coffee shop. More commonly, you』ll be invited to meet your

interviewer at their office, giving the setting a bit more formality. In my

experience, the more seasoned and senior the interviewer, the more formal the

interview and specific the questions, while younger alumni tend to skew more

casual and conversational.

Key angles:

As 「the business school for the world,」 one of INSEAD』s key criteria is

international motivation. The program is geared towards ambitious individuals

with exposure to and experience in a global environment, and/or deep ambition to

pursue an international career. Interviewers will be looking to assess how well

you』ll adapt to this diverse and globally focused environment, as well as your

cross-cultural awareness and career progression. It』s key to show you』ve given

considered thought to your career goals and to interweave the international

perspective.

Flow:

The first question is often related to your current profession and what

you』ve done in the past. You might be asked, 「walk me through your CV,」 or,

「tell me about yourself,」 which gives you the chance to share the various roles

you』ve had and choices you』ve made along the way. You』ll want to be well versed

in discussing your responsibilities, accomplishments and, as mentioned, any

international perspectives, experience and exposure. Be prepared to answer, 「why

an MBA」 and 「why INSEAD?」 These two questions are frequently asked.

While INSEAD isn』t prescriptive about specific questions, all INSEAD

interviewers are asked to report back to the admission team on specific criteria

within a 48-hour window. Beyond your career progression, leadership potential,

and international outlook and motivation, interviewers are asked to comment on

your communication and interpersonal skills, and traits such as team

orientation. While alumni are not the final gatekeepers at decision-time, their

insights are very influential to the admissions committee as your file is

considered holistically.

For more advice on how to prepare, check out my 16-minute video strategy

session with Fortuna』s Caroline Diarte Edwards, 「Everything You Need to Know About the INSEAD MBA Interview.」

以上內容摘自：

https://poetsandquants.com/2018/04/20/prepare-for-the-insead-interview/