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If you have always wanted to further your career opportunities in the world of business, securing an interview for an education course is a huge achievement. Now that you have an up-coming interview for a business course, it’s time to prepare.
If it’s a further education course, it could be that your dream MBA program has asked you for a phone interview, or even a face-to-face. How you put yourself forward during the interview can have a massive effect on whether you succeed on securing a place, so make sure you put the right amount of effort in. Sure, it can be nerve-wracking, but it’s also just as important to relax. Here are five tips to help you prepare for that all-important business course interview.
Prepare Your Mindset
It’s completely normal and healthy to feel nervous about an upcoming interview, but there is a limit to how you let this effect you. Nerves can bring out a competitive side and encourage us to work harder on something, but they can also lead us into becoming a jittering mess, which doesn’t work well in an interview.
Whether it is a business degree or an MBA, remember that the person interviewing you has been in your shoes at some point. They would have studied to get where they are today, and most probably sat in front of course admissions members who interviewed them.
Before the interview, train your mind into viewing it as an exciting opportunity and not something you are on trial for. Review common interview questions to fully prepare yourself. Keep repeating to yourself that you have worked so hard to get this opportunity and that this is a deserving moment where you should 100% be. Then let your enthusiasm shine.
Memorize What The Course Covers
If you can memorize exactly what the course covers, you can keep referring to these topics when talking about what you’re good at and would like to strengthen further. You can now study for MBAs online, so you can even have the course modules up in front of you when having a phone interview. This way, when you are discussing what it is that makes you an ideal applicant, you can touch on what the course covers and why you feel suited to be following this learning route.
With each topic, skill or focus area, give examples of when you have worked towards it before. Keep linking your current education or position into these areas and proving why you are more than confident to take on this level of qualification. You can visit this site here to take a look at a popular online MBA that should give you a solid understanding.
Know Your Own ‘Stories’
You may have applied for the business course a while ago, and it’s likely you will have forgotten some of the things you mentioned in your application. However, your interviewer will have usually read your documents just before the interview.
It’s likely that for an MBA or other business course, they will ask you what your strengths and weaknesses are – some of which you may have already discussed in your application. They might also inquire about what you can do with a MBA to see what your reasons for applying are. Pausing will make you look unsure, so go over your previous application and make sure you don’t trip on anything you have previously claimed. For example, if you stated that confidence and public speaking were your strengths in your application, you will go against it if you discuss that you’re not always the loudest voice in the room as your weakness during interview. Make sure you read over everything you originally stated to avoid looking flaky.
Practice Your Answers Out Loud
The best way to mentally prepare for a business course interview is to mock up an interview at home beforehand. Ask someone to step in and help, and give them a sheet of potential questions. Ask them to throw in the odd surprise question too, so you can see how you handle being thrown off guard.
It’s easy to think you will know what to talk about but it’s surprising how different it feels when you say your answers aloud.
Everyone gets nervous and reacts differently during interviews, but by following the fundamentals above and dedicating time to practicing, you will be well on your way to a brilliant interview performance.
