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5 Success Stories of Students Against IIM Interview Questions

Praqtise — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 10:08:31 +0000

Suresh and Naresh are two friends that had always dreamt of joining an IIM. For Suresh this dream became a reality as se secured an admission into IIM Ahmedabad but Naresh was not as fortunate. But he was not disheartened and decided to take a second crack at it in a year. He never had much problem with CAT exam, but the IIM interview questions were the stuff his nightmares were made of.

Before the IIM interviews of the following year, Suresh decided to help out his friend by sharing not only his experience but experiences of some his classmates and friends as well. This was a huge help to Naresh because of which he was able to secure an IIM admission.

IIM Interview

To preface this, yes we do understand the obvious fact that not everyone has the same experiences and yes we also know that not everyone handles a situation in the same manner. But learning about how others were successful in a similar, if not exact, situation would be immensely helpful. Learning from other’s experiences with IIM interview question would help you in developing a baseline regarding the MBA interview questions & answers, so that you prepare accordingly.

Success Stories

We will tell you about the experiences of 5 people that achieved success with IIM interview questions. We would not be disclosing names and other confidential information (similar to witness protection). Only relevant information including some of the question and responses will be included. These experiences will definitely help you with your own IIM interview.

Story #1

A current student at IIM Ahmedabad revealed that the interviewers ascertain whether the candidates can comprehend and adapt to a

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situation and their ability of thinking on their feet. She was asked on a variety of topics. A general theme, however, was asking questions on current affairs related to her field of interest.

Highlight of the interview: Since the applicant was from Delhi, the interviewers asked her whether Delhi should be given statehood or not. The reply of the candidate was that the presence of central government in Delhi would make it difficult but she did recommend transferring more authority to the Delhi government.

Story #2

A funny anecdotal story is relayed by a friend of the selected candidate. The interviewers gave the candidate a task, before asking any of the conventional IIM interview questions,

The candidate was asked during the interview by one of the interviewers to sell the interviewer’s laptop which had a market price of 70,000 Rs. at a very high price than the market price. The candidate was thrown off at first but then wrote his phone number and gave it to the panellist. After that he took the laptop and left the room. The interviewer worriedly called the candidate after a few hours. The candidate picked up the call and answered “Sir sorry for the inconvenience caused. But if you want your laptop back please pay Rs 1,00,000”. The candidate was selected.

Story #3

Rohan Jain, eventually an IIM A student, had also appeared for an interview for IIM Kozhikode. He was asked to explain the relation between his size of shoe and CAT scores. The student was stumped by the question (obviously) but then recovered enough to answer the IIM interview question by pointing out that coefficient can be used to prove no correlation between the two.

Highlight of the interview– the interviewers sometimes do not look for prepared answers instead pose random question to throw candidates off and ascertain who are best suited for IIM.

Story #4

This anecdote pertains to a student who cleared the IIM interview questions to get into IIM Calcutta. The student was clear about the areas he was comfortable with and areas that he needed to avoid. He found that even though one of the interviewer had a strict demeanour but still laughed at a faux pas that made everyone, including the student himself, in the room laugh. But the interviewer did come back to gauge his technical prowess.

Highlight of the interview: The applicant’s family owns a business in the tourism sector. This led the interviewers to have a debate with the applicant on the ethics of tourism. This particular strategy was to examine the experience of the student and gather their ability to adapt under pressure.

Story #5

The last success story we have is of a boy with excellent academic record. His experience with IIM questions was also pleasant. Looking at his grades one might think that the questions would revolve around academics. But it wasn’t the case as they did not dwell on it too much. The candidate was instead asked more about his hobbies and life experiences in general. We can say that as the academic prowess of the student was obvious, the panellists were keener on knowing about the other aspects of his personality.

Highlight of the Interview: The interview was routine and so were the questions but at the end of the interview the interviewers displayed their jovial side by asking the applicant to take a cashew despite his hand being full of toffee and cookie.

Analysis of IIM Interviews

One can expect the pattern of interview to keep changing with candidates. The interviewers get a lot of cues from the resume, profile and the candidate’s behaviour in person. They would usually try to learn more about the candidate by probing them in different ways.

Here are some of the areas which might be touched upon during IIM interview:

Forget VAT remember WAT (Writing Ability Test)

Your WAT should not only be up to the mark but you should also remember what you wrote. More often than not the IIM interview questions revolve around the topic. Hence, you must be able to justify your opinion.

Interests matter

Don’t mention interests just because it sounds impressive. Even if you have read up on it, it could backfire. The interviewers could ask questions that are not general but a corollary of a theme or a philosophical aspect. Be genuine and the process would be a lot easier for you.

We know that you can’t help feel overwhelmed but there is no need to be nervous. Stick to your opinion (not unfounded ones) and back it up with concrete facts and irrefutable logic.

What are your biggest concerns about facing the MBA admission interview? The experts at Praqtise would be glad to suggest solutions. Please let us know in the comments.

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Is it worth taking a one-year drop for CAT?

Praqtise — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 10:28:03 +0000

Manoj and Swati have cleared MBA entrance examinations with good percentile and have begun getting calls from many of the top B-schools in India. However, neither Manoj nor Swati have secured a call from the B-school where they want to study. Manoj plans to take a one-year drop for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations. The following is a conversation between Manoj and Swati:

Manoj: Hey, Swati, how are you?

Swati: I am fine, how are you?

Manoj: I am fine too, but I am a little worried because I haven’t gotten a call from either of the top IIMs, which is where I wanted to study.

Swati: Yes, even I am a little worried because even I haven’t gotten a call from the IIMs. However, I have received numerous calls from the newly opened IIMs and many other B-schools across India.

Manoj: Yes, even I have received numerous calls from the other IIMs and most other B-schools. However, I don’t think I am going to accept the calls. I think I will take a one-year drop for CAT and appear for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations again. I will surely get into one of the top IIMs if I have more time to prepare.

Swati: Let me stop you right there. My mother tells me that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Do you understand what it means?

Manoj: Of course, I know what it means. But I have always wanted to study in one of the top IIMs, and that is where I will study, even if it means a one-year gap after graduation.

Swati: You may be making the right call for yourself, but I think I will accept an admission into the best B-school into which I get admitted. I don’t want to waste another year going through the same repetitive routine every day. I believe, even after graduating from a slightly inferior B-school, I can capitalize on the entire year, instead of taking a gap year for CAT, toiling it away.

To drop or not to drop, that is the question!

This is the case with most students who do not get accepted into the B-schools of their choice. However, is it a wise decision to wait another year in the pursuit to secure an admission into an institute of your choice? Or is it a more prudent decision to accept an admission into a slightly inferior B-school and capitalize on the time that you would otherwise toil away. Some believe that taking a gap year for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations and getting into a B-school of their choice will open a world of fortune to them. Others think that waiting another year to get into a marginally better B-school would not make much of a difference.

There is no decisive answer to this question. It is entirely based upon the thought process of every individual. No one choice is better than the other – both the choices have their advantages and their disadvantages. You are the best judge of what is a better option for you out of the two. However, after reading this blog, you might have a better answer to the question than you had before. This blog will provide a better understanding of the gap year after college pros and cons as well.

One-year drop for CAT – Is it worth the wait?

Taking a gap year for CAT is often a risky choice because of the uncertainty involved. If you wait for another year, there is no guarantee that you will score better than before. Even if you score better, what if the others score better than you? If that happens, there are chances that you will score lower percentile than before. Another risk is that even if you get an interview call from the B-school of your choice, you might have to learn how to explain gap year in MBA interview. There are workarounds to this question, but it is sure to arise in the interview, and you must have a satisfactory answer for the interviewer. Here are some points that you should consider if you plan to take a one-year drop for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations to get into a better B-school.

Prioritize top B-school based on your percentile

After the results of the entrance examinations are out, make an exhaustive list of colleges which will accept you based on your percentile. Narrow down to a list of five or ten top B-school which are likely to accept your application based on your scores. If you get into either of the colleges from your list, then there is no scope to drop a year and apply again next year. If you plan to take a one-year drop for CAT to get into IIMs, make sure that you aim for only the best. Waiting for another year to prepare for MBA entrance examinations only to get into a marginally better college cannot be justified.

Let’s say that you are likely to get into a B-school that usually stands between ranks 11-15 in most rankings. Waiting for another year will be actually worth only if you are able to secure a b-school in the top 5 ranks. As an aspirant, you are likely to be more emotional when deciding on such things. It is, therefore, better to seek advice, ideally from a B-school pass-out.

Economic changes that can affect your prospects

If drastic economic changes take place during the year when you plan to take a drop, it can also affect your chances in top B-schools. For example, during the catastrophic economic meltdown in 2008, many people lost their jobs. Many of them turned towards further education and appeared for MBA entrance examinations. Then, what happened was, that top B-schools started selecting candidates with work experiences, as compared to those without. So, if you are a student, and you don’t have work experience, this is an important consideration that you should bear in mind.

Probable changes in fee structure

The fee structures in the top B-school keeps on changing often. Most of the top B-school increase their tuition fees every year to cover the costs that they incur. Hence, if you plan to take a drop and wait to get into one of the top B-school, this is an important financial consideration you must bear in mind. We had some insights from an IMT, Ghaziabad alumnus, after getting into a conversation about waiting another year to get into a B-school of their choice. He could not get into the B-school of his choice on his first attempt. Hence, decided to take a gap year after graduation. On his second attempt, he got into IMT, Ghaziabad.

When he commenced business studies, the fees to complete business studies at IMT, Ghaziabad was around 10.5 Lac. Whereas, had he gotten into IMT on his first attempt, he would have been able to complete his education in a mere 8 Lac rupees. One might think that as the fees increase, so must the placement packages – however, that is not the case. The average placement packages don’t increase much in comparison with the changing fees. Hence, if finances are a constraint, then you must think about this before taking a one-year drop for CAT and other examinations.

Don’t just prepare for the entrance examinations

If you have decided to take a one-drop for CAT and other examinations, you must plan your activities meticulously. You cannot justify a one-year drop for CAT and MBA, by saying that you were preparing for the entrance examinations. Hence, you must be able to answer the question – How to explain gap year in MBA interview – with efficacy. Most people can easily prepare for the entrance examination within three to four months, even when they have a job. Here are a few things you can do while preparing for the MBA entrance examinations:

Contribute to a social cause of your choice and be an active participant
Apply to short-term online courses from reputed websites
Look for a part-time job, which can help you gain perspective into the subjects in which you want to specialize

There are numerous personal and professional factors which affect the decision whether or not to drop for one year. However, aforementioned are some of the major factors which you must consider before making a decision. Even after considering all the points, if you still decide to take a one-year drop for CAT, then you should plan the year meticulously. For more information to help you plan your drop year, you can also seek the help of experts at Praqtise.

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How to make the perfect MBA application resume for colleges?

Praqtise — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:23:15 +0000

In search of the perfect MBA application resume…

Tina: I have my interview in this highly reputed college tomorrow. It is my dream to study in such a prestigious institution. I want to ace the interview.

Riya: Have you prepared everything for it?

Tina: I have. But I am not really sure how good my MBA application resume is. I feel my content is not well written and I really want my resume to stand out among all the other applicants.

Riya: Your resume will be the most important part of your interview. In fact it will form the foundation for the interview.

Tina: That is why I am sceptical about its quality. I have included my background, academics and even internships. But it just doesn’t add up. I want to add some element that makes my resume appealing to the interviewers.

There are hundreds of MBA applicants out there, who are unsure

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if they should be going in to their interviews with their current resumes or change it for better. Since resume is essentially the most critical component of your interview, it becomes mandatory for any applicant to have a high quality resume.

Confident businessman, ready with his resume

Why is your resume so important?

When you step into an interview, your resume is the first prerequisite and it also forms the first impression. For an MBA fresher, their resume becomes the most determining factor of their interview. Your resume is probably the only opportunity to capture the interviewer’s attention, before moving into the interview. Moreover, all interviewers generally spend few brief seconds to glance through the resume, so it is vital that your MBA resume format is appealing and eye-catching. When writing the MBA application resume, one should ensure that it isn’t too descriptive, yet at the same time it has to cover all the key elements of your professional and academic background that would contribute significantly to the job description for which you apply.

The quality of your resume can either become a benchmark or an example of what not to do. It is completely up to you as to how do you want your resume to be remembered. Your resume mentions your skills and competencies much before you step into the interview room. It is crucial that those competencies are enough to grab the interviewer’s attention. If it is an MBA fresher resume you might have to emphasise more on the academic strengths whereas for an executive MBA, how you portray your work profiles in the past, forms a significant component of your resume.

Praqtise fact file: Did you know that the average time a recruiter spends reviewing a resume or curriculum vitae is 6 seconds only!

Tips to make the perfect MBA application resume

Ensure that the interviewer gets as much information as possible in a glance. Create appropriate sections and title them accurately. Having a resume filled with too much information is a straightaway rejection, since the recruiter is unable to identify anything the applicant wants to emphasise.

Lay emphasis on your role in the previous internships or your accomplishments rather than just mentioning the profile. Here, you must also be considerate of not describing too many details since that will make the resume appear cluttered. Being specific about your accomplishments gives the interviewer the impression that you have enough clarity in thought.
If you are applying for a specific subject specialisation, mention maximum achievements and skills that are best suited to that stream. This is the best way to convince the admission committee members of our genuine interest in the field mentioned.
Use action words to describe specific skills. Action words show a diverse sense of vocabulary and make the resume more appealing. There is a discernible difference in the intent of your statements when appropriate action words are used.
Refrain from experimenting too much with your resume format. Most top MBA institutes prefer the traditional approach and do not encourage a whacky resume that an applicant uses to stand out from the crowd. This usually works against the applicant. You can experiment somewhere with the layout and colours and make the resume visually appealing.
Avoid writing an essay length resume. A fresher would try to accommodate all their past achievements into an essay length resume, which no one would ideally read. An ideal MBA resume format, is margins of approximately an inch with properly spaced font, standard font type and size and clearly visible contact information with maximum two pages in length. It should have
Finally, prioritise the information you want to include. If your prime foci are growth and learning in your MBA academic journey, you would want to include the internships or leadership skills that your interviewer can identify in you.

Sample CV Format

Some Praqtical Help

Are you still worrying about how your resume will shine among the thousands of other resumes? Or confused about what information to include in the resume? It is fine to be unsure about which achievements/roles to prioritise. Just visit our website and get information about all the do’s and don’ts of interviews.

Your resume for MBA is your stepping stone to achieving a managerial degree from the college of your dreams. A good resume can go a long way in assisting you in each of the steps you take towards this goal. Still unsure about your resume and feel the need to refine it? Connect with our experts at Praqtise and clear your doubts right away!

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Is ROI the only thing that matters while selecting MBA colleges?

Praqtise — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 06:46:57 +0000

Suresh and Ramesh are old school friends. Unlike most stories where one is smart and the other is lucky, in this story both friends are smart and hardworking. Both pursued undergrad from the same institute with the same field and got almost the same scores. The duo then went their separate ways to pursue post graduation from different MBA colleges. The two colleges, let’s provide them with believable names, ABC and XYZ institute. They belonged to the same tier of institutes but were separated by minor differences.

After the completion of MBA in IT, both friends by a twist of fate ended up working side-by-side. Both friends were amazed by their similar yet varied experience. Suresh was surprised see Ramesh get the same profile as him. This is because Ramesh’s institute XYZ had a lower fee and smaller campus had still ended up in the same profile and company as him. Ramesh on the other hand, was expecting that ABC institute, being one of the top 10 colleges in India would be a strict college. But, he was startled when Suresh told him about all the fun that he had.

ROI: Sole factor or one of the factors while assessing MBA colleges?

The story above has no moral, till now, as it is missing some additional information and perspective. But coming back to the matter at hand, ROI! Majority of the people would agree that ROI (Return on Investment) is vital in selection of top MBA colleges. The ROI of MBA colleges is one of the first attributes that a potential applicant looks for but there in uncertainty regarding the numbers and figures that the applicant has accumulated. These fester into questions such as: Is the average placement package inflated? Hidden fees that could have been missed? But even without these questions ROI is just the numerical representation of the expected return one might hope to gain. It does not account for a horde of factors which are integral to the success and operation of MBA institutes.

It is worth mentioning that ROI is a crucial factor which should be considered and researched thoroughly before applying to any MBA programs. ROI would help in providing you with a proper guide which would help in filtering out many colleges so that you could select one the best MBA colleges. But there are other factors that one should consider before finalizing a college. These may be related to attributes of the college that are worth pondering over.

Alumni Network

In today’s world, constant communication and connections have become the crux of being successful. In the global corporate world, networking has become an indispensible part of a person’s arsenal. The network of Alumni can be vital in opening the right doors and availing the right opportunities. But this does not mean that one can select any college just because they have famous and successful Alumni. Like every other factor mentioned in the article, each is crucial but cannot be treated as the sole criterion while making a decision for selecting MBA colleges.

Internship and Curriculum

Another important factor which should be considered while selecting MBA colleges is the nature and type of curriculum that is being implemented and followed by the MBA institute. It is worth noticing that different colleges have different curriculum and teaching practices. Even though many of the subjects, textbooks and lessons might be similar, factors such as teaching techniques can be the difference maker. For example, two institutes have the same MBA in IT courses and refer to the same textbooks but one institute is only focusing on theoretical learning whereas the other institute is focusing on not only theoretical learning but also practical learning by allocating industry projects or providing a simulated environment for applying concepts in practice.

Another factor that should be taking into account is the internship. Many students do not weight the internship as they have a misconception that past work experience combined with grades in all academic aspects should be enough to impress a recruiter. But as we know that most of the students opt for MBA to change their path of career or the Job Profile that they had. Therefore, a good internship can be crucial in providing the recruiter with evidence that you are capable of working in a new scenario and condition. Therefore the types of internships availed by MBA colleges is also important.

“All Work and No Play makes…..” Well you know how it goes

Fun is not the first thing which pops into head when someone says MBA. But fun is one of necessities of MBA Programs. But fun does not mean letting go of and avoiding every other responsibility. It just means working yet at the same time having fun and enjoying the moments that you are spending. Often, people regret missing out on the fun side of campus life as they were too focused on final placements. And rightly so as at the end of the day most of the students hope to use the MBA degree to earn a good job. But at the same time games and fun teach a lot of things which the core syllabus cannot.

And the most obvious factor of all: Personal Reasons

No guesses but everyone has a personal preference while selecting MBA colleges. The reasons vary from person to person depending on the situation and in some cases the upbringing. In some cases, people want to stay near their homes, whereas some want to explore so they prefer MBA institutes that are far from their homes. Some prefer choosing an institute because one of the professors is a hero to them. A lesser (but rarely mentioned) reason is chasing after someone (enough said, wink). People that want to just enjoy their two years of MBA would make a choice based on the campus life of the college.

In the end, there are many aspects one should consider before selecting MBA colleges. ROI though a crucial and vital factor is not the sole reason for selection of MBA colleges.

What qualities do you look for in the MBA institute of your choice? How important are factors other than ROI? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

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