Okay so here goes my first ever IIM Interview Experience. PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) Interview of 6 New Indian Institute's of Management (Ranchi,Rohtak,Raipur,Tiruchirapallai,Udaipur,Kashipur).. Waited for this day ever since i thought of writing of CAT.. And the day finally arrived.. Had prepared really hard for the interview.. And was very much up for it.. More importantly wanted to enjoy the moment if anything as such days don't come everyday!
Date & Slot : 29/02/2012, 1.00 PM (when i saw this date i realised 2012 is a leap year :P)
Venue: Institute of Hotel Management (Catering College), Dadar West.
The Interview process had 2 stages - Written Ability Test(WAT) and Personal Interview (PI)
Reached the venue 20 mins before scheduled time. As soon as i reached the venue, read our interviews were being conducted on 5th floor and WAT on 2nd floor. Went to our allotted room, there were about 35 of us in the room.. IIM Trichy faculty came at 1.10PM and gave us a brief description of the process.. It was followed by a short motivation talk by IIM Trichy Director, Mr. Prafulla Agnihotri.. IIM Trichy conducted WAT,PI process at Mumbai... Our WAT begun at 1.42 PM (to be precise, as had to keep track of time for WAT).. Here goes my WAT,PI Experience..
WAT Experience :
Topic : Outsourcing is welcome in India; Walmart is not - Political double standards?
We were given 20 mins to write a 300 word Essay.. Was very much aware about the topic, gathered my thoughts and started writing after 2 mins of thinking.. Mentioned about significance of outsourcing from Indian Economy's POV.. Wrote about FDI in Multi-Brand Retail and impacts it could have on Indian markets, talked about +ves and -ves.. Then summarised about double standards by Indian Government.. All in all wrote a decent essay with neat handwriting and good presentation :-P (something which i didn't do a lot since 10th boards)
Personal Interview Experience :
PI's begun at around 2.25 PM.. I was No.13 in a total of 15 people.. So it was a long wait for me... My interview begun at around 4.45 PM and lasted for about 20 mins...
3 people (2 male, 1 female),2 from Industry and 1 visiting faculty of IIM Trichy from France All 3 made made me feel at ease as the interview didn't begin with my introduction but theirs.. Dont remember the names of any of them...
Industry Panel Male (IPM), Industry Panel Female (IPF), French Visiting Faculty (FVF) Yours Truly (YT) i.e Me from here on..
After initial greetings and introductions
IPF : Okay so what was your Essay topic today?
YT : Told in brief about the topic
IPF : So what are your views?
YT : Ma'am i believe that outsourcing can benefit India and given the fact companies are willing to outsource technology and services to India its really good that govt policies are such that MNC's and Western companies are able to make an impact in India but at the same time govt is not very clear about its stand on the issue of FDI in Multi-Brand Retail and thus players like Walmart have not been able to get a clearer picture..
IPM : Okay but if Walmart comes in it could Indian markets quite badly given that they might lead to closure of Indian kirana shops
YT : Yes sir i do agree that Walmart would have an impact on kirana stores but we also need to understand that alongwith the downsides there are lots of positive as well with FDI in retail.. And given Walmart will be able to setup stores in only 52-53 cities in India, it wont completely wipe off kirana stores in India due to its cheaper prices and better services and technology..
IPM : But there are chances that Walmart might start controlling market prices and dictate terms in Indian Markets
YT : In that case govt will need step in and ensure enough measures are taken to ensure it does become detrimental to Indian markets..
FVF : (his accent was really tough to understand) What is inclusive growth??
YT : Sir in what context?
FVF: In general context what is inclusive growth?
YT : Sorry sir but i don't have a clear idea on it but can make an educated guess.. talked about bringing in everyone in the process of growth and related stuff..
IPM : Merc sales have gone up by 300% in Mumbai. does that indicate a general growth in standard of living and what are the implications?
YT : Sir just Mumbai has seen growth of Merc it does not mean that a state in north east would be progressing..
FVF : Okay so now say what is inclusive growth
YT : told something.. reiterating the stuff i said earlier..
FVF : What is opposite of inclusion?
YT : exclusion
IPM : good so now that you know what we discussed was exclusive growth, tell about inclusive growth
YT : economic disparity, differences in income level, growth in one sector and 1 part of society.. everyone needs to be on par and differences in growth should not be too high..and such similar stuff... both seemed convinced
IPF : okay on same lines what is sustainable development?
YT : answered something.. not too convincing.. but answered enough not too invite too many questions..
FVF : Ohh so you are a fresher? Why MBA without work-ex?
YT : cliche Q.. same old gyan... almost by-heart ho gaya hai answer... raat ko 3 baje bologe toh bhi aisa answer dunga ke lagega ki spontaneous aur well-thought answer hai.. All thanks to 5 mock PI's at T.I.M.E
No Q on the same..
IPF : So are you placed?
YT: yes ma'am.. told details.. actaully have offer from same company where i did my internship..
FVF : so what was the internship about?
YT: told..
FVF: What was role and what did you do?
YT: told.. seemed pretty pleased...
IPF : Whats your CAT score:
YT : 99.04%le
IPF : you would be having other calls as wel?
YT : yes ma'am..
IPF: which one would you choose?
YT: i would wait for final admits..
IPF : your preference order
YT: again had prepared well. knew they would ask me.. told some stuff.. didn't choose institute and gave a very diplomatic answer.. all 3 seemed convinced..
IPF: What is tenant of Lokpal Bill?
YT: told the basic reason.. and whats it meant for.. no more Q on this as well..
IPF: How many states and union territories in India?
YT: 28,6-7 (told not sure of UT's)
IPF: Why is a union territory called so?
YT: told something, but was not very sure
IPF: are you sure?
YT: no ma'am am not sure.. (just forget that union territory are controlled directly by central govt unlike state govt )
IPF: answer in 5 seconds how many years have India completed after Independence?:w00t:
YT: ma'am 62.. sorry 64
laughs all around as out of nowhere there was a rapidfire Q...
IPF: Thank You!
YT: Thank You to each of them.. And left...
And so finally was done with my first ever IIM Interview.. Was pretty satisfied with with my WAT,PI.. It was 5.05 PM when i left the Catering College.. Was really hungry, had a sandwich and took the train back home with a feel-good feeling of having done to the best of ability on one of the most important days of my life!
Date & Slot : 29/02/2012, 1.00 PM (when i saw this date i realised 2012 is a leap year :P)
Venue: Institute of Hotel Management (Catering College), Dadar West.
The Interview process had 2 stages - Written Ability Test(WAT) and Personal Interview (PI)
Reached the venue 20 mins before scheduled time. As soon as i reached the venue, read our interviews were being conducted on 5th floor and WAT on 2nd floor. Went to our allotted room, there were about 35 of us in the room.. IIM Trichy faculty came at 1.10PM and gave us a brief description of the process.. It was followed by a short motivation talk by IIM Trichy Director, Mr. Prafulla Agnihotri.. IIM Trichy conducted WAT,PI process at Mumbai... Our WAT begun at 1.42 PM (to be precise, as had to keep track of time for WAT).. Here goes my WAT,PI Experience..
WAT Experience :
Topic : Outsourcing is welcome in India; Walmart is not - Political double standards?
We were given 20 mins to write a 300 word Essay.. Was very much aware about the topic, gathered my thoughts and started writing after 2 mins of thinking.. Mentioned about significance of outsourcing from Indian Economy's POV.. Wrote about FDI in Multi-Brand Retail and impacts it could have on Indian markets, talked about +ves and -ves.. Then summarised about double standards by Indian Government.. All in all wrote a decent essay with neat handwriting and good presentation :-P (something which i didn't do a lot since 10th boards)
Personal Interview Experience :
PI's begun at around 2.25 PM.. I was No.13 in a total of 15 people.. So it was a long wait for me... My interview begun at around 4.45 PM and lasted for about 20 mins...
3 people (2 male, 1 female),2 from Industry and 1 visiting faculty of IIM Trichy from France All 3 made made me feel at ease as the interview didn't begin with my introduction but theirs.. Dont remember the names of any of them...
Industry Panel Male (IPM), Industry Panel Female (IPF), French Visiting Faculty (FVF) Yours Truly (YT) i.e Me from here on..
After initial greetings and introductions
IPF : Okay so what was your Essay topic today?
YT : Told in brief about the topic
IPF : So what are your views?
YT : Ma'am i believe that outsourcing can benefit India and given the fact companies are willing to outsource technology and services to India its really good that govt policies are such that MNC's and Western companies are able to make an impact in India but at the same time govt is not very clear about its stand on the issue of FDI in Multi-Brand Retail and thus players like Walmart have not been able to get a clearer picture..
IPM : Okay but if Walmart comes in it could Indian markets quite badly given that they might lead to closure of Indian kirana shops
YT : Yes sir i do agree that Walmart would have an impact on kirana stores but we also need to understand that alongwith the downsides there are lots of positive as well with FDI in retail.. And given Walmart will be able to setup stores in only 52-53 cities in India, it wont completely wipe off kirana stores in India due to its cheaper prices and better services and technology..
IPM : But there are chances that Walmart might start controlling market prices and dictate terms in Indian Markets
YT : In that case govt will need step in and ensure enough measures are taken to ensure it does become detrimental to Indian markets..
FVF : (his accent was really tough to understand) What is inclusive growth??
YT : Sir in what context?
FVF: In general context what is inclusive growth?
YT : Sorry sir but i don't have a clear idea on it but can make an educated guess.. talked about bringing in everyone in the process of growth and related stuff..
IPM : Merc sales have gone up by 300% in Mumbai. does that indicate a general growth in standard of living and what are the implications?
YT : Sir just Mumbai has seen growth of Merc it does not mean that a state in north east would be progressing..
FVF : Okay so now say what is inclusive growth
YT : told something.. reiterating the stuff i said earlier..
FVF : What is opposite of inclusion?
YT : exclusion
IPM : good so now that you know what we discussed was exclusive growth, tell about inclusive growth
YT : economic disparity, differences in income level, growth in one sector and 1 part of society.. everyone needs to be on par and differences in growth should not be too high..and such similar stuff... both seemed convinced
IPF : okay on same lines what is sustainable development?
YT : answered something.. not too convincing.. but answered enough not too invite too many questions..
FVF : Ohh so you are a fresher? Why MBA without work-ex?
YT : cliche Q.. same old gyan... almost by-heart ho gaya hai answer... raat ko 3 baje bologe toh bhi aisa answer dunga ke lagega ki spontaneous aur well-thought answer hai.. All thanks to 5 mock PI's at T.I.M.E
No Q on the same..
IPF : So are you placed?
YT: yes ma'am.. told details.. actaully have offer from same company where i did my internship..
FVF : so what was the internship about?
YT: told..
FVF: What was role and what did you do?
YT: told.. seemed pretty pleased...
IPF : Whats your CAT score:
YT : 99.04%le
IPF : you would be having other calls as wel?
YT : yes ma'am..
IPF: which one would you choose?
YT: i would wait for final admits..
IPF : your preference order
YT: again had prepared well. knew they would ask me.. told some stuff.. didn't choose institute and gave a very diplomatic answer.. all 3 seemed convinced..
IPF: What is tenant of Lokpal Bill?
YT: told the basic reason.. and whats it meant for.. no more Q on this as well..
IPF: How many states and union territories in India?
YT: 28,6-7 (told not sure of UT's)
IPF: Why is a union territory called so?
YT: told something, but was not very sure
IPF: are you sure?
YT: no ma'am am not sure.. (just forget that union territory are controlled directly by central govt unlike state govt )
IPF: answer in 5 seconds how many years have India completed after Independence?:w00t:
YT: ma'am 62.. sorry 64
laughs all around as out of nowhere there was a rapidfire Q...
IPF: Thank You!
YT: Thank You to each of them.. And left...
And so finally was done with my first ever IIM Interview.. Was pretty satisfied with with my WAT,PI.. It was 5.05 PM when i left the Catering College.. Was really hungry, had a sandwich and took the train back home with a feel-good feeling of having done to the best of ability on one of the most important days of my life!
Nice...Dude did u clear this interview?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your experience. Liked it. Yeah, so did you clear the interview? Seems like you joined SPJMR.
ReplyDelete