Ask Arindam@Career Launcher - How to ace GD-PI stage of various b-schools!

iamleonidas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expert@CL

It all depends on whether they are interested enough in your hobby to want to talk more about it. You could make it interesting for them if you are able to show it as something more than an idle pastime! For instance, if it is a simulated strategy game (like Age of Empires) , you could talk about what basic lessons in strategy it teaches you that you can apply elsewhere in life. But the game mus tbe meaningful enough for you to talk seriously about it in an interview

Ya i read about panelists asking about AOE
but i dont play aoe (never played ) so cant discuss abt that .. in this i can relate to team work, concentration, etc etc .. still it wont reflect bad on my profile if i say this as a hobby right ?

Expert@CL

Quote:

Originally Posted by ameya_ahr

Hi expert !
This is my profile :

Xth 88.6% BCSE

XII 90.5 % HSC

National merit scholarship holder..

Computer Engg.. VIT Pune, Distinction (66.01% aggregate, which is good for Pune Univ). 2007 passout

Workexp . 2 months in an MNC

Foeign languages: French and Japanese

Hobbies: Playing Tabla. Have cleared 5 exams of Tabla

Extra carriculars : dozen things to talk abt here !.. Debates, Quizes, other competitions.. ,
college level event organization .. etc.
Paper presentation finalist (national) ..

Cat %ile 98.24 .. (93.94 lowest sectional)

Q.1) Now my only concern is this: I have so much to do and so less time, i have to revise Japanese,French, Tabla stuff.. etc. etc .. whhat if the interview panel starts grilling me on all these things ? and also my acads (although they look good on paper, but damn i know i only studied in PLs !! )

Q2) THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT CONCERN FOR ME so pls pls pls give detailed reply to this.
I have my IMT interview in less than 7 days.. Now an IMT senior on PG has adviced that we should never say that the reason fo rgoing for MBA is stream change. thats a strict no-no, says he. Is this correct way to go ????????
And in my case, genuinely, i want to change stream , only partly though! I have been in IT field, since std 11th, and although i am good at programming and all that jazz, i still feel more passionate abt finance.. now naturally i dont have hardcore knowledge abt finance.. but i have good enough an idea.. (taking NCFM module) .. have been reading & "understanding" ET for a while and CNBC is my favorite channel ! but wat if i say all this, and they grill me from every side ! and wat if my answers aren't accurate ! ?? !
in fact, a perfect job for me, would be in an I bank, working for an IT client, so i can leverage on my Engg. and 4-5 month experience here.. now i know, i cant become an i banker, if i am not in iim-a-b-c but.. equity research is good enough for me.

What do i do abt these things? i am going nuts by the hour !

P.S. dont groan on the length of post !

It is good to make your CV look good by displaying diverse interests so long as you don't end up appearing to be a Jack of all trades master of none. So rather than trying to talk about all the various areas you are into look at focusing on one or two areas where you can talk at length and display some expertise and achievement. You can still carry on an intelligent conversation. For a 2007 passout the panel has every right to quiz you on acads. So be prepared and brush up your knowledge in at least a couple of areas you are comfortable in. If required ask the panel to specifically ask questions from these areas.

Regarding the other point there is absolutely no point in projecting a career goal which has no relevance to what you want to actually do. People are all the time doing an MBA for a career shift and the number of engineers ending up as i-bankers every year is large. So be frank in your interview and show genuine interest. You already have acquired some knowledge and try to build on it further by talking to a few equity researchers and reading up some more. The important thing is to be convinced yourself. Thereafter the task of convincing the panel becomes that much easy.

sweetsour

sir, being a botany grad , hw do i convincingly justify career switch 2 mba?
will it suffice to say tht m not satisfied with whr i see my future headed in my present field.......tht i hd no options available back thn due 2 some personal probs?

jyoti_s

Hello Arindam,

i have got 64% in 10th,79.67% in 12th and 68.86%in T.Y.Bcom(MAR2007). i have got a call from GIM. i'am pretty much decent in GDs but PI is where i have a problem. i recently had a mock interview and i'am discouraged and clueless on how to answer questions like what are your strengths and weaknesses?why an mba?where do you see yourself 10 years down the line?etc. What will be the appropriate way of answering such questions so that it does result in a second round of attack. could you also give some other important tips.

i have worked for just 7 months for a BPO in a line related to the Airline industry. i have resigned as i did not want to make a career in the Airlines and wanted to study further. Can i state this reason when asked why did i leave my job?

i have started reading the TOI and ET. hope it is sufficient .

Thanks,
Jyoti

aditya_mba

dear sir..
i m a student of cl.i hav many intrviews lined up.
needed sm hlp in preparin my sop..wt r the points dt i shd include?
i m a graduate in statistics.

j_adarsh

Hi Sir
I am appearing for IITB interview and have a following query.
I am working with large IT MNC since last 30 months as software developer.
My domain is CRM (Siebel).I want to make career in finance.I have little bit understanding of finance as I am reading ET from last 5-6 years.

Will it be good idea to say that I want to go in finance?
will they grill me too much on finance if said that?

Or should I stick to CRM consulting as my career goal?
I feel, I am a very introvert person and Interviewer will judge it will quickly,So consulting can be problematic as well.

Please suggest

Thanks a lot

CATALU07

SIR I NEED UR HELP IN ANSWERING THE Q - WHY MBA??

i m currently in my final yr of engg.
most common ans is - engg has enriched me with technical knowledge. MBA studies will provide manegerial skills helping me to apply my tech. knowledge in an efficient manner.

is this ans sufficient??

kamleshrajendra · 10:42 PM

hi Arindam ,

my self kamlesh ,
had received call for GD / PI from NMIMS .
Pls let me know , how should i prepare for it with 20days , in hand.
i am working with Relaince Communication for the last 1.5 year .
which all area sould i cover .will the panel will stress more on my current job .
also let me know

Does your institue conduct mock GD / PI .

location mumbai.

CATALU07

I Hav A Call 4m Infosys
Shud I Mak A Mntion Of It In Ne Case??
I Mean Even If Askd In Interview

How To Go About A Gd Based On Case Study??

ashish_d_gr8

hello sir,

i am ashish, X-69.8% XII-79% BBA-81.7%(so far). XAT-91.21 percentile.
i hv received call frm GIM 4 d GD-PI on 5th,march. can u pls suggest d hot topics dat i should prepare 4 d GD. Also, i don't hv a strong resume(no work-ex, not much of xtra-curriculars), what should i do 2 outshine those who are better in their CV (as i guess there r many people with work-ex, or with better XAT scores).

awaiting ur reply!