Inter Prep

This article is meant to guide you with the pre-requisites of any interview preparation. What all you should know about and certain facts you are expected to be aware of !! The Interview: is an opportunity for both the employer and the applicant to gather information. The employer wants to know if you, the applicant, have the skills, knowledge, selfconfidence, and motivation necessary for the job. At this point you can be confident that the employer saw something of interest in your resume. He or she also wants to determine whether or not you will fit in with the organization’s current employees and philosophy. Similarly, you will want to evaluate the position and the organization, and determine if they will fit into your career plans. The interview is a two-way exchange of information. It is an opportunity for both parties to market themselves. The employer is selling the organization to you, and you are marketing your skills, knowledge, and personality to the employer. Interview

Interview Preparation: Research is a critical part of preparing for an interview. If you haven’t done your homework, it is going to be obvious. Spend time researching and thinking about yourself, the occupation, the organization, and questions you might ask at the end of the interview. Step 1: Know YourselfThe first step in preparing for an interview is to do a thorough self-assessment so that you will know what you have to offer an employer. It is very important to develop a complete inventory of skills, experience, and personal attributes that you can use to market yourself to employers at any time during the interview process. In developing this inventory, it is easiest to start with experience. Once you have a detailed list of activities that you have done (past jobs, extra-curricular involvements, volunteer work, school projects, etc.), it is fairly easy to identify your skills. Simply go through the list, and for each item ask yourself “What could I have learned by doing this?” “What skills did I develop?” “What issues/circumstances have I learned to deal with?” Keep in mind that skills fall into two categories - technical and generic. Technical skills are the skills required to do a specific job. For a laboratory assistant, technical skills might include knowledge of sterilization procedures, slide preparation, and scientific report writing. For an outreach worker, technical skills might include counselling skills, case management skills, or program design and evaluation skills Generic skills are those which are transferable to many work settings. Following is a list of the ten most marketable skills. You will notice that they are all generic. * Analytical/Problem Solving * Flexibility/Versatility * Interpersonal * Oral/Written Communication * Organization/Planning * Time Management

* Motivation * Leadership * Self-Starter/Initiative * Team Player Often when people think of skills, they tend to think of those they have developed in the workplace. However, skills are developed in a variety of settings. If you have ever researched and written a paper for a course, you probably have written communication skills. Team sports or group projects are a good way to develop the skills required of a team player and leader. Don’t overlook any abilities you may have When doing the research on yourself, identifying your experience and skills is important, but it is not all that you need to know. Consider the answers to other questions such as: * How have I demonstrated the skills required in this position? * What are my strong points and weak points? * What are my short term and long term goals? * What can I offer this particular employer? * What kind of environment do I like? (i.e. How do I like to be supervised? Do I like a fast pace?) * What do I like doing? * Apart from my skills and experience, what can I bring to this job? Step 2: Know the OccupationThe second step in preparing for an interview is to research the occupation. This is necessary because in order to present a convincing argument that you have the experience and skills required for that occupation, you must first know what those requirements and duties are. With this information uncovered, you can then match the skills you have (using the complete skills/experience inventory you have just prepared) with the skills you know people in that occupational field need. The resulting “shortlist” will be the one that you need to emphasize during the interview. It is also in your best interest to identify the approximate starting salary for that position, or those similar. There are several ways to find out about an occupation: * Acquire a copy of the job description from the employer (Human * Resources/Personnel) or check with Student Employment Services. If you are responding to an advertisement, this may also supply some details. Step 3: Know the OrganizationThe more you know about an organization, the better prepared you will be to discuss how you can meet its needs. Some of the characteristics that you should know about an organization are: * Where is it located? * How big is it?

* What are its products and who does it serve? * How is the organization structured? * What is its history? * Have there been any recent changes, new developments? There are a number of ways in which you can access this information. Most medium- to large-sized organizations publish information about themselves. You can access this a number of ways: * On campus at the Student Employment Services (company literature and business directories) or at the Drake Centre Library * The Winnipeg Centennial Library has a business microfiche with information on over 5000 Canadian companies and business directories * Many companies have internet home pages which you can locate by searching by industry and company name * Finally, you can visit or phone the organization and request some information on their products, services or areas of research If the organization is fairly small, or fairly new, there may not be much information published. In this case, it will be necessary to do an information interview. Contact someone within the organization, introduce yourself, explain that you are considering moving into the field, and ask if it would be possible to meet with him/her to inquire about the company/organization and about what exactly the position would involve. Step 4: Prepare QuestionsHaving completed your background research, you are now ready to prepare questions to ask the interviewer(s). Try to think of questions for which the answer was not readily available in company literature. Intelligent well thought-out questions will demonstrate your genuine interest in the position. Be careful how many questions you ask, however, as too many can imply you feel the interview was not successfully run. Pick your questions with care - this is your chance to gather information, so ask about what you really want to know. Avoid sounding critical by mentioning negative information you may have discovered. This is one of the most effective ways to compare different employers, so for issues of particular importance to you (for example, whether they support staff upgrading), you should ask the same questions of each employer. Some sample questions are: * What are the most significant factors affecting your business today? How have changes in technology most affected your business today? * How has your business/industry been affected by the recession? * How has your company grown or changed in the last couple of years? * What future direction do you see the company taking? * Where is the greatest demand for your services or product? * Where is most of the pressure from increased business felt in this company? * Which department feels it the most? * How do you differ from your competitors? * How much responsibility will I be given in this position?

* What do you like about working with this organization? * Can you tell me more about the training program? * Have any new product lines been introduced recently? * How much travel is normally expected? * What criteria will be used to evaluate my performance? * Will I work independently or as part of a team? * How did you advance to your position? * What are the career paths available in this organization? * When can I expect to hear from you regarding this position? It is very important to ask the last question because employers want to hire individuals who are interested in the position - and asking this question definitely helps to demonstrate interest on your part. Exercise judgement when asking questions to an employer. When being interviewed by a large company that has a high profile, one would not ask the question “What is the history of your company and how was your company started?” You can find the answer to this question in the company’s annual report or articles in magazines/newspapers. However, small- and medium-sized companies do not always produce publicly available annual reports and it may be difficult to access information on the company and its role in the industry. This question is appropriate if you have exercised all other ways to find out the answer. First impressions can make or break an interview. Your clothes, hairstyle, gestures, and anything else an interviewer sees before you open your mouth make your first impression. Some estimates are that the first 30 seconds determine success or failure. Recruiters do not expect you to have a large career wardrobe. Buy a suit that looks good, fits well, is made well, and that will not bore you if you wear it every day for a week during recruiting season. However, there is more to “suiting up” for an interview than just wearing a suit. Your Hair: A hairstyle that looks great with “college casual” may not work with a suit. Trim those ragged edges! Tame those tresses! Get that hair out of your eyes and off your collar! Women: if you need a big barrette for a pulled-back style, chose a simple one. Men: melt down those spikes! Your Shoes: Shine them! Men: if you are buying a new pair, wing tips with laces are more professional than slipons or loafers. Women: If you are not accustomed to walking in heels, scuff the soles with an emery board so that you do not slip. Then, wear your sneakers to class and change right before the interview Your Fragrance: Wearing any type of fragrance to an interview is not recommended. However, if you insist on being aromatic, do not wallow in it! Too many people are both

allergic to or turned off by one scent or another, and your interviewer is sure to be one of those people. Your Accessories: Nothing that jangles, clangs, dazzles, shimmers, or attracts more attention than you do. Your Glasses: Eye contact is important during an interview, so make sure your glasses are clean. Your Pen: Buy a fresh new pen for the interview. A nice pen will make a better impression than your chewed up BIC. Should a man wear an earring? Perhaps. But if you do, understand that most recruiters will think that an earring does not fit the company’s image. You will have to be a very dynamic candidate to get past the “earring thing”. It is probably best to interview without it. Should a woman wear her engagement ring? Sure. Questions about a candidate’s marital status are almost certainly illegal. If the subject comes up, you can get the interview back on course by asking if marital status is one of the qualifications for the job. However if you do not want your wedding ring to be an issue at all, leave it at home. There is no better way of beginning the interview process than with a warm greeting to the panelists. A cheery greeting coupled with a sunny disposition is a very effective icebreaker. Face the panel, but don’t fall of the chair in a headlong rush-and-skid attempt to tell your story. Take one step at a time. If you place your foot on slippery ground, you could be ejecting out on a free fall. So prepare, fortify your thoughts, re-jig your memory, and script and design your story (without frills and falsity). Without the right preparation and storyboard, you could be a loser at the interview. Here are a few preparation tips that books on interviews sometimes overlook. Before the interview: 1. Chronological Outline of Career and Education Divide your life into “segments” defining your university, first job, second job. For each stage, jot down : The reason for opting certain course or profession; Your job, responsibilities in your revious/current job; Reason of leaving your earlier/current job. You should be clear in your mind where you want to be in the short and long term and ask yourself the reason why you would be appropriate for the job you are being interviewed for and how it will give shape to your future course. 2. Strengths and Weaknesses You should keep a regular check on your strengths and weaknesses. Write down three (3) technical and three (3) non-technical personal strengths. Most importantly, show

examples of your skills. This proves more effective than simply talking about them. So if you’re asked about a general skill, provide a specific example to help you fulfill the interviewer’s expectations. It isn’t enough to say you’ve got “excellent leadership skills”. Instead, try saying: “I think I have excellent leaderships skills which I have acquired through a combination of effective communication, delegation and personal interaction. This has helped my team achieve its goals.” As compared to strengths, the area of weaknesses is difficult to handle. Put across your weakness in such a way that it at least seems to be a positive virtue to the interviewer. Describe a weakness or area for development that you have worked on and have now overcome. 3. Questions you should be prepared for Tell us about yourself. What do you know about our company? Why do you want to join our company? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in the next five years? How have you improved the nature of your job in the past years of your working? Why should we hire you? What contributions to profits have you made in your present or former company? Why are you looking for a change? Answers to some difficult questions : Tell me about yourself ? Start from your education and give a brief coverage of previous experiences. Emphasise more on your recent experience explaining your job profile. What do you think of your boss? Put across a positive image, but don’t exaggerate. Why should we hire you? Or why are you interested in this job? Sum up your work experiences with your abilities and emphasise your strongest qualities and achievements. Let your interviewer know that you will prove to be an asset to the company. How much money do you want? Indicate your present salary and emphasise that the opportunity is the most important consideration. Do you prefer to work in a group? Be honest and give examples how you’ve worked by yourself and also with others. Prove your flexibility. 4. Questions to Ask

At the end of the interview, most interviewers generally ask if you have any questions. Therefore, you should be prepared beforehand with 2-3 technical and 2-3 non-technical questions and commit them to your memory before the interview. Do not ask queries related to your salary, vacation, bonuses, or other benefits. This information should be discussed at the time of getting your joining letter. Here we are giving few sample questions that you can ask at the time of your interview. Sample Questions Could you tell me the growth plans and goals for the company? What skills are important to be successful in this position? What’s the criteria your company uses for performance appraisal? With whom will I be interacting most frequently and what are their responsibilities and the nature of our interaction? What is the time frame for making a decision at this position? What made the previous persons in this position successful/unsuccessful? 5. Do your homework Before going for an interview, find out as much information on the company as possible. The best sources are the public library, the Internet (you can check out the company’s site), and can even call the company and get the required information. The information gives you a one-up in the interview besides proving your content company or position. Clearing the interview isn’t necessarily a solitary attempt. Seek assistance from individuals who are in the profession and whose counsel you value most. Be confident in your approach and attitude; let the panel feel it through your demeanour, body language and dressing. Getting prepared for your interview is the best way to dig deep and know yourself. You will be surprised that it would breed a new familiarity become more familiar with your own qualifications that will be make you present yourself better. All the best and get ready to give a treat. The best candidate never gets the job! Interview is your one of the most important step in securing admission to your dream bschool. Failure at this point means all that went before it counts for nothing. Also, it’s your future in the balance. When it’s your future in the balance, you need to deliver a superb interview performance. We all spend time and effort getting: The right training, the right qualifications, the right experience, the right contacts, the right interview opportunity, etc. But no matter how impressive your credentials are or how brilliant your experience is, it’s your interview ability that makes or breaks your admission dreams. It’s not the best candidate who succeeds … the best interviewee does!

You may already know (or suspect) that there is much more to interviews than tough questions and clever answers. Yet how much time and effort will you spend on actually preparing and training for interviews? Sadly, very little I suspect - even though knowing how to cope with and be successful at interviews is such a vital, yet simple skill. Therein lays an opportunity for you, because your competitors won’t be as well equipped for interviews as you. So it is also quite possible that you can beat other people who are better qualified and more experienced than you, all because you came across better in an interview situation. How do you become the best interviewee? Interviewing is a skill that you need all through your life. You will change jobs surprisingly often - sometimes even when you don’t want to. This will mean more interviews, even as your marketability improves. Interviews can be frustrating and scary because you know that even a small mistake can cost you the admission to your dream b-school. In the past you could have felt scared, nervous and even exhausted by an interview. You probably had butterflies in your stomach, sweaty palms, and a pounding heart. You may even confess to being frightened deep-down by the prospect of an interview. Your Interview Solution to any interview in any industry remains the same across industries, so don’t get hung up about your industry specifics because those questions will only be a very small part of what you will be judged on. If you weren’t qualified for your industry, you would not have been called for the interview. So the interviewers are looking for some other information about you. Human nature

The entire interview process is unraveled as follows: * Understand the concerns behind every interview question so that you answer appropriately * Be able to research any employer thoroughly today without too much effort * Know how a typical interview proceeds from start to finish - and your part in it * Learn how to prepare mentally and practically for any interview * Know how to behave, speak, dress and sit during an interview - all with style * Understand how to listen to and answer questions intelligently * How to avoid common and easy-to-make mistakes that ruin your chances * Be able to provide relevant and brilliant answers to the 135 most common questions * Quickly determine the type of person they want and realign your behavior to match that * Learn how to rescue an interview that is going badly (without making things worse) * Know the topics that interviewers like to talk about and the ones you should avoid * Understand how to keep your nerves under control - which is a great life-skill on its own * Be able to deal with unusual interviews such as phone, meal, group and panel

interviews * Know how to end an interview professionally and diplomatically, no matter how it went Imagine going to any interview knowing that you have a good chance of clinching the position. Think about how it would feel to actually look forward to every interview for the rest of your life. Why not know how to project yourself as positively as possible for a change? Today you may be stressed about your next interview. But the stress you’re feeling is pointless unless you know how to make any interview turn out how you want it to. Amitabh Bachchan could go from being a window washer to the chairman of a boardroom without being introspective, but MBA’s have to be. Before we jump in with questions and self-assessments, let’s get one thing upfront and on the table. Interviewers develop an impression of you in the first few minutes of the meeting, and spend the rest of the interview confirming their initial impression. Therefore, practice, practice and practice some more… This page has all the possible tips on attending interviews for the purpose of joining an MBA program (in top B schools). What to Expect in an IIM Personal Interview? The focus of a B-school interview can range from specific questions about your job to broad discussions on life. Approach the interview as a conversation to be enjoyed, not as a question-and-answer ordeal. It may be about your hobbies - your recent crosscountry trip. This doesn’t mean that the interviewers are not serious. It just means that you’re being sized up as a person and a future professional in all your dimensions. Try to be your witty, charming, natural self. Do not try to put on. The interviewers will be able to see your masks through. Students, faculty, admissions personnel and alumni conduct interviews. Don’t dismiss students as the lightweights. It is important to have a good idea of “What you consider to be your greatest strength, why and what are some examples that show this”, before you go into an interview. Although the interviewer will most likely ask some pointed questions, you may also encounter something as broad as “So, tell me about yourself.” These open ended questions are usually the ones that help you lead the interview. Either way, you should have in mind what you want to convey about who you are before you go into any interview. Lack of preparation is a common complaint among interviewers, and if you are prepared, you will stand out among your competitors. First steps on how to approach an interview? Do your homework!! Have well thought out answers for questions such as “What are your strengths? Why are you right for that particular business school? Why is that particular program right for you?“

It shows organization and forethought if you know some specifics about the program to which you are applying and can explain why those features fit well with your career goals. For example, if you are applying to the Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI), through some simple research you will discover that they are strong in Human Resource Development. Perhaps, you have worked with a recruitment company or have been a trainer in an institute. Relate these in the interview. Don’t Waste Time!! Don’t waste time discussing things that are already indicated on your application. You can elaborate if the topic illustrates something about your character and preparedness for the b-school experience, but do not be redundant. Remember that the first impression you create is very important. When asked to say “something about yourself”, most candidates just blurt out their schooling, college, marks and qualifications. All this is already there in the application. Why tell the interviewer something he/she already knows. Ideally, you would want to use this opportunity to show how you are different from the thousands of other applicants, not to blend in to the crowd. A final word on approaching this question. After you have said what you have to say don’t venture any further. Don’t drone. You just might say something foolish. Sometimes interviewers don’t interrupt in order to give the candidate the impression that he has not spoken enough. This is just a stress/error inducing tactic. Don’t fall for it. If the pause gets too awkward for your liking, just add something like, “Is there something specific that you would like to know about me” As the name suggests…….this article will equip you with a few general tips ‘n’ tricks on handling Personal Interviews. Also, it will provide with a basic idea of - “How can Interview in IIM be like?” What to Expect in an IIM Personal Interview? The focus of a B-school interview can range from specific questions about your job to broad discussions on life. Approach the interview as a conversation to be enjoyed, not as a question-and-answer ordeal. It may be about your hobbies - your recent cross-country trip. This doesn’t mean that the interviewers are not serious. It just means that you’re being sized up as a person and a future professional in all your dimensions. Try to be your witty, charming, natural self. Do not try to put on. The interviewers will be able to see your masks through. Students, faculty, admissions personnel and alumni conduct interviews. Don’t dismiss students as the lightweights. It is important to have a good idea of “What you consider to be your greatest strength, why and what are some examples that show this”, before you go into an interview. Although the interviewer will most likely ask some pointed questions, you may also encounter something as broad as “So, tell me about yourself.” These open ended questions are usually the ones that help you lead the interview.

Either way, you should have in mind what you want to convey about who you are before you go into any interview. Lack of preparation is a common complaint among interviewers, and if you are prepared, you will stand out among your competitors. First steps on how to approach an interview… 1. Do your homework: Have well thought answers for questions such as “What are your strengths? Why are you right for that particular business school? Why is that particular program right for you?” It shows organization and forethought if you know some specifics about the program to which you are applying and can explain why those features fit well with your career goals. For example, if you are applying to the Xavier Labour Relation Institute (XLRI), through some simple research you will discover that they are strong in Human Resource Development. Perhaps, you have worked with a recruitment company or have been a trainer in an institute. Relate these in the interview. 2. Don’t Waste Time: Don’t waste time discussing things that are already indicated on your application. You can elaborate if the topic illustrates something about your character and preparedness for the b-school experience, but do not be redundant. Remember that the first impression you create is very important. When asked to say “something about yourself”, most candidates just blurt out their schooling, college, marks and qualifications. All this is already there in the application. Why tell the interviewer something he/she already knows. Ideally, you would want to use this opportunity to show how you are different from the thousands of other applicants, not to blend in to the crowd. A final word on approaching this question. After you have said what you have to say don’t venture any further. Don’t drone. You just might say something foolish. Sometimes interviewers don’t interrupt in order to give the candidate the impression that he has not spoken enough. This is just a stress/error inducing tactic. Don’t fall for it. If the pause gets too awkward for your liking, just add something like, “Is there something specific that you would like to know about me” . IIM-Ahmedabad (Engineering Background) Nishant Mittal (B.Tech., Textile) (IIT, Delhi) 1. Tell us about your childhood. 2. Courses in the last semester 3. Laplace transformations 4. From which institutes have you got calls? 5. What is Sensex? 6. Do you have a job at hand? How long do you plan to work there? 7. What are gabardines, Oxford wear, plain wear?

8. Which are the G-7 countries? Name them. 9. Nuclear powers — who are they? Define what is a nuclear power. 10. Ringitt is the currency of which country? 11. Discuss South-East Asian crisis 12. Textile industries — problems & Solutions 13. Was asked about my batchmate Rajat Sood 14. Questions on my Family 15. US — What is its rank in population? Sunil Gopalan (BE Elect and Commn.) (DCE) 1. Any three questions we should ask you. 2. Iridium Telecom project — long discussion 3. Discussion on beauty contests and Aishwarya Rai 4. Optical fibres — how they work? 5. Data and voice transmission — the difference between the two 6. Budget — GDP, fiscal deficit, excise, sales and octroi taxes. Checked my basic understanding of each of these. 7. Mobile vs land phones (PSTN). Technology differences. 8. State of Internet in India. What should be done to improve it? 9. What is the penetration of computers in India? Commerce Pramod Marar (BCom Hons.) 1. Regression and correlation (graphs and equation) 2. Diamond-water thrift ( “My father is a diamond merchant!!” ) 3. What do my name and surname mean? 4. Relation between profit and loss account, balance sheet 5. Sources and uses of funds 6. Names of some management gurus 7. Deep interest bonds 8. Sec 80l, 88 of taxation…Discussion 9. Double/triple taxation bond…What do they mean? Bankim Mitra (BCom Hons.) 1. Name all the subjects in graduation. 2. Difference between diminishing and decreasing returns 3. Should doctors be governed by an ethical code of conduct? 4. Latest developments in Kosovo in the last 24 hours. 5. Preparation of fund flow statement 6. Relationship among profit and loss account, balance sheet, and fund flow statement Science Saurabh Upadhyay (BSc Hons., Physics) 1. What were you doing for the last three hours waiting outside ( the interview hall )? 2. What is your impression about the panel? 3. What questions do you expect from us? 4. You are from Asansol. Why are you studying in Delhi? 5. What is Boyle’s laws?

6. Kepler’s laws and problems to solve 7. Ellipse — importance in physics 8. Difference between an ellipse, hyperbola and parabola 9. General awareness — TRAI, Lahore-bus-trip of the PM Maneesh Upadhyaya (BSc,) (St. Stephen’s) 1. Why shift from science to management? 2. Difference between preference and normal shares 3. ICICI — talk about the company. 4. Which game requires most energy?( My hobby is playing Badminton!! ) 5. What is the difference between a manager and an entrepreneur? 6. Budget — Discuss the features 7. Cricket and badminton related questions 8. Five fastest sports Economics Varad Pande (BA Hons., Economics) 1. What did you think of the case discussion? 2. Linear programming — minimization of problem with some constraints 3. How did Career Launcher help you? 4. Career goals? While answering — Have you prepared the answer? 5. Women’s residence in the college 6. Is a girls’ college better? Atul Kumar (BA, Economics ) (IIFT) 1. Why IIMA from IIFT? 2. Bihar — why is it so low on development in spite of being politically so aware? 3. Enron controversy 4. District divisions — is it desirable? 5. Women’s Reservation Bill 6. Eco: Indifference curve, asked to plot. Why convex? Examples of concave; 7. Equation of indifference curve IIM-B Engineering Sumit Sapra (BE, Electronics and Communication) ( DCE ) 1. Introduce yourself. 2. Students do not attend classes in DCE? How did you find it? Do you attend? 3. You are grades-oriented? What do you know about IIM-B classes? It is rigorous — What is your reaction? 4. Oh! Coaching? What else did you get to know there? 5. Why MBA? Why not work experience? 6. Who is an entrepreneur? Which sector? 7. What is IT enabled industry? Give some examples. 8. Events: Which ones did you organize? 9. Sports: Which position in basketball? 10. Favourite player?

11. What is Karl Malone known as? 12. Which programme do you watch on TV? 13. Favourite subject — digital electronics 14. Did anyone outside tell you that we do not know about it? 15. How does a cellular phone work? What are the companies providing the services? 16. How is that signals of various operators do not clash? 17. How does digital TV work? 18. Do you want to know anything else about IIM-B? Sudhir Kamat (BE, Computer Science) 1. Good marks in XII, why did you join DIT ( now called NSIT )? 2. Why do you want to shift from software to MBA? 3. What, why about MBA? Why not four years of experience? 4. What are products? 5. Where are Indian industries heading? 6. Name some products and companies. 7. Venture capital — How would they help you in your software firm? ( “I said I wanted to start a software company” ) 8. As a venture capitalist, what would you look for in a software company? Commerce Vijaya Tudu (BCom Hons.) 1. Background 2. Accounting concepts 3. Why not banking — why MBA? 4. Dance — various forms, of which form are you the student? ( “I am a dancer” ) 5. Latest book and what did you learn? Surender Singh (BCom Hons.) 1. Principles of accounting 2. What does dy/dx mean? 3. what is the point of inflexion? 4. What are the emerging issues of finance? 5. What is Capital account convertibility? Science Saket Narang (BSc, Physics) 1. Who is your idol — questions on Peter Drucker (”my Idol”) 2. Which books do you read — how did it help you understand management? 3. How did you contribute to your physics society? 4. What is Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle? 5. Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawkings — discussion 6. Quantum theory and gravity, particles 7. What is standard deviation — what if it is 0? 8. What is the weight of a squash racquet? 9. Do you watch movies? 10. I was shown Akshay Kumar’s photo — “talk about this person.”

Subodh Kumar (BSc, Botany) 1. Should the interview be general or specific? 2. How do you relate botany, law, management and computers? 3. Name five botanists who contributed to the society. 4. Discussion on Rabri Devi, government and on IPKF. 5. What is the difference between LAN and WAN? 6. Botany related questions. Economics Aparajita (BA, Economics) 1. What are Marginal costs? 2. Is replacement cost a marginal cost? 3. Spectacles manufacturing — what is marginal cost?( ” I wear specs ” ) 4. In labour — regular and contractual — which one is a marginal cost? 5. A loan processing company — what are salaries, fixed costs? 6. If workers increase, what would happen? 7. Computer processing application — what is the characteristics of cost function? 8. What are the characteristics of a step function? 9. What is the Break-even point — depict in spectacles business — total revenue? 10. Who were the last two Governors of Reserve Bank of India? 11. Name the Hill resorts of Tamil Nadu? ( ” I had mentioned travelling as a hobby ” ) 12. Which rivers merge at Sunderbans river basin? 13. Economies of scale — steel plant Ruchika Rishi (BA, Economics) (MIB, DSE) 1. Three equations — Cost + Profit = Price; Price – Cost = Profit; Price – Profit = Cost — used by three different businessmen. Can you comment on their psyche? 2. Of these three people who is a monopoly, who is a PSU, etc.? 3. Banks — costs and expenditures 4. You are an MD of a rural bank — what would you do to decrease costs? 5. Rural economy has more gold. What are the opportunities & implications? 6. Balance Of Payments — pre-1991 and current scenario — comment These are the actual questions asked in interviews, arranged according to the respective institutes and academic stream of interviewees. The list spans interviews over 4 calender years. IIM-L Engineering Kashit Alam (B.Tech, Textile) 1. Tell us about yourself. 2. Hobbies and character-building 3. Basketball scenario in India 4. Considerations in playing snooker 5. Why MBA? 6. Salary expectations 7. How is Indian textile industry doing?

Akshay Saxena (B.Tech, Chemical) 1. Tell us about yourself. 2. Sugar industry — chemic Akshay Saxena (B.Tech, Chemical) 1. Tell us about yourself. 2. Sugar industry — chemical process 3. Music and movies 4. Operating systems — examples and difference Commerce Nidhi (BCom) (HR resource in an organisation) 1. Why do you have such diverse interests? 2. Do you travel a lot — where? 3. What does your father do? 4. What do you do in your job? 5. Are the psychological tests reliable? (”We do a lot of these tests during recruitment/training”) Kapil Manchanda (ACWA) work experience 1. Calculus — differential and integral 2. My work experience 3. Balance sheet, profit and loss account — why and what on entries? Science Meenakshi (BSc, Computer) 1. Cauvery Dam issue 2. What were the trouble-shooting measures used there? 3. How has NAFTA helped Canada? (”I had stayed in Canada for some time”) 4. Compare and contrast the Indian and Canadian cultures. 5. Why do you want to study in India, why not in Canada/Australia? Management Ashima Sharma (BBA) 1. Compare marketing strategy of De Beers and Mercedes. 2. How would you market liquor? 3. Will you take up a job with ITC? 4. Change in HR practices over the years 5. Career goals 6. Order in which you will go to IIMs and why? Economics Amit Diwan (BA Hons., Economics) 1. Capital convertibility. Is it advisable for India? 2. Why are you wearing a tie? 3. What preference do you have for specialization? 4. What application does economics have for management?

5. Why are so many economics guys coming today? 6. Why don’t you consider MA? Shweta Aggarwal (BA Hons., Economics) 1. How did your GD go? 2. Indifference curves, utility concepts 3. Law of demand, exceptions 4. Types of goods — normal, inferior, giffin. 5. Find an economical situation to prevent the degradation of forests.