During
the next few weeks, we will be publishing the discussions that we had
with some of our interviewers about the interviewing process at their
business schools to help the prospective applicants. Here is the
interview of one of our Wharton interviewers:
Columbia Business School Interviews By Waziri Garuba
InterviewBay: A brief background about yourself.
Prior to business school I worked in NASDAQ Trading at Merrill Lynch. Followed by a move to Goldman, Sachs & Co where I worked in Private Wealth Management Dept. I transferred into Listed trading with GS and after making Associate decided to return to business school. Columbia was the clear fit, allowing me a strong education, an international perspective and a strong global network.
InterviewBay: How has been your experience at Columbia? Has Columbia met all your career and personal aspirations? What do you like the most at Columbia?
Columbia met, and surpassed all of my expectations. It is hard to explain the sadness I felt on graduation day, being aware of how much I would miss the people I had met, and the challenges I had faced and overcome. It was all a seamless and great experience. The curriculum taught me how to see into the core of a ‘business’, the free elect classes I took helped me formulate a new career path, and the relationships I built help me secure my first job after graduation. Most importantly, the combination of New York City, with the diversity of people you are introduced to leaves an indelible imprint on your professional and educational experiences, which helps you really look at the rest of your career from many different angles. The people were amazing, competitive and most of all – down to earth. This is a very important aspect when you are back in the real world and calling on former classmates for insights and support. What I liked the most then, and what makes any organization, are the people. They push and motivate you to be your best and to strive for more.
InterviewBay: What is the importance of interviews in the overall selection process at Columbia? Is it a make or break after the interview? Or, does it form a parameter in the applicant's candidature?
I believe that interviews have a great deal of influence on the process. Since they are at the tail end, people often assume that receiving the interview is a signal that they have crossed the finish line. Nothing can be further from the truth. Interviewing has prime importance on a few factors, yield, timing, fit and passion. One of the factors that stands out to me during my interview process was the interest in my desire to be at Columbia and my knowledge of the school. The over-achiever syndrome is very easy to spot in most applicants and can be unattractive as an MBA should not simply be another notch to put on ones belt. This is a big disqualifier. Additionally, clues are also sought during the interview process, that indicate the applicant has done his or her homework and is passionate about filling the seat being taken away from someone else.
These all combine to a fit and feel that the interviewer gains about the applicant and which they then communicate to the admissions people. Their opinion can easily make or break the application. Interviewers are alums of the school and are therefore trusted highly with this judgment call and it is one an individual does not want to lose out on in the 11th hour.
InterviewBay: How should a potential candidate prepare for the Columbia interviews?
Knowing a great deal about the school, the curriculum and the differentiating factors that make Columbia what it is, are key factors, but most importantly, know why you are pursuing an MBA. This is the focal point most people slip up on. Once you are confident in this – you must attach yourself to Columbia, or whatever school you are applying to and find the synergies. Consider the preparation process as a form of dating. You are going to be in a relationship for the next two years with another party, and thus you do not commit yourself blindly. You want to be as happy with the choice you make and ensure that you have considered yourself in relation to the other party and vice versa. Doing this means you will most likely be happier and perform better during your time in business school.
InterviewBay: What dresscode would you suggest for the Columbia interview? (men & women)
Common sense dictates that you dress formally. Men, tie and suit if possible, otherwise sport jacket and slacks. Looking your best is always advised. The same goes for ladies, a nice conservative business outfit without going overboard. The only alternative to this, and I say this sparingly, is if you communicate with your interviewer prior and they advise otherwise. Columbia has a very diverse community and not everyone feels the need to have you dress up. Even still, if you are interviewing in your native country or town and your interviewer shows up in shorts and sandals, most people appreciate candidates being overdressed rather than underdressed. Err on the side of caution.
InterviewBay: What are the three typical mistakes that the candidates commit during the Columbia interviews?
Not knowing much about the school and treating it as just another top institution that they have applied to. This is not only in poor form – it shows a lack of preparation and commitment.
Poor presentation of themselves and the reasons they are looking to pursue their MBA.
Limited understanding of the school culture, how and why they will fit into an international and diverse community that sits in the heart of New York City. This is a key point that many people tend to glaze over and it permeates every aspect of life at Columbia and so it is one worth knowing and speaking about.
InterviewBay: What are the three tricky questions that a candidate can face in the Columbia interviews?
Why the MBA?
Why Columbia Business School?
What will you bring to our community?
These questions are at the heart of the essays, but unlike the essays where one can spend hours drafting and redrafting their thoughts, during the interview, the applicant must express these points clearly and accurately, and most importantly they have to be believable.
InterviewBay: Any suggestions on the steps after the interview?
Follow up with a thank you card to your interviewer and make sure you make them feel appreciated for volunteering their time. After that – sit and wait.
InterviewBay: Would mock interviews help the potential candidates in their interview preparation?
Mock Interviews would most definitely help in the process. I was lucky to have a mentor who drilled me with questions prior to my interview. He went to Columbia and wanted to know how much I knew about the school. This was very helpful in that during my interview I was able to demonstrate how strong a fit I would be, my reasons for going there, the community I sought to become a part of and help create, and the career I sought to pursue after. My interviewer and I caught up two weeks after my graduation and he admitted to me that he was impressed with my interview from two years prior. He still remembered what I spoke about, and true to form I was pursuing it. I would probably not have done as good a job had I not gotten some real practice with a committed person in prior to my application and interview.
InterviewBay: Any special advice to international applicants on their Columbia interviews?
Stress the value that you bring to the table. Your individual perspective is a key component to the schools goals and you will be called upon to contribute from it. In a city such as New York, there is a great appreciation for what you have to offer and Columbia Business School takes this a great deal further. The cases we study, the trips we go on and the leaders we encounter all have international influences. Show that you can do the work and even more, build an international community of business professionals, and a strong network around yourself. What better way for you to sell yourself than to show your desire to benefit the community with your perspective, passion and insights. I strongly urge international applicants to also practice for the interview, sometimes poor communications can lead to misunderstandings so it is imperative that you are able to get your message and promise across well in person. Practice makes perfect and so, in this scenario, the more practice you get under your belt in preparation for interviews, the better.
InterviewBay: What advice would you give to potential Columbia applicants who are applying this year?
Not much different than I would give every year. Know why you want an MBA and apply this knowledge and your knowledge of self to the institution (in this case Columbia) you wish to be in. Know as much about Columbia as you can and seek the various points and synergies that make this relationship promising. Once you have done this, ask yourself if you will benefit Columbia in the long run as much as you will benefit from being at Columbia. If you truly feel there is a strong benefit to both parties then sell this value in your essays and interviews. The financial crises changed the business climate in many ways, and there is the concern that higher application rates diminish chances. I disagree – a strong application, from a committed, hard working, researched, passionate and promising applicant is a strong application regardless of the times, and thus will always stand out. Be that applicant and don’t focus on the things out of your control.
