My Interview - Episode 2

At last, the D-day, November 29, 2006, arrived and at laaaaaaaaaaast, my interview is finally over. I prepared a lot on ISB, its programs, its clubs, the Bush visit to ISB, latest emerging sectors and current affairs in business for the last one week.

My Profile

GMAT : 660 (Q-50, V-31, AWA-5.5)
Acads: B. Tech (EE) form IIT, KGP
Workex: 10 years in Indian Revenue Service

I wore a suit with tie. I reached ISB today at 9:15 Am and I was called in at 10:15 AM, though mine was the first interview scheduled in the morning for 10:00 AM.In fact, the interview panel apologised for the delay. Before the interview, I was given a paper to write a praragraph, not exceeding 50-100 words on "Maths".

The interview panel consisted of three, one Ms. Hima Bindu, from AdCom and two others (i do not know whether they are current students or alumni).

Before starting my interview, one of them said "You have good profile"

Here are my questions?

1. Presently you are in a good job? Why do you want to do MBA now?
2. What would you do after MBA at ISB? (I said that I would go my own venture after working for two to three years in my relevant field either in IT or ITES or Phrama Sector)
3. On the above question, they asked whether you would like to take an employee who will say that he will work for only two years? then they also asked the conflict betwen working in and venturing in the same filed?
4. You have achieved so many things in your department, could please tell us your two best cases?
5. You siad that multi tasking is your weakness. But you are doing simultaneously three things (job, two ventures). Howcome?
6. You tell us three changes that you suggest in your department, keeping in view the taxpayers like us?
7. You tell us two intiatives you have taken in the present post? (I have written in my achievements that I speedened up the promotion process)
8. Being under the control of your bosses, having ability to get anywork done in the Governemnt, did't you become regid after 10 years of experience?
9. What are your strenths in your enterpreneurship? What is your philosophy?
10. What are the benchmarks do you follow? (I could not understand this question. I said that after doing MBA at ISB, I may be able to answer this question)
11. Tell us any ethical dilemma you faced and two more questions on the same subject.
12. do you have any questions fors us?
I have prepared well for this . I asked them three questions.
a) Whether I am selected or not, I would like to see ISB on top of the world. I know that ISB has international faculty, best curriculum, world class infrastructure and best learning resources. However it is seen that (i) Most of the international students selected to ISB are NRIs and Mr. Bush, when he came in March, 2006, he said that the admission criteria of ISB is tough for international students and even if they have the ability to pass through the admission process, such candidates are preferring MBAs in US schools. In this regard, what is the strategy of ISB, in next 10 years? (ii) One of the criteria being truly international is how strong is the Alimni of the school in terms of the percentage of the alumni who are contributing to the alma matter. For example, in one of the best B-schools, 40% of the almuni contribute on an average US $400 every year to their school. Whether such culture is there in ISB and whether ISB is imbibing such culture in the students before they are passed out from ISB and (iii) Usually international B-schools study the effetct of studying at B-schools vis -a vis their placements. They conduct scientific study by taking the salaries post B-school and what would have been their salaries, if they did not do MBA at such school. Is there any such sceintific study at ISB?

Ans: Firstly we would like to thank you that a five year old ISB is comapred with Harvard and other top B-schools, which are more than 50 years old. Do we have to take mediocre students just for the sake of attracting international students. Still, we are in dilemma wether to reduce the admission criteria for international students. To have international exposure, we have international exchange programmes with more than 20 best b-schools in the world and most of the times, we have international students in the campus, who come on international exchange programs.

As far the alumni is concerned, we have 100 strong alumni and they do take active part in making the curriculum, running our clubs as well as support whenever we have asked for. However, there is no formal mechanism of financial contribution form the Alumni.

Presently we have not done any scientific study on the effect of MBA at ISB on the placements of the students by taking the salaries post-ISB and what would have been their salaries if they did not do MBA from ISB. However, we do take feedback from our alumni. Then, Ms. Hema drew a chart on the board depicting that the salary starts on a higher note post-ISB and there after the acceleration is much faster than they would otherwise do without MBA at ISB.

b) Whether any business plan developed by your Enterpreneurship & VC Club at ISB got any funding from Venture Capitalists? Most of the times Indians are good at making Business Plans, but weak at grounding the same into reality. In such situation, does ISB gives any inputs to make sure that they can ground the business plans as well?

Ans: Ms. Hema said none of the business plans developed by the E & VC club at ISB are funded by any Venture Capital fund. She said that most of the students who wanted to venture into enterpreneurship, start their ventures only after working for 3 to 4 years in the real corporate world. However, ISB gives practical inputs by calling the successful enterpreneurs and Venture Capitalists for lectures and demonstrations at ISB.

c) One of the criteria to be truely international is also seen in the perspective of responsiveness of B-school to the changing world and domestic economic scenario. Recently Retail, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Knowledge Process Oursourcing are emerging sectors in India. Did you have any electives on such sectors introduced in the recent past?

Ans: Yeas we are introducing every year some new electives. we have a Governing Body, which decides the electives to be introduced. We have introduced electives recently on Realty, Healthcare Sector and Business Process Outsourcing.

It lasted for 45 minutes. Overall, I did my best within my capability. But at the end, it is the same old story - fingers crossed.

The learning:

1. They never stop you till you end
2. They are very cordial
3. They are thourough about your app

My inferences:

1. They are mainly concentrating on your application. Please thorough about your app and essays.
2. You have to lead the panel to next question from your answer.


I spoke to adcom member after the interview. The gist:

1. The interview is one of the factor in admission and it is not the only factor.
2. The ratio for the shorlisted candidates to the interview to the selected candidates is much less than 5:1.
3. The results will be out by December 15th, even though the interviews at Hyderabad were postponed.

The best way to prepare for the interview is to be thourough with the Application -concentrating on your work experience, responsibilities and achievement, extracurricular activities, hobbies, essays. Go through your essays and ask yourself as many questions as possible. Give your essays to one of your friends and tell him to ask you as many questions as possible on each essay. Note down those questions and prepare draft replies from your own experiences. If there are any gaps in your studies or in your career, prepare thouroughly about the reasons for the same. If your GMAT score is below 700, be prepared for a question like why low GMAT or is your GMAT score reflects your true abilities. If you have experience of only two to four years, most probably you will be asked on the aspects like how are you going to withstand the rigour at ISB?, case questions, how are you different from other applicants? etc.

All the best for the rest of the folks in the same boat.