Inspired by Tim Murphy’s comment on what’s most important to hiring managers, I conducted a poll. The funny thing is that graduating at the top of the class and coming from a prestigious business school doesn’t do much for hiring managers after you’re in the door for an interview.
The top four ways to impress executives are simpler than you might think.
1. Do your homework. Be prepared for questions about the job and the company. If you can’t articulate your value to them, you don’t know enough. One hiring manager said that if she asks a candidate why he wants to work for their company and doesn’t get any substance, they’re cut.
2. Focus on interpersonal skills. While this is a lifelong journey of skill building, don’t overlook it in the moment. Most hiring managers care more about your fit with the company, the job, and the team than they do about your MBA. Be genuine. Prepare examples of situations when you overcame conflict with a team you’ve worked with in the past.
3. Apply it. Josh Chernin, Harvard MBA and hiring manager, said his top factors are interpersonal competence, and whether you can take on any project and figure out how to generate results. To Josh, it is great to see the body of knowledge and discipline that comes with earning an MBA. Nonetheless, the ability to apply it in a practical business situations speaks loudest.
4. Avoid name dropping. In this case, the name that you don’t want to drop too often is “MBA”. Recruiters tire of hearing “when I was working on my MBA…” to open up every response. Mix up your answers to include projects you completed inside and outside of the classroom. Be careful to not alienate a recruiter who thinks you’re trying to add a bragging opportunity as a replacement for substance.
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The common thread in these tips is that an MBA is job requirement that helps companies screen resumes. After your resume makes it to the “go stack,” your in-person interactions will decide the rest.
Good luck landing the job of your dreams.
