The Personality Assessment Round: Be Prepared!
“Where do you see yourself five years down the line?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” “Why should we select you over others?” “Can you critically appreciate the last book you read?” “Why do you want to pursue an MBA?” “Why have you applied to our institute?”
Are you confused by questions like these and the varied responses they elicit from an equally wide gamut of sources? Have you been collecting answers from every possible person who you think, “has been there and done it” when it comes to MBA, only to realize that you cannot pre-program your answers?
Relax!
It happens to almost every aspiring MBA candidate. It is time, you, as a candidate, realize that the interviewer is not there to humiliate you or rip your self-esteem apart. What you perceive as an intrusive measure to compare you against others is actually a method to understand your personality better. The way you project yourself or showcase your personality would either make or completely mar the interview and group discussion.
The interview panel has been formed for a cause. Once you have cleared the first hurdle (the written round), the onus gets equally shared between the interviewer and the interviewee. You have to prove yourself to him that you suit the specific requirements of the institute. He, on the other hand, has to get convinced whether you are the one for his institute, for which he needs to question you, to know you and your objective in life in better.
The critical determiner of your performance is how you gauge the process. The battle is lost even before it’s fought, the moment you start taking the process in categories. It is an evaluation of your entire personality. The process is to understand you as an individual where these components surface themselves out. The way you handle yourself in a stressful situation speaks volumes about your future negotiation and decision making capabilities. Group discussion is a manifestation of “you in the group” rather than “you versus the group”.
As a first step to prepare for these personality assessment tests, put yourself in the panelists' shoes and understand what these are all about. A written test fails to bring out the complete personality though it highlights certain traits like analytical reasoning, speed, comprehension, working under stress, etc. But to realize your potential as a future manager, certain others characteristics need to be brought to the fore. These include how you respond under monitored yet stressful conditions, how effective are your group dynamics, how well you can negotiate in a pressure situation, etc.
To crack GDs & Interviews, first you need to do away with the first myth – “Me in a (GD + PI) = selection”. Rather, start taking it as a test devised to gauge your personality. It is knowing and evaluating “me better through certain personality assessment tests”.
Knowing the purpose better:
The primary objective of this kind of assessment is to check a candidate’s inter-personal skills. It is a means to determine your level of comfort in an unfamiliar situation amidst strangers. It also attempts to gauge how well you maneuver the group to attain the end results. It effectively demonstrates what kind of a group player you are – a leader, a team player, a negotiator or a mute spectator.
What you could possibly do in a situation like this, is be as natural as possible. Masking your expressions or putting up a façade to impress the panel may not be a good idea, as it is nearly impossible to sustain it for long, especially when the situation gets chaotic. Treat the issue at hand like an everyday problem where everyone should make a suggestion to sort out a common solution for the group. When you speak ensure that you make sense, so that in the process you earn respect and support from the group. Be yourself because that is what they want to gauge from the process.
Given the time constraint, no one would entertain a speaker who interrupts every alternate sentence or intrudes every time to reiterate clichés. The best way to act in a group discussion is by treating it as a formal extension of a “constructive” canteen debate or a heated argument that may have often happened in your office boardroom. Like these everyday incidents reflect your personality, this process should be just an additional affirmation of the same.
Interview tips:
Commitment, sincerity and clarity of thought are fundamental areas on which the interviewer would judge your performance. Dilly-dallying and giving sketchy answers to questions like hobbies and interests or job profile would only act detrimental to the cause. In case you had mentioned that you are fond of reading and fail to mention the last winner of a Bookers or for which book, it would only show a lack of thoroughness in your preparation.
One also needs to be very clear about future goals and mission objectives. Any tall claims like “I want to build a business empire by the time I am 30”, yet being blissfully unaware of the nature of business, could be a sure-shot recipe for disaster. Remember, interviews are also means of evaluating your analytical skills and presence of mind.
The best approach is to be at ease and to think properly before answering any of these questions. It is not advisable to come up with ready-made answers, especially when you are not convinced with them, as further probing into the same might muddle you up. Be straightforward and honest. It is also suggested to admit it when you are unaware of any answer rather than bluffing your way out. More often, than not, the latter doesn’t work. Also, the way you make your first impression in the panel speaks lot about your chances of getting through the test successfully.
Remember, the purpose is to find the spark in you and not faults with you. They will not ask you anything under the sun or you don’t have to good at everything. The purpose is not find a Shakespeare, Einstein or Kotler here. It is to find the person in you through these questions. So, rather than masking, reveal your true self.
To help you prepare:
Start off by doing away with fear of criticism. Spend 15-20 minutes everyday speaking to yourself in the mirror on topics of your choice. Remember, if you can face yourself, you can face the worst critic in the world. Knowledge is power, so keep yourself updated with the happenings in and around India and add to your existing knowledgebase in terms of your hobbies and interests. It is one of the easiest ways of leading the interview and you will also be comfortable as the questions asked will be from your comfort zones.
Attend some demo interviews and group discussions so that you hone your skills to the max before the final day. It is advisable to have a broad agenda in mind while answering unstructured questions like “Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line”, “Your strengths and weaknesses”, “Tell us something about yourself”, etc.
A Last word:
“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet”. Instead of treating the group discussion and interview as a threat, treat it as a platform where you get to meet people who have treaded the path, which you aspire to tread. You don’t have to change your personality but just evolve it.
All the best!
The article is written by expert from Career Launcher. Career Launcher (www.careerlauncher.com) is one of the leading education service provider in India. The company was established in 1995 by IIM graduates to provide MBA test-prep courses.
“Where do you see yourself five years down the line?” “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” “Why should we select you over others?” “Can you critically appreciate the last book you read?” “Why do you want to pursue an MBA?” “Why have you applied to our institute?”
Are you confused by questions like these and the varied responses they elicit from an equally wide gamut of sources? Have you been collecting answers from every possible person who you think, “has been there and done it” when it comes to MBA, only to realize that you cannot pre-program your answers?
Relax!
It happens to almost every aspiring MBA candidate. It is time, you, as a candidate, realize that the interviewer is not there to humiliate you or rip your self-esteem apart. What you perceive as an intrusive measure to compare you against others is actually a method to understand your personality better. The way you project yourself or showcase your personality would either make or completely mar the interview and group discussion.
The interview panel has been formed for a cause. Once you have cleared the first hurdle (the written round), the onus gets equally shared between the interviewer and the interviewee. You have to prove yourself to him that you suit the specific requirements of the institute. He, on the other hand, has to get convinced whether you are the one for his institute, for which he needs to question you, to know you and your objective in life in better.
The critical determiner of your performance is how you gauge the process. The battle is lost even before it’s fought, the moment you start taking the process in categories. It is an evaluation of your entire personality. The process is to understand you as an individual where these components surface themselves out. The way you handle yourself in a stressful situation speaks volumes about your future negotiation and decision making capabilities. Group discussion is a manifestation of “you in the group” rather than “you versus the group”.
As a first step to prepare for these personality assessment tests, put yourself in the panelists' shoes and understand what these are all about. A written test fails to bring out the complete personality though it highlights certain traits like analytical reasoning, speed, comprehension, working under stress, etc. But to realize your potential as a future manager, certain others characteristics need to be brought to the fore. These include how you respond under monitored yet stressful conditions, how effective are your group dynamics, how well you can negotiate in a pressure situation, etc.
To crack GDs & Interviews, first you need to do away with the first myth – “Me in a (GD + PI) = selection”. Rather, start taking it as a test devised to gauge your personality. It is knowing and evaluating “me better through certain personality assessment tests”.
Knowing the purpose better:
The primary objective of this kind of assessment is to check a candidate’s inter-personal skills. It is a means to determine your level of comfort in an unfamiliar situation amidst strangers. It also attempts to gauge how well you maneuver the group to attain the end results. It effectively demonstrates what kind of a group player you are – a leader, a team player, a negotiator or a mute spectator.
What you could possibly do in a situation like this, is be as natural as possible. Masking your expressions or putting up a façade to impress the panel may not be a good idea, as it is nearly impossible to sustain it for long, especially when the situation gets chaotic. Treat the issue at hand like an everyday problem where everyone should make a suggestion to sort out a common solution for the group. When you speak ensure that you make sense, so that in the process you earn respect and support from the group. Be yourself because that is what they want to gauge from the process.
Given the time constraint, no one would entertain a speaker who interrupts every alternate sentence or intrudes every time to reiterate clichés. The best way to act in a group discussion is by treating it as a formal extension of a “constructive” canteen debate or a heated argument that may have often happened in your office boardroom. Like these everyday incidents reflect your personality, this process should be just an additional affirmation of the same.
Interview tips:
Commitment, sincerity and clarity of thought are fundamental areas on which the interviewer would judge your performance. Dilly-dallying and giving sketchy answers to questions like hobbies and interests or job profile would only act detrimental to the cause. In case you had mentioned that you are fond of reading and fail to mention the last winner of a Bookers or for which book, it would only show a lack of thoroughness in your preparation.
One also needs to be very clear about future goals and mission objectives. Any tall claims like “I want to build a business empire by the time I am 30”, yet being blissfully unaware of the nature of business, could be a sure-shot recipe for disaster. Remember, interviews are also means of evaluating your analytical skills and presence of mind.
The best approach is to be at ease and to think properly before answering any of these questions. It is not advisable to come up with ready-made answers, especially when you are not convinced with them, as further probing into the same might muddle you up. Be straightforward and honest. It is also suggested to admit it when you are unaware of any answer rather than bluffing your way out. More often, than not, the latter doesn’t work. Also, the way you make your first impression in the panel speaks lot about your chances of getting through the test successfully.
Remember, the purpose is to find the spark in you and not faults with you. They will not ask you anything under the sun or you don’t have to good at everything. The purpose is not find a Shakespeare, Einstein or Kotler here. It is to find the person in you through these questions. So, rather than masking, reveal your true self.
To help you prepare:
Start off by doing away with fear of criticism. Spend 15-20 minutes everyday speaking to yourself in the mirror on topics of your choice. Remember, if you can face yourself, you can face the worst critic in the world. Knowledge is power, so keep yourself updated with the happenings in and around India and add to your existing knowledgebase in terms of your hobbies and interests. It is one of the easiest ways of leading the interview and you will also be comfortable as the questions asked will be from your comfort zones.
Attend some demo interviews and group discussions so that you hone your skills to the max before the final day. It is advisable to have a broad agenda in mind while answering unstructured questions like “Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line”, “Your strengths and weaknesses”, “Tell us something about yourself”, etc.
A Last word:
“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet”. Instead of treating the group discussion and interview as a threat, treat it as a platform where you get to meet people who have treaded the path, which you aspire to tread. You don’t have to change your personality but just evolve it.
All the best!
The article is written by expert from Career Launcher. Career Launcher (www.careerlauncher.com) is one of the leading education service provider in India. The company was established in 1995 by IIM graduates to provide MBA test-prep courses.
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