How to Answer the “Why MBA?” Interview Question

“Why MBA?” is a feared question in an MBA interview. Your answer can make or break the chances of cracking your target business school.

The MBA interview panellists prefer candidates who answer clearly and confidently about their goals after the MBA. They also expect you to explain how you will apply your learning and experience from the MBA to your career and life after graduation.

If you answer carelessly, you may sound shallow, inadequate and pretentious. In this article, I dive into how you can build a thoughtful and convincing answer to the “Why MBA?” question.

Have a goal for after the MBA

You must have a goal clearly defined before you even start with your MBA application. A goal is the desired direction and result you expect for your career and your life. For some candidates, completing an MBA is their highest goal, just like cracking the JEE or the IAS exams. But, MBA interviewers want you to see the MBA as a path to something bigger. So, you must be very careful how you choose and articulate your goals.

Here are five questions you can ask yourself to find and articulate your goals:

1. Am I happy with my current career path?
2. Why am I happy or unhappy?
3. What changes do I want that would make me happier?
4. What are my current skills, achievements and experiences that could enable or complement that change?
5. How will this change affect my career, status, money and satisfaction?

Here’s an example of a goal for after the MBA:

I have been working as an associate engineer in the R&D department of an automobile company for three years. I started here at five lakh rupees a year and now earn eight lakhs. 

I am happy with my work because I get recognized by my team and my boss, the work hours are reasonable, and I’m good at my job. 

I’m unhappy here because the work has become repetitive, I haven’t been promoted despite my performance, and my learning has stagnated lately. I have been interested in marketing and want to move into that field eventually. However, the opportunities to move are limited or non-existent at my company. 

What would make me happier is a fresh start in the marketing field. I’ll get to learn something new in the early years. If I perform well, I’ll get promoted and learn how to handle a team. Marketing sounds fascinating and so much more fun than engineering.

My work requires me to pay attention to detail. If I don’t, engineers in twelve factories won’t be able to do their work. I have to make myself understood by people from three different countries and navigate cultural and language barriers daily. I have devised metrics and set up reporting for my department. These skills are the cornerstones of a marketing manager’s toolkit. I can quickly acquire domain knowledge with the proper guidance.

Explain why you need the MBA for your goal

The MBA is just one of many options for career change. The interview panellists will have follow-up questions that could trip you up. You should prepare to answer, “Why not try this instead of the MBA?” Prepare your defence by asking yourself two simple questions:

1. Can I get these if I change bosses, switch companies, move to another industry, transfer to another domain or pick up a certification?
2. If there is a way to do this without an MBA, why don’t I try that instead? Is it cost, time, risk, complexity, credibility or personal issues?
3. What skills, qualities, and knowledge do I expect to gain from the MBA?

Here’s an example of an answer to these questions:

Having worked for three years already, I don’t want to start all over again in marketing. I want to continue my career trajectory and become a manager. I want to strategize instead of execute. Automobile companies prefer career marketers over upstarts. Doing a certification or requesting a rotation in marketing won’t help me become a marketer in my company. I’ll take at least five more years to reach this level if I don’t do an MBA.

The MBA degree will give me a formal business education, and the internship is a chance to gain practical experience in a post-MBA job. The academic resources and seniors will help me navigate a new domain. The one-year MBA is fast-paced, requiring me to pick up new skills and domains every three months. I’ll pick up extra courses online to learn how to build, execute and monitor marketing campaigns. I’ll speak to employees at my target companies to figure out the tools they use and be prepared for placements.

List the reasons for choosing this business school

This is usually covered in the question, “Why do you want this school?”. However, adding a few lines explaining your choice can lend credibility to your answer.

List down the top reasons this program aligns with your goals:

1. Course duration – 1 year vs 2 years
2. Specializations offered
3. Quality of internships
4. Companies hiring during placements
5. Faculty
6. Illustrious alumni
7. Campus facilities

Here’s an example:

I chose ISB because it offers a one-year program. I can return to work a year faster than at any competing college in India. The placements cell ensures a good mix of industries other than consulting. I can work on real-life marketing problem statements in the Experiential Learning Program. ABInBev, Unilever and P&G hire students for marketing roles from ISB. Most of the management at these companies seem to be from ISB or IIMB. ISB has ISL, which I want to participate in because I love cricket.

Warning: Keep this in mind when you formulate your answer

Be concise: You have just 1-2 minutes to hold your interviewers’ attention. So edit your answer and practice your delivery until it fits in this window.

Be honest: Honesty will reduce the chance of slipping up while answering follow-up questions. If you do need to fabricate some answers, practice every possible follow-up question that comes to your mind to make it sound natural.

Be realistic: Some domain and industry shifts are complicated. Be honest about your chances of success to your interviewers. Show that you’re prepared to take the risk with alternative plans and mitigation strategies.

Sample response to the “Why MBA?” interview question

Profile: A mechanical engineer at an automobile company wants to shift to marketing.

I want to use the ISB MBA to transition out of automobile R&D to B2C marketing. I’ve harboured this ambition for a year and a half. I’ve explored other avenues to make this transition, like changing departments in my company or doing marketing certifications. But nothing compares to the credibility and depth of an MBA degree. For a start, I’ll be able to dedicate a year to building my marketing knowledge without the pressures and distractions of full-time employment. Secondly, I’ll take up the ELP to gain exposure to real-life corporate problem statements. And lastly, I’ve identified five target companies for my first post-MBA role as a marketing manager. The marketing departments at these companies hire and develop management trainees exclusively from ISB and IIMB. 

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