With 35 months of work experience in the IT industry and a B.Tech degree in Electrical and Electronics in my portfolio, I was quite confident on the day of my IIM interview. Being a GEM (General Engineer Male), I was the society’s Adarsh Balak. I had followed my parents’ aspirations to the belief that there is nothing that would stop me from going to an IIM for my MBA degree. This was my second attempt at CAT, and 3rd interview call at an IIM, the other two being from my previous CAT attempts.
My earlier interviews had gone really well. I was the same Adarsh Balak back then, sans work experience of course; I just couldn’t make it beyond waiting list. This time I was confident. I had gained immense work experience in the coveted IT field, that too in the Research and Development (at least on CV) area.
Post-WAT, I entered the waiting hall where all aspirants and their parents were seated. The door closed a little too loudly behind me and I could feel all eyes on me, nervous and cold. I went for the empty, dreaded first-row seat. I started to take out my assortment of documents, neatly arranged according to the serial number in the call letter. I could faintly hear a mother scolding her daughter for not taking the first-row seat, I smirked. That was when 3 people stormed into the hall, with some empty envelopes in their hands and a sheet having the list of aspirants’ names. The room fell dead silent. They asked us to arrange our documents in the exact opposite order of the call letter that we had received. I flipped the entire bundle and one of the officials saw me doing that. They took their seats and started calling us for document verification. I was the first one to be called for verification. I took a seat and was asked to hand over my document stack. I told the official that the stack was upside down. He seemed agitated.
“Sir, I had arranged my documents according to the order in which they were given in the call letter. But you asked us to arrange in the exact opposite order. So, I flipped the stack.” Now, he seemed impressed. The rest of the procedure went on smoothly.
There were 3 interview panels, and I was allotted Panel 1. I went in confidently, and there were 3 panellists across the table. One of them looked quite young, and the other two probably were in their 50s. They asked me to take a seat and asked me for my printed application form. I had a copy of my CV just below the application form, which the younger panellist spotted.
Panellist 2: Is that your CV?
Me: Yes, Sir.
I handed him my CV.
Panellist 1: So, tell us about yourself.
Note: If they ask you this question, count yourself as lucky. This is a very common question and you should be well prepared with the script. You can actually sway the interview in any direction you want, based on the answer to this question.
Me: (Answered)
Panellist 1: So, you like to play the guitar?
Me: Yes sir. I have been playing the guitar for almost 15 years now.
Panellist 1: So, what do you play on the guitar?
Me: I used to only play Bollywood until I joined my Engineering college. Now I play Rock and Bollywood.
The panellists laughed.
Panellist 2: Do you have any sample audio or video?
I took out my phone and showed them a video I had posted on Facebook a week before.
Panellist 1: Wow, this is amazing. While you were showing us your Facebook profile, I noticed your cover photo is the Eiffel Tower. It looks like a poster. Did you take that photo? Or is it downloaded?
Me: Sir, I clicked the photo.
Panellist 2: So, you have been to France, what are the other countries you have visited?
Me: UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium … (interrupted)
Panellist 3: UK is not a country… (interrupted)
Me: Yes Sir, it is a unitary sovereign state comprising of 4 countries, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
(All 3 panellists gave a nod)
Panellist 3: What do you know about the Group of Seven, or the more commonly called G-7?
Me: Sir, it is the group of seven most advanced economies of the world.
Panellist 3: And they are?
Me: US, UK, France, Germany, Italy I am sure of. I don’t know the remaining 2 countries.
Panellist 3: Any guesses?
Me: Sir, I would guess Japan, and, Russia?
Panellist 3: Japan is correct. And the other one is Canada. Russia is in G-8. You said they are the most advanced economies of the world. What makes them the most advanced economies in the world?
Me: Sir, they are countries which are more developed than the other countries, both in industrialisation and also technological advancements.
Panellist 2: So why is Japan’s GDP decreasing?
Me: Sir, they have an ageing population. So, their working population is shrinking, so less productivity and so less GDP.
(All 3 panellists gave another nod)
Panellist 1: So, you are an electrical and electronics engineer. What are your favourite subjects?
Me: Sir, my engineering knowledge is a little rusty as I have been working in IT for the last 3 years. But my favourite subject was Electrical Machines.
Panellist 1: So, which is the most regularly used motor?
Me: Induction Motor.
(I smiled. Remembering the 3 idiots’ scene)
Panellist 1 (smiles back): Oh, don’t worry Abhijit, we won’t be asking how an induction motor starts. What are its advantages over other motors?
Me: (Answered)
Panellist 2: You worked as a full stack developer at (XYZ Company). What do you mean by full stack?
Me: Sir, a full stack developer is one who knows all layers of software/web development. He should be comfortable with databases, client-side/front end as well as server level programming.
Panellist 2: How many databases have you worked with?
Me: MySQL and MongoDB.
Panellist 2: What are the major differences?
Me: Told them about relational (SQL) and non-relational (NoSQL), and the differences.
Panellist 3: So, you play lawn tennis and table tennis. What about cricket or football?
Me: Sir, I like watching them on TV or my laptop.
Panellist 2: Which one do you follow more and why?
Me: Sir, football, because it is more intense, engaging and takes less time.
Panellist 3: Which leagues do you follow?
Me: La Liga, EPL.
Panellist 2: Do you think Virat Kohli is very aggressive?
Me: Sir, I like his attitude and his passion for the sport. When you play with such passion and you play to win for the country, aggression comes naturally. And I think, it works out well for him as well as the team.
It was close to a 30 minute long interview.
The key takeaways that I would like to list down for aspirants would be - remain true to your answers, scripted/prepared responses doesn’t mean that you try bluffing, also keeping a smile on the face helps. They will ask what you will talk of or what you will be highlighting in your application form. So, before you leave for any Interview, be aware of every single word that you have written in your CV/Application form, SOP and in WAT as well.
All the best!
About the Author:
Abhijit Sahoo is a PGP 1 candidate at IIM Nagpur. Specialising in Finance and Marketing at IIM N, playing guitar and photography are his passion. He did his engineering from BITS Pilani and thereafter worked with Reflexis Systems. Apart from IIM Nagpur, he had also converted IIM Indore Mumbai campus, IIM Indore HRM, XIMB BM and IIM Vishakhapatnam.