"Encounters Of The Third
Kind!!!"
- by Anuj Arora *
When Spielberg uncle made this movie long back, I guess he
would've never guessed that his movie would be a great inspiration for these
famous management institutes in India called IIMs!!!
Surprisingly, I got a call from three of these coveted
institutes - A, B & C, and even more surprisingly, got selected in one of them,
usually called the toughest of them all and best of them - IIM-A!!! Now don't
ask me how I made it, because even I'm trying my best to get the elusive answer.
Let me relive those moments of glory... Sorry I got lost in
those moments!!! But I'm back & kicking. So we were called for GDPI for IIM-A in
IIFT. Great building but not as great as of IIM-A. So there were loads of
students called for GDPI, ratio is usually 1:8. Let's not discuss stats for now
because they only discourage you!! To my expectations, I found a lot of fellow
engineer "bhailog" from variety of institutes including the IITs. Why can't
these geeks settle for something less than IIMs??? So now we should proceed to
the GD first!!
A group of eight students are called for GDs in various rooms
to be courted by different panels simultaneously. (I mean mass-slaughter!!!) In
IIM-A, there is always a case study given to be discussed. The group is usually
seated around a table, which can be of L or U or straight-line type of shape!!
It helps if you are seated in the center because then you can have others'
attention easily, otherwise it helps if you can raise your decibel level, but it
shouldn't sound like shouting. Try to have a "cultured" GD - that's what my
institute people told me.
So to my disdain, I got a corner-seat (the seating
arrangement is pre-set by institute people.) We were given five minutes to
gather our thoughts on a piece of paper and then after a command of "START" by
the panelist, the mayhem began!!! There are a lot of things seen in a GD. Such
as who initiates the GD, but initiating doesn't guarantee better points. The
grasp of the topic, communication skill (try not saying Hindi words in between),
the quality of points raised, being a good listener (it helps a lot because a no
of times, students say wrong facts or otherwise and you can capitalize on it by
saying with sugar coated voice: - " My friend! I would differ with you on this
statement because� "!!! But don't cut other's points just for the sake of it.
Take control of your body movements as well, like moving both hands while
talking sometimes gives an impression that you are dusting a blackboard!!
Sometimes you can be asked to give "summary" or "personnel
views" about the topic. There is difference between the two, and please be
precise. You don't have to recite the whole "ramayan."
Usually, the panel present in the GD would be there in
interview. So they know how you have performed, so try being nice, but assertive
and forceful.
The main thing is that in a GD, it's not the quantity of time
spoken that counts but the quality of what you've spoken.
In the GD, there can be a variety of topics, i.e., based on
latest happenings, for example - "Iraq war", conceptual kind, for example - "If
you don't manage the time, then time will manage you." Or totally abstract, for
example - "Who needs education???" Or "Yesterday's gone, tomorrow hasn't come,
and we've got today." These are previously given topics in IIMs!! So to prepare
for these, what you need is "knowledge". You can't prepare in the last one
month. So prepare slow & steady. If you don't have the habit of reading
newspapers and magazines regularly, develop it. Reading CSR would also help. If
you read INDIA TODAY, then have a reason for why not OUTLOOK or FRONTLINE. This
habit would be helpful for both GD and PI.
Now moving to next stage of the slaughter, i.e., interview!!!
I was the first to be called in my group, so obviously considered myself as
"Guinea pig" for the whole group, but as there was no choice, "I was ready to
rock and roll!!" The panel size is usually 2-3, but as I told you earlier, don't
let facts effect you!! Another important thing is "don't loose your smile, no
matter what." Even if you don't answer four questions in a row but can
confidently answer the fifth one, you are in the race.
So talking about my interview, they started off straight with
academics (all my preparation for the introduction thing went waste.) They asked
me which subjects I had and started off!! About academics, the important thing
is that you can't prepare for everything, especially engineers (being myself
one, obviously I'll be biased and sympathetic), prepare at least 2-3 subjects,
they may ask you your favourite subject and then say, "That's not my favourite
subject, tell some other subject." So if you've prepared just one, you are gone.
So better have a backup.
Coming back to my interview for non-engineers, the questions
may sound out of the world, but notice that to which level they expect you to
know. It's mainly how strong your basics are and if you are able to put them in
practical situations. So I mentioned MICROPROCESSOR as one of the subjects. The
questioning went as follows: -
1) Anuj, what is a microprocessor?
Anuj) $&%^$^%&%*&(*&%&^%&%^$^$^*
2) What is the difference between a processor and microprocessor?
Anuj) @#^%#^%$#^&*%*&*&&#$%&@(*^
3) How do you fabricate this microprocessor?
Anuj) Sir, we use PLANAR TECHNOLOGY!!!
4) What do you do in this technology?
Anuj) Sir, we use a SIO2 layer.
5) From where do you get this layer?
Anuj) We've electro-graded silicon &#$&#Y^&^%$#^$^%^$#^$^
6) From where do you get this electro-graded silicon?
Anuj) We've metal graded silicon & $#$#&$#&&^$#^$^#$&#$^%
7) From where do you get this metal graded silicon?
Anuj) We've silicon & %*$%$#&$#$#&$#&
8) From where do we get this silicon?
Anuj) %&&&%%%##$&#$#%$#&$#$
9) What next?
Anuj) We have epitaxial layer & $&^&^&%&%%$#&$#$
10) Anuj, while using all these layers, in what form are they?
Anuj) They are in molten form and then they ^*&^%&^%$#&$#$%$#
11) While in molten form, are they like iron sheets or what?
(Now I had had enough and was pissed off, but naturally smiling on the
outside!!!)
Anuj) Sir, in book it's given till only this level!!!
UFFFFFFFFF!!! As you would've noticed, they see that to what
level you can tolerate the third degree torture. When you answer a question,
expect some more coming. What the panel does is that they see to what extent you
can answer, because sooner or later, they will make you say, "SIR, I DON'T
KNOW!!!" The latter the better. No superficial knowledge. Deep knowledge.
Same way it goes for hobbies!!! Let me tell you that when you
mention hobbies, have thorough knowledge about it, otherwise you are gone. Do
extra research, which will stand you out from others.
A lot of people say music. Now that's very vague! Be
specific! For example, I said YANNI!!! Now I had his life history mugged up, his
past, his music style, and name of albums, largest-selling album, and why I like
his music. Prepare well for hobbies, because take my word, it'll be dissected.
Important thing in interview is EYE CONTACT!!! Hey, I don't
mean eve-teasing. Look confident. The other thing is "never contradict
yourself." Once you've taken a stand, be strong and face the wind, but stay put.
Another important thing - whenever they say, "TAKE ANOTHER
GUESS!!!" it's a booby-trap, don't fall in it. If you are not sure, don't fluke.
But unfortunately, I made this mistake. FLUKING IN IIM-A INTERVIEW??? Yes
readers, I consider myself lucky that I made it, because to cover-up, I had to
fluke another four times. Actually I was asked Mount Everest's height. By bad
luck, I had no clue!! First answer was 10,000 feet. Was asked to take another
guess. (Booby-trap!!! Don't fall for it!!!) I took another guess, and after that
there were three more questions regarding that. Now both panelists and I knew I
was trapped. But I was in a gladiator mood. I defied all reasoning and logic,
and answered with confidence and smile. I didn't back out. I knew that only way
out of this mess is that pretend that nothing has happened and stay cool.
Although I would highly recommend that you don't make this mistake, and if
pressure gets you, and you make the mistake, DON'T PANICK!!! Face the music, but
stay cool. This is what they see that if you make a mistake, how do you handle
it? Do you've the guts to back up your wrong statement? Because not every time,
you'll know the answer. Also I couldn't answer a couple of questions. Don't let
it ruin the rest of the interview.
Other thing is not to let panelists' expressions make you
feel let down, because they will try to discourage with occasional sneer and odd
comment. Just smile and ignore. No matter how bad is the comment, "BE BESHARAM
YAAR!!!"
So I think, enough for now, and best of luck to all for the
written and GDs and PIs!!! If you want to give any comments on the article you
are most welcome, and you think of anything else, it would be helpful?
AS ARNIE BHAI RIGHTLY SAID, SO DO I SAY IT: - "I'LL BE
BACK!!!"
