DOs and DO NOTs

For new admits into the Cranfield MBA, please take care of the following during your job-hunt:

1. You would be asked by career services to prepare a CV for the Cranfield’s year book. The year book compiles the CVs of all the MBAs and this year-book is circulated widely among alumni and other companies.

Many of us got interview calls and even final offers from the yearbook CV. Do not ignore it and start working on your CV the very first day.

MBA course is very hectic especially in the first term and you would not find time for working on your CV at least in the first term, when you are trying to get used to this new place and settle yourself. So, start working on it. My first appointment with Peter Fennah, Director of Cranfield’s Career services, was during the O-week (your first week at Cranfield). The point I am trying to make here is that do not waste any opportunity; your CV is the most important asset that you have.

I finalised my CV after about 3 months and after having about 25 iterations of the first version. I asked alumni for their comments, discussed with Cranfield careers counsellors who provided invaluable suggestions and even asked my family members to comment on my CV. I would say that your target should be to have such a CV that lands you with an interview where ever you apply. The only reason for rejection of your application at CV stage should be non-availability of a fitting role.

2. Do not show over-enthusiasm in interview. In India, a candidate is expected to show high willingness and enthusiasm in an interview. You are expected to express your strong desire to join the company.

Well you are expected to do that in UK too but at a lower scale. If you express even a slightly higher enthusiasm, you would be rejected saying that you are over-enthusiastic (read- desperate to get a job)

3. Dress clever

You would be advised to dress smart for your interviews. I would suggest dress clever. Everybody wears formals- a nice suit and a tie. Along with this, keep in mind the following factors before deciding what you are going to wear:

Consider where you are going to be interviewed.
Try to get as much information as possible about the person who will interview you. Consider what the interviewer might like you to wear- colour, design etc.
Consider what kind of the company and sector you are being interviewed for.

4. Be clear of what you want

Your interviewer would definitely like to know what you want post MBA and where do you see yourself in the long run. Do not say something just for the sake of an impressive answer. Be clear of your goals. Talk to yourself, discuss with Cranfield careers and with everybody with whom you feel you are comfortable.
If you would give a fake answer, your interviewer would definitely come to know about it.

5. Be aware of the recent trends in your field of expertise

Many of us just concentrate on what we have done in our past jobs and what is being taught in MBA. I suggest that you should keep yourself updated about recent trends and new technologies in your sector/industry/ function. One may even consider certifications such as

CFA, FRM (for Finance guys)
SPSM, CPIM (for Procurement professionals)
TOGAF, FSA, ZACHMAN (for IT guys)

Well the list is long and I suggest get in touch with alumni of your functional area and they can guide you better.

6. Identify your differentiators

Your experience and CV would take you to interview stage. During the interview, you have to exhibit your differentiators (from the rest of the cohort) through examples. Keep your examples ready and that too multiple examples. Examples of leadership, team-work, crisis management, organising abilities…. whatever you can possibly think of.

Differentiators can be either professional or personal. Think about your strengths and how are these different from others.

7. Get rid of your humbleness

Generally the people of Asian origin are humble do not like to boast too much about themselves. Please get rid of this habit, at least during the interview phase. Be open about what you did and how excellent your performance has been. Tell the interviewer about your success- academic, professional or personal- whatever.

8. Focus on ‘I’ rather than ‘We’

Usually when we are asked about how we accomplished a task, the people from Asian origin tend to reply by saying- ‘we did this’ or ‘we achieved this’. No. You are not going to talk like this.
You have to say- ‘I did this’/ ‘I added value to my team through….’/ ‘I accomplished the most difficult part through….’/ ‘I was the mastermind behind that project’

The interviewer wants to know what you did and not what your team did.