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Interview Tips Presentation(Related to MBA Finance)

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Agenda

Before the interview: develop your story The interview: The basic interview questions The interview: Finance questions

The interview: The behavioral questions Personality The management style Problem solving skills

Career aspirations Hobbies

After the interview: You ask questions

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Before the interview: develop your story andask yourself the following

Good start: Passion for the business/motivation

Why company X? Why am I interested to work in this field?

Key skills and experience and what makes youunique

Why you? What do you have to bring on the table?

Have a list of 3-4 smart questions?

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Before the interview:

Check the following web sites: http://finance.yahoo.com http://interactive.wsj.com/pages/front.htm http://vault.com http://www.businessweek.com/ http://www.cnn.com/ http://www.kellogg.nwu.edu/student/club/finan

ce/fin_001.htm Companys web site

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Before the interview: develop your story andask your self the following

Be ready for the 60 secondpitch!

What you did before (prof. andacademic)

What your strongest skills and

accomplishments are What kind of position you are seeking?

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e n erv ew: e as c n erv ewquestions

Why Kellogg? What other firms are you interviewing with and for

what positions?

What are the 3 most important challenges ourcompany is facing? What are your long and medium term career goals? Describe your ideal career?

Whats your dream job? Tell me what you know about our company, its culture,

its products?

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e n erv ew: e as c n erv ewquestions (contd)

Why do you want to work here? Tell me what you think our distinctive

advantage is within the industry?

We have a number of applicants interviewingfor this position. Why should we take a closer look at you?

What are your key assets? Strengths?Weakness?

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The interview: Financequestions

If you want to invest in a developing country,what are the criteria you are looking at? Morespecifically, you have the choice betweeninvesting in Austria, Mexico, and Germanywhat would you choose and why?

How would you value a company? What key financial ratios do you look at when

trying to determine a firms financial health? What is EBITDA? What is it used for? Describe the CAPM?

If your company has too much cash, whatwould ou advise it to do?

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The interview: Financequestions

You want to merge/buy a company, wouldyou use cash or stock?

What is EVA? How would you compute it?

What is a SWAP? What is a forward? How can you build a synthetic forward?

Explain me what is a real option? Can a company function without working

capital?

Tell me the difference between NPV and IRR.

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The interview: The behavioralquestions

How would your team-mates/co-workers describeyou? Whats the most creative project youve worked on? Tell me about a time you persuaded others to adopt your

ideas? Tell me about a time when you implemented an

unpopular idea? Describe me the concept of customer?

What was the last book you read? Who is the person you admire the most? How would a former colleague or subordinate describe

your leadership style?

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The interview: The behavioralquestions

Personality What would your friends tell me about you? What situations excite and motivate you? Describe a time when you had to assist a coworker?

What type of management style do you think is effective? Describe a time when youve worked under pressure. The management style Describe a leader you admire.

Tell me about a learning experience that affected your management style.

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The interview: The behavioralquestions

Career aspirations What are your LT/MT career plan? What are your aspirations beyond this job? What career path interests you within the

company?

Hobbies What do you like to do for fun? What sport do you play?

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The interview: The behavioralquestions Tell me about your most difficult or personal

experience. Tell me about a project in which you were

disappointed with your personal performance.

How have you handled criticism in your work? How you prioritize your tasks? Would you agree to relocate? Tell me about yourself? What is the biggest risk you have ever taken? You have 5 minutes to convince me that you are

the best candidate for this position?

What is your GPA?

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After the interview: You askquestions!

Why did you join company X? What experience and qualification helped you to be

prepared and qualified for this job? What are your primary responsibilities in your

current job? What do you like the most about your job, your

company, and your industry?

What do you dislike the most about them? Whats been your greatest challenge? Why did you want this job?

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After the interview:

Write follow up letters/e-mail with thecompanies you really like.

Try not to write a platitude.

Express your appreciation for the opportunityto interview with the recruiter.

Express your continued enthusiasm.