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CAP 2020 WAT-PI Experience
Venue: Goldfinch Hotel, Andheri E, Mumbai
Date & Time: 18-2-2020, Afternoon slot
Profile: ย GEM CAT/X/XII/Grad/WE โ 96.93[98.69/97.83/80.83]/9.8CGPA/78.2/7.24 CGPA/30 months in Federal Bank
WAT:
Arrived at the centre at 12:00 Noon. The document verification went ahead smoothly and was completed in a jiffy. The WAT started at around 2:10 PM, and concluded by 2:30. We were given a rough sheet which was small and blank, and a main one-lined sheet with two sides, in which we had to submit our WAT. The WAT topic was โIs corruption the root cause of Indiaโs Socio-Economic problems?โย
I was able to complete a structured essay. I cited examples as to how corruption begins at grassroots levels and is inherently imbibe in our system. Gave an introduction as to how manโs greed is never satisfied and it is this unquenched thirst that drives corruption. Wrote about how this creates income inequality and how we are responsible for it as well. Concluded by saying that even though itโs the root problem, it can be weeded out by collective action, introducing more transparency and more activisms on the RTI front. I felt it was an average WAT by some standards.
After WAT, the conductors asked if anyone is ready for the interview immediately. I skipped the coffee and snacks and went straight upstairs to my panel. I was second in line. My overall interview lasted about 10 minutes.ย
PI:
2 panelists. 1 Male and 1 Female. None of them smiled.
M Asked my name upon entering.
Me: Sir, shok means sadness. Ashok means the one without sadness.
M: So are you an engineer? Which field.
Me: Yes, CSE.
M: Okay, so is the world analog or digital. Justify your answer.
Me: [A little stumped, I was expecting technical questions related to my under graduation]. Sir, the world is analog. A digital system is confined to 2 states, merely 1s and 0s. But an analog system can take many states in between those, and thatโs how I perceive the reflection of the world.ย
M: So, in an analog world, how would you go about implementing digital technologies and methods on it?
Me: [Where is this going?] I explained how digital systems are accurate, citing examples of watch. Spoke about feasibility.ย
M: So if a system is more feasible, would you sacrifice accuracy for it?
Me: I said it depends on system. I told how I use a digital watch, and am not concerned about accuracy, but in a precise system like a jet airplane, it matters and feasibility takes a back seat.
M: Okay, so Iโll say a few words now and you tell me what comes to your mind first.
Me: [ears turning red due to pressure] Okay, sir.
M: TV, Me: Entertainment, M: Chai, Me: somebody sitting, M: Table, Me: All items kept, M: Books, Me: Wealth of knowledge, M: Big, Me: Humongous, large, M: but those are synonyms. Does nothing else strike you when I say big? Me: [Sheepishly] Sir, big dreams and ambitions. M: Ok, Iโm done [turns towards F]
F: So, you work as a clerk in a bank. What are your roles? Are you still working? [Looks at profile detail form]
Me: I resigned from Federal Bank a couple of days back. I have worked in Vasai and Munnar branches during my tenure. I then went on to explain my roles.
F: So what made you get into banking after engineering?
Me: Spoke about how I was influenced by my father who himself is a banker. Also told how I was interested in the financial domain, and how a job in a bank in entry level would open up options.
F: So why MBA now?
Me: Told how certain verticals and niche departments required additional qualifications such as an MBA and relevant certifications, and now is the right time to do it.
F: Do you play sports?
Me: I said I used to play football while in school and college level, but havenโt played in that level since I started working.
M: Do you read books?
Me: Told I used to read, but now not so much. [I felt the last the questions couldโve been answered with more interest from my side, as they were looking for more things to ask questions on.]
F: what are the biggest challenges you faced in workplace?ย
Me: told about how customers have undue demands from time to time and how it is tough to satisfy them all in a stringent working condition.
F: So how would you do things better as an MBA graduate and a manager in the same environment?
Me: answered as to how Iโd have more authority and responsibility and experience to tackle these situations better, and how the words coming from a bank branch manager are more appeasing towards customers than from a clerk.
F: Okay, thank you.
Me: [taken aback at the abrupt ending to the interview] Ok, shall I leave?
F: Sure. All the best.
M: thank you, please tell the next candidate to wait.ย
Me: Ok, thank you sir.
Overall, an 8-10 minute interview, which I felt was a below average PI performance, as I fumbled a bit and seemed disinterested to initiate the conversation sometimes. But maybe that was because I was startled at the random beginning to the interview in the first place. No hopes for a convert for me.ย