Please share your WAT/PI experience. God will bless you
The new IIM interviews are supposed to start from today right ?
hi guys,
new delhi afternoon slot( 16 feb)
rajendra place, jaypee sidharth hotel
wat topic : current lifestyle reason for rising depression and feelings of dread in youth. state ur viewpoint
time for essay 20 min.
they asked some general questions like why MBA, introduce yourself, what happened in last 15 days worth of notice, would u say the current world is also an illusion, r u going to try for IAS too, how would u judge kejriwal as a leader, things like that
panel members were quiet chill. i said my interest as gaming(computer) so asked few things related to that. overall it was a nice experience. i hope they don't judge me based on my interest. and no questions related to academics whatsoever. hope it helps.
What all documents to be taken? Checked?
17th Feb - Mumbai (Dadar catering college)- Afternoon Slot.
Work Ex - 35 months (RIL-R&D)
Profile sheet was to be submitted and attendance sheet to be signed. No document verification though.
WAT : Is there a need for Human Intervention to preserve nature and wildlife? what steps should government take to preserve natural resources?
PI : People were divided into 4/5 slots. each slot had 5/6 aspirants.
I was the 2nd one to go. The first guy was grilled on "Why Finance" and asked questions related to finance.
Three panelists.
Questions sets:
Where are you from? Division of states between Maharashtra and Gujarat?
Work profile related questions. team skills. instances when you led a team and difficulties. Why not Mtech/PhD and Why management studies?
Hobbies? I told movies and reading books on management and psychology. Discussions on all the three one by one. It was like having a discussion with friends. No grilling.
GDP growth and recent changes made. News channels and content of news. Newspapers and what section you like.
Why MBA? which specialization? Career goals? Why those goals? Which new iim would you choose? Why should we select you? what will you bring to the class?
Question for us?
Duration - 25-30 mins. Didnt give me the toffee though 😉 😛
Advice for other applicants : Don't go by how the panel interviewed the previous guy. It all depends on how they perceive your profile form.
17th Feb - Mumbai (Dadar catering college)- Afternoon Slot.
Work Ex - 1.5 months
Profile sheet was to be submitted and attendance sheet to be signed. No document verification though.
WAT : Is there a need for Human Intervention to preserve nature and wildlife? what steps should government take to preserve natural resources?
I strongly agreed providing reasons. Also I took up the Salman Khan-black buck incident, mentioned of poachers and providing them education and job security(some how forgot Virappan), increase in number of national parks and sanctuaries(specifically included Jim Corbett as he was the pioneer), and concluded with a Kabir quote.
PI:
The interview session went well(I was able to answer everything except one). I was the penultimate fellow to be appearing for the interview in my batch. But I don't think they were even interested in me. The reason being all they asked me was what is my father doing, verticals in my company and whats my role, some details of my native place, NITI Ayog and Planning commission difference( I must say I answered it pretty well, but the interviewer looked baffled),which IIM would you select, what would you add to the class. According to me I answered each of the questions very well(I avoided selecting a single IIM.) In a span of 10-12 minutes, they said thank you, you can leave now if you don't have anything other to say.
I took that opportunity to give them an overview of my project. They were impressed by the the project, but I again repeat, they showed symptoms of as If they are not interested in me.
No questions such as Introduce yourself, why MBA, no technical questions. I have little hope to mention the least, may be because of low cat score(just above the cutoff).
What to answer if a panelist in the interview of new IIM's asks which IIM would you choose and why ?
19th Jan Afternoon Slot Delhi
Profile-99,75,88,88(cat,grad,12,10) GEM
Wat- something like foreign language vs local language being thought in Indian schools
PI- 2 male panelist
M1-tell me something about yourself that is not on your form
Me- Told
M2 starts shooting Technical questions
What is a transformer,Types of transformers,what is winding,what all materials are used,which one is better,what is a capacitor,what is a triode,difference between AC and DC,what is frequency(All this came because I'm from electronics background and have a family business of transformers)
Answered all of them
M1- Your hobbies?
Me- told
M1- what is the integration of cosec(x)
Me- I don't know
Now M1 starts shooting gk questions
What is per capita GDP,country with maximum and minimum per capita GDP,Largest automated port,Largest wind energy producer,Largest gasoline producer,What are Scandinavian countries,name a country of europe which has three names,most widely spoken language in europe,name all the neighbors of India
Answered 50-60 percent of questions
M2- You have calls from all 6 iims?
me- Yes
Thats all
I think i did decently well
All the best to those who are yet to appear
Date/Venue : 18/2/2015, Delhi (Jaypee Siddharth)
Slot : 1:30 PM
Reached well in time and filled the attendance sheet. The sheet had my panel number. Process started and candidates were sorted according to allotted panels and marched off to their respective panels' rooms. Once inside, we were asked to submit PI forms. (Do memorize your CAT registration number before handing it over 😛 ).
Then we were given WAT sheets - 20 minutes to complete WAT. Topic - "Future families will be disconnected across many geographies but connected through electronic media. What in your opinion will be the effect of this on family life?"
After WAT, we were asked to wait outside and come for PI one by one after being allotted serial numbers.
PI - Panel-(2 Male, 1 Female) - I was asked to justify my reasons to do MBA under the light of technical educational background. Then I was asked whether skills are gained through knowledge or experience. I chose experience and got caught! 😛 I was asked to justify then the need of an MBA for being a manager - > - unintentionally quoted Morpheus' dialogue of "knowing the path and walking the path", hope I don't get caught :P. Then I was asked what I meant from Nurture our Nature. Then I was asked whether I had worked for an NGO. I told about a donation made to Greenpeace. I was questioned on the nature of activities of Greenpeace. Told that it worked for better environment. Got corrected that it largely worked for tribal community. This sparked a discussion among panelists on the veracity of Greenpeace and its intentions as it had been accused of lobbying for companies funding it. For a few minutes I only sat and heard them discuss it out among themselves at the end of which one male panelist asked me to keep supporting Greenpeace :P. Finally, I was asked if I had any questions. I asked which IIMs apart from IIM Kashipur were planning to move to new campuses and when? 😛 The answer was not clear but I was told that IIM Ranchi is facing trouble in this regard because of uproar from tribal community in the area - 😛 😛
A largely chilled out interview experience was shared by most of the other candidates. Interviews were quite short too, rarely exceeding 15 minutes.
ATB Puys!!
My process begins at 1:30 pm. By what time will I be free ?
hey puys
new delhi morning slot( 17 feb)
rajendra place, jaypee sidharth hotel
wat topic : should we invest on health education or on health drugs and how?
time for essay 20 min.
Two panelist both male they asked me how was your day,what do you want to do in life, what happened in last 15 days worth of notice, do you know about jan dhan yojna, american nuclear deal with india
panel members were quiet chill. i said my interest as opening hospitals across the states and explained it how. i pushed them to ask something about my acads but they were pretty much relaxed and chill out..finger crossed..!!
Is the personal data form being provided at the center or has it been mailed to us ?
21st Feb, kolkata , panel 2
WAT : Essay on Drought, and how to tackle it in India, role of Govt and non Govt Organisations --- Fairly easy topic for all I guess, Prep : 2 , Perf : 4
Was the first one to get interviewed in Panel 2
Started at 9.45 exactly.
Was asked to enter.
P1: Serious looking middle aged guy, mostly interacted with him
P2 : A young prof, didn't talk much, was mostly checking my certificates.
P3 : Came late (almost 10 mins after the interview started).
P1: So Dipayan can you please introduce yourself.
Me : Introduced.
P1 : What do you do?
Me: Working in TCS, bla, bla, exp, work nature, few mins non-stop.
>>
P1: Directly went into hobbies,.
Me : Answered satisfactorily
P1: Read newspaper today? Tell me anything that caught your attention
Me: Yes sir, Teesta water-division discussion between bengal CM and bangladesh President,( little probing from P1) , answered .
>>
P1: Have you heard of Brahmaputra, tell me its origin, and why we have a current dispute going on with China reg. Brahmaputra?
Me: No idea sir, ( started to sweating a bit)
P1 : Tell me how you as a Indian contingent member going to start a dialogue with the Chinese reg it?
Me: (Profusely sweating) Blabbered a bit, little probing from P1, but thank fully P3 entered in the meantime, so discussion stopped there.
P2: Suddenly started asking about antennas, couldn't give a satisfactory answer . :(
P2: Ok draw a diode,
Me: Drew a transistor in nervousness, pointed me out that.
P1 : Gave me a wheatstone's bridge to solve,
Me: Again blunder.
>>
P2: again some 3g,2g question,
Me: Answered .
P3 : Came to my rescue, started asking about achievements, goof ups, typical why MBA now, other calls.
Me : Honest answers.
P1: finally asked me if I have something to ask.
Me : asked something.
P3: Thanks Dipayan,.
Me : Thank you all. and Left.
Verdict : Overall a very weird interview. mostly my profile did not excite them much, P1 was giving weird looks, mostly acads questions for job-ex people too. No finance related, Nothing job related,
Prep : 3 , Perf : 1 ,
Guys do we have to take a cv for the interviews, or the interview form will be sufficient ??
21st feb 1:30 pm Mumbai center.
Wat topic :Something about whether institutes should have flexible curriculum or fixed so as to enable students to switch institutes.
fairly easy topic yo.
First one to be interviewed.
have included my thoughts in brackets.
2 male and 1 female prof who kept smiling throughout.Actually everyone in the room kept smiling. At.At one point all 4 of us were smiling together.They were smiling at me and i was smiling because they were similing..kindered spirit you see.
p2 :introduce yourself
me: Had practiced enough to make the answer appear as if it wasn't mugged up.ENDED WITH MY INTERESTS AND HOBBIES
p2: job related questions
me: (bas puchte jao sir.Job pe hi rehna plzz. Technical pe mat jaana .Do sal bad kuch yaad nahi....aiyoooo)gave the answer no problem.
p3 : So why MBA??
me 😃 ahaa!! mehnat rang layi).Gave the answer i had prepared.Said operations.They seemed convinced.
p2: Why did you leave your job?
me: (samjhaya kisi tarah)
Sir maintenance engineer ,old plant bla bla bla.....
P1: what do you know about sukhoi?
me 😃 ye ki na apne maze wali bat.) Had mentioned defence and fighter jets as my interests so gave full gyan.
p2: what sparked your interest in defense.
me: grandfather in army,was in Libya Pakistani friends,online defense forums bla bla bla....
p2: you've won prizes in spoof and ad mad.You also play drums nad guitar .so are u a very creative person?
me:(o bhai,aankhoon mein aasson aa gaye.ab apne bola hai to jhoot to nahi hoga na sir )
yes sir i think so. music needs creativity. took spoof and admad because of the comedy element in them.(sir ab aib poocho. itna comedy comedy bol rhaha un AIB poch looo plzzzz.)
p2: Your thoughts about recent AIB event?
me: ( aaj subah kis ka chera dekh maine?) Full gyan yo.
p2: recent censor board stuff....
me: related question so full gyan.....
p2: Ok so thats all any questions?
me : ( ab tak to interview accha gaya hai, behatr hai ki ab muh band hi rakhoon)
no sir thankyou.
Why so less post from New Delhi WAT/PI ?
final selection break up ny1?
Need some help with ECA and Co-Curricular activities details fields in the form while taking a printout.
Since I have listed many details, while taking a printout it only gives a static field of the top most ones and not of the ones below in the form field.
Any suggestions please?
Interview
Date: 18th Feb
Place: Kolkata
Background: Wellsite Geologist (Energy Sector) with a publication in an international journal.
Arrived an hour early (reporting time 12 pm) and waited for the document verification which never happened. Only profile form was required but would advice everyone to be prepared.
WAT: Something about 'Modern day technology and its use (read criticism) in family relationships i.e family members living at far/distant places.'
Approached with few criterions especially family ethics, relations, communication and safety and summarized. May well have exceeded the 300 words limit, did fairly well. (Advice: control your flow in abstract topics.)
After an hour went in for the interview, was the third on the panel. The panel had 3 gentlemen, one far older than the two others yet all very soft spoken.( assume named as P1,P2 and P3)
Question
By P1:
1. Introduce yourself.
2. Why did you leave your job?
3. What is shale gas? Why is it in news? US/international price issue?
4. Is shale sustainable?
5. Would India switch to clean energy? How? Challenges?
6. Which is the country which produces maximum green house gas?
7. Oil price driving factors? Impact? Future?
Overall the gentleman was impressed as I answered each answer with ease, yet not so fluently. Made no mistakes and that felt good.
By P2:
1. US-India issue of Copahagen summit? (couldn't answer)
2. Why MBA? (grilled a lot) Why MBA when you have a paper in an international journal? Why MBA after a science background with good prospects? Why MBA when you can do MS in a foreign university? Why MBA when you were so sincere in science? Why this sudden shift?
3. Handed over the copy of my publication to them. They were impressed and unfortunately this work of mine made my case look even weaker. (even hard work bites like bad Karma sometimes, CURSES!!)
Actually this was the unnerving part where I had lost all my points of defense, just maintained my calm answer each question with a different approach yet they all ended like the same earlier. I myself felt unconvinced with my answers but I was not faking, simply delivering the truth.
By P3:
1. What is creativity? Define.
2. Tell me about your strengths?
3. Tell me how you look at yourself as a manager?
4. 2 strengths of Indian? 2 great hurdles for India?
This was okay. Not too many open ended questions and was really nice experience to answer them.
Even at the end I was asked to consider my future in science field as they said it won't be fair if I would waste my geology background to MBA. I just remained calm and could not agree with them and atleast pretended to be firm for my decision. A few wishes and all done.
The interview took about 40 minutes in total. My take about the experience is just optimistic about my effort. The panel was one of the best that I had for a few weeks, learned, sophisticated and yet comforting.
P.S. Was not offered the candy.
20th Feb - Mumbai (Dadar catering college) - Afternoon Slot.
Work Ex - 2.5 years (IT)
WAT : Regarding criminalisation of Politics with so many criminals being selected and how can we stop it.
Wrote about curbing nepotism and one family one candidate policy. Also emphasized on education a bit.
PI:
Background: We were kept waiting in the Hotel Lobby while the PI was being conducted in the room. By the time my chance came, I was drenched in sweat (was wearing Blazer).
Panel of Three:
P1: Middle-aged guy. Kept smiling throughout the interview.
P2: A bit younger and very kind. Epitomy of Kindness.
P3: Old lady. No smile. No nonsense. Was the one who asked for my file (Mere fute karam).
P2: Hi Vikrant, where are you from.
Me: Sir I am from Ahmedabad, but my parents are kashmiri. Migrant n all...
P1: Oh, then how did you come to Mumbai. Train, Bus, By air?
Me: Sir, by train.
P1: OK. Tell me, there was recently a new flight launched between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Exclusively. What is the name?
Me: No idea sir. P1 (still smiling): OK
P2: Tell me about yourself Vikrant.
Me: Blabbered about myself.
P3 (Interrupting my well roted answer..): No, Tell us something that is not in your file.
Me: Started speaking about my hobbies, Cricket, Teaching...
P1: What do you like to read?
Me: Told different generes, recently read Sack the CEO, Mahabharat essays...
P2: So Vikrant, you like to teach. Since when have you been teaching?
Me: Sir since I was in 10th grade.
P2: Which subjects?
Me: Started with sanskrit, now maths and english... tried to emphasize on Sanskrit a bit.
P2: So you read Mahabharat in Sanskrit?
Me: (Laughing at his expectations) No sir, my sanskrit isnt that good.
P3: So, if you like teaching, and you are Software Engg. why don't you teach Software?
Me: (Wah mam, kya connection maara hai) No mam, my interest lies in teaching kids who need education.
P1, P2 & P3 together: ALL KIDS NEED EDUCATION !!
Me: (Embarassed) I mean mam, those kids who need it, but dont have enough resources to get it. (Sheepish smile)
P3 (Sternly): OK. So why MBA then. No relation with teaching. Please explain.
Me: Dont want to keep teaching next 50 years. Would rather employ teachers and administer the whole thing. (Here I believe I made the mistake of going with their flow. I should have emphasized here that teaching is one of my hobbies, not my ultimate goal)
P2: So Vikrant, do you know what do you study in MBA.
Me: (Looked confused)
P3: Give me the names of a few subjects that one studies in an MBA.
Me: (Achhaaaa...) Accounts, Statistics, Portfolio Management, Supply chain mgmt, People mgmt...
P2: What other calls do you have?
Me: "NMIMS, IIM Shillong, MDI, XLRI.. umm.. one I can't recall at this point."
(P3 (lady) looked shocked as if thinking "Itna bhi yaad nahi??")
P2: Which one would you select out of XLRI and New IIMs?
Me: If I get XLRI HR, would go for New IIMs as I am more interested in BM course.
P2: You should go for HR. You would do good there.... Explaining why I should go for HRM rather than BM :/
P1: Give me three reasons why oil prices have gone up recently.
Me: I heard it incorrect and started giving reasons why it had went down (When the hell did it go up 😃
P1: No no, the Oil prices have went up recently.
Me: Sorry sir, not informed about that one.
P1: What newspapers do you read?
Me: Indian Express, Apps...
P1 and P2 (not P3) Thank you Vikrant.
Me: Thank you 😃
Verdict: I was sweating throughout. Very uncomfortable due to waiting in the lobby. Anyways, P2 looked genuinely interested, P1 kept smiling, P3 looked unimpressed. No Technical Questions at all.
Suggestion: Guys, wear you blazers on your arms. You can put it on when your turn arrives.