If you want to read a donts list of things for the GD/PI process of IITB, read the my experience of the process. I did everything exactly the way it was not supposed to be done.
After experiencing IIM K, I filled my form on the previous day itself. Reached at 8.05 am for the process supposed to start at 8.00. It started at 8.15 with a presentation on SJMSOM. They unabashedly concentrated on the salary and placement part in the presentation. (And after that they want us to come up with creative reasons on "Why MBA?") Even showed us an Metro Aaj Tak clip concentrating on SJMSOM. (Don't know how much they must have paid for it, so much for business ethics). One commendable thing was that the whole process was managed by the students themselves. They were very accomodating regarding dates and timings of interview. Also, students were answering all types of questions readily in the online forums. Questions related to course, accomodation, placements etc. were tackled by the students after the process.
The professors introduced themselves before the GD. GD topic was a HR case study on a company preparing food products for major airlines. Most of its 535 employees were part of a union and for the past 5 years, number of greivances had increased 15% every year and presently stands at 803. Then breakup of grievances was given with breakup of the stage at which they were solved. After this three questions were asked:
1) How will you approach the union leaders?
2) If the Industrial relations department asked you to develop a training program whom will you call for the program.
3) What exactly are you going to train.
I was completely lacking points and was blank in the GD. The moderators were polite enough to especially ask all those who where quiet if they wanted to contribute anything? I mumbled something about union incitement and linking employee pay to company growth. Was mostly dazed and dumbstruck. Sat like a cow muching through the whole GD.
Was the first to be called for PI. Now the fun started. There were three panelists. I managed to convince all three that I am good for nothing and they better not take me in.
They started with the standard tell me about yourself. Told me my performance in GD has been very laidback. Seemed I was not interested. Truthfully told them that I did not have much of an idea about HR anyways and those guys had my empty sheet of paper to check. Then moved on to CAT percentile. Asked me which one will I choose in case I get both IIML and IITB. I said IIML coz it has one of the biggest libraries. Also, I have received excellent feedback from the alumni. It is older and has a better brand name. The guys pounced on me saying what feedback did our alumni give you? What do you know about our facilities? You live in Mumbai yet you never came here to check it out for yourself. You know everything about Lucknow, US, UK but don't know anything about Bombay. Tried giving an answer but the guy was in no mood to listen.
After this, it was slaughter. And I could not even scream bloody murder, for it was my mistake. I had not prepared acads at all. Asked me everything they possible could: fav subject, least fav subject, project, even asked me my favourite formula from electronics (I went blank on that one) etc. I proved to them that I did not have any idea of these at all. It was as if
Panelists (intented statement) : Arre yaar kuchh to bol. Chaar saal kitna tp kiya tune. Kabhi bhool se toh book khol li hogi.
Myself (unintended answer): Don't you worry sir. I have passed all these years without even trying to open my textbook. I am an absolute and complete idiot in all matters electronic.
After this, they went on to TCS placement. Asked me dat it doesn't seem I know much about electronics so do I know anything about IT? After all, I have decided to take a job there. I said I know just some part of C.
Panelist expression : Arre yaar, jo kiya woh bhi nahi aata, jo karnewala hai woh bhi nahi aata. Your lack of focus is truly exemplary.
Myself: Was drawn into self-pity by this time.
Again, they moved on to management mein kaunsa field karna hai? I said will decide in first year depending on which attracts me more : Marketing, finance or systems.
Marketing Q: What is the difference between marketing a soap and a microchip ?
Went on to a long winded lecture on market segments, commodities, targeting...... had just finished lecture on soap and the guy was already tired. So just added that microchip would mean exclusivity and a high margin for an exclusive technology. Ok! So microchip chodd computer bataa. Or do you think it is also a commodity. I said personal computer has transformed into a commodity so IBM moved out of the business. Gave me a smile. Commodity has low profit margins, then HLL ke margin high kyun hain? Gave an answer about how they have understood Indian market, reach even remote villages with their product. (Didn't say it but basically meant wider base, bigger market.) Here the fellow just gave another smile. A sort of mocking smile this time on (Beta jyada mat phenkh, ham tere baap hain is subject mein. Nahi aata toh I don't know bol de).
Then they came on to what you do in free time. Told them about reading. Finally my area of strength. Went on about an eclectic assortment of books. Asked me to summarize first chapter of Amartya Sen's 'The Argumentative Indian'. Did that reasonably well. Then came the earth shattering conclusion: 'You seem to like reading a lot! You analyzed that quite well. It seems you read everything except for what is in your engineering syllabus. You are wasting your time in engineering'. Again I wanted to reply saying how engineering helped me develop analytical skills but the fellow cut me short. 'You are just giving excuses'
'How much do you read about Business, Economy etc.'
'(Knew that I am gone by this time. Wanted to have some fun now) I started reading that after I got my CAT and JMET results.' I smiled. Received frowns.
Then finally asked me about Game Theory. I have a certificate for that. Told them I don't know any great theories but just know that it involves basing your decision on the decision of others involved. Asked me to explain prisoner's dilemma. Did that (fumbled sometimes). Could read the expression on their faces : 'We are wasting each other's time yaar. Complete this and leave.'
'Thank you. You can leave'
I left.
After experiencing IIM K, I filled my form on the previous day itself. Reached at 8.05 am for the process supposed to start at 8.00. It started at 8.15 with a presentation on SJMSOM. They unabashedly concentrated on the salary and placement part in the presentation. (And after that they want us to come up with creative reasons on "Why MBA?") Even showed us an Metro Aaj Tak clip concentrating on SJMSOM. (Don't know how much they must have paid for it, so much for business ethics). One commendable thing was that the whole process was managed by the students themselves. They were very accomodating regarding dates and timings of interview. Also, students were answering all types of questions readily in the online forums. Questions related to course, accomodation, placements etc. were tackled by the students after the process.
The professors introduced themselves before the GD. GD topic was a HR case study on a company preparing food products for major airlines. Most of its 535 employees were part of a union and for the past 5 years, number of greivances had increased 15% every year and presently stands at 803. Then breakup of grievances was given with breakup of the stage at which they were solved. After this three questions were asked:
1) How will you approach the union leaders?
2) If the Industrial relations department asked you to develop a training program whom will you call for the program.
3) What exactly are you going to train.
I was completely lacking points and was blank in the GD. The moderators were polite enough to especially ask all those who where quiet if they wanted to contribute anything? I mumbled something about union incitement and linking employee pay to company growth. Was mostly dazed and dumbstruck. Sat like a cow muching through the whole GD.
Was the first to be called for PI. Now the fun started. There were three panelists. I managed to convince all three that I am good for nothing and they better not take me in.
They started with the standard tell me about yourself. Told me my performance in GD has been very laidback. Seemed I was not interested. Truthfully told them that I did not have much of an idea about HR anyways and those guys had my empty sheet of paper to check. Then moved on to CAT percentile. Asked me which one will I choose in case I get both IIML and IITB. I said IIML coz it has one of the biggest libraries. Also, I have received excellent feedback from the alumni. It is older and has a better brand name. The guys pounced on me saying what feedback did our alumni give you? What do you know about our facilities? You live in Mumbai yet you never came here to check it out for yourself. You know everything about Lucknow, US, UK but don't know anything about Bombay. Tried giving an answer but the guy was in no mood to listen.
After this, it was slaughter. And I could not even scream bloody murder, for it was my mistake. I had not prepared acads at all. Asked me everything they possible could: fav subject, least fav subject, project, even asked me my favourite formula from electronics (I went blank on that one) etc. I proved to them that I did not have any idea of these at all. It was as if
Panelists (intented statement) : Arre yaar kuchh to bol. Chaar saal kitna tp kiya tune. Kabhi bhool se toh book khol li hogi.
Myself (unintended answer): Don't you worry sir. I have passed all these years without even trying to open my textbook. I am an absolute and complete idiot in all matters electronic.
After this, they went on to TCS placement. Asked me dat it doesn't seem I know much about electronics so do I know anything about IT? After all, I have decided to take a job there. I said I know just some part of C.
Panelist expression : Arre yaar, jo kiya woh bhi nahi aata, jo karnewala hai woh bhi nahi aata. Your lack of focus is truly exemplary.
Myself: Was drawn into self-pity by this time.
Again, they moved on to management mein kaunsa field karna hai? I said will decide in first year depending on which attracts me more : Marketing, finance or systems.
Marketing Q: What is the difference between marketing a soap and a microchip ?
Went on to a long winded lecture on market segments, commodities, targeting...... had just finished lecture on soap and the guy was already tired. So just added that microchip would mean exclusivity and a high margin for an exclusive technology. Ok! So microchip chodd computer bataa. Or do you think it is also a commodity. I said personal computer has transformed into a commodity so IBM moved out of the business. Gave me a smile. Commodity has low profit margins, then HLL ke margin high kyun hain? Gave an answer about how they have understood Indian market, reach even remote villages with their product. (Didn't say it but basically meant wider base, bigger market.) Here the fellow just gave another smile. A sort of mocking smile this time on (Beta jyada mat phenkh, ham tere baap hain is subject mein. Nahi aata toh I don't know bol de).
Then they came on to what you do in free time. Told them about reading. Finally my area of strength. Went on about an eclectic assortment of books. Asked me to summarize first chapter of Amartya Sen's 'The Argumentative Indian'. Did that reasonably well. Then came the earth shattering conclusion: 'You seem to like reading a lot! You analyzed that quite well. It seems you read everything except for what is in your engineering syllabus. You are wasting your time in engineering'. Again I wanted to reply saying how engineering helped me develop analytical skills but the fellow cut me short. 'You are just giving excuses'
'How much do you read about Business, Economy etc.'
'(Knew that I am gone by this time. Wanted to have some fun now) I started reading that after I got my CAT and JMET results.' I smiled. Received frowns.
Then finally asked me about Game Theory. I have a certificate for that. Told them I don't know any great theories but just know that it involves basing your decision on the decision of others involved. Asked me to explain prisoner's dilemma. Did that (fumbled sometimes). Could read the expression on their faces : 'We are wasting each other's time yaar. Complete this and leave.'
'Thank you. You can leave'
I left.
2 comments:
Don't be surprised if you get through.Otherwise IIML to hai hi :)
If I get selected here, I will not be surprised. Instead I will start my own classes on how-to-f***-your-pi-and-still-get-thru.
:-P
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