What question do you wish I would have asked in this interview?
As a career coach, I have rarely had clients who report this question being asked in an interview. However, MBA candidates at UVA Darden report it frequently. There are several reasons why this question may be included in your interview.
First, your interviewer may want to gather feedback to help improve the interview process. Questions frequently mentioned may indicate opportunities to develop a more engaging and valuable interview process for future candidates.
Second, this question serves as an opportunity for candidates to highlight their most notable strengths or profound experiences that were not otherwise discussed during the interview. Your UVA Darden interviewer was not provided with your resume prior to your interview. They may use a question like this to ensure you have the opportunity to include important details that were not explored fully.
Finally, interviewers use questions like these to identify candidates that can think quickly on their feet. This question presents an opportunity to offer a strategic and charming response that will help the admissions committee identify the most memorable and qualified candidates.
Prepare a list of your most impactful professional stories prior to your interview. Scan your list when this question is asked to see if there were any topics that were not covered in your discussion with your assigned admissions committee member. Then, craft a question that would give you an opportunity to tell the related story and share it with your interviewer.
Do not waste this opportunity by stating that you are unable to think of a question. It may be helpful to research common interview questions ahead of time and have a list ready to go. Also, consider a question that highlights a personal formative experience from your past, or your volunteer work. Well-rounded candidates have a higher chance of being accepted.
Thank you for asking. I wish you would have asked me about my favorite aspect of being a director at XYZ company. I really enjoy working to help develop leaders. I believe that anyone can lead at any time, and I work with all of the members of my team on developing their leadership skills during our one-on-one and goal-setting sessions. The path to excellence in leadership is different for everyone I work with and I love partnering with them to maximize their strengths and identify their most valuable growth opportunities.
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