How Dhiraj Bedi converted his IIM Calcutta call

While waiting for my turn, I was talking to other candidates who were also waiting for their turn. P2 came out of the room and called me in. She asked me to sit down and then my interview started.

P2: Dhiraj, you were talking to the people outside, did they tell you what type of questions we are asking.

Me: Ma’am I was talking to the candidates who were waiting for their PI just like me. As for the people already done with their interviews, I had spoken to them and most of them had their PIs based on their work experience. So, the PI would be unique for each candidate and talking wouldn’t help as such.

P2: Ok, Dhiraj. You have mentioned in your form that you tried trading for some time. Please tell us the difference between Commercial, Retail and Investment Banking.

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Me: I spoke on the topic for about a minute and then the discussion moved to the Bankruptcy Law. P2 and I discussed it for about 4 minutes. P1 was busy scrolling through the pages of my application form, while P2 and I were discussing Bankruptcy Law.

P1: Ok Dhiraj, tell me about other calls which you have.

Me: Though it was a relaxed interview but I somehow managed to screw it up in my reply to this question. I replied ‘CLK’. Both P1 and P2 looked at each other trying to figure out which college was I talking about. I immediately corrected my mistake and said IIM Calcutta, Lucknow and Kozhikode and added that I have calls from FMS, XLRI and a few more institutes.

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P1: Dhiraj, IIMC has a lot of focus on quant subjects, do you think you will be able to cope up with the pressure?

Me: Sir, I will try my level best and additionally Maths is my favourite subject. So, I don’t think that I will have any problems. P2 cut me in between and told P1, “Sir, look at his sectional scores in QA and LRDI. He will have no problem here in any subject”.

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P1: Although she says that you will do fine over here but I would still like to confirm. So, I will ask you a few questions on Maths. Tell me about Continuity and Differentiability and their differences.

Me: I told them the definition and gave examples of modx, signum function, etc. P1 and I had a discussion for about 2 minutes. He wasn’t totally convinced till then. Then I said, “If a non-removable discontinuity….”.  The moment he heard the term non-removable discontinuity, he started smiling. He didn’t even let me complete my answer and said, “It’s all right. We are done with maths.”

P1: Dhiraj, there are a lot of things going on in our country at the moment. Pick up any current affairs topic of your choice and tell us your opinion on that issue.

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Me: I forgot every single thing that was going on in our country. Budget, NPAs, JNU etc. I forgot everything. The only thing I could recall was that something was going on in Arunachal Pradesh. I started speaking about it and 2 lines later, I forgot what was happening in Arunachal Pradesh. P1 stopped me and said you are just stating what is happening. Tell us your opinion. I was like, need to get things in order but my brain failed me again. All I could say was, “Whatever is happening, is good for the country.”

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P1: Ok Dhiraj, thanks a lot. That’s it from our side. We wish you all the best for you future.

I was like,'what did I just do? Messed up a totally chilled out interview'. I was expecting a Waitlist which could possibly be a borderline convert or a direct reject. The result came out a month later and I was wait listed at 40. Converted in the first list.