Sep CMAT score - 243 (rank - 936)
10th - 82.67
12th - 86.67
Grads - 67.6 (BE E&TC;, University of Pune)
Work-Ex - 14 months in IT company ( Resigned in Oct '12)
Batch of Interview - 26/02/2013 1.30 pm, BKC, Trade Center, Mumbai
I live in Pune so left Pune at 8.30 am and reached Bandra, Mumbai at 12.30 pm. Travelled to the Trade Center by city bus. One of the posh centers in the city I would say. Ambience of the place was good which I think is a important helping factor in tense situations like GD/PI
Panelists :
P1 - aged professor
P2 - young professor
Around 10-12 people where waiting in the conference room. At around 1.45 pm, two professors, P1 & P2, entered the room and introduced themselves (I don't remember their names now
). At around 2 pm we were taken to another conference room where proper arrangements were made for the GD session.
Once we entered the battlefield
(GD conference room), P1 called out the names of people serially and we had to sit in the same serial fashion. There were total 11 people (10 men and 1 woman). I was number 5. A Notepad and pencil were kept on the desk.
GD Topic - Your realistic vision/view of Indian industry in 2025
Experience - We got one minute to think. Every one had to give their view (introduction) on the topic in the same serial fashion. There was no time limit so few people kept on talking until P1 cut them. I presented my view in about 1 min and talked about history of Indian economy, economic reforms, lack of labour skills and compared with China.
After every one gave their view on the topic, P1 gave a green signal to start the GD. It turned into fish market in 2 min. But 2-3 people dominated the GD for most of the time. Some people were talking about benefits of NREGA, etc which I thought were totally irrelevant to the topic. I didn't speak a word in these 10 mins and was only noting down the points in my Notepad.
At the very end every one had to give a conclusion. Here I talked about everything which I had noted down.
After the GD we were provided with page to write an essay on the same GD topic. 5 min were given but I think 5 min to write an essay of 250-300 words was less. I could not complete the essay properly. The GD+essay session ended at around 2.25 pm.
We again went to the waiting room. We had to go for the PI according to our serial number. My turn came around at 3.15 pm.
PI Experience -
P1 - Are you tired?
Me - No sir.
P2 - Kiran you didn't speak much in GD?
Me -
Yes sir, actually its one of my weaknesses and I need to work on it. I totally understand the importance of it. I can place valid opinions but I am a soft-speaker.
P1 - (with a devil smile)Soft-Speaker?
Me - Yes sir means I cannot be aggressive on someone.
P2 - No worry, I give you another chance. Place your views/vision of Indian industry in 2025.
Me - (I thought to elongate my answer a bit so started with population and literacy)
P2 - Come to the point. Give me your views.
Me - (I told him on whatever i had said in the introduction about infrastructure and manufacturing sector)
P2 - In GD you said about aviation. Do you need them?
Me - Sir today, India imports a lot of aircraft equipments from European union. I think we should not be more dependent on others. (I also told him about the losses our airlines have)
(Then P2 started giving me gyaan about Airbus and Boeing. I kept on saying - yes right
. He kept on telling about these things for around 2 minutes. But seriously he had a very good knowledge)
P2 - In GD, you also talked about the power industry.
Me - Yes sir that's also one of the sectors where we need to improve.
P2 - (shocked) What? you mean to say there are no indian power industries?
Me - Sir means there are industries like reliance and all but still they are also dependent on other countries for technology and all. We need some good reforms.
P2 - What reforms will you make?
Me - (I told him that a lot depends on technology. And also talked about the Arvind Kejriwal expose on Delhi CM, corruption,etc. I told him about need for technology wherein we have to invest less but the MW generation should be high. I talked about Thermal and Nuclear powers)
P2 - So which is good according to you?
Me - Sorry sir I have no idea about it. My point was we need to be more independent in our Industry requirements.
P2 - (devil smile) Is it possible for any country not to depend on other countries?
Me - I will not say that a country can be completely independent but looking at the labour force which India has, we only need to give them a good platform and provide specific skills which can help us to prosper in every sector.
(P2 smiles and points to P1 for further questions)
(I thought grilling on power and aviation was over but "picture abhi baaki tha"
)
P1 - Do you know which state in India produces more electricity than it is required for them?
Me - Sir must be Gujarat because i heard Mr Modi in one of his speeches talking about this.
(Both P1 and P2 look at each other and share a Devils smile. I felt as if I was trolled
)
Me - Sir I know few projects in Maharashtra like kyona and all but not aware of any other states.
P1 - Have you heard about Chhatisgarh?
Me - Ohh its chattisgarh
(P2 chips in and gives gyaan about thermal projects in Chhatisgarh)
Me - acha, yes its one of the fastest developing states.
P1 - What is Technology management according to you?
Me - (I gave example about Apple and Steve Jobs and explained. Told them this is how I will relate my understanding about Technology management)
P1 - (smiles) Good
P1 - So why do you want to do MBA?
Me - (told about the business planning with my friend in electronics sector as I have done my BE in E&TC;)
P1 - Tell me something about your extra curricular activities.
Me - (Told about the Sports and scholarships in school and National level robotic events in college)
P2 - (Smiling)Are you hardworking?
Me - Yes Sir I am
P2 - (again smiling) I don't think so
Me - (Smiling) Sir, but why?
P2 - Are you disciplined?
Me - Yes sir I am disciplined
(P1 cuts in)
P1 - Will you remain disciplined after coming to Goa?
Me - sir, Obviously
P1 - Obviously?? Do you know what is Goa known for?
Me - Sir, it's a tourism place know for its beaches. I have my ancestral links to Goa. I visit often.
(Then I told them more about my family history and how i ended up in Pune)
P1- (Smiling)So we are done with you. Thank you
P2 - (Smiling)Thank you
Me - Yes sir thank you very much
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This was my fourth Interview this season. Panelists where chill, infact P2 was smiling the whole time
. They grilled me a lot on Power and Aviation part
, but now its all "Bhagwan ke Bharose"
Suggestions : They just look at your thought process. Be at your best and don't try too hard to think if you don't know the answer or fact. You can tell them that you don't know.
All the Best!!!
) ..dress your best..it makes a good impression!!