1) INTERVIEW WAS FOR: IIM Lucknow
2) ABOUT YOURSELF (Education/Work Experience/List of
calls) : B. Tech. in Engineering Physics from IIT
Bombay in 2006, prepared for IAS exams, taught at IMS
and now working at Zeus Learning, calls from all 6
IIMs.
3) No. OF PEOPLE AT THE PANEL: 2
4) BRIEF DESCRIPTION ABOUT THE INTERVIEW : It was a very chilled out interview. They did
not ‘grill’ me with any technical or academic, or even
current affairs based questions. They started with
what I studied at IIT, and when I mentioned that I
prepared for IAS, they asked me why I chose to do
that, which subjects I took for that exam, why I took
those subjects, and so on. They also asked what other
calls I had, a bit about extra-curricular activities,
about my favorite professor, and in the end, a generic
question on where I see myself five years from now.
5) KIND OF QUESTIONS ASKED: The questions were mostly
specifically about me, what I have done so far, what I
would like to do in future, and why. There were no
technical or academic questions. However, they asked a
few technical or academic questions to other
candidates. In general, freshers can expect questions
on what they studied in college, and working people
about their last job, and if you state any specific
hobby which you actively pursue or where you have
achieved a lot, then questions on that.
6) DURATION OF THE INTERVIEW: 15-20 minutes
7) HOW WAS YOUR PERFORMANCE: I believe it was quite
good.
8) AREAS WHERE YOU COULD HAVE PERFORMED BETTER: I
think I gave some very generic and open-ended answers
to some questions about myself. I could have been
clearer and more specific in some cases. I shall try
to do that in the other IIM interviews.
9) 3 QUESTIONS THAT YOU FOUND DIFFICULT TO ANSWER:
None
10) FINAL RESULT/ EXPECTED RESULT: I should get a
final call. It is expected sometime in April.
11) YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE UrPERCENTILE.COM
SUBSCRIBERS PREPARING FOR INTERVIEW: Be frank and
honest, and most importantly, confident in whatever
you say. If they want to, they can definitely come up
with a question which you will not be able to answer.
However, they are not testing your knowledge, but your
ability to deal with such situations. So keep your
cool and be yourself. And remember, sincerity in what
you do and what you say always helps.
FOR GD:
1) GD WAS FOR: IIM Lucknow
2) NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE GD : 10 (generally 9, but
our group had one extra)
3) NUMBER OF PEOPLE EVALUATING: 2 (the same 2 who took
the interview)
4) ABOUT THE REMAINING MEMBERS IN THE GD: Mostly
engineers, some freshers and some with work-ex,
including a few IITians, one from BITS Pilani and
others from Mumbai colleges. There was also one girl
who had a Masters in Economics.
5) GD TOPIC : “Good things always come from good
thinking”
6) BRIEF DESCRIPTION ABOUT THE GD: It was a very
chilled out GD, and except for 1-2 instances of people
cross-talking, everyone generally kept their cool and
listened to each other. However, IIM GDs are not
elimination GDs, so that is one reason why people are
more chilled out.
7) DURATION OF THE GD : We first had to write for 30
minutes on the given topic, and then discuss it for 15
minutes.
8) HOW WAS YOUR PERFORMANCE : Quite average, just like
everyone else. Nothing outstanding.
9) AREAS WHERE YOU COULD HAVE PERFORMED BETTER: I just
spoke twice in the GD, but for significant lengths of
time and made decent points. However, I can try to be
more assertive (NOT aggressive) next time.
10) YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE UrPERCENTILE.COM
SUBSCRIBERS PREPARING FOR GD: Try to strike the right
balance between being assertive and being aggressive.
IIM GDs are non-elimination GDs and with lesser weight
than the interview, so if the group as a whole does
well, or the group as a whole screws it up, there is
not much to differentiate the candidates. So do not
try to talk just for the sake of taking airtime, if
you do not have any good points to make, or if you are
not contributing to leading the GD in the right
direction or towards a definite structure. However, do
not be too passive either. Even if you do not get to
speak much, show interest in what others are saying.
Co-operate rather than compete.
11) FEEDBACK ON THE WEBSITE URPERCENTILE.COM: It is a
good forum for people to share their knowledge and
experiences, and help each other perform better in
achieving their goals.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From : Vivek Ramnath
FOR INTERVIEW :
1) INTERVIEW WAS FOR:
IIM Lucknow
2) ABOUT YOURSELF (Education/Work Experience/List of calls) :
Xth std – 86%, XIIth std : 94% and B.E. : 81% .
Work exp.: 1 yr. in ICICI Bank ;
Calls : IIM L, K & B, IIT –B, K, R, M, BIM, SIBM & SCMHRD
3) No. OF PEOPLE AT THE PANEL :
Two
4) BRIEF DESCRIPTION ABOUT THE INTERVIEW :
It went mostly on work exp., general awareness and hobbies. One was stressing me on GA, and the other on work exp. related questions. They didn’t give me time to think for answers as they are goin' on asking more Qs and I think that’s the kind of stress interview.. Thank god, no general questions like why mba and stuff……
5) KIND OF QUESTIONS ASKED :
Work exp., general awareness and hobbies
6) DURATION OF THE INTERVIEW :
10 minutes
7) HOW WAS YOUR PERFORMANCE :
I think its Good..
8) AREAS WHERE YOU COULD HAVE PERFORMED BETTER :
Deep basics of my product- Credit cards, hobbies( particularly abt movies)
) 3 QUESTIONS THAT YOU FOUND DIFFICULT TO ANSWERS :
What are the types of cotton?
In which country, Credit cards got exist?
What is date of birth of Tisca chopra?
10) FINAL RESULT/ EXPECTED RESULT :
Mid April 08
11) YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE UrPERCENTILE.COM SUBSCRIBERS PREPARING FOR INTERVIEW :
Be confident whatever the situation. Don’t panic. They will ask all type of silly questions to make you uncomfortable. Stay cool and be positive and tell them boldly whatever u think.
12) HOW URPERCENTILE. COM HELPED YOU IN GETTING THIS CALL ? Cat Hurdles and General Awareness topics along with those helped me very much.
FOR GD :
1) NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE GD : 9 ( 1 absent)
2) NUMBER OF PEOPLE EVALUATING : 2
3) ABOUT THE REMAINING MEMBERS IN THE GD : Good group to interact. 2 of them didn’t even open their mouth in the entire process. 1guy was always shouting without valid content and repeating the same topic. Remaining spoke well.
4) GD TOPIC : A Good idea can be recognized by all only by selling that with good salesman 5) BRIEF DESCRIPTION ABOUT THE GD : I started the GD with some examples. Spoke abt 3 times. mostly, when I entered to speak, one guy constantly cut me down…but gave some valid points with bad idea with good salesman and vice versa.
6) DURATION OF THE GD : 15 mins
7) HOW WAS YOUR PERFORMANCE : Decent
8) AREAS WHERE YOU COULD HAVE PERFORMED BETTER: Should have added more points with examples…..
9) YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE UrPERCENTILE.COM SUBSCRIBERS PREPARING FOR GD : Try to listen to other points also, Don’t repeat the same points again and again.
10) FEEDBACK ON THE WEBSITE URPERCENTILE. COM
: Gud work and encourage more GD/PI postings…
From : Sulagna Bhattacharya
FOR GD :
GD topic was:” In today’s world everything is uncertain except death & taxes.” An enjoyable topic, but then some of them heard it “debt” so initially some confusion arose. But I enjoyed it. To my luck,the boy next to me never opened his mouth, I roped him in. But the poor fellow couldn’t even properly summarise our discussion ,but I was happy I could bring him in. Nobody thought of it. The GD went on very nice & cool.
FOR PI:
There were 2 Profs. When I entered, it was dot 12 noon. Now the conversation goes:
Q – whats the meaning of your name?
A – Means a girl who is born at an auspicious moment.
Q – But ur name contains the word “lagna”……what is ur lagna?
A – I am not sure. Maybe tula/kumbha.
Q – what! U don’t even know that!
A – I haven’t paid much attention to astrology,Sir.
Q – But then whoever kept u this name,must have known ur lagna at the time of ur birth! You never asked him/her?
A – My naani kept this name for me,but Sir, maybe she thought it otherwise…………..that one day I’d become So established that, people will consider the time of my birth as auspicious !
Q – So even at this age,u don’t even know the meaning of ur name!
A – (I got it – it was a stress Q for sure) Sir, I certainly know the meaning of my name, but am not interested in its astrological interpretations.
Q – what r economic crimes??
A – tax evasion, window dressing, insider trading…..
Q – is speculation a crime? (He was from legal management he said)
A – I think not. Its illegal,but perhaps not a crime.
Q – why? It certainly is a crime.
A – I think when both parties are equally aware of the risks & impact, speculation/betting is not a crime.
Q – I think it’s a crime.
A – Sir I have no idea as to what draws the line b/w illegality & crime,but Im sure u know better than me.
Q – Okay, you may go now.We had a beautiful discussion.
A – (I was dumbfounded………….it was only 8 minutes. You see, I never joined any CAT coaching center,so didn’t have the idea that PIs may last only 7-8 minutes.Nobody told me abt this possibility. I automatically asked) Sit u don’t need to ask me anything else??????????
Q – we have enough exp,u see…………we don’t need to ask u Q in order to know abt you.
A – fine sir then,thank you,good day.
(I was going out but 1 of them called back)
Q – please sit down. What is ur ambition?
A – I want to be a net value adder to my company throughout. I don’t want a job,but a career.A career that’ll give me job satisfaction.
Q – define job satisfaction.What do u expect in terms of money? How much salary you think u MUST draw when u pass out from IIMs?
A – I have a modest expectation, bcz I think to me money is not all important. As to job satisfaction, it’s a function of my job content,my ability to perform the tasks, my own expectations, growth prospects,and lastly the monetary considerations.
Q – how would u incorporate ur customers voice into management decision making process?
A – (We had a 4-5 minute talk over it. But surprisingly, the Prof himself was raising Q & answering them himself,making my task so easier !!!! )
Q – what is this…………….u do B Sc,then do job,then leave job……go for studies……again join the same company……again leave & want to study……..(shaked his head in a menacing manner……as if I am disqualified on this ground only. My heart sank, but I kept my composure & bravely said)
A – why, yes,sir.(didn’t want to offer explanation without their asking for it)
Q – What do you do?
A – (another stress Q I thought.I remained calm,however) when & where,Sir?
Q – In your office?
A – oh! There my job resp was………(told him in a nutshell)
Q – didn’t anybody ever tease u over there?
A – why should they,sir?
Q – being 29,you look like 15-16 ! (Both of them burst into laughter)
A – (I too smiled)Sir, the thought of teasing never perhaps came to their brains, because the were perhaps amazed to see that my brains were not like a 15-16 yr old’s !
Q – So are you brainy?
A – (Smiled) I believe so. Otherwise, we three would have never met…….at least not on this occasion.
Q -(Both laughed) what is your weight?
A – 41 kgs.
Q – how many times have u donated blood?
A – (Never expected this) never sir.
Q – why? Afraid?
A – (How could I admit it……..I faint to see blood !!!!) No sir. Because of 2 reasons…….1, for blood donation min wt should be 45 kgs. And second, in order to donate blood,the authorities must ensure I myself should have sufficient blood to donate the excess !!
Q – (Both burst into laughter) Fine.We had a nice & interesting discussion. Wish you good luck.
A – thank you. Good day sirs.
Q – (one of them said) well Sulagna, We wish you every success so that u can live upto the meaning of your name.
I thanked them & came out. God,after coming out, I startes sweating a lot………then I understood,compared to others, how much stress questions they have thrown to me ! But I am glad & proud I didn’t lose my composure. But as always with me, no Q like intro urself, on hobbies, on acads, or things like that. Most importantly, never “Why another MBA?” Instead, the question of blood donation was too much. I wonder if anybody has ever been asked this Q in ANY interview. Maybe they wanted to crack some practical jokes at me.
But I have stopped thinking about it . It’s no use.