With CAT results out, most of you would have a fair idea about the type of institute you’d probably get into and I am sure that your preparation for the same is in full swing. This article is intended to orient you to focus your efforts towards maximising results.
Written Ability Test and Personal Interview are the two parts of selection procedure followed by all new IIMs and they must form a significant part of your preparation. So, how does one prepare for such an important part of one’s selection process?
The preparation for WAT/PI may be classified as preparation pertaining to
Content and
Presentation.
Preparation for Content:
The Five-Point approach that I followed is as follows.
- Read News Papers: (Choose between The Hindu, Hindustan Times and Economic Times). “Times of India” is less than useless. A marketing enthusiast may observe Times of India for the placement of advertisements, but beyond that, I find it useless.
- Read Magazines: (Pratyogita Darpan, T.I.M.E’s M&E magazine) - Competition Success Review is no longer of the same standard as it used to be.
- Follow http://www.bjnocabbages.com/ . Read every post in this blog, it has a tonne of information in it and will be most useful in gaining a perspective
- The first three points are necessary for GK. Beyond that, the foremost thing you will need to do is to write about yourselves as frankly and as descriptively as possible. Next step would be to observe each point from a neutral stance and try to rip out every possible point of inquiry and be thorough with it.
- Answers to following four questions must be prepared with great care and utmost depth.
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What are your hobbies?
- Biggest mistake of your life?
Preparation for Presentation:
I believe that the more one introspects, the more one develops.
- Voice: Record your voice and listen to it, ensure that you do it when you’re standing fist in isolation, then in front of a mirror and finally in front of your friends. Look for change in voice and try to keep it uniform, this will be difficult, and this seemingly insignificant aspect can make or break your chances.
- Appearance: Make formal attire a part and parcel of yourself. Whenever you are delivering a speech, in a group discussion, in a mock interview or even writing a practice Essay, ensure that you are formally dressed. If not a full-on suit, at least a tie. Why? More often than not, unfamiliar attire in a stressed environment freaks you out and will hinder your performance. You might as well be prepared completely.
- Speaking: If you are one of those people with stage fright, ensure that you speak in front of a mirror everyday about a random topic of your choice. Make it a habit and you will start seeing results quickly. Your body language and expressions improve substantially.
- Expressions: Practice for this must begin from walking into the room, to wishing, exchanging pleasantries, sitting, speaking, getting up, wishing again and leaving; basically, all of what you do in an interview. Ask your friends to pose random questions whose answers you know but haven’t rehearsed, check your expressions changing and adjust them accordingly.
Finally, it’ll be good if you can get yourself trained by a coaching centre. If that is not a possibility, then I’d recommend you do one additional thing, talk to a lot of strangers. This will smooth-out any rough edges.
The article is written by Ravi Kanth PGP 16 IIM Raipur
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