"Did you watch Ford Vs Ferrari?"
At that moment, this question steered the direction of my IIM Calcutta interview towards a hope of admission. Although the interview lasted for 10 minutes, I could answer most of the questions because they revolved around my passion, "Motorsport Racing". So, How did we get here? Let me explain, the most important thing to do in the interviews: "The Interview's direction should be where you lead it."
"How to explain well?"
Imagine you are in the panel room, expecting the interviewer to understand your answers with clarity. While having strong knowledge in areas like current affairs, technical subjects, and personal interests helps during interviews, being able to communicate well such that the interviewer can understand what you are trying to explain, is a key aspect to look at. To keep it simple, if you cannot explain it in short, understandable terms without heavy jargon, then you might be making your answer complex to understand.
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"How to avoid this complexity in answers?"
You can do this by relating the concepts you are explaining to a real-world situation. For instance, let’s look at how I brought my passion for Formula 1 racing into the panel room.
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Let’s refer to the three panelists as P1, P2, and P3:
P1: What are the courses that you have learnt in mechanical engineering?
Me: I was interested in two courses, strength of materials and theory of machines, as I was curious about how an engine works and how chemical energy is converted into mechanical energy inside the engine.
P1: What are composites?
Me: Composites are a mixture of materials used in manufacturing components. For example, in Formula 1, cars are manufactured using carbon fibre and aluminium to ensure safety and performance in that high-performance sport because of their higher strength-to-weight ratio compared to steel.
P3: Did you watch Ford v Ferrari?
Me: Yes, sir
P3: These two didn't watch it. Can you explain?
Me: Sure, sir, Ford v Ferrari is based on the rivalry between Ford Motor Company and Scuderia Ferrari. They both competed in the World Endurance Championship in 1966, Ford won that championship, after Ferrari had been consistently winning it every year.. This movie shows the journey of that win. The owner of Ford was Mr Henry Ford II, and the key driver was Ken Miles.
These were the questions that helped me introduce Formula 1 racing and steer the direction towards it in the interview. Therefore, as long as you can relate the concepts to real-world examples to support the explanation, you are avoiding complexity in answers.
“Uniqueness in answers”
This approach not only explains the answers crisply but also adds uniqueness. This makes you stand out and memorable to the interviewers. What happens if your answers are unique compared to others? It shows that you are capable of explaining complex concepts using simple terms with accuracy. It’s not only about “right or wrong” in the IIM interviews, it’s more about how you tackle that question effectively.
By following these tactics, most of the questions asked could give you a chance to showcase your passion, enthusiasm, and communication skills.
Ultimately, interviews aren’t just tests, they’re conversations. And the more you can bring your story into that room, the more you control the narrative. Don’t forget to be confident and not nervous :)
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