## 1. “Walk me through your resume / Tell me about yourself”
Real question (very common): “Can you walk me through your CV?”
## 2. Goals / “Why MBA?” / “Why LBS?”
Real questions:
• “What are your short‑term and long‑term career goals?”
• “Why do you want to do an MBA? Why now?”
• “Why LBS?”
• “What is your plan B if your first choice (e.g., consulting) doesn’t work out?”
## 3. Leadership & teamwork questions
Common real questions
• “How would you define your leadership style? Can you give an example?”
• “Tell me about a time you led a team through change or uncertainty.”
• “Tell me about a time you resolved conflict as a leader.”
## 4. Behavioral & personal fit questions
Typical real questions:
• “What is your most significant achievement?”
• “Tell me about a time you failed at something important.”
• “Describe a time you worked with someone very different from you.”
• “How would your colleagues describe you?”
• “Describe a situation where you moved to a new environment and how you handled it.”
## 5. “Why LBS? How will you contribute?”
Real questions:
• “Why LBS?”
• “How will you contribute to LBS?”
• “What will you get involved in outside the classroom?”
• “How would you contribute to our emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion?”
## 6. The presentation / “mini case” element
Realistic description: LBS usually gives you 5 minutes to prepare and 5 minutes to present on a broad business or opinion topic chosen by the interviewer (e.g., simple case, market entry, or a general question like “Should governments subsidize electric vehicles?”).[2][10][5][3]
Simple structure to use:
1. Clarify the question (if needed) and state your recommendation.
2. Lay out 2–3 clear points.
3. Give a brief example or implication.
4. Conclude and, if relevant, mention trade‑offs.
Example outline for: “Should a traditional retailer invest in building its own e‑commerce platform or partner with a marketplace?”[2][5]
• Position: “I’d recommend they start with a partnership with a marketplace while building the core capabilities needed for a future direct‑to‑consumer platform.”
• Point 1 (speed and risk): Partnership gives access to online demand quickly with lower upfront investment.
• Point 2 (capability building): Use the partnership period to learn about online customer behavior, logistics, and digital marketing.
• Point 3 (long‑term brand control): Over time, selectively invest in a proprietary platform for high‑margin categories and loyal customers.
• Close: Briefly acknowledge risks (e.g., dependency on marketplace, margin pressure) and how you’d mitigate them.
The goal is not the “perfect” answer but a *structured* and calm response under time pressure.[2][5][3]
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## 7. Example “Why now?” answer (career plateau)
Real question: “Why is now the right time for you to pursue an MBA?”
## 8. Quick preparation checklist tailored to LBS
Drawn from multiple LBS‑specific guides and reports of past interviews
• Prepare a 60–90 second “walk me through your CV” story with clear transitions.
• Have sharp, specific short‑term and long‑term goals plus a realistic Plan B.
• Prepare 3–5 STAR stories: leadership, conflict, failure, working with diverse teams, driving change.
• Research 2–3 LBS courses, 2–3 clubs, and 1–2 experiential opportunities (e.g., LondonCAP, Global Experiences) that tie directly to your goals.
• Practice a 5‑minute, structured verbal response to simple business or opinion prompts.
• Be ready for personal questions (family background, hobbies, values); LBS interviews can be quite personal and conversational
