Round - 2 2008-09 Hyderabad Interview Experience - 1

The following is the interview experience of a male candidate at ISB, Hyderabad on 23-01-2008 (Round-2).

Profile:

GMAT: 760,

Education: BIT Mesra,

Work Ex.: 2 years and 7 months of Work Experience at Oracle Hyderabad.

Interview Details:------------ ------Funny it might sound, I actually had to ask the lady in the admissions office for the essay paper and for the interview as well. Even though I had arrived on time, I guess they forgot me. After finishing my essay and waiting for 20 more minutes(my interview was scheduled to be at 1225), I had to remind her that I was here for the interview. Anyways, better late than never. As I entered the interview room, the admission committe, which comprised of a lady (Hema, the admission officer) and an gentleman(an alum from 2006 batch, I forgot the name though) got up and gave me a warm handshake(pretty nice gesture).

The first question they asked was, what happened to your locks(at the time of application, I had grown my hair really long, which I chopped off a few months back). This humor helped me calm my nerves.

Alum: What is the best thing you like about your job at Oracle?

Me: Blah, blah, blah, blah......

Alum: What, apart from technolgy, have you learnt at Oracle?

Me: Blah, blah, blah...Alum:

Why MBA?Me: Blah, blah, blah...(which included my idea of starting my own venture).

Alum: What kind of business do you want to start?

Me: More blah, blah, blah...

Alum: So, shall I strike your name off the prospective placement list?

Me: No, blah, blah...

Hema: What kind of companies are you looking forward to for your placement at ISB?Me: Blah, blah....(which included a description abt the consulting company)Alum: What is your fallback option?

Me: Blah....

Alum: With three years at Oracle, and the kind of salary you command, it wont be possible for you to get that salary kind of salary post ISB? So, how important is salary to you?

Me: Blah, blah, blah

Hema: Tell me more about the team dynamics that you have learnt at Oracle?

Me: Blah...(which included a description of diversity at work, i.e. a chance to work with people belonging to all parts of India).

Hema: What are the characetersistics of these differnt people?

Me: Blah, blah...

Hema: What are the main competitors of Oracle?

Me: Blah, blah..

Hema: How is Oracle gonna do in future?

Me: Blah...

Hema: Ok, assume you work for McKinsey...( a case study)

Me: Blah...

Hema: Any questions for us?

Me: Yeah, blah, blah...

Round-1 2008-09 Hyderabad Interview Experience - 2

The following is the experience of a female candidate whose interview was on Novemebr 06, 2007.

1. Tell how to manage a team and what skills are necessary?
2. Work - Experience
3. About Quality metrics...mentioned in Essays
4. Quality case study....what are the metrics are to be taken care of when u r given a job to improve quality of food in your cafeteria
5. About Stock Market(mentioned in Essay)
6. Any Questions u have? That's it.....was quite OK...

Round-1 2008-09 Hyderabad Interview Experience - 1

Here is the interview experience of male candidate at Hyderabad on Novemebr 05, 2007.

The topics for the 100 word essay was 'Change'. He is given a A4 sheet with a box of space demarcated in which you have to write your essay. I would say you have about three fourths of the page to use. Also remember to get your Application Number with you. You have to put this down in your essay sheet.

The interview panel had 3 guys (1 Ad Com and 2 alumni) and went on for about 40 mins. The questions ...

1. Talk for 10 minutes about yourself.
2. Details of your experiences.
3. Why do you think your entreprenurial idea will be successful. Quite a bit of discussion on this.
4. I am a quality analyst, and they gave me a situational question. Much of discussions centered around this.
5. My work experiences - 3 positive experiences - 3 negative experiences.
6. Questions about my international experiences.
7. Clients, our company products.

None of the anticipated, why MBA, why ISB, what after MBA questions.

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 13

This is an interview experience of R-1 applicant on 30-11-2006 at ISB, Hyderabad

"The interview was quite something as I had to hit the interview straight after traveling through 5 cities and over 36 hrs… but then I guess the adrenaline keeps you going and I couldn’t have rested peacefully until it was done anyway.

The interview lasted for about an hour… reading the posts I certainly wasn’t expecting this, especially since it was the last interview of the evening. The interview started well, but within minutes turned to quite a grilling session… however the grilling wasn’t just random - want you to panic grilling… it was related to something I am very interested in, and is a venture I am looking to set-up in India eventually. So it certainly was food for thought and those 15 minutes certainly helped me understand the feasibility of doing what I am planning… did some number crunching with the AdComm team and after 20 minutes of doing this we moved on to other subjects.

I was asked to give examples of m client negotiation skills, and since I was carrying my portfolio of the creative work I have helped delivered, I asked if I could talk them through my work by showing them examples of what I have done… after which point the conversation went on to the research I have been doing about ISB and the ISB logo became the topic of discussion. Following this I was asked if I had any questions, and I had two questions… one about foreign languages and other about getting involved with the marketing/branding efforts of ISB.

Lastly I was asked how I felt about the interview and the difference between a manager and a leader and which one was I and why (stating examples).

All in all I felt it was a brilliant experience… really enjoyed the interview. The ad comm team was really friendly and on finishing the interview I had the opportunity to meet the others from the team and have an informal chat for about 15 minutes. My advice to anyone giving the interview… stay cool… treat them as business men you are selling a good product to… you are the product and you need to market yourself well…"

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 12

This is the interview experience of an applicant on 29-11-2006 at ISB, hyderabad.

His Profile

Education : M.Sc(Electronics)
Work Ex : Three Years
Acads : Good
Extra Curr : Above Avearge

"I was interviewed by the admissions head Mr Rangarao and Hima from the ad com...We shook hands, exchanged names and before I could sit, came the first question...

1) Why did u backpack to Cambodia?? ( I backpack quite a bit)

2) How did u travel?

3) How many days was it for?

4) Were you always interested in doing this?

5) A couple of questions I dont remember...

6) Why do u have 4 companies in three years?

7) Dont you think you should apply a year later?

8) What were the three things you would do if you were to lead a team??

9) arent your weaknesses too volatile?

10) Why have you chosen this particular company ( in the cover letter essay)?

11) Dont you think delivery management requires a lot of challenege... are u upto it?

12) Three differences between beinh onsite and being offshore...

13) You have organized debates, why didnt you participate in them?

14) What did you feel when you were laid off from your company? I was laid off once along with the entire team...

15) Have you visited the Mysore campus of Infosys? (I am ex Infoscion)

16) A couple of more questions I cant really remember...

17) How will an ISB MBA help you?

18) How was your team experience in all these companies you worked for?

19) Any questions from us...

It was a 20 minute interview. "

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 11

This is the interview experience of one of the applicant, whose interview was over on 01-12-2006 at ISB, Hyderabad.

"I mentioned my hobby as writing, and that too in Hindi, English and Urdu. As soon as I reached, they bombarded me with HIndi and Urdu vocabulary. I survived that. Then it came to what I had written and why I write. It was turning into a hilarious Sher-o-Shaayri session.

Then it moved to my writings in English. After a 5 minute discussion on that, he asked me to give three examples on how innovative I am (I had mentioned that in my essays). I screwed up on that badly since I could not prove that my innovations at my workplace were actually the innovations. Then they asked me to give one example of innovativeness on personal front. I could at least convince them here. (I think so).

Since I had just returned from US, there were a few questions on Saddam-Bush issue, which I dont think I answered to their satisfaction.

Then, it was my turn to ask questions. I asked themn how can ISB help in realizing my goals. I also aked about ELP and that is it.

There were no Why MBA, Why ISB etc etc questions. Nothing related to my work profile or else.

Overall experience is same as everybody else's. Very cool environ during the interview. Have no clue on how did it go. Fingers crossed and a long wait. "

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 10

This is the last interview of our Core Group member, Ms. AS, which took place on 01-12-2006 at ISB, Hyderabad

Her Profile :

GMAT 670,
Work Ex. : 2.5 yrs in Healthcare Admininstration and Physiotherapy, 5.5 yrs running a designer store.

Here is her interview experience

"Finally the interview is over. Now all that is left is the wait! In conjunction with what everyone else have been saying, the panel gave away nothing! Not a peep into what they were thinking about my responses or what they intend to do with my profile. So, I guess all I can do right now is cross my fingers. Heres how my interview went:


Arrived waaaayyy early for my interview. Was given the spot essay and asked to write about "Adventure". The panel didnt even give my essay a glance!

I was with panel 2, which consisted of Ms Hima Bindu, and two other gentlemen, one alumnus and one was Ms Bindus colleague. They were stoic faced from the moment I stepped into the room. :-

My questions (Felt like the Q's kept coming and coming?: ( Good sign or Bad ?? )

1. Is there anything about yourself that you couldnt fit into the essays?

2. You took an year brk after your intermediate, why?

3. Tell me something about what you think you have been able to bring into your fathers Hospital?

Told the panel about a couple of programs I implemented into the hospital and a new one that aimed at Universal Access to Healtcare, which aimed at equalizing facilities to both the rich and the not so rich.

4. (From above) Would that make you lose prospective high paying customers?

Told them money couldnt buy them better treatment because the disease symptomatology is the same for the rich or the poor and so will/should be the treatment. The only thing that changes would be better facilities for the patient. And I said I wanted to formulate a cost effective method to equalize these facilities for all the patients. In short, I said I wanted to break the myth that private run hospitals 'leech' of the general public

5. You say you have a passion for design. What would you say is more challenging - your passion or your profession?

My prof. definietly. Talked a bit more about why I thought so.

6. Having started a store and managed a hosptial with out any formal training in Management, where there any challenges you faced?

Told them Ohh yeah. The two challenges that affected me the most were my complete lack of fianical saavy and marketing know- how. Over these years, I have learnt from mistakes and today know more about 'How not to do things'. I gave a smile here and was greeted by a blank stare :((

7. So how much percentage of input do you put in each of these?

Again explained that initially I used to be more focussed on my boutique while I was in college, but now, not as much, since the store is practically found a pace set for itself and I have an efficient team.

8. So now, where do you think ISB will help you?

9. Since you seem passionate about Health Care, why not pursue a hospital management degree?

Phew, finally anticipated questions that I had a sensible answer for. Thankfully no cross questioning over those.

10. So what are your plans after ISB?

Told them I was looking for exposure to varied and diverse work cultures, so that I can learn and imbibe from them. Then, told them about the plans my family have about setting up a multi specialty hospital and how my experience till then will help me plug any holes in the system we might have.

11. So, you would prefer to work internationally. But ISB has no international placements for you. How would that affect you?

[Was initially stumped. :( Were they trying to tell me I was wrong in chosing ISB, or that I didnt look at the recruiters list?]
Then, got my composure back and said, well, Health Care Industry today is booming and there is an ever growing need for ppl to take up administrative roles. So, with my soft skills till now and after an MBA from ISB, I am sure I will be able to find a job in a hosptial to my liking.
[Dont know if that was the right thing to say... but its out now, nothing to be done :( ]

12. So if you want to work in the international front, why not take up and international MBA outside India?

I said - ISB has a world class faculty, and a global curriculum, competent with any international MBA. When I am able to get a programme like this in India, more so, in Hyderabad, why should I even think of any other schools outside India?

13. Although I notice that you are still working as a consultant physiotherapist, why are you chosing to shift tracks from PT into admininstration ?

Told them my initial reason of joining PT was so that I could get a prespective of the patient and the doctor in the sense as to what they were looking from the management. I wanted to understand the problems of the patient through his eyes and hear it through his mouth. That was the reason I joined. And that is what I am pursuing today.

14. Lastly the alumnus asked me, If not Health Care, which sector would you choose?

Told them that this was my idea of what to do with my life since I was a pre teen. And although I have been able to demonstrate the fact that I can mould into other situations (this they pointed out to me too), I think for a moment I would be totally lost. Because for me, it always was the only thing on my mind.

Then, they said , all right then, thats it. Do you have any Q's for us. Asked them a couple. And then we were done. I didnt shake anyones hand but just smiled at all of them and walked out.

Well.. either way. Its DONE!!! Relieved. Took Gajanans advice and went and watched Dhoom 2. Spectacular first half and filmi second half. But full paisa vasool!

All right. Hope to see all you guys and gal (hehe) tomorrow. Thumbs up and fingers crossed! Best of luck to y'all!! "

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 9

This is the interview experience of our Core Group memeber, Mr. RR, a man with a smiling face always, on 01-12-2006 at ISB, Hyderabad

His Profile :

GMAT - 620 (AWA - 5.0)
Work Exp. : 11.5 Years in IT
International Exp. : 10 months

"One thing though all through the body language was very very positive of all the Interviewers. Panel 1-----Mr. Sanjay Singh, Mr. Amitesh, and one current batch student. no grilling. I shook hand with every body in the room and Introduced myself. They all also Introduced themselves (contrary to what many people have expressed cold shoulder behaviour.

1)The first question came up was differance between domestic customers and International customers. What was your experience?

2)Then on being Interface between management and team? what sensitive Information you will hide? answered this, then Mr. S continued in the same question that when would you disclose this Information?

3) Then talks went to 2 challenges to IT in India, and 2 oppertunity? and why?

4) then they came to the essay 4....asked for any time if i faced an egoistic team member in my team?

5) last question was from Mr. S on my essay 5...any case where we hunted like a lion and brought down elephant.With this, we ended the Interview.

Now the countdown begins. let us see who all makes it to the list."

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 8

Below is a detailed description of the interview experience of PAK, whose interview was on 30-11-2006 at ISB, Hyderabad.

His Profile:
GMAT: 700 (AWA - 6.0)
Work Ex. : 2.75 years
Extra Curr. : Good

Interview:

"There were only 2 members in the panel-1. Mr. Sanjay singh-(S) 2. Amitesh(not sure if he was an alumni or a current student)-(A)

Mr. Sanjay asked most of the question with just one question from Mr.Amitesh. So here goes the questions...

S: Ok. So you seem to be a person who believes that education has made you mediocre. So why do you want to indulge in another round of education and make yourself more mediocre.

My Reaction:They had gone through my blog thoroughly!! I couldnt help but show my amazement on my face :-)

Answered this quite confidently.

S: So you seemed to have worked in a team that analyses cultural problems in TCS. That sounds so different and interesting. Can you tell me more abt it?

I spoke in detail about the team and what we did there..

S:From your essay i gather you had a music band and looks like you have learned a lot through the experience.Since 300 words were less to address such a topic that is so close to your heart, can you elaborate more on what you learnt from this experience?

I spoke in length abt certain instances where I had to make tough decisions in the band and also about how I handled people of different egos and sensitivities. .

S: Ok assuming you confront a similar situation at work wherein you have to choose between a team member who is smart and has good skill set , but has an attitude problem and a another enthusiastic team member who probably is not so skilled but works for hours to gether without showing results , would you still choose the guy who is less skilled because he is more dedicated?

For this I said that in a professional environment the focus is different and the customer needs to be given utmost consideration. So I would have chosen the guy who was skilled and could deliver the results on time rather than the guy who showed ethusiasm and hard work but cannot deliver towards the end.
However, I said in a band where I was the leader and had the choice to make a decision, I would want ppl with the right attitude in my band since sincerity and
dedication were of utmost consideration to me to keep the band together.

S:Is there anything else you learnt through this experience?

I told him I learnt how to convince and persuade ppl(to sponsor my band) and to not lose sight of my vision and to be perseverant in going behind my goals.

By this time we had crossed about 15 minutes..
Now started the real grilling(at least for me)

S: So you wnat to get into consulting.Let me give you a problem.If I manufacture a pen whose unique quality is that whatever I write with it vanishes after 4 hours,wht do you think could be the market size for the pen in India?

For a moment I was wondering who could possibly use such a pen .. I could not convince myself with my answer but went ahead and said that maybe kids might fancy such pens and could probably buy it. Then I made a very STUPID statement saying that maybe students and ppl in a professional env can use this pen to take notes in class or in a meeting.I then started estimating the market size of each of these groups..

At this point Mr.Sanjay gave up on me and said" Boss,you have strayed TOO FAR from the correct approach and I dont think you are gettin anywhere. Maybe I should reallly take you into ISB just to teach you how to solve these question "

I laughed and said "yes I guess I am stuck.." He then gave theories to argue against each of the assumptions i had made and I realised how stupid i had really been. I had no other optrion but to surrender which I gracefully did..

Mr.Sanjay said "Maybe apart from just writing blogs, you should also start reading some books on consulting " I smiled again and said that i have indeed gone through material to prepare for such questions, specifically the kellogs case book and the material available on the yahoo groups. But I said maybe I was not able to apply these theories in practice. I confessed that I have a lot to improve on this front..

At this point Mr.Sanjay asked Amitesh if he had any questions for me.

A: Have you faced any failure situation at work that was instructive ?

I wasnt quite sure if i got the question right and asked if he could repeat it. He kindly consented and repeated exactly the same words :-)

I narrated an incident where i could not meet the deadline while working on my first assignment and how one of the factors for the failure was because I could not get along with one of my team members who was a bit bossy and authoritative. I told them that i was new to the project and did not knw much abt the product on which I worked. So I was aksed to get tutored under this team member . But the way he put me under constant pressure and hurt my confidence did not allow me to learn eficiently but instead made me question my abilities. I told them that I did not raise this issue to my supervisor then as I was not confident of openly confronting a conflict with a co-worker ,especially when I was new to the team and to the professional environment. But when I missed the deadline because of such conflicts , I realised that it was high time i raised this issue to my boss, which I did. And later we had an open discussion with the team member and sorted out the issue.

(Personally, I feel I neednt have quoted this incident -I feel it is actually quite irrelevant to the question and the situation does not really qualify as a failure. )

Finally Mr.Sanjay aksed me if I had questions for the panel.

I asked him the following
1.You are facing an increasing no of applicants each year. Do you think you would be able to invest so much of time and energy in evaluating an applicant as
thoroughly as you currently are? If tomorrow you had say 1.5 L appl just like the IIMs, would you stil be able to give each applicant a fair chance as you currently do?
2.Would experience be a major criterion while selecting ppl for the wharton global consulting practicum? Your website mentions a competitive process through whichstudents are selected for W-GCP. Could you please explain to me the process?

I received a very diplomatic answer for the first question.Answer to the second question was pretty detailed and satisfactory.

After this I thot I ll stop questioning them but then my curiosity got the better of me and I asked Mr.Sanjay "Could you please tell me how to apprach the case
question you asked me? "

He laughed and said "If i did, I knw it will be on your blog tomorrow " But after a moment of hesitation he glanced at Amitesh and said "Ok. Let me tell you this much at least. When I told you about the pen, did it not strike you to ask me what the pen 's cost was? "

I lierally wanted to remove my shoe and hit myself .. How Could I Have missed such a basic thing? I wondered.. I could do nothing but flash a big smile at
Mr.Sanjay and concede that my common sense defied me today "

He smiled at me and said ," All that we look for is a structured thot process"

And then he said it was a pleasure interviewing me and I said this interview has been a great experience for me too...

I shook hands and left the room... A moment later , I realised I had forgotten to give them my essay sheet.My topic was "The election comission of India ".I went
back , knocked and went in.. Mr.Sanjay aplologised for not remembering to collect it during the interview itself.."

And then the Ordeal ended...

And personally I feel so has my ISB saga. :-)

Overall feeling: I should have prepared a lot more on case interviews because i goofed up big time on this one. and the interview panel made it very clear to me that they werent happy with my performance on this front. To an extent they even made sarcastic comments on the same.

But I must confess I had a great experience interviewing with them and in fact found the interview very interesting ... I maintained a cheerful disposition all the time, at least i dint feel intimidated by the fact that I didnt do the case question well.. "

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 7

This is the interview experience of Mr. A, part of our Hyderabad Yahoo Group, whose interview was on 30-11-2006 at ISB, Hyderabad

"At abt 3:30 I was called in by Hema - there was also another alumcalled SriRam

The first question was "Whats your job at Genpact ?" I answereed it to my satisfcation but later I felt I could have added more...Next was on my endeavour to be a business man and some questionsrelated to it - I goofed up multyplying 3300 * 6000 - can u beat it ?This was my market size. On a pesimestic note they can think that Idont know abt the market size I am talking abt and on the optimisticside they can think I am careless at making calculations .....Next there was some question regarding market size of LPG ditributorsin India and how I would service them using my ITES idea.Next why ISB and why MBA at ISB ... then followed by some questionsrelated to my intentions on joining ISB ...Then some questions on my achievement - and finally some questionsfrom me ...At the end of it - I think I was able to give answers to most of the questions they asked.Then they asked me few questions related to my business idea .I feel I could have done better with some more time - but no regrets ! Fingers crosssed.

My impression abt ISB: They want to verify and understand what u have done and then evaluate.... most imp that u shud think u r the one ....I am hopeful and wish I make it !"

All the best to him.

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 6

This is the interview experience of one of the members of our Core Group from Hyderabad, Ms. S, a young and energitic girl, whose interview was on 30-11-2006 at ISB, Hyderabad


Her Profile:

GMAT - 710 (AWA - 5.5)
Btech CSE - JNTU(affiliated)
Exp: 1.6 yrs
Spikes in my Profile IT -> FMCG
Diverse and multi-faceted extra ciricular activities
Naval officers daughter -> Naval Life

"Interview time : 4:20 (wonder why that particular number... chaar sau bees:)) )
Went an hour early and met a couple of other shortlisted candidates.
Myessay topic:Tsunami!!
Panel 1 and had two adcoms Mr. Sanjay Singh and Mr. Amitesh.(For women: I wore chudidar but the few others i met were in suits)

Interview:(After i greeted them with a handshake and a smile...)
1. Questions on my hobbies - salsa, jive etc.
2. Was awarded "Ms. Creativity" so loads of questions on why, how it linksup to present.. etc etc
3. How do i deal in cases where i have an idea but my team doesnt agree withit? How do i deal with the dissapointment if no one agrees(the questionsafter this were so much more along this line...)
4. After this why i left my previous comoany, questions on joining my current one.(I have moved from IT - Tech Support to FMCG - Marketing)
5. Projects in the current role... truckload of other questions related toone of the projects i had done.
6. Lastly, about my second project.I spent the next ten mins getting my questions answered.

Interview lasted with my questions : 35 mins.

My two cents--------------------* As the interview is very "conversation" type, use it and channel theinterview to your plus points.* Prepare with the positives in you that havent come out well in your application or you havent mentioned. I actually wrote them on 3 x 4 cards,and memorized them so that they were in my thoughts at all times* Mirror is your best friend. Practice practise practise* Smile like you are in a close up ad. Kidding, just be energetic and showyour passion for MBA and ISB. "

i hope all the members of the Core Group will make it.

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 5

Here is the interview experience of JSR - held at at ISB, Hyderabad on 30-11-2006


"The questions were basically revolved around my experience (private sector and public sector - 10 years).
Why MBA now ?
With current qualification you may get a job in the company I mentioned in my covering letter for CV, then why MBA ?.
How your sub-ordinates like/dislike you for two qualities which you possess. Question on a weakness.
How you cope with a guys in study group, who are much younger to you (I am 37)
How you cope with pressures by different people, political, (as our department involved in subsidy schemes ?

If you do not get a suitable placement after ISB what r your plans ? etc.."

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 4

The interview experience of Mr. AK, held on 30-11-2006 at ISB, Hyderabad is as under:

"I reached there at 9:15. Was asked to write short essay on 'Tsunami'. Called for interview sharp at 10. I was interviewed by Joseph (American) and Raju in my Panel 1.

First question from one incidence in my first essay. Raju grilled me on that. I felt like they did not believe me what I had mentioned.

Second question - my carrer switched, Why I changed companies so fast in my carrer. Another question on that.

Fourth question - Joseph asked about one incident when I felt most distressed. I told about how I felt distressed when 911 happened (I was in US that time).

Next question - Joseph said assume he is Bin Laden, now I need to talk to him for 5 minutes. I didnt do well on this.

Fifth - What was the most challenging situation from my work. Answered this well.

Sixth - What do you consider your most significant achievement.

Last - Any questions for us?

It lasted for 25 minutes."

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 3

Here is the interview experience of Mr. KK, one of our Core Group member, held on 29-11-2006 at Hyderabad.

"Finally the wait is over.

1. The 50-100 word essay is like a soup. It increases your apetitie and gets you started, but actually is not counted as part of the whole meal. My topic was on "Adventure" and I wrote couple of paragraphs with one main point. So don't worry about the essay.

2. I was interviewed by panel 2, which consisted of Mr. Sanjay Singh and Mr. Amitesh, no students/alumni. You must have seen both of them if you have attended the info sessions.

3. The opening was quite smooth. Amitesh came out of the room and asked me if I am ready for the interview and I said yes. He opened the door for me and led me inside.

4. Mr. Sanjay started the proceedings by saying that before we ask any questions can you explain few things from your Resume. And from that point the whole discussion was about the career shifts that I made.

5. They gave me enough opportunity to explain my career progression and in the middle I handed them over my latest Business Card. This new position was not mentioned in my application as I made this change after Oct 3rd.

6. Few points they wanted to get my understanding was about:

1. Why MBA and Why ISB? As I mentioned that I am looking HR Consulting Mr. Sanjay asked me why not XL. I mentioned my take on that. I did mention the research that I did and the opinions I got from others.

2. Second Mr. Sanjay said that no HR consultancy company comes to ISB for recruitment and you may be the only one without a job at the end. To this I said getting a job is not an issue at all for me. It's just a question of being able to show the value that I can bring to the organization/ position.

3. Mr. Amitesh asked me about some technical aspects of training for which I replied satisfactorily. The he asked a slightly away question related to cross cultutal adaptaion related to training concepts, specifically psychometric instruments. To this I answered that I have not worked in depth in that area.

4. Lastly they tried to understand how clear I am about the program and I used this opportunity to mention about my family and how it can benefit not only me but also my daughter (6 yrs old) :).

At that point they looked at the watch and said we have slightly overshot the time and said nice meeting you and bye.

My advice to applicants with less experience: Try to project why you took a certain career decision in a positive and passionate way. At the end you know passion wins over logic.

All in all it was a good experience and all my anxiety is now gone and the wait for Dec 15th starts now, which happens to be my 31st Birthday. Hope this Birthday will give me the best gift I ever received.

Do go in formal attire, though it is not mandatory, you know it is always better, it shows your seriousness. Go little early and relax your nerves. "

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 2

Here is the extract of interview experience of Mr. L on 28-11-2006 at Hyderabad

" Went with formals with tie.
(saw two ladies, one soo casual in a churidhar and the other one in formal trouser and shirt)Guys.. .......do stick to what ever u would feel comfortable.

Essay topic:(50 to 100 words) - Government of India.
Got lot of time to write.Nearly 30 mins
Went inside the room 15 mins past 5pm ,met Ms Hema and other two guys(dont remember their names).

Questions:
1.Do you like your job at DRDO?Why?
2.Why i joined DRDO after graduation?whatz the motivation behind that?
3.Explain about any of your accomplishments so far.
4.Why MBA?Why ISB?
5.Short/long term goals
6.About proficiency in German (They asked meaning for few words).
7.About difficulties faced in handling teams.How i over came?

So... most of the questions asked were quite usual and normal.I felt that they didnt understand my job functions (Much in technology Development) . They were bit expression less also.I dont have any idea how good i did.Its a mixed feeling.
Lets wait and see... "

Hyderabad Interview Experience - 1

Now I am posting the first interview experience of domestic candidate, Mr. GP, who was interviewed on 28-11-2006 at Hyderabad, as under:


"Here it goes:

Interview Environment:

I felt the setting in Hyderabad at least was very informal. There were three people - One Alumni, One more person, and Ms Hema. (I think she is from ADCOM). All of them were dressed casually and I was dressed in a formal suit and Tie. ( Kind of felt Odd).

Essay Topic:

They gave me an essay to write about 50-100 words on INDIAN POST. I wrote it in 10-15 mins.

The Interview:

- first Surprise: No Standard questions . No “why ISB, “, WHY MBA …none of these sort.

They directly started with my work experience.

- Why dot want to join Infosys and not cognizant?
- Why did not you join Infosys in campus recruitment at NIT Trichy?
- What was your experience in Ireland??
- Tell me something about Ireland as country?
- Tell me about a conflict situation and your learning from it.
- Are Indians more comparable with Irish folks or folks from USA?
- If your team members were to tell two strength and two weaknesses about you, what would they tell?
- So you read – philosophy, but you are young to read such books?
- Why do you like Ayn Rand’s philosophy, don’t you think it’s too selfish?
- One tricky questions that I could answer to their satisfaction:
In your essay you have written that “Together everyone achieves more,” but you support Ayn Rand’s philosophy, isn’t that conflicting?

Any questions for us.?

Conclusion:

Overall I think I did ok but could have done a lot better for some questions. "

International Interview Experience - 4

I am posting the interview experience of Mr. A, whose interview was on 25-11-2006.

"It started with writing an essay in 50 - 100 words on the topic "Happiness". :-) The interview itself was not really intensive. Just a couple of times, I felt that they were trying to put me on the defensive, but I do not really know how I did. :-)

With me, they basically tried to link my prior work experience with my future plans post-ISB. I guess they focused on this aspect because I mentioned a career-switch post MBA.

The final question was: "What will you do if you are not selected for ISB"? I did not know how to interpret the question. I hate to think they REALLY meant it.
;-)

All in all, a good one to go through. "

One more aspect from the interview experiences posted in this blog is that nobody is clear how they did in the interview and most of them had 'feel good' interviews. In these circumstances, we can only do one thing "keep your fingers crossed".