hi
i m a physiotherapy graduate,,,,,,,got 97.2 in cat n got thru nmat as well,, i m into a pdp with career launcher!
but dont have concrete answers to y mba?
n y shud we take u?
can u gimme a direction to answer these questions?:tellme:

Hi,

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

Plz help

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.

hi expert@CL,
myself kandarp
my cat score is

Q -- 95
V -- 91
DIDS -- 81
TOTAL -- 94.74
I GOT MICAT CALL TODAY AND I M PRETTY SURE TO GET PASS IT
BT MY PROB IS REGARDIN GD AND PI PHASE BECAUSE THIS IS FIRST TIME I AM APPEARING FOR GD OR ANY SORT OF INTERVIEW.

CAN U PLZ TEMME WAT SHOULD I DO TO OVERCOME THIS HURDLE?

N BY THE WAY I HAV AN AVERAGE ACADEMIC RECORD WITH A COUPLE OF YEAR GAP B/W MY GD AND PGD. WILL THESE GAP YEARS MAKE MY INTERVIEW COMPLICATED?

Hi Sir,

My CAT SCORES are

OA 96.19
QA 98.02
Di 88.5
EU 76.76

Can i expect a call from MICA....

Moreover my objectives must chenges as compared to MICA and other institutes so gettin bit confused with all this..

In my career objectives, i have written the routine stuff like hone my mangerials skills and blah blah... further i have added that i want ppl working for ME rather i working for PPL....
should i keep it or remove it... because ultimetely this is what goin to happen... and also i would be starting a business with my father... so i have this fact to back what i said...

What questions can i expect on the business we are planning... and wat changes should i make to objectives.. as i want to potray the true me!!!


Thanks

Hi aniina,

I dont know about your other queries but you will definitely get a call from MICA.

Hi Sir,

My CAT SCORES are

OA 96.19
QA 98.02
Di 88.5
EU 76.76

Can i expect a call from MICA....

Moreover my objectives must chenges as compared to MICA and other institutes so gettin bit confused with all this..

In my career objectives, i have written the routine stuff like hone my mangerials skills and blah blah... further i have added that i want ppl working for ME rather i working for PPL....
should i keep it or remove it... because ultimetely this is what goin to happen... and also i would be starting a business with my father... so i have this fact to back what i said...

What questions can i expect on the business we are planning... and wat changes should i make to objectives.. as i want to potray the true me!!!


Thanks

suneel328 Says

sir,goodevening my name is suneelkumar.i wrote jmet and i got calls for gd and pi from all iits.give me tips to crack gd and pi.also suggest me any books for gd.i have completed my b.tech in 2006

Usually IIT Gd/PIs are very normal and not much technical questions are asked. It is good to go prepared with answers to standard questions like 'Why MBA?' and 'Tell us something about yourself' and questions pertaining to your work experience. Try to project yourself as an interesting person at the interview and talk about your hobbies and extracurriculars. As for GD, try to put in relevant points rather than talking too much and make sure that you are contributing effectively to the group discussion. it may help to enrol for a personality development program in this regard

Sir,

I completed my grad in Tourism and took up job in one of the most well known travel agency and worked only for 2 weeks and left it because the profile offered didnt interest me. Soon after i joined another start-up Travel Agency with the intention of learning more and worked for 1 month but again it was very unsatisfactory n i even felt ill so left the job and start preparing for CAT from mid september....

Cat Score 2007- 90.50%
Cat SCORE 2006- 91.87%

GRADUATION- 73% RANKED 2ND
XII- 78%
X- 74%

**LOADS OF INTRA- SCHOOL XTRA CURRICULARS WITH AND WITHOUT CERTIFICATES.

Q1--I want to know How should i justify switching jobs and my activities in past 1 yr??

Q2--Is it considered a DROP ?? (bz i only have offer letters but no certificate of working).

Q3--I'm mainly TARGETING MICA....So what special preparation is required for MICA ??? As i've already appeared for MICAT last yr. but couldnt convert it so want to be totally prepared this year.

Q4--As Im not very clear about my career goals in terms of specialisation at MICA ... I would like to know how should i justify it and relate it to my graduation background(tourism) and XII(Science)???

Thanking you in advance

At your percentile level you stand a good chance for MICA only if you have a very high percentile in English. Also MICA entrance tests you on potential advertising communication and creative skills so it is advisable only for students with real aptitude for advertising/marketing communication to go for this course. Tourism is an interesting background and if you are looking for a marketing job in the tourism industry then it is easy to justify the reason why you are choosing MICA. However you may be looked upon as a job-switcher and so you have present this part of your case in a favorable light. It is best to be frank and explain why you ahve switched two jobs before leaving work altogether. If the reason was that you wanted to focus wholly on CAT then do say so at your interview.

Sir i am a botany grad from mu.
my marks are

X 88%
X11 82.6%
B.Sc 72.25

CAT 07 98.08%le no calls yet
XAT 08 98.5%le calls from XLRI(BM),XIMB

I was actively involved in xtracurricular activities at school.i also received a no. of certificates in gk tests and others. but i dont have them now.hw shld i tackle Qs related to xtracurriculars whn i hv no documnts to spprt my claim?
also wht shld i xpct in intrvw as i m from a totally diff. background

Since you are from a slightly unconventional background, you should try to use it to your advantage. it may be a good idea to read about the practical application of botany in different industries, especially agri-based or biotech industries. As for extracurriculars, so long as your claims of achievement are right, pls speak about them and not be too bothered about not having documents

hello sir,
i have got a call for MFC DU.....could u help me with my prep agenda....what to expect ...i am a commerce grad ...
thanks

MFC usually takes high calibre commerce students, CAs or those who have cleared CA inter well. The interview is likely to be very technical in nature and you would need to convince them about why MFC, vis-a-vis CA. it would be a good idea to meet some MFC students and find out more about the course so that you can talk well about your aptitude for such a program

Sir,

This query might seem odd..but pls do help..
i am having 15 m workex... but i dnt have any quality work experience...



what if i dnt have any eg to prove that i have taken initiative at work or shown leadership...shud i be frank and tell them..

Pls help me regarding workex questions. Like what all questions could be asked apart from company details-client details-competition details-work details etc.

will they ask technical questions related to work?


Thank u..

It would help me to know more about your details in terms of your academic background, the company you are working for and your job profile. However with 15 months work-ex you are most likely to face at least a few questions regarding your company, why you took up the present job and any specific highlights of your work experience. Even if you do not have much achievements to show at least make a conscious effort to tie in your work experience with your future career goals after doing an MBA

Sir i am a botany grad from mu.
my marks are

X 88%
X11 82.6%
B.Sc 72.25

CAT 07 98.08%le no calls yet
XAT 08 98.5%le calls from XLRI(BM),XIMB

I was actively involved in xtracurricular activities at school.i also received a no. of certificates in gk tests and others. but i dont have them now.hw shld i tackle Qs related to xtracurriculars whn i hv no documnts to spprt my claim?
also wht shld i xpct in intrvw as i m from a totally diff. background

hello sir,
i have got a call for MFC DU.....could u help me with my prep agenda....what to expect ...i am a commerce grad ...
thanks

HiArindam!!
Can u please tell me whats an ideal approach to take on Case studies.I've a lil bit of idea bout GD bt i m ignorant bout case studies.

Sir,

I completed my grad in Tourism and took up job in one of the most well known travel agency and worked only for 2 weeks and left it because the profile offered didnt interest me. Soon after i joined another start-up Travel Agency with the intention of learning more and worked for 1 month but again it was very unsatisfactory n i even felt ill so left the job and start preparing for CAT from mid september....

Cat Score 2007- 90.50%
Cat SCORE 2006- 91.87%

GRADUATION- 73% RANKED 2ND
XII- 78%
X- 74%

**LOADS OF INTRA- SCHOOL XTRA CURRICULARS WITH AND WITHOUT CERTIFICATES.

Q1--I want to know How should i justify switching jobs and my activities in past 1 yr??

Q2--Is it considered a DROP ?? (bz i only have offer letters but no certificate of working).

Q3--I'm mainly TARGETING MICA....So what special preparation is required for MICA ??? As i've already appeared for MICAT last yr. but couldnt convert it so want to be totally prepared this year.

Q4--As Im not very clear about my career goals in terms of specialisation at MICA ... I would like to know how should i justify it and relate it to my graduation background(tourism) and XII(Science)???

Thanking you in advance

Sir,

This query might seem odd..but pls do help..
i am having 15 m workex... but i dnt have any quality work experience...



what if i dnt have any eg to prove that i have taken initiative at work or shown leadership...shud i be frank and tell them..

Pls help me regarding workex questions. Like what all questions could be asked apart from company details-client details-competition details-work details etc.

will they ask technical questions related to work?


Thank u..

am an engg fresher
10th - 80%
12th - 81%
engg - 9.38 cgpa
CAT'07 - 96.36%ile overall
XAT'07 - 97.58%ile overall
Calls just from SCMHRD n SIBM till now..
have applied for MDI, IMT, NITIE, SPJain, XIM-B
kindly guide me as how to prepare for my GD/PI ...does brushing up my engg knowledge help?

Since you are an engg. fresher and your CGPA appears to be good you must be ready to face acads related questions. Also prepare for the GD/PI by brushing up your communications skills. Try to have mock GDs with friends and practise speaking extempore on different topics in front of the mirror. If you have good extracurriculars be ready to talk about them. Read up on current affairs, business events,etc. to appear an aware and knowedgeable person. Visit the websites of the institutes you have applied for and gather some knowledge about their programs. This will help you to argue why a particular institute is an institute of choice for you. Be ready to answer standard questions about career goals and 'what are your strengths & weaknesses' convincingly.

HI Arindam,

Can you please help me out here??
My background is

Btech 82%
Cls 12 88%
cls 10 92%

Call from iimi and iimk

My query is if teh interviewer asks me about some topin of GK and i am unaware of it how sghould i go about saying a polite no and second of all can you give me some inputs on the type of questions asked in this interview

And if the ques is What is the most sad moment of your life then what should be my reply

There is nothing unusual about IIM I and IIM K interviews so go prepared for them as you would for other institutes. Brush up on your acads as well as knowledge of GK, especially current affairs and be prepared to answer standard questions like 'Introduce yourself' and 'Why do you want to do an MBA' intelligently and convincingly.

If you are asked a question in GK and do not know the answer one polite way of replying would be: "Sir, I am afraid I do not know the answer to this question. However if you ask me a question from an area where I have some reasonable knowledge (mention the area) then I would be ready to answer it."

The answer to your last question is to talk about some genuine experience you can relate. All of us have some sad moment we can talk about.It could be a misunderstanding with a close friend, the loss of a loved one or even some national event that deeply shook you. But the experience has to be real and something the interviewer can genuinely relate to.

sir,
i am currently in my 3rd yr of engg plannin 2 giv cat 08.....what exactly are iims expectin as extra curriculars?...i seem to be not having any great extra curriculars til now...will this be a critical factor in deciding the admission??

IIMs often look for students with good extra-curricular acitvities especially if such activities throw some light upon their leadership and managerial skills. In any case having one or two good hobbies always marks you out as a well-rounded person with diverse interests. Since you have time try to cultivate some interest in sports, hobbies,etc. which you can talk about. I tis important only to talk about interests which are genuine, on which you can talk knowledgeably and especially on which you can show some achievement.

sir ,

i have
10th - 77%
12th - 75%
BE - 56%

how should i explain my low BE % ? last year too i faced this problem and felt this was the reason for me not making it even though i had a good GD.

the truth is mechanical engg was never my field , i also took it lightly was was involved in extra curicular. i made a mistake for which i have suffered.

also i am working in hardcore maintenance filed , so how do i justify my desire for MBA particularly in marketing?

but how should i explain in a positve way?
i have 1,5 yr work ex as of now, am i supposed to remember all my BE subjects?

It is always the most difficult to defend poor acads and for most B-school interviews that is often a deciding factor in rejecting a candidate who is otherwise smart and presentable. One way of defending poor acads is to show loads of relevant extracurricular activites. if you show your active involvement in important on-campus events and projects which bring out abilities such as organization, leadership and team-handling skills, they work in your favour. Try to see if there is anything significant in this area you can talk about and try to drive the disucssion in that direction. Also since you have been working for 1.5 years now, try to highlight major achievements in your working life. You could talk about important projects worked on and awards and recognition received. But do expect to be queried on acads. if there are one or two areas where you are good, brush up your reading on these areas and request the interviewer to quiz you on those areas of acads.

You can talk about your interest in marketing even if you are working in the maintenance field. First ask yourself if you think you are cut out for a future marketing career. Do some background reading on what marketing involves so that you can make more informed answers. Also a marketing person typically has an outgoing personality along with good data-crunching skills and a creative bent. See if you fit that kind of a profile. If you have organized important events in your college try to mention them as well.

sir,goodevening my name is suneelkumar.i wrote jmet and i got calls for gd and pi from all iits.give me tips to crack gd and pi.also suggest me any books for gd.i have completed my b.tech in 2006

sir ,

i have
10th - 77%
12th - 75%
BE - 56%

how should i explain my low BE % ? last year too i faced this problem and felt this was the reason for me not making it even though i had a good GD.

the truth is mechanical engg was never my field , i also took it lightly was was involved in extra curicular. i made a mistake for which i have suffered.

also i am working in hardcore maintenance filed , so how do i justify my desire for MBA particularly in marketing?

but how should i explain in a positve way?
i have 1,5 yr work ex as of now, am i supposed to remember all my BE subjects?

Sir,

I completed my grad in Tourism and took up job in one of the most well known travel agency and worked only for 2 weeks and left it because the profile offered didnt interest me. Soon after i joined another start-up Travel Agency with the intention of learning more and worked for 1 month but again it was very unsatisfactory n i even felt ill so left the job and start preparing for CAT from mid september....

Cat Score 2007- 90.50%
Cat SCORE 2006- 91.87%

GRADUATION- 73% RANKED 2ND
XII- 78%
X- 74%

**LOADS OF INTRA- SCHOOL XTRA CURRICULARS WITH AND WITHOUT CERTIFICATES.

Q1--I want to know How should i justify switching jobs and my activities in past 1 yr??

Q2--Is it considered a DROP ?? (bz i only have offer letters but no certificate of working).

Q3--I'm mainly TARGETING MICA....So what special preparation is required for MICA ??? As i've already appeared for MICAT last yr. but couldnt convert it so want to be totally prepared this year.

Q4--As Im not very clear about my career goals in terms of specialisation at MICA ... I would like to know how should i justify it and relate it to my graduation background(tourism) and XII(Science)???

Thanking you in advance

am an engg fresher

10th - 80%
12th - 81%
engg - 9.38 cgpa

CAT'07 - 96.36%ile overall
XAT'07 - 97.58%ile overall

Calls just from SCMHRD n SIBM till now..

have applied for MDI, IMT, NITIE, SPJain, XIM-B

kindly guide me as how to prepare for my GD/PI ...does brushing up my engg knowledge help?

Hi Arindam,

Thanks a lot for the discussions posted above. Let me introduce myself first. I am Shuvabrata Nandi, 2005 pass-out from IIT Kharagpur.

My brief profile is given below:

STD X - 93.5%
STD XII - 88.7%
B.Tech(H) - 8.80 (GPA)

CAT %ile - 99.93
QA - 99.90
DI - 98.34
VA - 98.93
Calls from All 6 IIMs

Currently working with ICICI Prudential Life as Manager - Business Intelligence & Strategy. Prior to this, i was with Larsen & Toubro in a Strategy and New Business role.

I am a little concerned about where to start my preparation from. Should i join any of the coaching institute's GD / PI classes? How do i prepare for PI questions like "Why MBA" , "Why Now" and stuff. Any web resource / other forum except PG?

Do tell me what kinda questions should i expect in PI?

regards,
Shuvabrata

You do seem to have a lot going for you (good CAT percentile, academic background, good working experience). However it is good to not be complacent and be prepared to face tough questions in any area. For a B-school interview panel your work experience area (B.Intelligence & Strategy) could be very relevant and they may quiz you a lot on that. Hope you are brushing up well on your general knowledge and knowledge of current affairs because they may try to trip you here even if you are fielding questions related to your areas of strength well. The answer to whether you should join a coaching institute for GD/PI coaching can at best be subjective. It is always good to go through simulated group discussions and mock interviews (which institutes provide) and have an experience of what they can be like before you go in for the real thing. That is always better than reading up resources on the net. They also prepare you for these standard questions like 'Why MBA', etc. However it is up to you finally to craft an intelligent and honest response to these kind of questions. Do some research on your own about B-schools, the areas you may want to specialize in and the career prospects in such areas to answer a question like 'Why MBA?'. Try to tie-in the relevance of your current work experience also to field a question like 'Why now?'. If you ahve 2/3 years of experience 'Why now?' is not a very probable question.

Sir,
Sir I m Sanjay.I gt a CAT score Of 89.95 %le.Have applied for TAPMI,K.J.Soumaya, n BIM,Trichy. Some of my faculty membrs say dat i stand a gud chance of fethin a call. Bt my problem is dat i hav very poor acads. Do u feel dat evn if i do well in GD, dey will sumhw dump me during d interview.I m workin a lot on GDs.Bt i m vry scared abt PI(one on one, that 2 stress interview). So kindly help me, n also plz tell wat r dey likely to ask ppl with poor acads who do manage to gt a call.
Thank U.

My assessment also would be that you are likely to get a call from at least some of the institutes you are targeting. It is likely that different weightages would be given to your academic record as well as performance in GDs. Also interviewers may choose to question you on your poor acads specifically to put you under pressure.

The important thing is to keep your cool. You cannot change poor acads at this stage so you have to defend them as much as you can. Wilting under pressure will not help you. So you have to field these questions with poise and not get stressed. Try to find a plausible reason why your acads went wrong and try to talk positively about the lesson you have derived from that experience. Always try to highlight your other achievements (Extracurricular activities,etc.) to balance out this uncomfortable part of your record.

I have a varied background here
Done my BE in computer Science from pune university
been workin in steel sector for past 2 years
Logistics of iron and steel material.....
My job profile has no relation with my engg. qualifications anymore...
what would be panel's focus for my interview...?
do i need to dig up my technical qualification stuff...?
what else would i need to ponder upon...?
10th 81%
12th 82%
BE 56%
have also lost a year during engg.....but had cleared the subject in reval,
but had not taken provisional admission....
how do i portray the lost year...?

Calls IIFT + IIM A C L I K

Would be obliged if you could clearmy doubts...

If you have been working for 2 yrs, you are still relatively fresh and should be ready to answer queries related to acads anyway. However if you are not comfortable enough in your subject area it is best to steer the discussion towards what you are doing on the job. Also be ready to the irregularities in your academic track record in a smart manner. If there are achievements you have secured in your working career be sure to highlight them to the panel

HI Arindam,

Can you please help me out here??
My background is

Btech 82%
Cls 12 88%
cls 10 92%

Call from iimi and iimk

My query is if teh interviewer asks me about some topin of GK and i am unaware of it how sghould i go about saying a polite no and second of all can you give me some inputs on the type of questions asked in this interview

And if the ques is What is the most sad moment of your life then what should be my reply

I have a varied background here
Done my BE in computer Science from pune university
been workin in steel sector for past 2 years
Logistics of iron and steel material.....
My job profile has no relation with my engg. qualifications anymore...
what would be panel's focus for my interview...?
do i need to dig up my technical qualification stuff...?
what else would i need to ponder upon...?
10th 81%
12th 82%
BE 56%
have also lost a year during engg.....but had cleared the subject in reval,
but had not taken provisional admission....
how do i portray the lost year...?

Calls IIFT + IIM A C L I K

Would be obliged if you could clearmy doubts...

Hi Sir

My acads are :
10th : 80
12th : 84.2
B.E.( Comp. Sc.): 83.1

I worked in private sector for an year as an IT professional and then shifted to SAIL as Junior Manager in IT. I am expecting questions to justify my decision but still not confident about the answer. Since moving to Steel industry from IT( my core area) is not a frequently trodden path,I'd like some suggestion about how to approach it. For me it was the managerial position and responsibilities that had an edge over working for an MNC as a s/w engineer.

Guess i aint alone here jumping from IT to steel sector....
though my exposure is more into logistics...nothing to do with my qualification as such...
BE Computers from PICT
Jr.Mgr. (Mktg. - Warehousing) at SAIL currently
Calls from IIFT + IIM A C L I K

Hi Arindam,

Thanks a lot for the discussions posted above. Let me introduce myself first. I am Shuvabrata Nandi, 2005 pass-out from IIT Kharagpur.

My brief profile is given below:

STD X - 93.5%
STD XII - 88.7%
B.Tech(H) - 8.80 (GPA)

CAT %ile - 99.93
QA - 99.90
DI - 98.34
VA - 98.93
Calls from All 6 IIMs

Currently working with ICICI Prudential Life as Manager - Business Intelligence & Strategy. Prior to this, i was with Larsen & Toubro in a Strategy and New Business role.

I am a little concerned about where to start my preparation from. Should i join any of the coaching institute's GD / PI classes? How do i prepare for PI questions like "Why MBA" , "Why Now" and stuff. Any web resource / other forum except PG?

Do tell me what kinda questions should i expect in PI?

regards,
Shuvabrata

Sir,
Sir I m Sanjay.I gt a CAT score Of 89.95 %le.Have applied for TAPMI,K.J.Soumaya, n BIM,Trichy. Some of my faculty membrs say dat i stand a gud chance of fethin a call. Bt my problem is dat i hav very poor acads. Do u feel dat evn if i do well in GD, dey will sumhw dump me during d interview.I m workin a lot on GDs.Bt i m vry scared abt PI(one on one, that 2 stress interview). So kindly help me, n also plz tell wat r dey likely to ask ppl with poor acads who do manage to gt a call.
Thank U.

Good question. Most interviewers are aware of this and will ask questions accordingly. If you are someone with a good academic record in chem engg. be ready to face questions related to your area. However if you are more comfortable talking about your tech-related experience then try to steer the interview in that direction. Please remember that in that case you should be able to exhibit good mastery over your work area and highlight important projects you may have worked on.

Hello Arindam,

My Profile as follows
10th std : 84.4 %
12th std :69.3 %
B.E - 60.1 % in E &TC;

Expected CAT Score : 92 ( 35- QA, 37- DI, 20 - VA)

My Work -Ex is as follows
21 months in Tech Mahindra as a Performance Analyst (Networking related job).
16 months in Family Business related to Auto Parts Job work
I want to pursue my M.B.A in Operations. What will be the weightage given to in my interview ? Networking , Telecom (my academic qualification) or manufacturing industry (family business)..which one vil b given a higher weightage as per u.
What r the questions that can crop up related to family business ?

Thanks,
Shreyash.

The interviewers are going to examine every phase of your working life and give due importance to it. You have to show how your experience with Mahindra has helped you look at a career in operations management. You also have to explain your shift to the family business very well because chances are that you will be asked why. Please talk meaningfully about your experience in running the family business and project it as an exciting entrepreneurial phase in your career.

It is always better to show that you have been doing something side-by-side with preparing for CAT for the past one year. Think back and see if there is something menaingul you cna talk about. If there is nothing then you have to highlight that preparing for CAT was so important to you (especially because of last year's disappointment ) that you decided to concentrate on it to the exclusion of everything else. Your case will be stronger if you have a decent CAT score to show

helo arindam sir,

sir i am a doctor and have applied for all the institutes and expecting call from evry college, 2-3 iims,schmrd,sibm,nmims...

problem i am facing is that i hav shown work exp of 9 months as a medical representative in a pharmaceutical company in my profile in evry collge but infct i dnt hav any work exp.i just knw a bit abt this being a doctor.an u tell me what all sort of ques they wil ask,what all shud i do to grasp better abt this field so that m able to justify my work exp?

I think it makes little sense in trying to project yourself as having the experience of a medical repesentative when you are aqctually a doctor. Most experienced interviewers will see through such attempts and it will not show you up in a poor light. My adive to you is to clarify that you are a doctor at the interview stage and then justify why as a doctor you want to to do an MBA. There can be various replies. Even running a hospital requires managerial skills which you can talk about.

You realise that you do not have a fabulous academic record to talk about. This is a disadvantage you need to work around at the interview. Try to draw the interviewer's attention to other aspects of your life and personality. If there is some achievement in your extracurricular activities make sure you highlight them. You could even talk about constraints (maybe family issues where you contributed meaningfully) which may have hindered you from giving the best to your studies. Remember to present a plausible case to your interviewers that offsets (or even justifies) your not-so-brilliant academic record.

You realise that you do not have a fantastic academic record to talk about. This is a drawback which many aspirants suffer from. The way to work around this and present yourself in a positive light is to draw the interviewer's attention to other aspects of your personality and other achievements in your life which can help offset (or may be even justify) why you were not able to perform very well in your academics. Think about your extra-curricular activities which you can boast of. You could even be someone who has been so involved in family matters (and contributed meaningfully there) that it left you little time to devote to studies. If you are able to present your case in a meaningful way you would be able to offset an academic drawback even in good colleges

Most interviewees when asked to introduce themselves make the mistake of repeating what is there on their CV verbatim. This does not result in an interesting beginning. It is often nice to start by speaking about yourself, beyond what is there in the CV - your family, your beliefs and convictions and even your hobbies! Even if you want to link in your professional achievements, you should try to link it in an interesting manner and project it as something that fits in with your personality, your drive and your ambition to contribute meaningfully to society in some way. It is important to sound a little different from others when you are asked this question.That way your interview will start on a fresh note.

i am a B.Tech working in up govt having 5 years of exp.i was awarded for my work. for the answer introduce yourself how should i go about

hi puys...count me here tooo

i ve 59.66% marks in my 10th board & 52.66 in 12th board besides to cbse.its state board jharkhand.then i moved to faridabad here i took admission b.sc medical & now i m in my final year of this degree with percentage 57.66.tell me how to prepare for my gdpi now that i can achieve a good college.i m also a cl student.

helo arindam sir,

sir i am a doctor and have applied for all the institutes and expecting call from evry college, 2-3 iims,schmrd,sibm,nmims...

problem i am facing is that i hav shown work exp of 9 months as a medical representative in a pharmaceutical company in my profile in evry collge but infct i dnt hav any work exp.i just knw a bit abt this being a doctor.an u tell me what all sort of ques they wil ask,what all shud i do to grasp better abt this field so that m able to justify my work exp?

hello sir,
this is ria...i have applied for simc and if i clear the first round..the second round wud obviously be GD/PI..it wud be immensely helpful if i get an idea about the variety of GD topics they usually ask,as in arey they necessarily from the general affairs or abstract..i have applied for ADVERTISING..kindly shed some light on the same..thank u..

Hello Arindam,

ISB has rolled out its second phase of admission process - PI.
I hold a score of 600 in the GMAT and have been called for an interview. I am a post grad in Marketing & communications from Xaviers Institute of Communications, Mumbai. I have 5 years of experience in the hospitality industry - 2 yrs of Front office operations follwed by 3 yrs of Corporate Sales & Marketing. Been married for almost 2 yrs and on a sabbatical from work since then, post my relocation. What should i expect in the PI? How should I prepare? Look fwd to your answer.

Thanks,
Nish

hello sir dis is riya..
i passed my grad in B.Sc biotech in 2007 with 70%.
due to unavailablity of all certificate i was unable 2 take admission last year.
they wil going to ask me,what r u doing 4m last 1 year?then wat should i reply..actually i was preparing 4 cat....reply me soon.....

Hi Arindam,

WIth a big boom in IT sector in India, most of the junta from Non-IT background is choosen for IT jobs. Myself, a chemical technologist (specialisation in food tech) working for an IT company since 2.5 years.. Unfortunately, I am not expert both at IT as well as chemical tech due to this migration.

My query is, with such different academic & professional backgrounds, how to handle the hurdles related to technical stuff in PI's? In most probability which way is the PI bound to tilt- technical knowledge of my acads stream or work ex related technical stuff?

also, in this limited time, which area shud i focus more to be prepared for the possible technical PI's (again acads or work ex related technical?)

Hello Arindam,

My Profile as follows
10th std : 84.4 %
12th std :69.3 %
B.E - 60.1 % in E &TC;

Expected CAT Score : 92 ( 35- QA, 37- DI, 20 - VA)

My Work -Ex is as follows
21 months in Tech Mahindra as a Performance Analyst (Networking related job).
16 months in Family Business related to Auto Parts Job work
I want to pursue my M.B.A in Operations. What will be the weightage given to in my interview ? Networking , Telecom (my academic qualification) or manufacturing industry (family business)..which one vil b given a higher weightage as per u.
What r the questions that can crop up related to family business ?

Thanks,
Shreyash.

Hi Sir,

My cat scores are as follows,
QA= 39
DI =32
EU=6-20

Xth = 80%
Xiith =89%
B.E. =64.3

Good extra curiculars as in twice Best Student of Year award.
President of my college community, President of Interacr Club, Secretary of Rotract Club of Nagpur and others....

I am aiming for MICA ans i want to get thru it ANYHOW but gettin real confused while filling the form and also scared for the later process if i get a call..


Can u please help me out with this.... just tell me from where i can get best help????

hello sir,
i want to ask you something,
i have completed my electronics engg. in 2006....
i start preparing for entrance exam but i did not get good marks in cat 2006
so i wait for another one year and gave cat 2007. i do not do any job in bitween....
now the pro blem is how can I this situation for gap of 1 year????

also i want to ask you about gd , I have a contant but not able to speak in the gd what ahould i do is there any solution???

please help me for this/?????????????

Welcome PuYs ......... Hope you all are as excited as I am to get cracking on GD/PI of various B-schools. I am there with you as a sounding board..........

However, I will also expect that you share your learnings at this stage with others in this forum.

Wishing you all "All the Best".

Arindam

No activity in this thread hah?...

Hello Sir,

Can you please give some tips on how to start preparing for GD/PI? what all materials we should read?

Hello sir,

Thanks for ur time and effort to clarify GDPI queries of mba aspirants..

I wud like to know if people wit 6 months of work-ex(as of now, passed out in may 2007) wil b given any credit as work-ex or as fresher junta...

Most of all...how do we handle the question, Why mba after 6 odd months since we dont learn tht much in this short time abt ur nature of work and even if we giv the usual reasons..they might ask, then y didnt we go for an mba as soon as finishin coll as a fresher??....hope u get wat i mean:satisfie:


Thank u ...

As a fresher questions will revolve around your academics, why MBA and why not job. You may also be expected to explain what you have been doing in the past one year. Need to show your experience in dad's office in a positive light and not a time pass - be specific in terms of what your achievements, any specific learning.

Sir, I passed B.com this year 2007 with 73%
Hope to get 97 marks in Cat 2007. I am giving other exams. What i wanted to ask you is.. for a fresher like me, what should i focus on to prepare for a personal interview. I have also worked in my dad's office (wholesale of hosiery goods)for around a year or more, full time only 6 months, but not have not showed it in either the cat form or the other institute's form.., and I know in and out about the whole business.

Sorry guys - have been little tied-up with travelling, but I am back in action now!

For your question, you need to have some data about steel industry on how exciting this is and what IT can do in this industry. Or else you could look at an option of building a career in system consulting and hence exposure to different industry verticals (not only IT). But then it will really depend on what your interests are.

Hi Sir

My acads are :
10th : 80
12th : 84.2
B.E.( Comp. Sc.): 83.1

I worked in private sector for an year as an IT professional and then shifted to SAIL as Junior Manager in IT. I am expecting questions to justify my decision but still not confident about the answer. Since moving to Steel industry from IT( my core area) is not a frequently trodden path,I'd like some suggestion about how to approach it. For me it was the managerial position and responsibilities that had an edge over working for an MNC as a s/w engineer.

Sir, I passed B.com this year 2007 with 73%
Hope to get 97 marks in Cat 2007. I am giving other exams. What i wanted to ask you is.. for a fresher like me, what should i focus on to prepare for a personal interview. I have also worked in my dad's office (wholesale of hosiery goods)for around a year or more, full time only 6 months, but not have not showed it in either the cat form or the other institute's form.., and I know in and out about the whole business.

Hi Sir

My acads are :
10th : 80
12th : 84.2
B.E.( Comp. Sc.): 83.1

I worked in private sector for an year as an IT professional and then shifted to SAIL as Junior Manager in IT. I am expecting questions to justify my decision but still not confident about the answer. Since moving to Steel industry from IT( my core area) is not a frequently trodden path,I'd like some suggestion about how to approach it. For me it was the managerial position and responsibilities that had an edge over working for an MNC as a s/w engineer.

Honestly, it can be addressed in a number of ways............

You may increase your vocal pitch and join the market.
Attract attention of others in any possible manner.
Completely withdraw from the group..........

It really depends on you - start with your natural reaction and chk with others as to what do they perceive it as.

Hi sir

Please give some pointers how to tackle fish market situation...This is really a problem which i come to know from my friends..

Most of your PI will have pharma related qs - but there will be other qs as well - depends on your CV........

Yr other qs are general in nature - pls be more specific.

maparna Says

hi expert@cl! i graduated this year in b.pharmacy wid a cgpa of 8.8. as asked above, how do we handle the gd? and wat abt my pi? will it be pharma specific only??