How to prepare your admission interview for ESCP Business School

Do you want to apply to a business school, but not sure if you tick all the boxes? Find out more about the admission process in this article! Catherine Hetzel, Recruitment and Promotion Manager for the ESCP Specialised Masters, and Nicolas Casselman, Advanced Master in Finance student at ESCP, give you some advice on how to best prepare your admission interview!

> Can you introduce yourself in a few words?

C.H : I am Catherine Hetzel, Promotion and Recruitment Manager for the Specialised Masters at ESCP Business School. My role is to be in contact with potential candidates to answer their questions and support and guide them to the right programme according to their profile.

N.C. : Prior to starting the Advanced Master in Finance at ESCP, I studied for four years at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. These 4 years consisted of a 3-year Bachelor in Business Economics and a 1-year Master in Business Economics with a major in accountancy and financial management.

> How are the Specialised Masters and MSc interviews conducted?

C.H. : Interviews are the second step in the admission process for our Specialised Masters & MSc programmes, the first step being the online application on our dedicated platform. 

A first selection is made by the programme director on the basis of academic background, test results, letters of recommendation and career objectives. The second selection is done on these interviews, which generally last 30 minutes. This interview takes the form of a discussion with the candidate in order to better understand his/her intentions to join the programme.

N.C. : In my case, the interview was held virtually because of the coronavirus circumstances, but usually interviews are held in person. The interview is conducted in a fairly easy-going manner, which certainly makes it pleasant and puts you at ease. The interview mainly focuses on the candidate's interest in the industry in which he/she would be working after the Masters, his/her personal goals and how the Masters exactly matches up with these, and finally on whether the candidate is a good fit for the programme.

> What advice can you share on how to prepare for the interview?

You need to prepare yourself for the interview  in a similar way that you would prepare for a job interview: be able to present yourself clearly and talk about your academic background and work experiences, explain your professional objectives and the reasons for joining the programme. 

The interviews are quite short so candidates need to be quite concise and specific in their answers to pass on their message efficiently. 

Getting in touch with current students or Alumni of the programme is always useful to get an insight and tips for the admissions process.

My advice for a good interview is, first of all, to have a very clear story about why you want to do this master. The link between your career goals and how this master would help with that is therefore very important. For an interviewer it is a very good signal if you can, for example, list some of the subjects you will be taking, to show that you know what you are getting into and that this particular master is really what you want. 

> What types of questions can be expected?

At the beginning of your interview you will be asked to introduce yourself in a precise and concise manner. Then, you will be asked a series of questions about your motivations: why do you want to join the programme? What contribution can it make to your career? Why did you choose ESCP? How can your profile potentially benefit the programme?

Candidates will certainly be questioned about their motivations and goals for the industry in which they want to work after their master. For example, you may be asked which company you would like to work for and why. Showing that you know different companies, and that you know what you are talking about will certainly make a good impression.

In addition, interviewers of course want to know whether you will be able to fit in easily with the class, so, they will ask more personal questions. An example could be: What would your perfect weekend look like?

> Are there any trick questions?

The interviewers don't usually trick the candidates with specific questions. It is not the objective of the interview. The goal for the interviewers is to get to know you: asses if your profile and your professional goals match the programme. 

Also read: Three Tests to Help You Make the Right Study Choice

For certain programmes, you may have to answer questions about your personality, or your knowledge of the sector, but interviewers always show kindness and care towards candidates.

I agree, in my opinion, interviewers are not likely to ask trick questions. The interview is really relaxed and its purpose is truly to get more acquainted with the applicant and to check whether they would be a good fit for the Master. So I think they mainly look at whether your motivation for the Master is sincere and whether the personal fit is good.

> Who is on the jury?

Generally, the juries are composed of at least two people, including one of the academic directors of the programme. He or she is supported by a professional from the sector who teaches on the programme, an Alumnus of the programme, another professor, etc.

When I applied for the Master in Finance, the director of the Master in Finance, Philippe Thomas, was the one who conducted the personal interview. 

> What should you put forward during an interview?

It is essential to show that your profile and professional objectives are coherent with the programme: you must therefore be able to explain how the programme can help you achieve your career objectives, and how your previous studies have led you to this programme.

It is also important to show your interest in the programme, what attracted you to the Master (international aspect, certain modules, certain speakers, etc) to show the jury your motivation to join ESCP.

If you have relevant experience that fits well with the subject of your Master, then I would definitely emphasise that. In the end, you want to convince the admissions board of your genuine interest in the Master programme, and relevant experience is certainly an excellent way of doing this. Secondly, I would also recommend talking about hobbies or organisations you have joined. These indicate that you are a socially engaged person who has multiple interests, which is of course very positive.

> Should you be prepared to answer in English?

The interviews (except for the MS in International Project Management) will mostly be in French but there usually are several questions in English. It is usually the case for French speakers. Candidates definitely need to prepare in both languages in order to be ready for any scenario.

I applied for the Master in Finance which is roughly half in English and half in French. As a non-French speaker, I was mainly tested on my French during the interview, rather than my English. In general, I would definitely recommend preparing for your interview in English as most Masters have subjects in English and therefore require good prior knowledge. 

> Any final tips to succeed in this interview?

Be ready, be honest, be yourself and show your motivation!  

Prepare well but above all be relaxed and be yourself. If you are invited to an interview, it means that you have already passed the most difficult step - the CV screening - and that the admissions board sees you as a good candidate. Therefore, during the interview, it is important to show that you are a pleasant person and that you would fit in well within the Master programme.

Interested in enrolling in one of the programs at ESCP Business School? You discover the programs here. Good luck!