Two panelists - P1 (male) & P2 (female)
I joined with my CAT ID as my Zoom name and P1 made a joke on that as soon as I joined.
P1: Instead of your name, you have put some random number. We couldn't find you.
Me: Sir, that's my... (got interrupted)
P2: (looking at P1) That must be his CAT ID. But you should have put your name as well.
Me: Yes, ma'am sorry about that.
P1: Is everyone in your family safe and well?
Me: Someone really close to my family passed away last night.
P1: Sorry to hear that. My condolences.
Me: Thank you, sir.
P1: So let me explain the process to you. We have 3 components as you must be aware.... (went on to explain in detail)
So the topic for your extempore is - "I have a dream"
Me: (took a few seconds to think) started with quoting Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. Talked about living in a global community, free from discrimination, poverty, terrorism. Achieving globalization in the truest sense etc.
P1: Great, that would be it.
P2: So in your SOP you have talked about "value-based education". How would you correlate values in management to the new normal?
Me: Told what I understand by "new normal". Talked about why ethics are more important than ever due to the lack of transparency now. Gave an example from my life.
P2: (nodded)What calls do you have?
Me: other than FMS, I have A, C, L, K calls
P2: Did you get placed?
Me: Yes. (Told the company and role)
P2: Alright.
P1: Okay, let's assume a scenario where you have 3 choices:1) work as a secretary to Ratan Tata
2) work as the personal secretary to Alia Bhatt
3) work as a political aid to Amit Shah
Me: picked option 1 and backed my stance.
P1: (smiles) Right. If you had to pick your top 3 Tata organizations to work for after your MBA, what would they be?
Me: Tata Steel would be 1 because that's relevant to what I learned during my undergrad. Then randomly said TAS and Tata Motors.
P1: Okay. Tell me about your hobbies.
Me: Told. (Cricket, chess, quizzing)
P1: What is a Chinaman?
Me: A left-arm unorthodox spin bowler is called a Chinaman.(Looked at him and realized he wanted to hear more). Sir, the origin of the term is from a West Indies bowler who was Chinese. Kuldeep Yadav is a Chinaman who plays for India.
P1: Alright.
So, in the 22 and a half years of your life, have you done something for society?
Me: Told a couple of instances where I helped my peers.
P1: (Interrupted) that's not something you did for society. Tell me how many did you help get vaccinated?
Me: (visibly embarrassed) None, sir.
P1: (smiles) do that. That's all from our side. Thank you.
Me: Thank you, sir. Thank you, ma'am.