Me: (Recited a well-rehearsed answer stating my work experience, undergraduate, extracurriculars, and hobbies.)
P1: That's great. Since you're a mechanical engineer, can you tell us about the stress-strain curve?
Me: (I was expecting some academic-related questions, but not this early in the interview. No time wasted :p) Sure, when a tensile load is applied, stress is directly proportional to strain till the yield point, after which strain hardening occurs……
P1: Is this for a ductile material or a brittle material?
Me: Ductile.
P1: Okay, carry on. And later explain about brittle materials as well.
Me: (went on to answer the questions. P1 had no change in expressions whatsoever)
P1: Okay, good. What was your final year project?
Me: I had designed and manufactured a stable and safer version of an electric skateboard that had a foot-operated lever through which the direction could be changed.
P1: Could you explain this in detail.
Me: Sure (proceeded to explain about the design, functionalities, prototype, results achieved, and the research paper that I published on the project)
P1: So, let's say if you were to launch this product in the market today, how would it fare against the current alternatives?
Me: It would be much easier to ride than the skateboards we have in the market right now since the direction is controlled by a foot-operated lever rather than having to lean. This also makes it safer than the current alternatives. The cost would be on a higher end because there are additional components, but with mass production, this cost could be brought down, and it would make sense to pay a small extra amount in exchange for safety. On the downside, it would be bulkier. As a result, it wouldn't be as easy to carry as regular skateboards. I think the product would work well if it is projected as a viable mode of transport for short distances rather than recreational. Creating such awareness could be a big challenge in the initial stage. Also, the skateboard would be required to be adaptable to rough surfaces, which is not in the prototype. So, there are still many things that have to be considered before going to the market.
P1: Makes sense. Do you plan to pursue this as a startup idea?
Me: I don't necessarily want to pursue this concept as a business, but I do want to be an entrepreneur at some point in my career when I feel I have the necessary experience, money, and the right idea.
P1: Okay, that's all from my side.
P2: Let me take it over from here. Good morning, Dhruvin. I want to know where you came to know about NITIE, and what makes you think this is the right college for you?
Me: Good Morning, ma'am. I knew about NITIE from my engineering college days itself. I always knew that it's an excellent college for pursuing the MTech course, and upon further research, I had also found out about the MBA course here. When I decided to go for my MBA, NITIE was always among my top preferred colleges. NITIE attracts the top talent from the country, and peer learning over here would be very helpful in my career ahead. I want to work in the field of IT operations and Supply Chain Management, and NITIE will give me the required boost for that. So, I believe that it aligns well with my career goals, and that's why it's the best college for me.
P2: Okay, so, could you tell us in your own words what a Supply Chain is?
Me: Supply Chain is the network of all the organizations, processes, and activities that are involved in fulfilling a customer request. It includes manufacturer, seller, and the final customer as well.
P2: (nods her head rather nonchalantly) These days, there's a term that's used a lot. It's called 'Supply Chain Resilience.' What do you know about it?
Me: Sorry, ma'am, I haven't heard about it. But can I take an educated guess?
P2: Go ahead
Me: I think it means the resistance that a supply chain can provide to companies' challenges and problems, for example, in CoVid.
P2: (with a small smile) The word you're looking for is disruption. It's a good attempt. You are partially correct. Along with immunity to disruptions, Supply Chain Disruption also refers to the ability of a supply chain to recover from a disruption.
Me: Okay, ma'am, understood.
P2: Okay, Dhruvin, this is my last question. You've worked in the IT industry for almost 2 years. So, do you know Python?
Me: I have learned Python during the company training but haven't had to use it anytime in my work experience. So, I must be a bit rusty right now, but with a bit of practice, I'm sure I'd be good at it.
P2: Okay, great! Thank you, Dhruvin. It was nice talking to you. You can leave the call, have a great day!
Me: Thank you, ma'am, thank you, sir!
I was a tad bit nervous initially, but soon I became relaxed. It felt more like a conversation, and I started feeling comfortable. I was relieved that the interview season was finally over and had a positive feeling about this interview particularly. After a month or so, I was delighted to see my name on the waitlist at a very convertible rank. Within a few weeks, I converted NITIE. After a lot of thought and comparison between some very close options, I made a decision, and today, I'm a proud student of NITIE, Mumbai.
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