5 Must Have Skills Before MBA

It is observed that many MBA skills are tested during B school interviews. The interview panelists evaluate candidates by checking if they have the skills required to become a manager or not. These skills will not only help you excel academically but also make a significant difference in your future career. So in this article we will discuss about the 5 Must Have Skills Before MBA required to get into an MBA college so that you can convince the MBA interviewers.

1. Networking

Networking means how many people know you such that if you reach out to them for some favour, they’ll definitely help you. You must have heard the importance of peer learning or alumni network at a B school This is because you’re supposed to reach out to your alumni and network with them. Irrespective how strong your alumni are if you don’t know how to network, there’s no point. During interviews, this is how to showcase the skill of networking:  So it’s important to learn this skill which will help even after MBA.

2. Communication

The second skill that you need is communication. It is important to note that communication doesn’t mean how good your English speaking is or how many tough words you know or how fluent you are. Communication means you are able to convey your ideas to another person in such a way such that they understand exactly what is going in your head. The skill of communication will definitely be tested during an interview because how well and effectively you communicate matters a lot. Always remember communication skills get developed only by practice.

3. Business knowledge

Interviewers will basically try to check how much you know about businesses, startup ecosystems, and finance. This will not include your academic knowledge. Interviewers will be more interested in knowing how much you know about the business world, the current happenings, and in general about startups, entrepreneurs, IPOs etc.

4. Excel & PowerPoint

Every MBA student and graduate knows the importance of Excel & PPT making. You need to know that in a MBA college Excel & PPT are indispensable tools that everyone should learn because they simplify the communication of ideas. Just like we build vocabulary for better communication, same way Excel helps us to communicate better via diagrams, charts, functions, cells so if you learn this skill, it will help you whether you do MBA or not I’ve often shared about excel.

5. Growth mindset

This is the most important skill tested in any interview. Even if you don’t have a good profile, you can get selected if you show a growth mindset in interviews. You should have the potential to build your profile during MBA. It is important to have a growth mindset or curiosity. And it will be tested many a times how curious a person are you often when you are asked a question.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.  What if I lack some of these skills before pursuing an MBA?

It is okay to have room for improvement. Many MBA programs offer preparatory courses to help you develop these skills before starting the program.

2.  Are these skills equally important for all MBA specializations?

Yes, these skills are valuable across various MBA specializations as they form the foundation of effective business leadership.

3.  Is financial literacy necessary for non-finance MBA specializations?  

Yes, financial literacy is beneficial in understanding the financial implications of business decisions, regardless of your specialization.