To help our readers, the MBA aspirants, to excel in this final frontier, MBAUniverse.com presents a special series of articles covering the What, Why and How of personal assessment round. This section gives you tips on MBA personal interview. For this first part, MBAUniverse.com spoke to leading MBA test preparation companies on how they see Personal Interviews and how should aspirants prepare.

We started by asking what is the purpose behind the Personal Interview round.

The Purpose

While the written exam tests the quantitative, reasoning and verbal skills of an applicant, that's not all that a future manager is expected to excel in. In fact, that's just the start! A successful manager should not just be good with his quota of work, but he/ she is expected to contribute as part of a team and lead the team. A personal interview is aimed at knowing a candidate more intimately – assessing the clarity of thinking process, future goals and the 'fit' with the B-school.

Delhi headquartered Career Launcher MBA preparation expert says, "Essentially interview is all about meeting and understanding a candidate and assessing how well he/she fits into a role."

Says Jaya Desai of Mumbai based IMS Learning Resources, "The endpoint of the post test elimination process is the personal interview. It is a direct, face-to-face conversation between the panelist/s and the MBA aspirant. It aims to assess the skills, attitude and personality of the aspirant."

Personal Interview can also turn out to be an opportunity to 'sell' yourself. Opines Mr Subhasish Mitra, VP (KRG) of PT Education, "While intimidating for some MBA-hopefuls, the personal interview represents a prime opportunity. Interviews allow you the chance to not only put a face and personality to the name and credentials on your application file, but also to express your academic, personal, and professional accomplishments, experiences, and intentions."

What does Personal Interview test?

So what does the personal interview process aim to test? Dr JK Mitra, Dean, Faculty of Management Studies, throws some light. "Personal Interview process might begin with the 'views' expressed during the 'extempore round' (part of process at FMS Delhi) or through a free-wheeling discussion around one's bio-data given in the application form. A few 'knowledge-dipstick' questions on one's basic academic background might also be fielded to assess the depth and accuracy of existing knowledge. A few basic General Knowledge questions may also be asked. FMS also give importance to consistent academic performance as it is indicative of academic discipline and ethos one is required to have to survive in the campus."

According to experts, the Personal Interview stresses on following areas:

Why do want to do an MBA? How does it fit into your career goals? What do you wish to do after your MBA? These are some hard questions that you will have to answer almost invariably in all Interviews. These questions search the 'inner motivations' of a candidate, and there are no 'right answers'. The only way to answer these questions is to introspect: what excites and motivates you; what makes you perform your best; what would you really like to do in your life, and how do you genuinely see an MBA helping. Tough questions, but answering them honestly is critical for your success!

"Yes, 'Why MBA?' is the most important question that MBA aspirants need to answer. There is no "good answer". The answer needs to be your answer. In other words, you need to think deeply, introspect and find out what it is that really drives you, that really sends a shiver of excitement down your spine when you think of achieving it. It is only this excitement and this drive that can convince the interview panel about your answer rather than any 'manufactured' answer by any faculty," says expert from Career Launcher.

Adds Mr Mitra of PT Education, "Why do you think now is the right time to pursue an MBA?; How will you fit into our program? And How will you do after you graduate? are the key questions for every MBA aspirants to answer convincingly. Interviewers are looking for responses incorporating specific examples from your academic, personal, and professional experiences. Further, they want to know the reasons behind your major life decisions."

So put on your thinking cap, do some soul searching and then jot down the answers to 'what's your goal' questions.