Details Vols- Aller: Depart le Wed, 05 Mar 08 13:15 de Paris, Charles-De-Gaulle [CDG] sur US Airways vol 755
Retour: Depart le Sun, 04 May 08 18:15 de Philadelphie, Intl [PHL] sur US Airways vol 754
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I’ve booked my flight to Philly for March and April to attend the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania for a spring exchange under the auspices of something which INSEAD ominously calls, the “Alliance”. As some of you readers may have discovered, INSEAD has developed its own strange language of “participants”, “periods”, “promotion” etc. which everyone quickly masters. My favourite INSEAD term is the overly-generous word used to describe the campus cafeteria in Fontainebleau, “The INSEAD Restaurant”. If I dare call it a “cafeteria”, my fellow MBA participants will usually look at me with a cross expression and say, “Is there a cafeteria on campus? Oh, you mean the INSEAD restaurant!”
I’m looking forward to being in Philly, and experiencing a U.S. business school. Some of my classmates have decided not to go to Wharton, because they are fearful of how it will affect their recruiting prospects (McDonald’s is always hiring). Indeed a wave of anxiety is slowly starting to sweep across the campus, as we realize that the intense wave of company presentations and interviews will commence, when we return from the upcoming P3-P4 vacation break.
Like all eager INSEAD MBA participants, I have started practicing for interviews. On Friday I had my first “mock consulting interview” with another student. It was a great learning experience, because he pointed out unconscious mistakes that could torpedo my chances in a real interview. In particular, my mock interviewer noticed a flaw in my response to “motivation” questions… I was just too realistic/cynical. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to readers of my blog, but I had mistakenly assumed that truthfulness and realism would be appreciated by an interviewer who asks, “Why do you think clients hire us? And why do you want to work here?” From my experience, companies often lack the headcount to perform projects themselves or in other cases, they bring in outside accountants, consultants, and legal advisers to validate management’s hypothesis, by ‘papering’ a transaction, or ‘rubber stamping’ a decision with an authoritative blessing. DING! Wrong answer.
The correct response as I now know is, “Your clients seek the high-level talent, experience, and intellectual capacity which you offer.” and “I’m looking forward to working with the top companies, and senior management of the most prestigious organizations.” My realization that recruiters want candidates who demonstrate sufficient naivety and wonder about their future job roles, would seem to bolster the idea that business school is an undertaking best pursued by those under 25.
Imagine a candidate for a job flipping burgers at McDonald’s… “You know I’m eager to find a job where I don’t have to fix my hair or make-up and I can show up hungover. It’s going to be hard work, but it fits my schedule.” VS. … “I don’t have much experience, but I’m a hard worker and I love your French Fries!”
Speaking of which… for fun I have posted the McDonald’s interview preparation tips… It’s scary because they’re not that different from the advice we receive from INSEAD’s Career Services office!
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Getting ready for your interview
The secret to a good interview is preparation. Here are some pointers on how you can make the right impression.
1. Refresh your memory.
Look at the copy of your application form so you can remember how you answered the questions. Take it with you to the interview.
2. Know your stuff.
Rehearse answers to questions like why you want the job, what your skills and achievements are, why you think you’ll fit in and what you think you’ll add to the company.
3. What to wear.
Wear something clean and smart that you feel comfortable in. If your interview is for after school, your uniform is fine. Pay attention to grooming too – that way you’ll feel and look confident.
4. On the day.
Make sure you leave plenty of time for your journey – plan to arrive about 15 to 20 minutes before your interview time. Check that you have your application form, mobile, map (if you’ve never been to the restaurant before) and of course, car keys or fare money.
5. Arriving
Let the shift manager know you’ve arrived.
Some typical questions
Here are some of the most common questions that get asked at an interview. Think about how you’d answer. Ask friends or family for their advice on what you can say.
- Why do you want the job?
- What do you know about McDonald’s and why do you want to work for us?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your career ambitions?
- What achievements and skills do you think will be useful in this job?
- What kind of things do you enjoy doing outside school/work?
You will probably be asked to give some examples of situations where you have worked or participated in a team and whether that worked well and if it didn’t work well, why?
Be prepared to discuss any customer situations you’ve been in where you may have faced a difficult customer and how you handled that.
At the interview
If you’re really nervous take some deep breaths and try to relax. We’ll be asking you questions to find out a bit more about your skills and achievements.
Questions
Take your time when answering questions and try to show how your skills and abilities will help you perform the job. If you don’t understand a question, don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to repeat it.
Your turn
Usually at the end of an interview, you’ll be asked if you have any questions. Now’s the time to clarify anything you’re not sure of. Good questions to ask are about the training and the prospects. You can also ask when you might hear if you’ve been successful.
