Vivek Agarwal scored 93.4 percentile in CAT 2023 and is creating this page as a reference for future applicants who will clear the CAT exam or any other major exam in the future and want to prepare for GD PI or WAT but do not have many resources or a network that can help them prepare like Vivek does.
Vivek says, “I didn’t have many resources, but I prepared with whatever information I could find online. Later, I realized that applicants like me share their interview experiences in groups, and edtech giants use them to discern the trends of questions asked in interviews. Hence, I decided to share those experiences on this website, which could help you understand the pattern of questions asked in interviews and design your preparation plan accordingly. One request: if you find this helpful, please consider sharing the website and refrain from copying and sharing it elsewhere.
Keep these five things in your hand, as what experience says:
- Current affairs (Refer it through business and economics)
- Knowledge about your state and city. (videos on internet)
- Civics (politics) and position holders name
- Academics
- General HR
Click here to explore those interviews
The MBA interview, a pivotal moment in the application process, serves as a platform for candidates to showcase their potential beyond their written credentials. It’s a dynamic exchange where intellect, ambition, and personality intertwine. Candidates must articulate their career aspirations, demonstrate a deep understanding of their chosen field, and convey how an MBA aligns with their goals. Beyond the academic and professional journey, interviewers often seek glimpses of leadership, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. The interview is not just about answering questions but also about forging a connection, presenting oneself authentically, and leaving a lasting impression that distinguishes the candidate from the rest.
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The interview experience is listed down:
1.Gem 9/8/8 SPJIMR (Finance)
Gi1All 5 finance
1)Basic Intro-answered
2)What’s blockchain-answered
3)What’s the difference between hashing and encryption-Couldn’t answer
4)How do you decide to invest-Told many ratios
5)Explain P/E ratio and its significance-answered
6)How will you decide a stock is overvalued or undervalued-answered that using valuation methods, can find intrinsic value using DCF valuation
7)Tools for capital budgeting-answered
8)NPV vs IRR-what will you choose and why-answered
All 5 qualifiedGi2
1)Comment on the role Aamir Khan played in Tare Zameen Par vs his role as parent in Dangal
2)What would fulfil you?
3)Why do you want lose weight?
4)Why is Virat Kohli your model?
5)One word what are you afraid of?
6)One word on why Spjain?
7)Best thing about today?
8)What alternate profession would you chose if you have made a lot of money already?
9)ABC vs Sp Jain what will you choose?
2. NMIMS,
Profile: Integrated M.Sc. in Mathematics
Duration: 7-8mins
P1: Panellist 1, female
P2: Panellist 2, Male
P1: So, I see that you have done masters in Mathematics. Also you have done a lot of extracurricular activities, sports, NCC,.. From your profile I can make out that you are a proper sports person. Why do you want to do MBA now?
P2: You have mentioned something about wanting to do sports management, is that right?
– Told them about my long-term plan of starting a platform for underprivileged children in terms of sports.
P1: For that, there are also social management courses available which are great and you can pursue that.
(I seemed a little confused about social management)
P1: Have you heard about social management?
– Yes, but I haven’t done much research about it.
P1: Ok
P2: You have done masters in Mathematics, there are great research institute like TATA, did you not want to join them?- Told them that based on my experiences I was more interested in MBA.
P2: No, there is nothing wrong in wanting to do MBA, but did you not want to contribute to research?
P1: Don’t you think that we require more people like you in research who are good in mathematics?
– Yes, we do, but my interest lies more towards this field. – Mention that I prefer managing events and task and work with people .
P1: Yeah, there is nothing wrong in that. You have NCC ‘C’ Certificate, Did you not want to join the defence with it?
P2: If you had joined research institute like and worked with them, don’t you think that your mindset would have changed?
P1: What qualities do you posses with you NCC certificate
P1: You are from which place in Assam?
P1: Ok, you’re from Tinsukia, do you know of any NGOs in Tinsukia?
P2: There are wrestling champions, they are generally from Haryana, Punjab .. maybe there is something to do with their body or build up. In which field of sports do you think that people of northeast can excel in?
P1: where did you do your schooling from?
P2: Tell us about your parents.
P1: What will you do if your MBA plan does not work out?
P1: okay we are done with the interview, it was nice interacting with you.
(Both panellist were chill and it was a comfortable conversation.)
3.IMI, New Delhi
2 Female panelists
F1- Strategy and management
F2- Accounting and finance
F1
TMAY
Everything about company
Company ‘s Headquarters
What is my Role?
Instance of leadership.
#Extempore topic- How digitization helps remote areas with an example from your current role.
Any recent trade agreement of India with any other country.
3 organizations that helps in trade
What is WTO?
F2
No of union territories and states in India Last formed union territory and state
Industry and commerce minister
4.Profile fresher ECE engineer male
Why MBA after engineering?
Why IMT?
Chairman of planning commission?
What does planning commission do?
Finance commissioner of India?
Chief security advisor?
How is Indian Economy now?
What are your views on unemployment?
Fiscal and monetary policy?
How is gdp calculated?
Difference between pgdm and MBA
Nothing related to grad
5.NMIMS MUMBAI
PANELIST: 1M 1F in their 50’s
My background: B COM HONS, Delhi University, Fresher graduated in 2023
F: What did you do between May to Jan(as i graduated in may)Told
F: Why were you not able to land a job despite being from DU. Told
F: Whom do you follow for finance. Told
F: What did you learn today in finance. Told
F: What is DCF. Told
Now she asks the male panelist to carry forward the interview
M: What do you do apart from studying and finance
Told
I like playing and watching Cricket
M : Who won the match today between India and England
Told
M: Who was the MOM
Told
M: how many wickets did he take
Told
M: Asked me what is your playing style in cricket and role model
Told
F: What type of physical exercises do you do
Told
F: What is this new trend of high intensity workout
Told
F: What is whey protein
Told
Finish.
6.#NMIMS MUMBAI (MBA)
Mode: WAT/Watson Glaser/PI Offline*
Profile #Hotelmanagement
89/72/75/ 7 mon
Work Ex as Shift Manager in Paradise Biryani/97.28%ile
Documents : call letter
#WAT TOPIC :Should B-School play a role in building ethics and moral compass of future business leaders.
P1: Male, around 50s
P2: Female, around 30s
P1: Introduce yourself.
P1: You want to be a brand manager, and you did internship from Hilton Jaipur. What would you do as a brand manager of Hilton to differentiate and improve your brand image.
P1 : Tell me what is yield management.
P1 : what is the difference between a brand and product
P2 : What problem did you face as shift manager during your job?
P2 : Asked about the research project made during UG. What was it about.
P1 & P2 : That’s it. You can leave.
Both panellists were calm, smiling and the interview was conversational.
7.Scmhrd BA
GEM with 30 months workex then gap 8 months .
profile 9/8/8 and snap 96.5
Work experience:- Non – IT
Lady :-
1) how are you ? Tell me about yourself.
2) Why switch from petroleum and why BA
3) Biggest achievement personal or professional any
4) How BA is useful to consumers
5) How u used analytics in PNGRB (gov)?
6) Other calls , core calls etc..
7) Cross questions in above questions.
Male :-
1) So you know chiromancy. I think I know it by palmistry ( he was aware about lines) Tell me in percentage of things you see in palm to come to conclusion lines everything.
(Justification questions etc in it )
2) guesstimate:- No of person for lift
8.IMT Ghaziabad #Agriculture graduate
#CT – Generative AI, it’s benefits and impacts
Two panelists (Both Male)
Q1: You are the last person for today interview. How do you feel about it. What are the benefits and negatives of being last
Q2: What are others talking about our panel
Q3: Tell me 2 questions that i asked to last person we interviewed ( As I said I heard about interview for the person before me who is also an agri graduate )
Q3: We have every detail about you. Tell us something that is not in your form ( This is the second question they asked the person before me )
Q4: Tell us about the 2 key problems faced by farmers
Q5: You have to set up a company to address those problems. What is you plan ?
Q6: You are given 20 farmers in a village. How will you change their approach to new methods of farming from traditional methods
Q7: As there is internet penetrating in every corner of india. Do you think it is really necessary to educate them about modern methods of farming
Q8: You said that you are interested in cricket, what is happening with India match now ( I said India won the match by 108 runs :D, panelists felt happy about India winning the match and talked to themselves about Ashwin have to wait another match to reach 500 wickets)
Q9: Apart from cricket what sport do you choose to make it popular in India which is not much famous now
Q10: How would you introduce discuss throw to IMT Hyderabad and make students here play that sport
Q11: A person with weight 39 to 49 kgs, will you recommend him to throw discuss
Q12: There is a piece of agriculture land. But someone wants to construct cricket stadium in that field. What will you do ?
Q13: One last personal question, Did you wore the same blazer that the person before you wore ( I said no sir this is my blazer, All of laughed )
Overall, it’s more like a conversation. No grilling. No current affairs. I think answering clearly and confidently helped me a lot.
9.IMT Gzb.
Location: Bhopal
BE #Mechanical Engineering with
2.5 Years Of Workex in #IT MNC
CT: The Pandemic resulted in a lot of Supply Challenges. What were those challenges and what strategies to improve them?
Panel- 1F(Young maybe in early 30s)/1M(was in his 40s or 50s)
Female panelist
1. TMAY without including your educational details.
2. You completed 10th from ICSE and 12th from CBSE, what difference do you find in the two boards?
3. You have decent work ex in IT, so why not continue in that, why do you want to pursue an MBA now?
4. Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line?
5. (As I mentioned I want to be a professional mentor and corporate trainer as well). Do you feel that in today’s time, new people in the industry follow mentors or it is more of a peer and societal pressure when they consider career choices?
6. The person you like the most other than your family member and why?
Male panelist
6. What was your Engg branch?
7. Asked about an AC in the room. Is it a mechanical or electronic device?(I told him that majorly mechanical but electronics is used in control)
8. Is the Automobile a purely mechanical device( I told a bit of hybrid, then he smiled and said then why AC is not hybrid)
9. What is plant Layout? What are different types of Layouts ( Could not answer properly)
10. What are the various types of inventory costs(I said that, I am not able to exactly recall at the moment, He sarcastically said that it seems are you too involved in your IT job. I said that these questions are related to operations management and I was more into Thermal and machine design subjects during engineering)
11. What is the difference b/w 2 and 4 stroke engines(Told correctly and he seemed satisfied)
12. Who is the current Law minister(I gave the wrong answer, but when he said are you sure? I told I was not.)
13. Who is the IT minister(Told)
Overall mam was chill and similing, but felt that sir was trying to grill. I think I should have revised Ops management as well from graduation.
10.IIM Shillong, MUMBAI
( All those appearing at Dadar you’ll have to enter from back gate as the main gate is under construction)
Afternoon Slot
My Profile: GEM,
2.5 Yrs. work ex in Toyo Engineering India Pvt. Ltd.(Japanese MNC)
#Extempore: 2 mins thinking time and 3 mins to speak
Professor maintains the timer and tells us to start.
Topic was ‘Kick the Bucket’
Interview Starts:
P1: What does your company do?
P2: So, It is a Japanese Company, can you tell me why the Japanese economy is not performing well in the past few years , like we don’t see many products coming in from Japan.
P1: So you are a Civil Engineer, Can you tell me how the reinforcement in the beam is arranged?
P1: Can you draw and show me cross section of beam.
Take an example and resolve the forces.
P1: Why is the reinforcement required at the top?
P1: Do you know India Maldives Issue, Explain me about it.
P1: So, Why the Maldives Government favoring China?
P1: Should India also give Loans to maintain Diplomacy
P2: What is your role in your Company?
P2: So why are you interested in PGP?
P1: So Some days you might be feeling drained from office work , Tell me one such challenging situation you faced.
P1: Okay you may go, Take a Toffee!!
Lasted for 25 mins.
Click here to explore more interview experiences #12
