How ESMT Berlin MBA Interview Works
Applications that are complete in all aspects and qualify in terms of the minimum academic and other criteria specified above are evaluated for being progressed to the next stage in the admission process. Shortlisted candidates will be called for the ESMT Berlin MBA process.
The ESMT MBA Interview panel will evaluate each candidate’s performance in terms of quality of work experience, diversity, leadership qualities, social sensitivity, and multifacetedness.
As a general approach to selecting a candidate for the programme, a multi-factor model is used. These factors include academic track record, GMAT/GRE scores, quality of work experience, performance in the interview, and writing ability test. A composite total score will be calculated for each applicant using the multi-factor model. A merit list is prepared based on the composite total score. The offer of admission will be made to a certain percentage of applicants on the merit list. The number of offers made will depend on the availability of seats. The number of offers will be further subject to the candidate meeting a minimum cutoff in terms of the composite score and/or for any other factor score that the admissions committee may decide on
Who will interview you, and how long will the interview last?
Like most European B-schools, the ESMT MBA interview is taken by a Panel. The Panel usually consists of 2-3 professors. The interview typically lasts for 25-30 minutes or may extend to 35-40 minutes in some instances.
Will the interviewer have read my application?
It is always safer to assume that the Panel members have access to your complete application. In most instances, they would have read it completely. Unless the school specifically says that it will be an blind interview. Mostly North American Business schools in US and Canada have an Blind interviews, European and SE Asian schools conduct interviews via Alums or panels which have full access to your entire application.
How can you prepare for your interview?
Like most MBA Interviews, your interview will mainly revolve around a pretty similar set of MBA interview questions. You can never predict what questions will be asked, but with enough research, you can predict what are the most commonly asked questions in these interviews. We have created a short FAQ list below to get you a jump start, and we also have a free guide linked below to help you prepare for these commonly asked interview questions.
ESMT Berlin MBA Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Professional experience-related questions
- Tell me something about yourself, or Walk me through your resume.
- What are your short-term and long-term goals?
- Why MBA? or Why now? or Why an MBA at this stage of your career?
- Why ESMT, Why Berlin?
- What is your Plan B? in case your primary goal does not happen?
Personal qualities-related questions
- What are your key strengths? Can you give some examples, please?
- What are your key weaknesses? Can you give some examples, please?
- How can you add value to the Class? or Why should we take you?
- Any reasons why we should not select you?
- Interests and Hobbies related questions – why do you do it, what have you achieved/learned?
Frequently Asked Situational & Behavioral Questions
- What is your leadership style? Can you give an example of a project you led?
- What would you describe are your greatest achievement to date?
- Give me an example of a time you failed.
- Give me an example of a time you faced a conflict. How did you handle that?
- Give me an example of a time when you did not meet a client’s expectations. What happened, and how did you attempt to rectify the situation?
The last one – Do you have any questions for us?
- Can you please tell me how international exchange students and schools are assigned?
- How club leadership is selected?
- Any other questions you may have in regards to the program.
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ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 1
Interview date: October 22, 20
“I had my interview over Skype. My interviewer attempted to ask questions about my background and professional experience.
1. What are your responsibilities in your current position?
2. Why an MBA?
3. How would you contribute to the class?
3. What research have you done on post-MBA goals?
4. What is your backup plan?
5. How did you study for the GMAT?
6. How would you address the issue if one of your students with whom you are collaborating did not put out the effort to complete the task?
7. If you are requested to replace your supervisor tomorrow, what changes will you make in the first 100 days?
8. What is your current business issue of interest?
Finally, I was asked if I had any questions.
Overall, the interview went well. There is no hardball question. I hope this was useful. Best wishes to future applicants.”
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 2
Interviewed online on November 4, 2022
Final Decision: Admitted
“The interview lasted around 50 minutes and was really casual. Here are some of the questions:
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
2. Why MBA at this time, and why ESMT?
3. What were your criteria for selecting a business school?
4. Leadership experience – some behavioural questions.
5. Current employment tasks and roles.
6. Specific inquiries concerning the extracurricular activities I mentioned.
7. How do you work in a group? Give some instances.
8. Why Europe’s schools and not those in other regions such as the United States?
I followed up with a thank you note to both interviews.”
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 3
The interview with AdCom took place off campus.
The first interviewer was currently employed by a similar organization, albeit in a totally different capacity. It was a casual cafe talk. She had gone over my application. She began by introducing her work and then asked the following questions:
1. Please walk me over your résumé.
2. Stakeholders, team size, work I do, and KPIs I manage are all questions regarding my current role.
3. Why make the transition from people manager to individual contributor?
4. What would you do differently if you were now in charge of people?
5. What do you appreciate about data (as I was a data scientist) – I believe this could have led to a question about MS vs. MBA if I had not replied properly. Why Product Management and an MBA?
7. How was it working in a multicultural team? Do you have any insights to share?
8. How would you spend your time at ESMT?
9. How would you prioritize coping with ESMT’s many offerings?
10. Are you applying to any other colleges?
For Q&A, I questioned her about her ESMT experience and why she wanted to join ESMT. Overall, it was a conversational interview with a few challenging questions.
A second interviewer performs a similar function. I desire to be a post-MBA professional but in a totally different industry. He was also slightly older than me (approximately 17 years of job experience). Another coffee chat. He had even read my application. The following are some questions:
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
2. Why an MBA and an ESMT?
3. Which ESMT courses pique your interest?
4. What would you do if the MBA did not work out (both natural career development and what you would like to do)?
5. Why not jump right into your long-term objective of launching your own business after earning your MBA? Why bother?
6. One year compared. two-year MBA
7. Can you tell me about your hobbies and interests outside of work?
8. How do you apply what you’ve learned outside of work in your professional life?
9. Do you have a certain location in mind for a post-MBA job? Which employer is hiring for your MBA?
10. Why not rejoin an old company?
11. How would you describe your leadership style?
12. Tell me about a moment when you and your team had a disagreement. How did you deal with it?
13. In your ESMT MBA class group, what role do you envision yourself performing in your peer working group?
As part of the Q&A, I asked him what he would do differently if he could complete the ESMT MBA again. I also asked him about his time at ESMT and how it has helped him in the long run. His remark was mostly focused on the strength of the alumni network.
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 4
Status: Off Campus with Adcom
On: January 10th, 23rd,
Acceptance is the final decision.
“The interview went really smoothly. All questions were based on the CV and application. The following questions were included:
“Why are you doing an MBA now?”
Why ESMT?
What makes Berlin so special?
Imagine yourself on the cover of a magazine in ten years; what would the title be?
What are the most significant values in teamwork?
Have you been to the campus yet?
Do you know any alumni, and if so, who?
Name one accomplishment in your life that you are most proud of.
We talked a lot about the ESMT programme and the various topics that piqued my attention. We also talked about women in business and other topics. It appeared to be more of a chat than an interview. Very pleasant.
That’s all I can recall.
The interview lasted about 45 minutes.”
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 5
Off-Campus with Adcom
Date of Interview: November 13, 2018
1) The Importance of an MBA Right Now
2) Why a Global MBA in Particular
3) Why ESMT?
4) I only applied to schools in Europe (specifically, institutions in two countries), so how did you decide on Europe, and why Berlin?
5) If you were accepted to all the universities you applied to, what would be your top priority in picking which one to attend?
6) Tell me about a moment when you were part of a team, and you had to overcome a difficulty and explain how you did it.
7) Tell me about yourself and the things you enjoy doing when you’re not at work.
8) How would you handle a teammate who wasn’t pulling their weight?
What makes this person your inspiration?
Overall, it was a pleasant and stress-free interview experience. Before I left, I asked an AdCom member roughly when we could expect to hear back. I was offered admission nine days after my interview, despite her assurance that the process would take at least two to three weeks.
Have success in your upcoming interviews!
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 6
Interviewed online on November 14, 2022
Final Decision: Admitted
“It was mostly conversational. We had it online over teams for exactly one hour. The questions were straightforward, such as:
– Please introduce yourself
– Please walk me through your profile.
-My greatest accomplishment
– What memory from your childhood describes you?
– a time when you failed
– How would your colleagues describe you?
– In two words, describe yourself
– hobbies and interests outside of work
– do you have any queries for me?”
Overall, plan ahead of time but don’t be scripted. Be yourself, and I’m confident you’ll succeed. “Best wishes!”
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 7
Skype Interview date: June 16, 2021
“The interview was casual and interestingly with people from outside my industry.”
1. Tell me more about yourself and go over your resume.
2. Why are there so many gaps in your professional experience?
3. Why do an MBA now? Provide four reasons.
4. Post-MBA objectives.
5. Companies to target.
6. What is your teammate’s assessment of your weakness?
7. During your MBA programme at ESMT, what method will you take to handle a problem with your peers, who come from varied backgrounds?
8. In three words, how would your friends describe you?
9. When was the last time you failed professionally, and what did you learn from it?
10. If you were given the opportunity to work on a project, would you be the one to take the initiative or the one to follow?
11. If you are accepted into both IE and RSM, what will be your selection criteria? (I mentioned Internet Explorer in the application.)
12. Upon completion of the MBA programme at ESMT, what one quality do you hope to develop or wish to gain?
13. Have you ever worked on an international project? Have you travelled outside of India?
14. Assume you’ve been chosen and are on your way to Amsterdam; you’re nervous about moving to a new nation and face a slew of emotional obstacles. How will you handle this?
15. A few queries about my article.
And the interview concluded with two questions from me.
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 8
Status: Adcom Off Campus
Interview date: December 6, 21
“I conducted a Zoom interview with the head of adcom.”
(He was 12 minutes late; I believed I was confused by the time zone and nearly died) The questions were as follows:
1) My previous work experience, short-term and long-term ambitions, why MBA, and why judge – (all in one question, yes)
2) What are some important digital advancements in my opinion?
3) Have you ever had a situation where things did not go as planned? How did you deal with that situation?
4) Can you tell me about a moment when you were a rebel?
5) Do you have any questions for me?
In the final question, I inquired about his research as well as opportunities to conduct research and collaborate with students from various disciplines.
The interview was quite conversational, and he was really approachable. “It was supposed to be 30 minutes, but it ended up being 45.”
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 9
On October 4, 2018, I was interviewed.
“My interview was conducted via Webex and consisted primarily of a conversation lasting approximately 50 minutes.” There were some standard questions.
Some major questions included:
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
2. What is the point of ESMT?
3. Are there any clubs you’d like to join?
Some individualised questions:
1. How do you think the startup ecosystem has altered in the post-covid era, based on your experience?
2. What do you believe is the most significant advance of AI?
3. Do you believe business longevity was much higher 50 years ago, or is it still the case today? Why?
4. What do you believe Amazon has done properly during covid?
It’s critical to connect your prior experience and post-MBA ambitions to what the university has to offer in terms of curriculum, professors, projects, and clubs.”
ESMT MBA Interview Experience – 10
On the Campus Interviewed on: October 24, 2019
“The interviewer is very friendly, and we went over my resume thoroughly.” In general, each topic featured three questions: what you do, how you became involved, and why you did it.
1- What excites you the most about ESMT, and why MBA?
2- Why choose ESMT?
3- What are your short-term objectives?
4- What are your long-term objectives?
5- How will an MBA and short-term goals assist you in achieving your long-term ambitions? (Many cross-examinations were conducted.)
6- Can you tell me about a time when you disagreed with your boss? How did you deal with it?
7- What are your coworkers’ misconceptions about you?
8- Have you applied to any other schools? What is your first choice?
a) Be explicit in your responses. Do demonstrate to the interviewer that you have done some study about the school, programme, location, industry, and so on.
b) From your primary inquiries, you should expect the next level of queries. That is how the conversation progresses and becomes a unique experience for each person, despite the fact that the list of primary questions remains the same for everyone. Remember it and be ready for it.”
