{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"ENCORE: MBA Alums Offer Advice on Effective Interviewing","description":"Foster Alumni Share What They Listen For When They  Interview Job Candidates Every fall and winter, MBA students gear up for behavioral interviews with an understandable mix of anticipation and anxiety. We spend hours coaching them on frameworks, stories, and delivery. But nothing beats hearing directly from the people on the other side of the table. On this encore episode of Conversations on Careers and Professional Life, I brought together four Foster MBA alumni\u2014now at Accenture, Google, Walmart, and Goldman Sachs\u2014to share what they actually listen for when evaluating candidates. I spoke with each of them separately, but their messages converged with remarkable clarity.  Here are the big themes. 1. Preparation isn\u2019t optional\u2014it\u2019s the floor, not the ceiling. Every alum highlighted the same point: the \u201cTell me about yourself\u201d question is guaranteed. If you can\u2019t deliver a clear, structured, thoughtful answer, it signals a lack of intention. Adam Schmidt (Accenture) put it plainly: \u201cThis is a question you know is coming.\u201d Preparation demonstrates respect for the interviewer\u2019s time and respect for your own story. It\u2019s the discipline before the performance. 2. Authenticity beats perfection. Several alumni talked about sensing whether an answer felt honest, grounded, and human. Authenticity arises from knowing your stories well enough that you can speak naturally\u2014not recite. Skylar Brown (Goldman Sachs) shared that authenticity often shows up in how candidates pause, think, and connect their experiences to the role. Over-scripted answers flatten your personality; thoughtful ones reveal how you\u2019ll show up as a colleague. Stoic reminder: focus on what is within your control\u2014your preparation and your presence\u2014not the outcome. 3. Your impact matters more than the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 lines. At Google, Sam Eid looks for patterns that reveal how a candidate operates on a team. One of his sharpest insights: candidates who talk only in \u201cI\u201d form look self-centered, but candidates who talk only in \u201cwe\u201d form leave interviewers wondering what they actually did. He advises framing a story around: The opportunity or challenge What the team achieved Your specific contribution What wouldn\u2019t have happened without you That last piece is gold. It\u2019s also how Google evaluates internal performance. 4. \u201cWhy this company?\u201d must show you\u2019ve done real homework. The alumni were unanimous: generic answers tank candidates. You should be able to articulate: What differentiates the company How its mission or values connect to you Who you\u2019ve spoken with and what you learned Why this role aligns with your future trajectory Claire Herting (Nintendo, ex-Walmart) noted that specific, thought-out answers signal maturity and genuine motivation\u2014not simply chasing the brand name. 5. Cultural fit isn\u2019t code for conformity\u2014it\u2019s awareness. Companies want to see that you understand the environment you\u2019re entering and how you\u2019d contribute to it. Whether it\u2019s humility, customer obsession, collaboration, or intellectual curiosity, your stories should reflect the behaviors that matter most at that organization. Not by forcing it, but by choosing experiences that naturally align. 6. The biggest mistakes happen before the interview. One of the most useful insights came from Skylar Brown: many candidates cast too wide a net. When you\u2019re interviewing for 20\u201340 roles you don\u2019t genuinely want, your answers sound hollow. Depth beats breadth. Focus creates authenticity. The bottom line Across industries and roles, alumni interviewers value the same things: Clear thinking Genuine enthusiasm Self-awareness A structured approach to storytelling A real understanding of the company and role Behavioral interviews aren\u2019t about trick questions\u2014they\u2019re about surfacing who you are, how you work with others, and how you make an impact. If you're preparing for interviews this season, the wisdom from these alumni is a powerful compass. ","author_name":"Conversations on Careers and Professional Life","author_url":"http:\/\/conversationsoncareers.com","html":"