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.IIMA interview
Center: Mumbai. Date: 9/02/2024
Profile: GEM (Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur + 2.5 years work experience in core R&D)
Panel: 3
P1: Swanand Deodhar (Information systems)
P2: Neharika Vohra (Organisational Behaviour)
P1 brought us too the panel room and gave us sheet for writing AWT answers. We were given 20 mins overall to read and write the answer.
AWT: Giving tight deadlines for projects is beneficial and breeds creativity because it makes people focus on problems than wasting time on managing resources and risks.
Find out the assumptions in above para and critically analyse by giving counter points.
After that each candidate was called based on his serial number.
P2 asked first: you’re unemployed right now?
S: Yes ma’am.
P1: Why left your job?
S: Told about the long term career aspirations and constraints in my job.
P1: Why left Mahindra?
S: Gave my reasons.
P1: What kind of robots do you make?
S: Told the history of my previous company and talked about products.
P1: Why did the company pivot in medical devices?
S: Explained.
P1: What is the benefit of smart medical devices over standalone? Try to sell the smart devices to me as a customer.
S: Gave a few pointers. (P1 seemed satisfied)
P1: What is the infrastructure needed to make all the data streamlined among the different kinds of devices?
S: I couldn’t answer clearly. Took around 20 seconds to think then just gave 1 point, to which P1 was not convinced.
P1: How to cut the infra cost of all the data transfer?
S: Similar response. I tried to give something he didn’t look so convinced.
P2: Is this the same company which made a ventilator in 40 days?
S: Yes
P2: Did you work with Shrikant Shastri?
S: Yes
P2: Your profile looks good on paper. However I am not sure why should we give you a seat in our institute. Convince me that you’re a good candidate for MBA?
S: Gave a prepared answer. (Not sure whether P2 liked it or not. No expressions or eye contact)
P2: You have studied in prestigious institutions, and again you’re aspiring to getting into one. What did you give back to the society?
S: Told about how I utilised my engineering learnings to make products which were ultimately used by the society and saved lives.
P2: What extracurricular activities you did?
S: Told. There was a mention of dance.
P2: Why Natu Natu song is famous even when it is not good it quality?
S: Talked about how the collective taste of society is not always the best. Most of the times it is average or below average.
P2: Then why don’t people do just average things and why strive for excellence at all?
S: Talked on the lines – the inner consciousness is something which most of the times drives people for excellence and not the rewards and pleasures from society. Excellence is not always a pleasurable experience.
P2: (Seemed to like the answer) That’s an interesting point of view. We will think about it.
P1: Have a toffee.
2.NMAT 235
Acads : 97/95/95
30 months work ex
Morning slot 10 Feb
2M in panel
Interview was around 15 mins.
1)Tell us about yourself.
Told them abt my clg,job and internships
2)U have an internship from IIM Ahmedabad in software development , what did you do there ? How did it help the students there?
3)Your current job is in Tata Power, how did you help in digital transformation in the organization ?Any project?
4)Consider us to be owners of small MSMe .Pitch us to convince to digitalize our work .
5)How do you feel economics plays a role in strategy of organizations?
6)Tell us about the recent budget ? Who is the Finance Minister of India??
Rest all questions were technical and were asked for my specialization in btech that is cybersecurity .
3. SIBM GEPI EXPERIENCE
Profile- Fashion tech, fresher
GE- A topic is given with 3 choices, select which choice is best and prepare short term goals, resources needed, potential challenges and a long term goal.
Topic- How to tackle digital media addiction?
Options- create and enforce tech free zones
– Creation of app design in such a way to prevent overuse( not the exact words)
– Promotion of screen time management applications.
Interview:-
2 male panelists, 50+.
M1- TMAY
-Fashion is a unique field, why do you want to do MBA and get a generalised degree?
(Went on to explain my answer)
– I will not take your one point where how you will fit in from fashion, how is that relavant?
(Explained to him how my interest lies in operations and the tools and techniques are common in all the industries)
A few more cross questions on the same.
– If a bank offers you a finance role for let’s say, 25LPA, and a fashion company offers you 21LPA, what would you choose and why?
Over to the 2nd panelist.
M2- Asked about my graduation project and then further clarifications on that.
– Asked upon my interest in arms and ammunition and went on to test gK knowledge on US incidents and gun laws. Asked for my opinion on them.
– How did you come across rescuing animals?
– Are you trained in handling snakes?(NO)
Over to M1
M1- What other calls do you have?(answered)
– What would be your choice if you get selected in all?
Then greeted me and interview ended, went on for about 10-15 minutes, no grilling, as they said it would be an interaction.
4.IMI Delhi PI,
Profile: BA Hons. Journalism, Fresher
3 Female Penalists
1F: Introduce yourself
answered
Why MBA after Journalism?
told.( because I have interest in marketing)
Why do you think Marketing is right for you?
told.
4P’s of marketing.
Difference between 4P’s of product marketing and 4P’s of service marketing.
I said I can’t remember as of now.
She rephrased the question as
Difference between challenges in product based marketing and service based marketing.
Told.
Some women is business acumen other than shark tank ones?
told.(Indra Nooyi and Sudha murthi)
What company is Sudha Murthi associated with?
told.
Who is direct competitor of Pepsico?
CEO of Pepsico?
One instance when I used my creative instincts at internships.
P2: What are your area of interests in current affairs
told (Geopolitics)
She gave an extempore topic “Impact of some ongoing geo political affairs on India”
told.
What is the current GDP of India?
told.
Who is foreign minister of India?
told.
Asked me if I have some questions.
I asked a few and that’s where the PI was concluded.
3rd Penalist didn’t speak much.
4.IIMS Interview
Extempore topic- Bread and butter
(told about how its the basic and most satisfying food one can have, versatile nature and adaptable nature of bread and butter etc) 2mins to think 3 to speak.
Qtns related to workex: Your role, challenges in your industry, what government initiatives are taken, how would you want to change some things in your industry, if you get some capital which industry would you choose to invest and how will you change.
General awareness: business news (except paytm) , pakistan economy, new elections etc
in depth questions about what your family does and how did you manage finances being an ews candidate etc (be well prepared about your family’s occupation etc)
hobbies and why did you pursue it
Chill but grilled for ews part.
#IIMS
5.IIM A Interview
10th Feb, Mumbai
AWT – Radha and Ishan are saying that people are focusing too much on changing names of airports and expensing money. They should put their money in to improving the service quality of establishments rather than this. Provide what assumptions they are making and counter the arguments given by them. (Not the exact story)
You have changed 4-5 organisations in the past 3-4 years? Why is that?
What are you doing currently? What is your role?
How do you project financials? Do you use any statistical tools?
What kind of analysis you do do?
The capacity expansion you are talking about? How do you know it will sustain? Because you can’t return the machineries.
Why do you think the demand for paper packaging will increase? Is it cheaper than plastic? Said no.
So if it’s not cheaper, then it’s not good?
Why is paper better than plastic?
Can you tell me how a bond is priced? Can you write the formula? What is required rate of return? Which corporations issue bonds? Why bonds and not loans? What is the expected coupon rate of a bond if Tata issues it?
What do you like to do apart from work?
Dance- which form? Why do you think freestyle is gaining prominence and not classical styles?
Singing- have you learnt it? Which forms of classical singing are there?
Mentioned about cartooons – which type of cartoons? Said a few cartoon characters.
Okay analyse doraemon.
Is it not someone who just provides gadgets to his friend to rescue him? I consider it as a very bad thing. What do you think?
Drew a parallel to current technologies- has benefits and negatives.
A lot of cross questioning in this. Spoke about chat gpt as well.
Do you read news? What’s happening in the world? Apart from the Israel Hamas war.
Mentioned – Paytm, budget, said no.
Russia Ukraine? Yes
What has happened in the last 10 days in the war?
What if we replace Putin with Doraemon?
What if Putin dies? What will ukraine do? Will the war stop? Who’s supporting Putin? will Ukraine try to capture russia after that? What is NATO?
Which countries are a part of it?
Do you have any questions for us?
6.NMIMS Interview Experience 2024
8 Feb, Afternoon
NMAT – 272
GEM with 9 months workex
WAT – Why is violence against women a burning topic in India? (200-300 words, 20 mins, to be submitted through a google form) (note that an essay is already given that explains much of the premise to the question, and you’re expected to present your answer keeping the essay given in mind, in a more analytical fashion)
Followed by Watson Glaser test (30 mins, 40 questions)
PI -> P1 – Female, P2 – Male, both in their late 30s
P2 – (Judging from my name) So are you from Andhra Pradesh?
P2 – What is the capital of AP?
P2 – Give us a little brief about your work ex
P2 – What is the specialization you’re interested in
P2 – Wherever there is a customer, you have grievances. How do you resolve those?
P2 – What do you understand about PPP
P1 took over the questioning at this point
P1 – What do you understand about Sustainability
P1 – Have there been any measures taken by the UN to address corporates in their sustainability stance
(Was trying to talk about COP)
P1 – Let me rephrase the question, are there any measures taken up corporates themselves
(When mentioned about net zero pledges by various firms, she asked to mention any mandatory regulations)
P1 – What was the specialization that you were mentioning before?
P1 – Alright we are trying to estimate your business knowledge, what is insider trading
P1 – do you know of any recent scandals of insider trading
(Mentioned that I didn’t know any from the recent past, but mentioned one from the 2000s)
P2 – mention any corporate scandal from the recent past
(Fumbled as I was thinking about something recent, I asked for some time to think but came up with SVB collapse but P1 said that that wasn’t relevant here. P1 then offered some cookies which I politely declined)
P2 – Do you know about what Lalit Modi has done?
The panel thanked me and asked me to leave
Overall a short interview of about 10+ mins, where I felt that they were picking up points from my SOP but then wandering off to some not-so-related questions. Otherwise a friendly panel with not much grilling
#NMIMS
7.GLIM Interview Experience
Date- 09/02/2024
1M and 1F
TMAY
What were you doing after completing graduation and till the time you joined Infy? (Oct 2020-Feb 2022)
— Answered
How many UTs in India?
— Answered
CM of Delhi?
— Answered
Paytm issue, and how can it be resolved?
— Answered
What work do you do in Infosys?
— Answered
Does Infy offer sabbatical? and will you go for sabbatical?
— Told them not yet decided for sabbatical.
Why MBA now when after 1 year you’ll be eligible for 1 year PGP program?
—Answered
What do you do in spare time?
You must be reading books or magazines and must be aware of current happenings.
—Manipulated them and got saved from GK.
MBA specialisation?
Told them marketing
She wanted to ask questions related to marketing and ask if I am aware of marketing.
I didn’t lie here and told her that I prepared myself for Marketing from Youtube and other platforms so yes I’ll try my best to answer.
What all calls do you have, and have you converted any?
Any questions for us?
I asked how will GLIM help in more practical aspect of managerial understanding rather than just focusing ok theoretical parts?
(17 mins approximately)
8.Spjimr: 8th feb 12:45pm Delhi
Calls for : PGDM Marketing (score-based)
9/8/8 Bcom 99.08%ile CAT’23
18 months work-ex Rice Export (Sales & Marketing)
WAT: Would you make money working on your own/job or would you rather win a lottery and retire at the age of 35? Explain reasons for your Choice.
20 min were given to write WAT then after 30 mins of wait we were called for GI1.
3 candidates in our panel. Other two were Bcom Hons. C1(9 month work-ex consulting) C2(fresher) C3(me). All were shortlisted for PGDM Marketing only.
Two panelists both female. Somewhere in their lates 30s.
Panel welcomed us for Spjimr Interview process gave us their short intro and then began questioning us one by one.
G1:
1. Introduce yourself within 1 min(All)
2. Why marketing? (All)
3. Which job role after MBA? C1
4. Which company? C1 said HUL and was cross-questioned on the same.
You want to learn so much. Why not join a startup wouldn’t that have a better learning curve?
5. What is STP? Types of Targeting? C1
6. What do you do at work? How did you get this job? C1 and C3
7. What was your role in college clubs? C2
8. What are 4 M’s of marketing? C2 and C3
C2: Mentioned about being VP of Women Development Club in college. And was asked what would he do to increase awareness on women menstrual hygiene?
9.Hobbies and interests? C3 mentioned about Indian Rap Music And Indian cinema.
10. After Covid-19 PVR sales went down, what would you do to bring that up? Cross-questioning. (All)
11. Fav Rapper? C3
12. Have you Heard of controversy between Raftaar and Emiway? C3
13. What type of marketing was it? C3
14. Any other e.g of similar rivalry marketing between two brands? C3
15. How would you use Youtube Analytics to increase traffic on your youtube channel? C3
16. Why the millennial shift from Facebook to Instagram happened? C3
17. Suppose we are two rival buyers of your product. You can sell only to one. Who would you choose and why? C3
18. How are you different from your competitors? C3
19. We are two of your buyers. Make us a sales pitch! C3
20. You are from Bcom would it be okay if we ask you some accounting concepts?C3
21. Have you studied marketing as a part of specialization in undergrad? C2 and C3
Okay we are done here, you may ask us questions if you have?
C2 asked about why Spjimr uses Purple color in its branding.
Overall the panel was quiet chill and respectful, even gave us time for recollecting our thoughts.
We were asked to wait for results of G1. In 10 min results came in. None of us moved to GI2
9.Goa Institute of Management
30 Minutes 300 Words
These were 2 topics for WAT in GIM
1. Role of influencer in marketing
2. Job hopping is because of the boss or incapable sub ordinate .
10.GIM Topic
1.Robots will rule the world
2. Should management schools relocate to rural areas and help in development of rural area
–> Going vegan. Trend or culture.
–> Stereotypes in films.
quality of employment vs employability
GIM WAT Topic
I got –
Woman role in leadership position
I got –
1) Should same sex marriages be legalized in India?
I got –
1) save 90% or spend 90%
2) an ideal living space
Some more topics GIM WAT
GIM wat topic
Fate of newspaper
Bollywood blockbuster movies
My wat topic-
1) Women participation in workforce.
2) A perfect living space
Ideal way of living
Home Assistants(alexa,etc..) and Privacy.
Click here to explore more interview experiences #13