The interview was conducted over the phone because I was deployed to Iraq. Most of the questions that were asked were different than the typical b-school interviews I had conducted:
1) What do you during your free time in Iraq? (I explained that I ran with my soldiers to try and stay fit) 2) Explain how you involved them in your team fitness program. 3) How does this goal setting process relate to how you manage other aspects of your job in Iraq?
We continued to speak about goal setting in the context of fitness training for about 15 minutes – a subject I had no way of foreseeing.
She then changed subjects to the following:
1) What classes do you enjoy most and why? 2) What is the one area of business that you are not interested in? I tried to provide a safe answer but she didn’t buy it. So she made me state a specific functional area that I was not interested in. (I answered marketing – it is very important, but it is a piece of the overall puzzle of managing an organization. I was more interested in understanding how to manage all aspects of an organization). 3) What will you tell your men when you finish your tour in Iraq and you are ready to part ways? 4) Is there anything else you would like me to know about you? (I provided a short summary of my strengths and what I had to offer HBS).
She then thanked me for my service to the Country and wished me luck in the application process.
Overall she was very friendly and fun to talk to. She had a great sense of humor but asked some very open ended questions that caused me to pause and contemplate before responding.
HBS admitted me for round 1 a few weeks later. Hope this helps.
