How does one plan for a year at campus ? Meaning what to take what not to take. Suggestions are most welcome
Anyone here who has taken CAT also?
It's time for me to give my two cent's back to the community. I just finished with my interview today.
I was taken to the room by senior alum Ashish from 2005 batch. As soon as i entered the room i was greeted by adcom member. We exchanged greetings and i was asked to take my seat.
1) Intial question was that i have over 7 years experience with the company. Can i comment more on that.
The way question was framed i stumbled for first line and then picked on from there and completed the answer. midway through the answer halted by adcom. He asked sorry for the interruption.
2) Then i was asked why product management.
3) What kind of companies for product management.
4) Why cannot you become a product manager now.
They didnt look very convinced initially . Though i kept blabbering on my convictions and found a blank face.
5) what are your three biggest strengths which help you at work
6) what is your biggest failure at work.
I intially said on a feedback at work and then i was asked to listen to the question properly. I blabbered on one of my failure at work.. they didn't look much convinced.. or rather i found a blank face.
7) You have mentioned you want to be entreprenuer. can you mention why.
five minutes speech on my idea.
adcom - you have done a good homework, have you talked to investors. no because of certain reasons.
adcom - fair enough
adcom -any questions for us?
1) question open ended - got good answer.
2) question - adcom i am not aware of it . write mail to the club.
I was left with a feeling "why didn't i get a better question to ask"
Me - that's it. Thank you and greetings exchanged.
Take away - The whole interview lasted for only fifteen minutes. I found blank faces most of the time. Have no idea on my chances.
Thank you Krishna for all the support for my interview preparation.
Anyone has fair idea (just curious to know) conversion rate from interview call to final admit.
Aanyone who gave their interview with panel 2 in Hyderabad today ??
Debrief of my interview:
Was called in i guess 5 mins before my schedule:
The interview began with a question on my past entrepreneurship experience,the learnings, why I quit,how is the company doing after my exit and why dont i become an entrepreneur now..........
They grilled me a lot on social work i had done.
Before I could answer the Why MBA and Why ISB question(which were asked at the same time) one of the panelist said we dont think you are fit for ISB as you seem to do a lot of interesting things in the public sector and should rather join a public policy course or political science course rather waste time here in ISB....I tried reasoning out with them but that led to another question thread and in the melee the Why MBA and Why ISB question got lost and finally the interview ended.
Feeling disappointed 😞 that i couldnt answer those critical questions and scared that they might consider me as somebody who is confused and lacks goal clarity which is not the case.
Hi puys, It was nice meeting u all here and I learnt a lot from healthy discussions over here. I would like to congratulate all those who got an interview invite and wish you all the best for admits. Also those who haven't received the call, I understand the efforts and sacrifices you made to reach till this point. Its very easy to say not to get dejected but I understand the pain you feel for getting a reject. I 'm also in the same boat as you guys. 365 days of struggle , months of sleepless nights, stayed away from parents and friends, worked on my passion. Many pulled me down saying ur not the isb material, but the fool in me made me chase the dream rather than listening to them. In this process even I broke my leg too. May be today they are correct but the fool in me won't turn my spirit down . I ll work with double or triple force, change my strategy and reach my goal. I'm not sure if I will apply to ISB next year, already I applied two times and never reached till interview call but one day I wish to take a guest lecture @ ISB and the day is not very far off. With every reject, I am getting stronger and I am proud of my failures, they are shaping me in a perfect way to achieve my goal. So guys don't get disheartened, one day we will reckon back with more strength. A strength which no force on earth can stop us from achieving what we want. GO SPARTANS!!! Signing off to from here and to catch my next phase. Yours friend, Kamesh
Hi! Did any one had interview in Bangalore today with Panel no. 8?
Any inputs will really be helpful and highly appreciated!
Tip for the people who are yet to give interview : panels are not random and panelists are someway related to domain you have worked. So do not state the false data in interview. I had healthcare as my goal and I had doctor in my panel. Though m from engineering background I was asked few disease specific questions which fortunately I know. So be very very thorough with profile and do not fake. I will write my detailed brief tomo...
Anybody done with their interview in Mohali ?
Interview is still eight days away. I was feeling bored today so penned down a piece on JNU controversy. I do not subscribe to any political ideology. : 207 Ft. High Nationalism:
Over the past days, the Nation has been entangled in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) controversy. A group of students expressed solidarity for a slain individual accorded death penalty by Indian judicial system. A few frenzied slogans provoked our Home Minister and his colleagues. Sedition charges were invoked against JNU student's union president by an ambitious police commissioner retiring in a fortnight's time. Television channels branded the agitated students as anti-nationals and passionately compared them to leaders of prominent terrorist organisations. Jadavpur University - another University usually in news for demonstrations - witnessed similar protests by another enraged group of students.
Aggrieved by the scenes of divisiveness & discontent amongst students at the most renowned temples of education, Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister in-charge of Human Resources Development Ministry, made it mandatory for all Central Universities to hoist Indian Flag on a 207 ft. High Flagpole. The resolution in effect was unanimously passed at the conference of Central University Vice-Chancellors. It can safely be assumed that our policy makers believe that universities and students would benefit from the constant unleashing of national fervour. Anyone who has seen the iconic Indian Flag unfurl on a 207 ft. High Flagpole installed at Rajiv Chowk, Connaught Place in New Delhi by Flag Foundation of India would too vouch for that. The overwhelming sight of gigantic Tiranga (90ft. by 60ft.) on top of monumental flagpole eclipsing the sky above is a spectacle.
Our "Tiranga" exemplifies the struggle and sacrifice of countless Indians for our Motherland's Independence. It is an expression of our journey from a thousand of years old civilisation to a unified republic State, embodies our modem democratic, secular and liberal values, and is an inspiration in our endeavour to continue building a strong and progressive India. We are a young Nation and an enormously emotional one! Our feelings are offended when an author expresses divergent perspectives on religion, mythology or history. We are furious if our caste is not extended the privileges of reservation. While our minds may have become accustomed to the sight of omnipresent chronic poverty, malnutrition, and other sufferings around us, our heart still rhythms to tune of patriotism - even if it is a momentary involuntary eruption at the sight of a national symbol. Our Minister, like most seasoned representatives with acute political acumen, recognises this anomaly.
Ordinarily, executive decisions such as mandatory installation of monumental flagpoles and hoisting of national flags do not flash in the breaking news ticker of media channels or occupy space on front pages of print media. But the circumstances remain extra ordinaire on campuses and streets across India, inside television newsrooms and court premises, and particularly within households of common citizens where the instinctive compulsion to take a position based on media trials and unverified evidence far dwarfs the basic principle guiding human jurisprudence - presumption of innocence unless proven otherwise.
The Indian Flag Code governs the usage of Tiranga. It lays down conditions and norms for display of Indian Flag by government, its organisations and agencies, members of public, private organisations, and educational institutions. Our fundamental right to hoist the Flag is a product of decade long legal battle against successive governments, powered by a private citizen with assistance from the finest minds of legal fraternity. The privilege has been turned into an obligation by executive.
History, however, conveys to us that it has always been an obligation. The soldiers feel duty bound to safeguard our motherland and hoist Tiranga even under extreme weather conditions on the difficult terrains of Indian Territory. Sport persons always proudly display our tricolour when they make India proud. And perhaps, most evidently, a martyr has the unfailing sense to wear the National Flag after he has ensured security of fellow Indians. This obligation does not flow from the executive orders, but from the incessant love for India. Nationalism, and compassion for fellow Indians, can certainly not be imparted through executive orders. If ink alone has the power to evoke such emotions, then the Law Minister should order installing the tallest flag pole at Patiala House Court premises, and the Urban Development Minister may order hoisting of flags at houses of elected representatives who conduct like goons on the streets and scuffle free speech.
Symbolism has creeped into our public life. Our universities and educational institutions need dialogue rather than more processions, protests and parachuting of political leaders for one time garlanding & speeches. Conceivably, JNU is the perfect place to start the discourse. It is the one of very few educational institutions in our country where students and teachers genuinely subscribe to ideologies and are ready to debate. A few instances of boycotting and obstructionism should not be reason to stay away. After all, even our Parliament has such a history. There are dissenting voices, and passionate students. But the Indian State is not fragile as some political leaders and news anchors have made it out to be that it will crumble by anti-national slogans of fringe elements.
For the 207 Ft. High Nationalism, JNU already has a flagpole at a centrally located place that proudly hoists our beloved Tiranga.
Anyone in panel 4 bangalore tomorrow?
All the best to all the puys and pirls who have their interviews today!!
Interview Debrief:
20th
Scheduled slot: 11.30AM, Panel 1
Profile:
5.5 years of experience Semiconductors Chip Designing
8 years of volunteering work by founding a group conducting healthcare awareness and screening camps.
Career Goal: short term - Joining a healthcare company to learn the trade and longterm- healthcare startup focusing on rural healthcare
It was my first time in any MBA interview, was a bit nervous and confused about how things gonna go.
I reached by 9.45, finished the one-word essay on "Dreams" and kept waiting. I was called in by ~ 10.50 ( 40 mins before scheduled time).
3 Panelists:
P1 - Dr. Niyaz ( He is an alum and a startup founder -DIKY)
P2- Mr. Venki Senior Person either adcom or prof
P3- young alum
K- me
P2- what was the discussion going on when you were called?
K- we were talking about how the interview went for a person who just came out
P2- No 2 interviews will be same and they all laughed.
P2- Can you tell me about the aoutomation you have done.
K- I explained
P3- That means such a big company of yourrs had not done the checks automated? and is it being used now?
K- Explained what was automated already what was requirement and told how it is being used now
P2- Why are you doing the volunteering work that you are doing?
K-explained
So more cross questions on that.
P1- what kind of healthcare screenings you are doing?
Answered.
There was a trick here. He told me about a test and asked if we have done that. I told "NO", since that screening can not be done at all.
All of them read my one word essay. { which I m ebarrased of 😞 }
P2- What are your dreams?
P1 and P3- some cross questions again on that.
Answered
P1- Are you a bit emotional based or rationale.
K- answered
P3- Show me how exactly you want to workout your plan and offered a pen and paper.
K- Explained
P3- Why cant you use social media to call people for volunteering?
K- explained but I felt i dint do good in this part.
P2- How MBA and ISB can help you?
Explained No cross questions on that
P2- I will give an offer to work on IOT and help people. Is that okay?
K- Denied and told why I would stick to my plan
P1- Why did you do career shift in technology when u wanted to do start your healthcare company?
K- Explained. he dint seem like convinced
P3- why are you answering so fast, not giving enough time to think
K- blank
They told they are done with interview. Asked me if I have some question. I asked one and explained I am intesrested in that, and it is my plan -B ( I think I did a grave mistake by telling that).
Anyways they explained well.
P1 told me, I am in bangalore and I have great exposure to start ups .( I felt its a negative comment as he was pointing to "why I need MBA", I can do things otherwise).
And Wrap.
It was around 35 to 40 mins of
My opinion: I have screwed up as I explained a lot and told so many unneccesary things. Not very straight to point and I was into this mode of passion and was high on tone. I felt I bored them.
But I was genuine with each and every point told, dint fake even a single thing. I was not diplomatic and was myself.
P1 and P3 were not at all looked happy by me and were cross questioning a lot. P2 was smiling and agreeing to few things with a broad smile. So I could not really extract anything from my interview. And I do not even keep hopes now.
All the best to everyone. Hope it helps at least a person..:D
Done with interview today. Questions were all centered on work experience Your work contribution Your role Your view in market(market related to your work) What u are looking for in ISB Some1 (alum or faculty) shall be there from your background and can ask grilling questions.Be prepared All the best guys.
Hi Puys..
I'd chosen Mumbai as my preferred location for Interview. I believe the Mumbai interviews are scheduled on 27-28 Feb. I have not yet received an invite mail. Can I still expect to receive an invite or my chances are over??
Interview debrief :
Bangalore, 20th, 11 30 AM, panel 7.
Profile: 4+ years in Analytics (with retail, investment banking and pharma domain knowledge); certified dancer.
3 people in the panel, all with Analytics exposure (From FlipKart, Xiomi & Amazon)
Q1: Why MBA?
Answered. Bit of cross questioning there.
Q2: Which industries are the major consumers of Analytics?
Answered. Retail, banking, airlines (they were a bit skeptical on the airlines part)
Q4: What all tools do you know?
Answered.
Q4.a.: What is the difference between Hadoop and Teradata?
Answered.
Q5: What is the key difference between a service based analytics company and a product based one? What ll you look out for if you start up a Analytics services company versus product company?
Answered. No cross questions there.
Q6: Do you think there is a gap between the business problems and the availability of analytical tools in the market? Tell us if you have one product in mind which can change the face of Analytics.
Answered. I bluntly said there are more tools available that are required. Gave big data gyaan, how we have powerful tools but limited use cases at this point of time. I think I messed up here. They were looking for a product I guess.
Q7: Case study: There's a 10-storey (office) building have 100 people on each floor. Calculate the number of lifts it ll need.
Wrote down all the factors but while calculating got nervous. Panel made me comfortable and switched to asking stuff like "how can you optimize the number of lifts in a building?". They looked satisfied. But I ve done better here.
Q8: This was based on my first essay. Asked me what all dance forms I know, if I am an instructor, how long I have involved in this and all that.
Answered.
Q9: How will you tackle a situation in which one of your group mates in ISB shirks all presentation work and leaves you in an embarrassed state in front of your final jury. (This was asked because I had mentioned something in these lines in my essays).
Answered. Bit of cross questioning. But the last word I heard after that was "Perfect" (can be sarcastic too :D).
I asked a bit about their current profiles. And they wished me good luck and broke for tea.
Hope this helps. All the best guys! 😃
So here it is . . Interview location - Bangalore Time - 10.45 Panel No - 4 EEO Applicant.(work ex - 6 months) First and foremost, got some info on panel distribution - there will be one dedicated panel for EEO applicants(less than 2 years experience). Similarly there was a panel dedicated for candidates with 6-7 years of work ex and another one for more than 8 years of work ex. EEO applicants would be primarily grilled on their confidence, why MBA and basically such stuff whereas 7+ year work ex candidates would be grilled on their leadership skills and their contributions to the organization they work for - All this info from the admissions guy who was handling the whole process! As for the interview, it went kinda OK! The panel consisted of 3 members - 2 alums and an adcom member. Lasted well for an hour! Was terribly sick and at the end couldn't wait to simply leave . . We talked about my solo bike riding experiences, my learnings, my organization and the JNU case! At every stage, one of the Alums was ruthlessly trying to tear every answer of mine - to the extent that he was using wrong info just so that he could just contradict me. Luckily the ad com member kept coming to my rescue and agreeing with what I was saying(especially when we talked about JNU and Times Now) . . We talked about my future plans and why ISB. Tried to be honest and it kinda backfired . . The grilling continued from that one guy with enough coming from the other two . . At the end, when they asked me if I had any questions, I simply said a polite "no, thank you!" and left . . Was that fed up! That's that! I'd be honestly surprised if I convert . .
Interview- Bangalore. Feb 21, 10:45, p-6, 2 alums- 2k5 and 2k8, 20-25 mins
Interview started from resume walk through. Help us understand your current role- exactly 'your role', no BS. Followed by many cross questions on whatever I tried to convey. They remained patient with me to finish the answers but gave good enough hint they I might be stretching. Shift of jobs and industries was big picture for me to clear out to them. Nailed it! Stayed around 'risky decision' essay answer: why you wrote what you wrote and what else can you say was risky. What is all about 'expectations' you are talking about. It looked like it was turning grey for me but turned out quite comfy at the end as we shook hands and I left.
Does anyone know how many seats ISB reserves for EEO candidates in a given year?