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

[Expert@CL]

Originally Posted by pakanon

Hi,

My case is slightly different. I did my Btech from IIT in 2006. I have around 19 months of work experience. My current gross salary is very good. Its more than average salary of a fresh IIM graduate.

Now, problem is that in interviews I am grilled only on why do I want to do MBA? I had my IIML interview few days back. And they just kept asking me that how much money do I want; that it will be loss for me to join MBA as I will have to forgo my 2 years of salary etc? Also, about the salaries of IIM grads and how much hike will I look for if I change my job. Though I answered that I will look for enhancing my skills, good profile, learning opportunities..etc..but they weren't convinced.

And I feel that similar questions will be asked in other interviews also. I need a really convincing answer to "why MBA" question.

Please let me know if you need more info of my profile.

Thanks.

Sorry friends, for a backlog of unanswered queries but I have been travelling a lot. To answer the present query, yes, your interview seems to have gone on the wrong track. The interviewers' attention seems to have got diverted to your handsome pay package, possibly because you have not been able to link anything else related to your job with your career goals. Where do you work by the way? A good way of leveraging your current work experience is to identify the salient points in what you are doing right now and the experience you are gaining and link them to your career aspirations. You are likely to be a good candidate for a lucrative lateral placement if you perform well in an IIM and your current work experience is also considered relevant. So in your next interview try to build on that and convince the panel as to why your current profile+an IIM diploma would be very attractive to a potential employer.

[Expert@CL]

Originally Posted by namitagupta

sir,
please help!
its really urgent!
where can i find sumthing bout d job profile of finance n marketing?

Can you be more specific as to why you need a job profile for finance and marketing? Do you want to mention that as an area of interest in your MBA course? Do you have some prior knowledge about that field? You could visit CAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP, IIM, XAT 2007 - Coaching for MBA entrance exams from the national leader in MBA test-prep to dig up some relevant info. Talk to people working in that area if possible. But make sure that your interest is genuine and you can convince the panel accordingly.

[I Must]

Originally Posted by I Must

Hi,

I have a GD/PI this week(A symbiosis institute). This is the only call i have got. I applied to many other institutes accepting CAT. Got a very low percentile in CAT(less than 50). So i dont have any other call.It seems in PI they might ask what other calls you have got. In my case how to answer this question?

Plz help

Sir plz reply for my query too

[tell_me_1]

Hi,
My Acads:
10th : 74 %
12th : 63 %
B COM (2006) : 62 %
So I completed my graduation in 2006.
And honestly, I have no relevant work experience.
I have been working in a BPO as technical support for 1 year and 2 months now.
Do I have any chance of making it to the *average* colleges ?
I plan to give MAT and I am quitting work as i need to prepare for the same.
Do i stand any chance if i score good in MAT.
If yes, what questions can I expect in PI. What according to you would be best to tackele the questions regarding the time that I have spent since my graduation.

[Expert@CL]

Originally Posted by I Must

Sir plz reply for my query too

In case you are asked this question, then avoid getting into details of all the institutes you applied to (and did not get a call from). Mention a few of the better institutes if required and try to steer the discussion towards symbiosis and show a keen interest in why you want to join there. Try to collect as much background information as possible about it through their website.

[Expert@CL]

Originally Posted by spitmaan

Sir,

I hv done Msc physics and hv 21 months exp in HR and data analysis.I hv got a call from tapmi with cat score of 95.16%.

Pls suggest how should i approach the interview..given the fact that i want to be research analyst.

Thank You

For anybody looking at a career as an analyst (be it equity research, be it market research) it is important to project two things a) ability to number-crunch, process data quickly 2) the ability to draw meaningful inferences and suggestions out of that. It also helps to have a basic background knowledge of the business area you are interested in. Try to project these aspects in your interview

[sandhyaj]

Originally Posted by sandhyaj

hi sir
thanks fr helpin us...

i have a call from glakes n tapmi n ximb

my cat percentile is 91
xat percentile is 99.02

i have a workex of 4 years frm a reputed PSU. I had resigned my job in may-07. basically to prepare becoz i lost tch with most of the things...
the work was too demanding to concentrate on prep...
i was working in a managerial position in bpcl, joined it soon after completing my graduation.
please advise me , how do i justify the gap/break in my pi

thanks

sir
please reply to my query too

waiting fr ur reply n how good is 'AIM MANILA'- I have got a call from it

[Expert@CL]

Originally Posted by iamleonidas

Hi Arindam
Regarindg hobby
My hobby is playing Computer Games .. that to first person shooter game in perticular
So what all questions can i expect in that in my PI?

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

[Expert@CL]

Originally Posted by sandhyaj

sir
please reply to my query too

waiting fr ur reply n how good is 'AIM MANILA'- I have got a call from it

AIM Manila is a an old international institute with a strong alumni network. The advantage of studying there is getting an international exposure . However their tuition fees itself is to the tune of $24,000 per year and scholarships are on a strict merit basis. Also two years' work experience is mandatory.

[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 !