My interview experience with IIM C for Strategic Management
Day 1
All shortlisted candidates were seated in a hall where candidates were first called for certificate verification and then sent to respective department panels. SM shortlisted around 20 candidates from different backgrounds. Some had prior MBA, some had over 20 years of professional experience, some worked as professors in colleges etc. Mix of various backgrounds.
1st round was by SM department faculty (2 faculty members) who asked questions such as why i wanted to take up research, why i am giving up a high paying job when stipend is less and similar HR q s mostly on my motivation, background and SOP... they also asked me technical questions such as to name few SM journals, definitions of few basic terms such as innovation, strategy, types of innovation etc. Interview lasted for around 20-30 minutes. The panel was friendly and the interview was more like a discussion rather than a QA round.
From around 20 shortlisted candidates they shortlisted 7-9 candidates for Round 2. Only SM had this extra round which was new and surprised the seniors as well. This round had a huge panel comprising of all the faculty members. Questions were a mix of technical and HR. Questions asked included aptitude for teaching, my teaching philosophy, couple of teaching situations and how I would react, have you read any research papers (I mentioned on a paper written by IIMC faculty and was asked to explain it. The panel was happy with my explanation and nodded), questions on work experience, etc. Interview lasted around 30 minutes. One panel member took the lead to ask questions while others chipped in between.
From 9, the department recommended 5 people for the written round which was not elimination based. The results was announced at around 6 30 pm and written test started at 7pm sharp. We were given 5 minutes to chose between Maths (12th level) and English papers and one hour to solve them.
Day 2
All candidates assembled in the same hall. This time around the crowd had significantly thinned out compared to the first day.
Final round of interview: This interview had members from other departments as well. Though the seniors had told me this round would be mostly HR based and non-technical, it turned out to be very technical for me. Initial question revolved around my work experience and how I had used various frameworks and parameters. I was then asked to solve a problem relating to Porter’s 5 force analysis on the telecom industry and to explain it in detail on a white board. I was then asked to explain potential research question one could derive from my analysis. The interview ended very abruptly and I was asked to leave. I was bit disappointed since I got to know from other candidates that they were asked more HR and even personal questions such as ones on family.
My panel was the last to conclude and I was the 2nd last person to appear for interview on the final day. It got over by 4pm. The seniors informed us that there was a possibility for another round and to be ready if called. Then by 5pm it was announced that the professors have decided not to have another round of interviews and results would be announced soon. Those who had earlier flights to catch were allowed to leave. Then by around 5 30pm, the FPM Chairperson came to the hall to announce the results. He initially talked for around 10 minutes on IIM C, the FPM programme, increase in stipend coming year etc.. The 10 minutes felt like an eternity and finally he started announcing the names. Since departments were categorised alphabetically, I had to wait agonisingly till the end before SM group final candidate names was announced.
Verdict: Converted
Whole experience felt like a 2 day reality show with multiple elimination rounds one after the other. I can’t help but feel bad for candidates who made it to the final round and didn’t make the list.
Main takeaway: Abrupt interview endings does not mean you are rejected & to be mentally prepared for a wide range of scenarios.