IIM Ahmedabad admission exclusive: Candidate talks about stressful interview

Ipsita Sarkar Gupta | shiksha.com

The Written Ability Test (WAT) – Personal Interview (PI) process at IIM Ahmedabad has commenced from February 10. We got in touch with a candidate whose WAT-PI took place in Mumbai on February 11, 2014.

This person has requested complete anonymity. So for convenience, let’s call this person C1.

C1 has an engineering degree from IIT and is a Mumbaikar. After around two years of work experience in IT industry, C1 pursued his own e-venture.
According to C1, the interview had high levels of stress. “The panellists kept on negating every statement. I had heard about IIM-A stressful interviews, but this was quite something!” exclaims C1.
Here’s a low down of the entire WAT-PI process that took place on Wednesday.

The Day

The candidate was asked to report at the venue by 1:45 pm. The WAT-PI was scheduled to begin at 2 pm.
“We got our certificates checked and filled up the required forms. The form explicitly mentioned that candidates should not write their CAT percentile anywhere on the form. It seemed like they did not want the interviewers to know the candidates’ CAT scores,” said C1.
Surprisingly, there were four to five absentees in a batch of 50-60 candidates. In each batch, 10 candidates were grouped together. In C1’s batch, there was one absentee.

The WAT

Total time: 30 minutes

Three papers were kept on the table – a caselet, an A4 lined page to write answers and a rough sheet. There were two sections in WAT.

Section 1: A case study

A company had fired an employee. As a result, the other employees went on strike. More details were provided on the case – such as number of employees, information on sales and exports, statement of the employees on strike and the union leader, and a notice published by the company. The question was ‘Why do you think the company fired the employees?’

Section 2: Describe a song that had the most impact on you

C1 wrote about Pink Floyd’s Time. “I wrote that the song gave me a perspective of how important time is, especially, when you are young and energetic and how it talks about dreams and regret,” says C1.

The two interview panellists were supervising the WAT.

The PI

“In my group, I was second in the queue for interview. They informed us beforehand that each interview will last for about 20-25 minutes. The previous person’s interview lasted for about 30 minutes. There were two members on the panel. Panellist 1 (P1) had an active and aggressive persona who was negating everything I was saying. Panellist 2 (P2) was a passive observer, checking documents/forms, and didn’t ask too many questions.

(After exchanging greetings)

P1: You seem to be a person in hurry.

Answer (A): I don’t get it. Why do you think so?

P1: You have written about the song Time and your entrepreneurial venture. Now you want to do an MBA. It seems that you are rushing through.

A: I am analysing stuff and making informed decisions. (I told them about work-related problems and how an MBA can help)

P1: So if you go away for an MBA, how will your business function?

A: I have a partner. We are also employing more people.

P1: If everything is manageable, what is the point of your coming back to the company?

A: I am going to learn for the company and add value with the knowledge I get from the MBA.

P1: I am not convinced. It seems like a very rash decision. Tell me more about the company.

A: (I explained that the firm helps people develop personalised written content)

P1: So you help people fake.

A: It is not fake but personalised services. We don’t write what we think should be there but what the client wants. We help articulate.

P1: But these things can be found on Google too. The answer is not convincing.

A: There are certain emotions and incidents in life that cannot be found on Google search templates.

P1: For personalising, you to get in the boots, pants and everywhere else of the client to understand what he wants. How do you do that?

A: We try to understand people who come to us, ask a few questions and put the thoughts into words. We ask about occasions....

P1: That is a very standard thing to ask. What's different?

A: ...I was coming to that. Then we ask about some specific detail or habit, that they would do together.

P1: What if I don’t want to tell you that. I am not comfortable sharing the details.

A: Yes, I agree with you. That is a drawback for the business. But we have our privacy policies in place. No information is revealed outside. But if the clients are not comfortable talking, we have a one-way interaction involving filling up of forms.

(I went on to mention quality and eye for detail).

P1: Eye for detail...hmm. So in the last five minutes of conversation, give me an instance which proves your eye for detail.

A: (That took me aback for a while. I was not expecting it. I started speaking about the form filling at the start of the WAT-PI process)

P1: No, no. Not about the form. Speak something about our current interview process. Tell me something that you have noticed and I haven't.

A: (Smiling) Probably you have not noticed that you are the only one asking questions. The second panel member has not asked me any question so far.

(Both panellists started laughing.)

P2: You have an engineering degree in textile engineering. Has it helped your business?

A: Academically, the subjects I learnt are very diverse from what I do now. The overall experience during four years of engineering has shaped me into a vibrant personality.

P2: What about your previous work experience?

A: (Explained my work profile in the previous IT firm)

P2: So what have you picked up from previous work experience and used in your business?

A: (I started explaining about strategy)

P2: No, something else...

A: (Tried to give an answer) I think...

P1: Don’t jump. Don’t be a cowboy. You know what a cowboy does?

A: Sir, a cowboy jumps, I guess.

(All three start laughing)

P1: A cowboy aims and then misses. Don’t miss.

A: (So this time, I thought over it and spoke about quality control).

P1: No, tell us something else. This isn’t convincing.

A: (I got confused a bit here and replied with another point)

P1: You have lived in Mumbai for sometime. Tell me, should Mumbai be a part of Maharashtra or a separate state?

A: (I hadn’t prepared much for this question and started speaking on state policy)

P1: First, tell us, if you are for it or against it.

A: I am for Mumbai being a part of Maharashtra.

P1: Now, give me the reasons.

A: Mumbai is central to Maharastra, and hence, central to its identity as well. Mumbai gets a lot of recognition and money inflow as well.

P1: Do you mean to say that Mumbai is the pride of Maharastra?

A: Yes, kind of.

P1: So you mean Mumbai is Maharastra and Maharastra is Mumbai?

A: Mumbai is Maharastra but Maharastra is not Mumbai.

P1: Okay. I am a Mumbaikar and paying so much tax. Why should my tax get divided in the whole state?

A: Along with paying taxes, Mumbai is also developing. Navi Mumbai had nothing a few years back and now it has grown so much. (Further explained the point)

P1: OK. Give me another reason.

A: If Mumbai was a separate state, it could get very isolated. Everything happens through Maharastra—it is connected to the rest of the world through Maharastra.

P1: (Speaks a while about why Mumbai shouldn’t be a part of Maharashtra)
Can you tell me which state was Mumbai initially supposed to be a part of?

A: Gujarat.

P1: Why?

A: Because it is the closest state.

P1: That is a basic thing to say. Explain more.

A: Gujarat is more industrially developed. And Mumbai is a training hub.

(Both P1 and P2 round off the interview at this point)

P1 & P2: Okay. Good luck with your venture. We wish you the best.

A: Thank you.

The entire interview lasted for about 20 minutes.
Only time will tell if C1 has converted his IIM-A call.