How to Write Your HBS Post-Interview Reflection 

HBS says, “You've just had your HBS interview.  How well did we get to know you?” As part of the application process, you will be required to complete a Post-Interview Reflection. Here are a few details:

• The Post-Interview Reflection is not intended to be another formal essay. Think of it instead as an email you might write to a colleague or supervisor after a meeting.

• We will be much more generous in our reaction to typos and grammatical errors than we will be with pre-packaged responses. Reflections that give any indication that they were produced BEFORE you had the interview will raise a flag for us.

• Your Post-Interview Reflection is due within 24 hours of the conclusion of your interview. Let the interview soak in a little bit...we hate to see people missing activities because they've blocked out the time right after their interview to write their reflections.

• There is no word limit for the Post-Interview Reflection.  There is a file size limit for the document you will upload, but it is quite generous.

(original source materials found at https://www.hbs.edu/mba/admissions/interviews/Pages/interview-logistics.aspx; accessed 2018/04)

Vince tips: My best clients treat the PIR like a thank you email they would send after a job interview. They keep their PIR to one page (450 words or less). Why so short? Just as you will need to be concise in case discussions, you must be concise, now. Show good judgment because that is what leaders do. And we know HBS cares about leadership :) 

One possible structure: Two + One

Two things that went well

• Two discussion points / major themes that went well and one that you wish had gone better.

• You got to know me well regarding A and B

+ One thing that could’ve gone better

• Clarify a misunderstanding

• I wish I had done a better job of explaining C 

• Add new info (if relevant)

• I wish we had more time to discuss C