Best Stanford MBA interview tips

Congratulations. You have been invited to interview with Stanford GSB. Now what?

First, please watch these videos.

As indicated on the GSB admissions website and admissions director's blog, Stanford alumni seem to be asking mostly behavioral interview questions. Here are some recent patterns I have noticed from client interview reports.

BEHAVIORAL EVENT INTERVIEW QUESTION CATEGORY

ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE / IMPACT

Tell me about a time (in your professional work) that you saw an opportunity for improving an organization.

Follow up questions

  • How did you convince your boss?

  • How did that process work exactly?

  • What ended up happening?

BEHAVIORAL EVENT INTERVIEW QUESTION CATEGORY

Relationship building: the ability to build and maintain professional relationships

Otherwise known as

TEAMWORK

TEAMWORK QUESTION VERSION 1

Tell me about a time when you worked with difficult people.

Follow up questions

  • What did you do?

  • What did you say?

  • What were you thinking?

  • How did you feel?

  • What was your role?

  • What was the result?

TEAMWORK QUESTION VERSION 2

Have you ever had a difficult person in your team? How did you react to the situation?

Follow up questions

  • What did you do?

  • What did you say?

  • What were you thinking?

  • How did you feel?

  • What was your role?

  • What was the result?

BEHAVIORAL EVENT INTERVIEW QUESTION CATEGORY

Drive: the ability to set an objective and achieve it

Otherwise known as

GOAL ORIENTED

GOAL ORIENTED / DRIVE QUESTION VERSION 1

Tell me about a time when you exceeded expectations.

Follow up questions

  • What did you do?

  • What did you say?

  • What were you thinking?

  • How did you feel?

  • What was your role?

  • What was the result?

GOAL ORIENTED / DRIVE QUESTION VERSION 2

Tell me about a project where exceeded the goal set by your boss.

Follow up questions

  • What did you do?

  • What did you say?

  • What were you thinking?

  • How did you feel?

  • What was your role?

  • What was the result?


BEHAVIORAL EVENT INTERVIEW QUESTION CATEGORY

Influencing others: the ability to influence a person, group or organization

Otherwise known as

LEADERSHIP

LEADERSHIP QUESTION VERSION 1

Tell me about a time when you led a team.

Follow up questions

  • What did you do?

  • What did you say?

  • What were you thinking?

  • How did you feel?

  • What was your role?

  • What was the result?

  • What was the hardest part?

  • What do you wish you had done differently?

  • Why?

LEADERSHIP QUESTION VERSION 2

Tell me about a time when you improved your team as a leader.

Follow up questions

  • What did you do?

  • What did you say?

  • What were you thinking?

  • How did you feel?

  • What was your role?

  • What was the result?

  • What was the hardest part?

  • What do you wish you had done differently?

  • Why?