My interview experience from Odisha
As I entered the interview room, I saw five persons including a lady sitting in a row. While I was supposed to greet the lady panelist first, I could not do so as she was at the extreme end (5th panelist from my side).
Me: May I come in.
All: Please, come in. Simultaneously, the chief panelist uttered my name in a loud voice.
I said: Yes sir. In the meantime, I greeted them: Good morning sirs, Good morning maam.
Chief panelist: Be seated.
Me: Thank you sir!
Chief panelist: Tell me something about yourself.
Me: Sir, as you said I am xxx. I come from xxx district.
He interrupted: Tell in detail about your nativity.
I continued: The name of my village is xxx (I should have furnished some more detail like the block name etc, but I don’t know why I stopped there)
The chief panelist looked bit dissatisfied and I became nervous ?
I further continued: I passed from xxx college in xxx year with Economics Honours. So after my graduation, I started working as a journalist and then went on to pursue my higher studies in journalism. I returned to my job after studies. A few months back, I resigned from my assignment to prepare for bank jobs.
Chief panelist: Why did you wish to join banking sector?
Me: Sir, like any other profession, Journalism has its advantages and disadvantages. But, unfortunately, in my case things did not work my way. As my family conditions became tough, I decided to go for a secure and better-paid job.
As I was about to tell why I chose banking, the Chief panelist interrupted: You are a journalist. How can you fit in banks?
Me: Sir, being a graduate in Economics, I studied banking among other subjects that helped me understand the basics of the banking sector. Apart from that, during my stint as a journalist, banking had been one of my prime areas of work. I worked as a business correspondent for xxx newspaper.
Panelist 2: But how these things are going to help in bank? Ok, tell me, what all you did as a journalist?
Me: Sir, for instance, I was in regular touch with SLBC which is situated in this building only. I used to file reports based on the data released by SLBC. I interviewed RBI Deputy Governor Mr. H R Khan a couple of times…and…
Chief panelist interrupted: That is fine! You did these things as you were supposed to do as a journalist.
Lady panelist (while smiling): what is the good! You were interviewing, now you are being interviewed. (It was bit embarrassing I guess ? )
Me (politely): Actually, I don’t think that way. For me, it is not about what I do, it is about how I do. (Told a few other things, but it could have been better)
Chief Panelist: What is law of equi-marginal utility?
Me: Sorry sir.
Chief panelist: But, you must know. You are an Economics graduate.
Me: Yes sir, I should know. But I know about law of diminishing marginal utility, Sir! (I was like ? ? ? )
Chief Panelist (smilingly): No, I wanted to know about equi-marginal utility.
Panelist 2: You are a graduate in Economics. Tell how you will use Economics in Banking?
Me: As a banker, I would be accepting deposits, giving loans. As a student of Economics, I have studied the fundamentals of these concepts. I have studied different banking related things like repo rate, reverse repo rate…blah blah..
Panelist 2: What is inflation?
Me: Told
Panelist 2: What is done to decrease inflation?
Me: Sir, the Central Bank of India, that is RBI, takes several measures to rein in inflation.
Panelist 2: What are they?
Me: For instance, the RBI DECREASES repo rate to control inflation.
Chief panelist: what is the logic behind it?
Me: Sir, repo rate is the rate (Interrupted by chief panelist)
Chief panelist: Ok, I got it. Then?
Me: When RBI decreases repo rate, banks also tend to decrease their interest rates.
Chief panelist: Then?
Me: (I was like ohh..shit man!) Sorry sir, it is the opposite. RBI INCREASES repo rate to rein in inflation.
Chief panelist: Yes!
(During the whole interaction on repo rate, he was very cooperative. He probably realized I knew it correctly, but told the opposite out of nervousness)
Then starts interview for admission into schools!
Panelist 3: What is the capital of Arunachal Pradesh?
Me: Itanagar.
Panelist 3: What is the capital of Bhutan?
Me: Thimpu.
Now, the school-level interview turns out to be a nightmare!
Lady panelist: who is the vice-president of India?
I was clueless! (kuch paal ka sannata chhagaya ? )
Then, I said: Sorry, maam. I went blank.
She started laughing as Chief Panelist said: try..try (He is such a generous man ? )
Me: Mr. Hamid Ansari is the vice-president of India. (I could recollect the name thanks to his encouragement)
Chief panelist: Yes! (And it was probably the signature word of my whole interview ? )
Chief panelist: Thank you. You may go.
He extended his hand for a hand-shake and I obliged.
While I thanked them all before leaving the room, could not make eye contact with two panelists in my left hand side during that time.
Negatives:
1. I never feel nervous, but initially felt nervous during this interview.
2. Question on ‘Journalism-banking connection’ and ‘why banking’ could have been better answered.
3. Could have been better had I made eye contact with all while saying final thank you.
Positives:
1. Stayed true to myself, did not bluff.
2. Probably succeeded in conveying the interviews that I am genuine
3. I remained submissive and polite
My observation: Either I will score very good marks or the opposite!
Thanks!