ZoomInterviews Blog

Skype has become a way to communicate, stay in touch, and now, conduct graduate admissions interviews. ZoomInterviews team put together a list of the top 10 best practices and important things to remember should your interview take place via Skype.

1. Test your Internet connection. Make sure you are in the most reliable zone you can find, and if possible, use an Ethernet or other type of plugged in modem so that the connection is not interrupted in the middle of the interview.
2. Suit up – Even though the interviewer will only be seeing the upper half of your body, it is important to get fully dressed just in case you have to get up for something.  Being dressed will also make you feel more professional and productive.
3. Be aware of your posture. Try to maintain the same posture that you would in a face-to-face interview. Lean slightly forward and look into your screen to maintain eye contact with your interviewer.
4. Make the video of your interviewer full-screen so that you are not distracted by anything else on your computer.  Make sure to also be aware of any sounds or notifications that might pop up in the background.
5. Have a paper version of your resume and any notes that you need directly in front of you.  It is okay to glance down periodically to check your notes, just as you would in a face-to face interview.
6. If you are conducting the interview in your bedroom, be aware of the background the interviewer will see. Try to make it a plain background and make sure that they cannot see your bed. Make sure to also close your windows so that you don’t get any type of glare on your computer screen.
7. Keep your computer on your desk, not on your lap.
8. Smile and use hand gestures as you would if you were talking to the interviewer face-to-face. Practice sitting at different distances from your computer to make ensure that your gestures look okay.
9. Practice with a friend before your interview to make sure you sound okay and they can hear you. You may need to speak slower and articulate more than normal.
10. The Skype interview is similar to an in person interview. Treat it that way! Take similar precautions to make sure your cell phone is turned off, let roommates know that you have an interview going on and try to eliminate any other “surprise” interruptions.

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Language and cultural differences, as well as differences between US and Chinese educational systems can be a significant obstacle to the successful education and recruiting experiences of Chinese students. In this article, ZoomInterviews will share our observations regarding the experience of Chinese students at US MBA programs; explain the main factors leading to these behaviors and offer a number of recommendations to Chinese MBA applicants as well as to the management of US MBA programs.

Language difficulties

Many Chinese students have a level of English that will hold them back from successfully communicating with their classmates and competing effectively for US-based positions.  While Chinese students learn English as a second language at school, a lack of practicing what they have learned in the English context significantly reduces their ability and confidence in their English speaking.

Chinese students tend to participate in class discussions less than other students.

Chinese students tend to talk in the classroom less and on average ask fewer questions than other students. There are several cultural factors that can explain the behavior of Chinese students. First most of their graduate classes, the lecture was the only instructional method and students seldom participated in the instructional process¹. Second, many Chinese students reported that they preferred keeping silent in class, not only as a result of their English but also because, as they explained, they were afraid to make mistakes (“losing face”). In the US, asking questions and showing imperfect knowledge on the subject of discussion is not considered a problem. Finally there are many traditional Chinese sayings that favor listening over talking. For example, “Silence is golden”. The more you talk, the less you hear. Chinese believe that if one can be quiet and listen to others, one can learn best. Therefore, the ability to keep quiet, or remain silent, is a virtue that is as important as gold².  As we mentioned before, the US educational system values the exchange of ideas and active speaking during the class.

Social isolation

While virtually all international students from a given country tend to over-socialize with their fellow countrymen (i.e. they spend a disproportionate amount of time with those from their own country and speak their native language), Chinese students as a group tend to do this to a very high degree.  This slows down their acculturation to US business and social norms and their ability to effectively navigate their job search within this context. Not knowing what to talk about may keep them quiet for a long time. Even if the conversation starts, sometimes it cannot be carried long due to the misunderstanding of each other’s nonverbal communications. For example, to show respect to each other, Chinese do not look directly into people’s eyes when they talk. A western person may consider that the Chinese student is being rude or is not interested in the topic².

Not utilizing all available resources.

Chinese students can effectively assist each other with their studies and job searches.  However, they may not fully utilize the career services that their school offers.  Culturally speaking, Chinese tend to be hesitant when asking for help from non-Chinese people, which can put them at a disadvantage compared to their classmates who will fully utilize all school resources.

Chinese students could consider the following steps in order to improve their educational and recruiting experience in the US.

Improving language skills in advance. Try to improve your English proficiency as much as possible before school starts. Practice English as much as possible and get exposed to the English language through a variety of sources (e.g., TV, newspapers, internet, movies, etc.).

Speaking in English is more important than avoiding grammar mistakes. Your teachers and classmates will understand that you came from different country and will be patient with your less than perfect communication.

Understand the differences between Chinese and US non-verbal communication. Familiarize yourself with US non verbal communication. Such mistakes as not having good eye contact with your American counterpart can cost you a job.

Don’t be afraid to speak in class even if there is a chance that you will provide a wrong answer. US schools value individual opinions, and both your classmates and professors will not consider a wrong answer as losing face. Contrarily, they may be more offended by your silence.

Familiarize yourself with US daily news and events. Learn about US culture by reading daily US newspapers, watching popular TV programs and learning about sports popular in the US. Be prepared to manage a discussion on these topics with your US classmates.

Socialize with your American friends as much as possible. They want to learn more about your country and be open to communication with your US classmates and friends.

Ask career services and your classmates to guide you through the US recruiting process. Explain to them how the job search and interviewing process works in China and ask them to explain how the process you are familiar with is different from the one accepted in the US. Ask about US interviewing styles, networking practices and other nuances of the US recruiting process, such as managing intelligent small talk and writing thank you notes.

On their side, business schools should pay more attention to the cultural differences between US and Chinese students and develop educational materials and workshops to help to Chinese students better integrate into their academic life and recruiting. Business schools should be aware of specifics of Chinese culture and address the most important cultural differences to ensure the success of Chinese students. For example, cultural obstacles for class participation such as concerns about “losing face,” overemphasizing of listening over speaking, specifics of non-verbal communication and specifics of the US recruiting and networking processes should all be addressed.

1. Understanding Chinese International Graduate Students’ Adaptation to Learning in North America: A Cultural Perspective,  Zhongheng Zhang Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Juan Xu Brock University, 2007

1. “Why don’t they participate?”, A study of the Chinese graduate students’ classroom involvement in North American, Faculty of Education, Brock University

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For people applying to major business schools, October, November, and December will inevitably be months filled with typing, spell-checking, typing, editing, typing, proofreading…and then some more typing.  But (depending on your deadline) July, August and even September can be very fruitful months both for your professional development and for improving your business school application – or, more precisely, for improving your business school candidacy.  While many b-school aspirants see the spring and summer solely as a time to take a GMAT prep course, it can actually be the best time to begin planning for the application – and more importantly, to identify the elements of your candidacy that you wish to improve.  Two easy ways to bolster your overall candidacy (before the final rush of the fall and winter when you are immersed in writing essays and compiling application materials) are to seek new responsibilities at work, and use travel to expand your personal and professional horizons.  In the coming weeks we will tackle the many ways to bolster candidacy; below we discuss work and travel.

Seek Out New Responsibilities at Work

Applicants who take stock of their professional accomplishments in the months ahead of their application process may just end up seeing some holes.  Scratch that: they will always see holes.  Filling holes is what getting an MBA is all about.  But we want to make sure we have demonstrated some skill and capability for growth in the areas we have targeted for our future careers.  Sometimes, it makes sense to make progress in these areas before business school.  Even just a couple of assignments in a new area can confirm that you are indeed interested and that you have the capacity to achieve at a high level in the future.

Travel

You’ve worked hard the last several years.  You’re going to spend a ton of hours cooped up studying for that pesky GMAT, and in the fall you’re going to spend 50 to 100 hours in front of your computer writing and editing essays.  You deserve a vacation.  But instead of just making a quick jaunt to Vegas for golf and gambling, consider planning a vacation with a dual agenda of fun and personal enrichment.  Injecting a bit of a learning agenda into your trip can expand your personal horizons, help more fully define your career objectives, and provide you more material for essays and interviews.

Founded in 2001, Stacy Blackman Consulting has helped thousands of MBA applicants gain admission to the most selective business schools in the world.  The Stacy Blackman team, comprised of MBA graduates, former admissions officers and expert writers, editors and marketers, helps clients develop and implement a winning marketing strategy.  Stacy Blackman clients have a significantly increased probability of admission to top schools and are frequent recipients of merit scholarships.  The company is regularly featured in publications such as BusinessWeek, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist.   Visit the Stacy Blackman blog for daily news updates and admissions tips, and check out the company’s e-publications for more in depth school by school guidance.

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