What can you expect from an MBA internship interview or selection process in the USA?

Versión en Español: ¿Qué se puede esperar de un proceso de selección y entrevista de pasantía MBA en EEUU?

Like the CVs, the selection processes and job interviews in the USA also have their peculiarities. These peculiarities include differences in the overall structure of the process, the style and focus of the interview, and the level of preparation required among others.

We are very pleased to share with you the following interview we did with Juan Pablo, class of 2021 MBA candidate at Harvard, about his experiences interviewing and participating in selection processes for his MBA internship in the USA. We would to thank Juan Pablo for taking the time to share his advice and lessons with us. We hope you enjoy it!

What did you find the most challenging about your interview and selection process?

JP: ¨The most difficult thing is knowing how to prepare for each stage of the process and for each interview. In the USA the competition is much stronger and there is a basic level that people expect from each candidate; therefore, the preparation becomes more relevant.

The interviews and the selection process change by role and industry, so you must prepare differently for each type of role and industry you are applying to. The process and interviews for a venture capital fund are going to be different than the process and interviews for Google or the process and interviews for a consultancy. It is normal to have to adjust the resume for each role and each industry so that one can better highlight why he or she is a good fit. Also, for each role and industry there are different questions and different types of interviews, so one must prepare adequately. Having access to the right resources is critically important.

What was the most surprising aspect of the selection and interviewing process?

JP: ¨What surprised me the most is the level of dedication and effort that must be put into the entire process. For each process one must think in detail about the best way to sell him/herself.  He or she must choose what to highlight both in the resume and in each interview. At the end of the day this makes sense as each role is going to require different abilities; however, I was still surprised by how much unique preparation is involved.

I was also surprised by the amount of available resources that can help make the preparation process easier.  If one prepares well and takes advantage of the available resources, it is possible to predict or anticipate what the interview will be like.¨

What kinds of differences did you experience while interviewing in the USA in comparison to your time interviewing in Colombia? 

JP: ¨An interview in the USA is much more focused on the candidate's experience, knowledge, and skills, and less on personal aspects. In Colombia, it is common to be asked very personal questions.  However, in the USA I have never been asked a question about my personal life. Something that I found interesting, and that also has to do with the previous observation, is that in the USA I have never had an interview with someone from human resources.  In Colombia, I have always had an interview with someone from human resources as an initial screening.¨

How did you prepare for your interviews in the USA versus Colombia?

JP: ¨The preparation was completely different.  In the USA, I have prepared myself in a more complete way for the interviews. In Colombia, I primarily focused on learning about the company.  In the USA, I have not only focused on learning about the company, but I have also focused on understanding what the process is for the role and the industry to which I am applying and how I can position my experience, my skills, and my knowledge to demonstrate that I am a good fit for the job for which I am interviewing. I try to answer how I can generate value for the company from my experience and knowledge, and how I can contribute. Additionally, in the USA, I have also had to prepare myself to answer behavioral questions, which do not seem so common to me in Colombia.¨

How were the interview questions and the overall structure of the interviews different from those in Colombia?

JP: ¨I have the impression that the structure of the interviews in the USA is more predictable than in Colombia. There is a clear structure and objective. In the USA, there is little interest in the personal life of the applicant. However, there is a marked interest in knowing how it is that one can contribute in the position for which one is interviewing. What experience and knowledge make you relevant to the position, why do you think you can add value, what attracts you to the position, etc.¨

What is the most important lesson or advice you would offer someone from Colombia who is about to participate in his or her first selection process in the USA?

JP: "Take time to understand the process and what is expected of you. Each industry and each role will be evaluated differently, so they understand how they can best prepare for the specific role and industry (this includes the CV, cover letters and interviews). Additionally, always try to understand and create a story that connects your experience and knowledge with the position you are applying to. At the end of the day, you must justify that you are the ideal person for that role and that you are truly going to add value and contribute to the company from that role."

Once again, we would like to thank Juan Pablo for taking the time to speak with us about his experiences participating in selection processes and interviews in the USA. For our readers who are curious about how the internship selection process for Juan Pablo ended, we are happy to tell you that Juan Pablo accepted an offer to do his internship at one of the FAANG technology companies.

If you are currently in a selection process with a multinational company or interested in practicing and preparing for interviews in English, we invite you to request a free consultation with us by clicking on the Get Started button or the Request A Free Analysis button.  Also, you can reach out to us directly at contact@azuladvisors.com.  We look forward to hearing from you!