How to prepare for a management interview?

How should one prepare for the full-time MS- Software Management interview at Carnegie Mellon Silicon Valley?

• Answer:

  Let me attempt as I am currently part of MS Software Management program at CMU SV. Having been desperate to get into this program and seen my anxiety around interview, I believe the interview process is the best time to validate the hypothesis around outcome you are expecting from this program. 1. Core Motivation/Reason - It is important that you articulate all the potential reasons to join this program. You may have many polished or unpolished thoughts but there is always one core reason. Think through that and come to that core reason quickly. This is very similar to answering the job interview question, "why do you want to join us"? The faculty here is seasoned enough to connect with wide variety of motivations and reasons and cares for individual's preferences and goals in life. 2. Define Expectations - This program is not for everyone. It has its own strengths and weaknesses. I have seen students getting unexpected career breaks as well as frustrated with a bleak career path. Once you have defined your expectations from the program, proactively discuss with your interviewer about whether are you in the right direction. I asked a questions like 'whether I would be a good fit with the student group as the program attracts many young students and I was on higher side of experience level'. The interviewer's answer won my heart. At least I ended up being lot more positive about an unexpected journey I was about to begin. 3. Entrepreneurship - Just in case you are one of those rare people who are looking to start your next venture from Silicon Valley and looking at this program as a way to get to Silicon Valley. You must discuss out all sorts of possible thoughts you may have. I asked a question like "what are the interesting ways University supports students who start ventures while studying". The interviewer's promptness to the answer and the Answer both represented the quality of answer. I probably asked 4-5 questions and by the virtue of asking those questions we could gel well once I joined to the program. I will once again emphasize the importance of point 2. Hope it helps.