INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

Home- Question papers

• ABOUT YOURSELF
• ACADEMICS
• WHAT IF ALL GOES WRONG?
• WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS IF YOU DO NOT GET THROUGH IN MBA THIS
TIME?
• WHAT KIND OF BODY LANGUAGE SHOULD I USE?
• WHERE WOULD YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? - WHAT
IS YOUR CAREER PLAN?
• COMMENT ON COMMUNICATION SKILLS
• IF WE WERE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN YOU AND A COLLEAGUE
WHO WAS SITTING NEXT TO YOU IN THE GD, WHOM SHOULD WE
CHOOSE?
• WHY DO YOU NOT WANT TO CONTINUE IN YOUR PREVIOUS COLLEGE?
• CREATIVITY BASED QUESTIONS
• DO'S AND DONT'S
• DRESS CODE
• ASKING QUESTIONS AND THE END
• HOW DO I GREET THE INTERVIEWER?
• TELL US AN INCIDENT THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE?
• HOW SHOULD I HANDLE MYSELF IN A "STRESS INTERVIEW" SITUATION?
• WHAT IF I CANNOT ANSWER THE QUESTION BEING ASKED TO ME?
• WHAT SHOULD BE THE PACE OF MY SPEECH IN THE INTERVIEW?
• HOW DO YOU RANK YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THE GD?
• HOW DO I ESTABLISH A RAPPORT (IMPRESSION) WITH THE INTERVIEWER?
• WHY SHOULD I HIRE YOU?

ABOUT YOURSELF

Tell us something about yourself. --Introduce yourself

Why does the interviewer ask you this question?

When the evaluator asks you this question, it could be because of several
reasons:
There is more than one interviewer in the panel and your bio-data is with one
interviewer.
So, this is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to those
interviewers who have not seen your bio-data as yet.
The interviewer would like to put you at ease by asking you a question that
he knows you can answer well.
The interviewer would like to know you better - i.e. he would like to know
more about you than what is written in the bio-data.
The interviewer has not planned out the remaining questions as yet - so,
interviewer would like to take hints from what you say to plan out
his next question.
How should you prepare for this question?
Your main objective in answering the question is to veer the interviewer
to areas where you are most comfortable i.e. to the topics you would
like to talk more about.
It could be:
Hobbies and extra curricular activities.
Special achievements
Strengths or weaknesses
Work experience
Academics
Family background

Usually, interviewers would like to ask questions on topics you are

comfortable with, and would like to test the depth of your knowledge
in those topics.

So, now take a long break and do some Introspection.

What are your topics you are most comfortable with?

Do you have any interesting hobbies (e.g. palmistry, mountaineering, ghazals
etc.) which could interest the interviewers?
Make a list of the questions that could be asked on the topic you have chosen
and be prepared with answers.

Poor answer.
My name is "...." My father, "...." works with "....", my mother is "...." and my
brother is studying in "..." I have done my schooling from "...", thereafter I did
my graduation from "...", my specialization being "..." I have also worked for
"..." years. with "..."

Analysis of the poor answer

The above answer suffers from some major deficiencies:
1) The interviewer is interested in knowing more about you, perhaps more
than what is given in the bio-data. He is usually not very interested in your
family background. Perhaps, you could let the interviewer understand you
better by telling him about your hobbies, strengths and weaknesses, special
achievements in life, why you are interested in doing MBA etc.

2) The answer does not provide the interviewer with the direction for the next
question. The candidate could have easily veered the interviewer to his areas
of strength.

Some good sample answers

1) (For a person who has reading management books as his hobby) My name
is "...." I did my graduation from "...", my specialisation being "..." I have also
worked for "..." years. with "..."

I first got motivated to do an MBA(Or Engg.,Medical etc.) when my father

gifted me "Lee Loccocca's auto-biography." The book was an eye-opener as it
helped me get a better understanding of the challenges and responsibilities
of a manager. I have since then read books by Tom Peters, Goldratt and
Prahalad, which I find to be interesting and stimulating. I feel that a
knowledge of different theories of management and different functional areas
got by doing an MBA from "....." would help me better appreciate the issues
that I have been reading from the management books.

Analysis
Now, there is a fair enough chance that any Professor taking the interview
would like to dwell at length about Ioccocca, Peters and other management
gurus, which is what the candidate has prepared for - it has definitely created
a good starting impression

2) (For a candidate who has leadership skills and teamwork as his strengths)
My name is "...." I did my graduation from "...", my specialisation being "..." I
have also worked for "..." years with "..."
My strengths are being a good leader and team player. In my school days, I
was a "school captain...," in college I "...." These strengths I feel would help
me become a good manager, because I feel managing people well is one of
the greatest traits of an effective manager.

Analysis
The candidate has told the interviewers about his leadership skills and the
different posts that he held in his academic career. This has definitely created
a good impression on the interviewers - moreover, the interviewers would
perhaps question him about the extracurricular activities.

Personal questions:

Personal questions are individual specific. A thorough thought process is

necessary to answer the questions. Some questions that could be asked are
as follows:
1) Introduce yourself
2) What your family background or parental influences?
3) What is the meaning of your name?
4) Name 3 of your strengths and weaknesses? How do you plan to resolve
your weaknesses?

Describe one incident which brings about your strengths / weaknesses?

5) Given a choice, if there is one thing which you could change in yourself,
what would it be?
6) Who is your role model? Why?
7) Describe an incident which changed the course of your life. What did you
learn from it?
8) What was the most embarrassing/ terrifying incident of your life?
9) What is your measure of success?
10) How would you rank your performance in the GD?
11) If we (interviewers) were to make a choice between you and your friend,
whom should we choose and why?

12) What would you do to get rid of the weakness you have?
TOP

ACADEMICS

Academics

The evaluators are keen to know your academic performance. Questions in

this area are asked to test whether a candidate has been serious in his
career. Though, this is not the only way to test an individual , this is one of
the commonest way. If this is your area of weaknesses be prepared with
supporting reasons . The probable questions in this area are as follows:

1) Quantitative/Mathematical Questions
2) Projects done as a part of the curriculum
3) Explain academic performance graph, if going down.
4) Favorite subject and most hated subject with reasons
5) Application of theories and concepts
6) Current happenings in the area of your academics, if any

General guidelines:
1) Do not bluff . If you are not sure of the answer, you can always say " I
don't know" instead of getting caught .
2) Do not use jargons or technical terms
3) You should be so clear about your subjects that you could explain to a
child.
4) Use examples if possible
5) Never lose your calm.

TOP

Explain academic performance graph, if going down:

Why does the interviewer ask you this question?

n Most of the evaluators look highly upon good academic performance - so,
in case you have poor grades, they would like to know the reasons why.

n The interviewer would be interested in knowing if you are a habitual poor

performer, or have done badly for a particular course.

n The interviewer would be interested in knowing if you are hardworking

and ready to improve
How should you prepare for this question?
n Remember that your main aim is to divert the attention of the examiner
from your grades, (Which is your weakness) to your areas of strength
(maybe some extra-curricular activities, hobbies, current affairs etc.) The
lesser the time spent discussing your poor academic performance, the
better. Do not spend more time talking about the poor performance
at length and long explanations.

n Low grades show that you lack consistency, perseverance and the ability
to put in hard work. If you could subtly (through your hobbies, extra
curricular activities etc.) show that you do possess these qualities, it would
be a definite advantage for you.

n Low grades do not necessarily mean low caliber. You may not be
interested in your subject but you could have done a lot of reading on some
topics that interests you (e.g. astronomy, history, epics etc.) You may also
cite the examples of people like Einstein, Edison, Lincoln etc. who were poor
academically but were genius in their own right. But be very well prepared,
as you will be questioned on the subjects you claim to be good at.

n Be prepared for the questions on academics that you may be asked. It has
been noticed that if the student were bad at academics, interviewers would
like to ask some questions to check out depth of knowledge of candidate in
that particular area. On the other hand, if you are able to give correct
answers, the impact of poor performance is reduced. So refresh your basics

n If you have a consistent level of good performance, you may be

asked what other activities did you pursue. The evaluators want to evaluate
your personality as a whole. They are keen to know whether you were
stronger only in your studies or you took active interest in some other
activities . If you follow certain hobbies and have received awards in
some extracurricular activities, be sure to mention them.

Good answers ( If poor academic performance)

The answers to this question are very much specific to the candidate.
Following are some answers usually given to explain for bad grades

1) The examiners understand that comparing across universities, and

comparing across disciplines is not easy - 70% marks may be excellent for
Orissa Board in English but pathetic for Maharashtra Board exams in Science.
Moreover, it is impossible for the professors to know what is the "good
performance marks" across different institutes in the country (If possible, you
could use this fact to your advantage).

2) If your grades have improved over time, it could be a good indication

of the fact that you learn things fast. You could say that "being a slow starter
is one of my weaknesses, but I keep improving over time. I hope that I would
be a topper in the management institute I join."

3) If you had better grades in school and lower grades in college, you
could say "Sir, I have always been a good student at school, and that is
reflected by my good grades at school. In college, I did keep up with the
studies, but other than studies I also took active part in extracurricular
activities like organizing "..." in 1st year, "..." in 2nd year.... This has helped
me improve my personality and honed my leadership skills, which I feel
would help me become in handling multiple situations."

4) If you have low grades but are confident in the subject, you could
say, "I do not believe that grades completely reflect on how well one knows
one's subject - even though I might have got bad grades, I am confident
about my subject. And be ready to be asked the most difficult questions
possible in your subject - but if you answer well, it will create a good
impression

5) If you have several extracurricular activities, talk at length about your

extra-curricular activities,what you learnt from such activities and how that
would help you become a better manager.Try to make your answer
interesting. In case you are able to interest the interviewers in your extra-
curricular activities, it is highly probable that they would not quiz you further
in academics

6) If there were some unfortunate events that diverted your attention from
studies (e.g. loss of a near and dear one, an illness etc.), you could state
those reasons. Interviewers are usually sympathetic towards such answers -
we all face those difficult days in life.

TOP

IF ALL GOES WRONG

What if it all goes wrong?

You might sense that you are failing to establish a rapport with the
interviewer. This is very probable in most interviewers.
Reasons could be:

1) Interviewers want to conduct a stress interview: Here interviewers

do not express any opinions about what you say and maintain a very straight
face throughout - so that you do not know how you are faring in the
interview. In such a situation, try to maintain your composure, smile and nod
at interviewers. Occasionally, wit and humor in your answers could also help.
Never become nervous or think that you are doing badly in the interview.
Concentrate on answering the questions asked to the best of your ability.

2) It is possible that you are at fault. Consider the following points :

a)Are you talking too much? Pause more often and shorten your answers -
listen more carefully to what interviewers have to say.
 b) Are your answers so short that they sound curt? Soften your tone. Show
the interviewers, by nods and gestures, that you are interested in the
questions and comments. Also,try to answer questions more completely by
analyzing issues in greater depth.
c) Respond with energy and enthusiasm - speak with clarity and use facial
expressions as a visual aid to emphasize your meaning.

Don'ts
Don't get irritated or aggressive, give contrary points of view, or give long-
winded
explanations to cover your mistakes.

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ALTERNATE PLANS

What are your options if you do not get through in MBA this time?

Why do evaluators ask you this question?

1) To know whether you are clear about your other options if you do not
get through in MBA this time - whether you have a contingency or alternate
plan of action.
2) To see how honest you are in answering this question. They would also
like to check out how whether you have the confidence in yourself about
getting through in MBA.
3) Gauge your career focus.

Good answers
1) " I see no reason why I should not get through in MBA this time, but I have
alternate plans if I am not successful."

2) " I am confident of qualifying in MBA this time. If I am unable to qualify in

MBA, then I plan to join … in May this year. I believe that a year in the
industry will benefit me in the long run. I will be able to contribute more
effectively in class and group discussions when I reapply to your Institute
next year."

Analysis (for 1 and 2 above):

The candidate is very confident, but is still smart enough to have an
alternate plan

3) "I have been in the industry for three years, and feel that to grow in the
organization and to grow personally, I need to spend two years in a business
school. If I am unsuccessful in this attempt, I will return to my work and try
again next year. I am confident that the skills I acquire at office will stand me
in good stead in the future."
TOP

BODY LANGUAGE

What kind of body language should I use?

Why should I bother about body language?

Body language is very important in the interview - more than "what you say",
"how you say it" determines the success or failure in the interview.
n Reinforces what you are saying
n Can distract the interviewer if not well controlled
nImpressions regarding confidence and honesty can be built observing body
language.
Body language is composition of posture, gestures, facial expressions, voice
etc. You can control your movements by following simple guidelines
mentioned in the following sections .

Breathing
Interviewers know that you may be nervous, but if you are feeling really
nervous, you could concentrate on controlling your breathing. The way in
which you breathe affects the rhythm and pace of your speech. If you take
short, sharp breaths in upper chest, you force yourself to breathe too often to
sustain your voice. Unnatural pauses and gasps will punctuate your speech.
You should pause at natural breaks to take in your breath. Pausing in these
natural breaks provides a further benefit - it gives you some time to think
about what you want to say and hence control the content of your speech.

Hands
If you do not know what to do with your hands, clasp them or put them on
your lap or put your elbow on the table in front of you. Avoid small repetitive
movements: if you keep moving your foot, smoothing your hair or nibbling
your fingernails, it will distract the interviewer and will give away your
nervousness. Avoid any side to side swaying movements.

Attentiveness
Make sure your body language is sufficiently receptive. Don't turn away from
the interviewer, or wrap your arms around your chest in self-protection. Don't
gaze out of the window as that gives the impression that you are not
interested in the interview process. Always try to look the interviewer in the
eye while answering questions.
Preparation
Ask friends to observe you during "mock" interview sessions · Record yourself
giving an interview to observe subtle movements

Do's

n Use hand gestures to stress certain points

n Show that you are listening
n Smile

Don'ts
n Point at some-one (rude)
n Shake your feet (nervousness)
n Move your hands vigorously
n Show your palm (aggressive)

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CAREER PLAN

Where would you see yourself five years from now? - What is your
career plan?

How should you reply?

Your answer may include the following components:

n You are not absolutely certain at present
n Depending on interests, exposures and opportunities; you hope to be in a
position in an organisation where you can make a difference.
n A position where your education serves you in your role. It allows
interaction with bright peers and provides a steep learning curve.

For MBA Interviews:

Your answer could be structured as:

n Talk about few industries/types of jobs, which attract you.
n State why they interest you, and where you hope to be in them. (your
previous work experience as a Software programmer could lead to an
interest in Venture Capital)
n State how an MBA would shape you for that role.
n Conclude by saying that you do not know whether an MBA will reinforce or
change your decision

Preparation

n Do some introspection and think what interests you at present.

n Investigate career path in different fields.
meet with alumni or people in Industry.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[ (source: NOTICE BOARD) ]]]]]]]]]]

Although it's certainly difficult to predict things far into the
future, I know what direction I want to develop toward. Within five
years, I would like to become the very best _____ your company has.
In fact, my personal career mission statement is to become a
world-class _____ in the _____ industry. I will work toward becoming
the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I will be
fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities that might be
presented in the long term.

CHOOSING YOUR HOBBIES

How should you choose your hobby?

Usually people have many hobbies - you have to choose which hobbies are
the best for the interview point of view. For this try to find out the depth of
your knowledge about your hobby. Once you decide on your hobby, you
should try to get in-depth knowledge about the same and also be prepared
for questions like how your hobby has helped you in the past and will be
helping you in the future.

Good answers
1) "My hobbies and interests are "…" and "…". If you want, I can elaborate on
them further. When asked - elaborate on the activities and highlight how you
got interested in the hobby and any significant achievements you may have
had in the field. The answer must end with how these hobbies have helped
you develop certain managerial skills, e.g. leadership qualities, initiative and
follow-through and ability to perform multiple tasks.

2) "Cricket has taught me a lot about being a team player and the
importance of being good in all aspects of whatever you do. Moreover, there
are several qualities I learnt from better cricketers of our times -
temperament from Steve Waugh, never-say-die attitude of Javed Miandad
and consistency of Sunil Gavaskar."

3) "Right from childhood, I have been exposed to music. I have not only
gained an appreciation of classical music, but have also learned to play the
suitar. Music helps me concentrate on the tasks at hand, and has been a
medium of expression for me. I have won several awards in school and
college, and more importantly made lots of friends with similar tastes in
music."

4) " What started out as a small interest in junior classes has become a
passion for me. I have a huge collection of stamps (now over 12,000
stamps) from all over the world. It has allowed me to make friends from
different backgrounds and countries. It is a pity that email has cut down my
opportunities of getting newer stamps, but I still the one to maintain constant
touch with all my pen friends. Not only stamp collecting, the entire exercise
helped me improve my written English.

5) If you have mentioned reading as an interest, make sure you have an

impressive list of authors to mention. Sidney Sheldon, Jeffrey Archer, Tom
Clancy, Mills and Boons, ShobhaDe are books which SHOULD NOT be
mentioned. Also avoid stating names of comics and magazines.
Recommended reading: Vikram Seth, P.G.Wodehouse, Ayn Rand, George
Bernard Shaw, Charles Dickens, William Golding, Shakespeare, JD Salinger,
George Orwell.

Hobbies/Extra-curricular activities
Hobbies and extracurricular activities are an indication of a well-rounded
personality and highlight certain personality traits like leadership, team-
working, managing more than one activity. The activities that qualifies as
hobbies and extra curricular are - activities after school years, the more
recent the better. Ubiquitous activities like reading, films, etc. will require
rigorous validation through deep and varied knowledge about the field.

Also be aware of the current happenings or events in the area of the hobbies.
Being aware is half the battle won, the evaluators may ask your stand or
opinion on the same. You have to prepare well for answering questions that
could be asked related to your hobby. For e.g. If cricket is your hobby, the
evaluators will ask for your opinion on the King Commission? or Do you feel
Kapil Dev is guilty? Has the CBI report revealed the real culprits? Another
example, if
traveling, hiking etc. is your hobby; you should have a good knowledge of
different places in the country, the time taken etc. If palmistry is your hobby,
then the interviewers may ask you to readtheir palms - you should be
confident enough of doing well in that part of it

Other questions which can be asked on your hobbies are as follows:

1) What are your hobbies? Do you participate in extra-curricular activities.?

2) How has it added value? - how has it added to your personality / what
have you gained from this activity?. Think on the attributes you developed
because you pursued your hobby.

3) Depth of interest and General awareness - Knowledge about the

technicalities of the field and famous events/people/places and favorites
amongst those. Be aware of recent happenings in your field of interest.

4) Achievements in hobby - Any awards won, participation at renowned

competitions, and any post or position of authority held.

5) Future pursuit of hobby - Present a balanced view where one appreciates

the demands of MBA life but then still makes reasonable room to continue the
hobby

TOP
 COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Comment on the importance of having good communication skills in

management
Communication skills consist of listening, speaking and language skills. All of
these can be developed by self-training. Listening skills and speaking skills
are covered in other sections of this guide.
You might not be educated in an English medium school and lack fluency in
spoken English. English is the medium of instruction in Indian MBA schools
and also the language spoken by corporates, so in case you are not fluent in
English, it could be held against you.

Why do evaluators ask you this question?

n To put you in a difficult situation knowingly, and see how do you handle it.
n To test how you defend your weakness

How should you answer this question?

1) You should practice speaking in English in different forums - practice is

very important in spoken English.
2) You should stress that communication is not dependent on the manner in
which you speak but on the content - the way Indians speak English is very
different from the way in which English is spoken in foreign countries (like US
and UK). If you are able to get your points across and communicate
effectively, and understand what is spoken to you, then fluency is not a
major issue.
3) If you have been to college where English was the medium of instruction,
please mention that and also mention that you faced not difficulty in studying
in those colleges. So, you should not face any difficulty in the present college

How should I reply?

n At the outset, accept the role of good communication in effective people
skills and leadership skills.
n Importance of communication skills along with that of the content of
communication, giving an example where the latter is more important than
the former
n Refer to yourself (shows humility but can backfire), and at the same time
mention how you have improved over time.

TOP

CHOICE BETWEEN YOU AND A COLLEAGUE

Why do evaluators ask you this question?

1) To test your team skills - how well you get along with others in the GD
and what you feel about your group members
2) Your ability to prove yourself to be better than your colleagues. Proof
can only come by logically stating your criteria
3) This is a sort of tricky question (note that the points mentioned above
may be contradictory to each other). So, the evaluators would like to see
how you answer this question objectively while not talking bad about others
in your group and at the same time, talking positively about yourself.
4) Testing your diplomatic skills

How should you answer this questions?

1) Be objective and reason out the question. Firstly, it is important for you to
be a good listener and remember what the other people say so that you can
base your answer on facts. Jot down points made by other speakers and
remember their names
2) One very good way to answer this question is to say, "My colleague
made…. points. I believe part of what he says about "…." But at the same
time, I believe that "…", which is quite contradictory to what my colleague
said. I feel that both of us have our own perspective about the issue - but I
believe firmly in what I said

Analysis
This way, it would be possible for you to answer the question without
speaking negatively about either you or your colleague, and you will get
positive credit for standing by whatever points you made in the GD.

3) Use the following as a criteria (CLASS) to compare your colleague and

yourself:
C larity
L istening Skills
A dditional knowledge
S ummarizing skills
S tructure

What if I was miserable in the GD?

n State you were not comfortable with the topic, or other reasons like
a) you felt that you did not want to add to the ongoing confusion,
b) you had no additional points to make and gained by listening to other
people.
n State that you are confident that you will perform well in the interview.
n State that you gained enormously as a listener, and must give that credit
to your colleague. However, you are confident that you are a better
candidate on the whole (subtly accepting that he was better in the GD). You
are willing to move forward and not dwell on the GD performance.

TOP

WHY NOT CONTINUE IN EARLIER COLLEGE

Why do you not want to continue in your previous college?

If you are already doing management from one institute, but would like to do
from a better place, you will be wasting a year if you change your college of
doing management now.
How should you answer this question?
1) Tell the interviewers that you would "like to be amongst the best" and
so you want to change to another institute.
2) Be careful that you do not speak badly about the institute where you are
studying presently. At the same time, you should mention the good points
of the institute where you would like to join.

Key things to state

n Start with the existing MBA Programme, and mention its strengths and
weaknesses. Compare the existing facilities and with what you can expect
in the future.
n Say that a good institute can make an impact on the candidates
personality , talk about:
l brighter peer group
l greater challenge
l superior faculty
l case-study method
l established global reputation
l specialization in strategy
l greater opportunities in the future
n You believe that in the long run, the knowledge gained through in-class
and out-of-class interaction will outweigh the loss of one year.
n State that training for one year has readied you and will help you
contribute more effectively in your new Institute.
n Conclude by saying that the fact that you are willing to give up an entire
year is testimony to your commitment and focus on being one of the best.

Don'ts
n Talk ill of your previous institute
n Talk only about money and opportunities
n Ignore fact that you are repeating a similar programme

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CREATIVITY BASED QUESTIONS

Creativity testing questions:

These questions test the imagination of the candidate. For e.g.: "Name 10
uses of a pen apart from its normal function". The preparation required for
these questions is similar to the extempore topics. The key point to be kept in
mind in not to restrict the topic to one single dimension. Elaborate on all
possible options.

Q: The candidate was given a photo of a dog and a child sitting on a beach
and was asked to come up with as many different advertisements and ideas
of different products and captions.

Candidates response:
n TV - clarity of picture
n Cameras - good quality of photograph
n Insurance - as a very cozy and secure scene
n Body care products

Analysis:
The answer is good because the candidate has talked about varied options.

Q: The interviewers gave a photograph to the candidate. The photograph was

of two people standing wearing turbans - one with a mobile phone, the other
facing him with his hands clenched. The candidate was asked to name five
social causes that he could fight for from that picture.

Candidate's Response :
n Dowry - As people are wearing silken dresses, looks like a marriage, the
person with the phone is asking for dowry to the person with clenched hands
who is the girl's father.
n Gender Equality - clearly this looks like a male dominated society.
n Background decoration is very lavish and shows a lot of expenditure for a
poor country like India.
n The expenditure in marriage is too much - so I will try to popularise court
marriages

Q: Again look at the picture - now think of other five ways in which you could
use the photograph.

Candidate's Response :
n Paper Quality is good - so it could be used by a camera company.
n It could be used by shops specializing in marriages or functions
n Can be used by police anywhere with the caption "Before you get caught
for dowry and this happens to you, leave the practice

Analysis:
The answer is good because the candidate has elaborated about varied
options .

DO'S AND DON'TS

Do's when answering Questions

n Do try to veer the interview to the areas where you are most
comfortable. So, when you end your answers, try to drop hints that will help
the interviewer know your areas of strength. This is particularly important
when you are asked standard questions like "Tell me about yourself", "What
are your strengths and weaknesses" etc. The more the interviewer asks you
things you are comfortable with, the better the chances of you performing
well.

n Do end your answers with positive points whenever you can. For
example, if you have made some criticism about the company where you last
worked, it is better that you end the answer with a few positive remarks
about the company. This will give the interviewer an impression that you are
not biased and are making an even-handed assessment of employer's pros
and cons

n Do keep your answers of an appropriate length (neither too long, nor

too short). Once you have completed the answer, indicate that to the
interviewer by dropping the pitch of your voice on the last syllable of final
sentence. Appropriateness of length is subjective. Look to see if the
interviewer is expressing his interest in what you are saying, and decide on
the length of your arguments.

n Do try to be a good listener, especially when the interviewer is asking

you questions. Never interrupt the interviewer - allow him to complete asking
the question before you speak. You should ask the interviewer to repeat a
question if you did not understand it fully. Or you can paraphrase it and ask
the interviewer if you have understood the question correctly.

n Do avoid unnecessary personal disclosures. The interviewer is more

interested in you rather than your family background - it is always better to
talk less about your personal life unless the interviewer explicitly asks you
about it.

n Do be cautious of using too many jargons to impress the interviewer.

You may be a genius in the area of specialisation but while talking to the
interviewers who may not too much of the technical details, you should try to
avoid too many difficult terms. If you could explain the concepts in simple
and easy language, then you will get maximum credit.

n Do be cautious of using too many cliché terms, bombastic words or out

of the wayquotations in your sentences. They may make your speech very
artificial (i.e. those terms or phrases were not required but you are using
them to impress the interviewer)

n Understand the question before jumping at an answer. If you have not

understood or heard the question properly, do not hesitate to ask for
clarifications. Very often, if you are not sure of the answer, this is a good
strategy, for the interviewer will often rephrase the sentence, making it
easier.

n Break the question into logical parts if it is a long question. You may
even seek permission to note down the question. Breaking down the question
allows you to structure your thoughts and your answer. It also makes sure
that you do not miss out on any part of the question.

n Maintain eye contact while answering.

n Have Focus: If you are answering about the three most significant
achievements of your life, do state them up front (without elaborating each
one of them). Once stated, if the interviewer shows some interest in hearing
them in detail, then elaborate.

Don'ts when answering Questions:

n Don't make unnecessary comments such as "That is an interesting

question," "I was expecting that question" etc. while nodding your head
sagely. It will give a negative impression to the interviewer. Answer whatever
questions you can. If you are not very sure you could say that "I am nor sure
sir, but I could make a logical guess." Or you could say, "I don't know sir" in
case you have no clue about the answer. The interviewers are ready
to accept that you do not know all the answers.

n Don't start answering without taking time to assemble your

thoughts. At the same time do not take so much time for answering a
question that the interviewer becomes bored.However, you must have a
general idea about what you want to speak before you start giving an
answer.

n Don't think that you have to keep talking unless interrupted. When
you feel you have completely answered a question, stop speaking by
yourself. If an interviewer keeps interrupting you, then it means that you are
not answering concisely enough.

n Don't talk in the abstract. Don't use words like 'one' or 'people' etc. Be
personal, and use specific examples, "In my experience…", "When I was
working…", "I think that…." etc. You might be asked tricky or biased
questions (e.g. your views about a political party, women's liberation
movement etc.) Try to analyse both the positive and negative aspects of
such issues before giving your views on the topic - the interviewers would like
you to have views about contemporary issues even though your views may
differ from their own - provided you base your views on some solid proofs.

n Don't dwell unnecessarily on failures and bad-luck. You may be

asked questions which probe you about some negative aspects (e.g. "Why
are your grades so bad?", "What were you doing when there is a break in
your career" etc). Here, try to show the positive side of what at first glance
looks negative (e.g. "I was concentrating on extracurricular activities which
have helped me…. ", "I took the time off to do things I wanted to but never
had the time e.g.…." etc.)

n Don't undersell yourself by being apologetic. For example, even you

have work experience in a small company or too less of work experience, you
could still talk about the quality and learning experience from your work
experience.

n Don't argue or get aggressive: Don't lose your cool and let things get to
you.

n Do not fabricate or lie during the interview. Be honest.

 n Never talk about Money in your interview. Even if you mention money
as a reason behind pursuing an MBA career or for changing jobs, make sure
that it is not seen as your primary motive. You must not sound mercenary.

[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[(Source: NOTICE BOARD)]]]]]]]]]]]]]]

THINGS U OUGHT TO AVOID IN AN INTERVIEW

1.Poor personal appearance

2.Over-aggressive

3.Inability to express information clearly

4.Lack of interest and enthusiasm

5.Lack of planning for career; no purpose and no goals

6.Nervous, lack of confidence and poise

7.Over-emphasis on money

8.Unwilling to start in a lesser position

9. Make excuses

10.Lack of tact and courtesy

11.Lack of maturity

12.Condemns past employers

13.No genuine interest in company or job

14.Fails to look interviewer in the eye

15.Sloppy application form

16.Little sense of humor

17.Arrives late at interview

18.Fails to express appreciation for interviewer's time

19.Fails to ask questions about the job

20.Responds vaguely to questions

21.Antagonizes the interviewer

TOP

DRESS CODE

This section consists of the general doubts that every individual has before
facing the interview. They will help to clear the myths as well as boost your
confidence. Remember that success in any Interview is all about a positive
attitude and approach.
All the situations that follow can be prepared and practiced. This section
attempts to give some broad guidelines. You should anticipate the setting
and think of ways to " turn-around " an adverse situation to a favourable one.

What should I wear to the MBA interview?

The dress code should be comfortable as long as you take into account the
protocol of the interview.

Why is it important?
n First impression is extremely important. As interviewers are normally
senior members, one needs to dress conservatively.
n A comfortable dress gives you the confidence, and allows you to focus on
the task at hand.
n It is a hygiene factor (everyone else will be well dressed)
n It shows respect to the interviewer.

Male Dress Code

For males, the usual dress code is formal shirts, trousers and shoes. A tie is
also the general norm in the interviews and should be worn for the occasion.
Some candidates wear a suit/blazer to the interviews - this is also preferred
but it is important to keep the weather in mind. There is no point sweating
outside the interview hall. The tie you wear, its colour, the pattern should suit
the protocol of the interview. Please note that wearing slippers, jeans,
informal shirts etc. gives the impression that you are not serious for the
interview.

Ideal Dress for Men: Dark blue blazer, white shirt, red or any dark colour
tie, grey/fawn trouser, grey socks, formal lace shoes.

Female Dress Code

For ladies, the usual dress code is a salwar suit or a sari with suitable
footwear. A formal skirt may also be worn. Here again, it is important that
you feel comfortable with what you wear. If you are wearing a sari for the first
time, you might feel very uncomfortable, trip over etc. It is important that
you do not put too much of make-up and jewellery. Long hair should be
groomed or tied and preferably, not left open.

Note: The above dress code applies to most interviews in India, but not
necessarily to all interviews. For e.g., if you were being interviewed by an
advertising institute or for a fashion design course, you should dress
'creatively' and should reflect the 'current fashion.'

Do's:

Carry a handkerchief
n Wear polished shoes / clean footwear
n Carry an extra dress in case you have a vehicle
n Be clean shaven
n Have your hair well groomed
n Carry a neat folder, with all your certificates and their photocopies.

Don'ts:

n Wear flashy/colourful clothes

n Wear loose tie
n Too much oil in your hair
n Carry a plastic bag into the
interview room.

TOP

ASKING QUESTIONS AT THE END

Do I have to ask questions at the end of the interview?

We recommend that you do not ask any questions unless specifically asked
to do so. If asked remember the following:
n It is not necessary for you to ask a question. You should not feel pressurized
to come up with something intelligent. The interviewer is just trying to
bring a polite end to the interview.
n Do not ask questions that are too obvious or questions where it is possible
to find out the answers through your own initiative

Bad Questions
n Questions pertaining to the evaluation process, weightage attached to the
interview.
n Questions which are too detailed . For eg. " What are the books prescribed
in the course E-commerce?''
n Questions which are too personal.

TOP

FAMILY BACKGROUND.
Tell us about your father/family background.

Why do evaluators ask you this question?

1) In certain colleges, family background may be given some weightage.
2) To know more about you and cross-question on your father's work or
profession.
3) To put you at ease.
4) To know how well are you acquainted with your family and the influence
they have had on your personality, education and upbringing.
5) Check your spontaneity.

How to answer this question?

1) Do not boast about your father in case he is in a senior position. At the
same time, you should not look down upon your father's occupation. It is
important that you be factual about the answer. E.g. (My father is a
manager in TISCO, Jamshedpur. My mom is a housewife and my brother is
doing his graduation from "…")

2) Mention the impact your family environment has had; the values your
parents have tried to instill in you, the emphasis laid on personal growth
and education. You may be quizzed about your parent's occupation and
you should be in a position to answer those questions. If your father has
worked with TISCO, then you should have an idea of the Steel Industry, the
kind of responsibility he has, etc. If your father is an IAS Officer, you must
have an answer for why you are not giving the Civil Services exam. Have a
chat with your parents about their profession before appearing for the MBA
GDs and Interviews.

Don'ts
n Don't describe intricate details.
n Don't undersell your family
n Don't try to gain sympathy by stating hardships or failures.
n Concentrate on the strengths.

Good Answer
Interviewee: I come for a closely-knit family of four from Delhi. My father
works for the government, while my mother is a convent schoolteacher. My
sister (who is currently in Stephen's) and myself have both been exposed to
an environment of independence. Despite the lose hand, traditional values
were stressed on and reinforced by day-to-day activities at home. My father's
experience in the government has meant a lot of transfers.
This has allowed me to discover different parts of the country.
Interviewer: What is your father currently doing? (The interviewee
responded by giving an interesting yet incomplete description of his father's
education).
Interviewee: My father heads the Disinvestment Ministry. It is a critical job,
given the fiscal pressures faced by the government.

Analysis:
n The interviewee pointed out the nature of family influence
 n Clearly mentioned the occupation of the father without going into details.
n Displayed knowledge of father's occupation and gave a lead for questions
about the economic state of India (fiscal problems).

TOP

GREETING THE INTERVIEWER

How do I greet the interviewer?

Entering the room
If you are asked to come into the interview room a few minutes after the
previous candidate, always knock on the door before entering. Also
remember to close the door behind you. Always ask ( in an audible voice)
for permission to enter the room. 'May I come in, Sir.' Thank the interviewers
after they give the permission.

Sitting Down
It is better to keep standing till you are asked to take a seat. When the
interviewers asks you to sit down, say, and "Thank you, Sir/Madam" before
sitting down. If not asked, seek permission.

Inside the room

Stand with an erect and good posture. You should greet the interviewers by
saying "Good Morning Sir/Madam." (or an appropriate greeting to suit the
time of the day). In case you are standing close to the interviewers, you
should firmly shake his/their hands.
Do look at all the interviewers in the eye and nod to each one of them
individually. It is said that more interviews are lost because lack of proper eye
contact rather than from lack of ability. A smile in the face really helps.
Remember first impressions, last forever. Exude confidence (loud voice, firm
handshake) and show respect and humility at all times

What do I say when leaving the interview room?

When interview ends, you should smile and look at all the interviewers in the
eye, say "Thank you, sir/sirs/madam." - and through nods and gestures, try to
tell the interviewers that you liked the experience. When you walk out of the
room, make sure to take your certificates with you and also close the door
behind you when you go out.

The wrong way

Student leaves the chair in a stroke, as soon as he is asked to leave. While on
his way, he wishes the interviewers 'good-bye'.

The correct way

Student rises and thanks all the interviewers. He pushes the chair back,
stands erect and says 'good bye'.

TOP
 INCIDENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE

Tell us an incident that changed the course of your life?

Why do evaluators ask you this question?

1) They would like to understand you better - to know more about you than
you have mentioned in the bio-data
2) The interviewers would like to know how you coped with an important
event in your life and what effect did it have on you
3) To check what is your value system - to see what things you consider
important.
4) Test your emotional quotient, or your ability to empathise with people.
What are the different incidents you could talk of?
1) You could mention a personal loss (example the death of a near or dear
one, an accident in which you were badly hurt) etc
2) You could mention a positive achievement in your life (example qualifying
in an important exam, doing well in a particular competition which increased
you confidence in yourself etc.)
3) You could mention an incident that gave you an insight into life (maybe
got by helping somebody e.g. being part of a flood relief/famine relief
activity, etc.).
Key Points
1) Try to involve the interviewer with interesting examples
2) Try to relate an incident that brings out learning, ethics, value judgements
3) If the incident was a negative one, tell them how you overcame it. It you
narrate a positive incident, point out how it helped build you confidence
How should you prepare for this question?
1) Do some introspection - think of the important events in your life and the
way in which they had an impact on you.
2) It is perhaps better that you speak about some positive achievements in
your life (in which you proved yourself through hard work and
perseverance and how it helped in improving your confidence on yourself).

Tip: It is better to narrate a positive incident, you make an impact on the

interviewer and also veer the interviewer to your areas of strength

3) You should be honest and speak from the heart when you answer this
ques

If no significant event has changed the course of your life

State at the outset that ' while no event has changed the course of my life, I
would like to mention something which I rate the most significant event in my
life' and continue from there
Good example
I come from a business family, residing in Nagpur. A few years back, our
family was forced to relocate from Madras, causing us tremendous financial
problems. I realized then that over-dependence on material-based business is
risky and decided to go for further studies. With an MBA degree, I hope to be
in a position to run my business more effectively and at the same time
develop the skills to work in other organizations to safeguard against
uncertainties

TOP

MANAGING STRESS INTERVIEW

How should I handle myself in a "stress interview" situation?

Why do the evaluators conduct a stress interview?

This type of interview puts you into difficulties. Remember this is a part of the
selection process. The interviewer is judging you on tact, cool temper,
courage, self-command or control. More importantly such interviews reveal
whether you can take logical decisions under demanding circumstances

Stress situations may occur when The interviewer

1) Bombards you with meaningful or nonsense questions
2) Cuts your answers repeatedly
3) Expresses doubts on your caliber and integrity
4) Accuses you of bluffing
5) Laughs or mocks at you
6) Looks disinterested (yawning, looking to the ceiling, talking to the co-
interviewers while you are answering a question)
7) Shouts at you
8) Two or three interviewers asking questions at the same time.

Do's
1) Maintain your cool.
2) Establish and maintain eye contact
3) Exude confidence from your body gestures and arguments
4) In case interviewers are asking several questions at a fast pace, you
should try to answer
one question at a time.
5) If interviewers do not show any emotion, do not be hassled by that - just
concentrate on the content of your answers.
6) The interviewers may oppose a stand taken by you, you should be able to
appreciate their point of view also i.e. you should be able to appreciate
the pros and cons of any issue. You should be ready to take a stand and hold
onto it, and you should be convinced about it. You could always say that
"sorry, we have a difference of opinion but I firmly believe in what I have
said."
7) Maintain a smile on your face - a little bit of humor at times helps.
8) You may close your eyes for a few seconds to feel comfortable in case,
you are heavily bombarded with questions, showing that you are trying to
concentrate.
Don'ts:
1)Show your anger or get agitated under any circumstances
2)Show signs of nervousness like no eye contact, mumbling, clasping hands
etc.

3)Try to create unnecessary humor

TOP

MEANING OF YOUR NAME

What is the meaning of your name?

Why do evaluators ask you this question?
1) This is usually an introductory/filler question to put the interviewee at
ease. Everyone usually knows about what his or her name means.
2) To test the presence of mind and wittiness of the interviewee.
3) To test the reasoning ability.
4) If you have complex or unusual name

How should you answer this question?

Be aware that this question could be asked, especially if you have a different
or complicated name. Then, you could prepare well for this question. To make
your answer stand out, you could recite a few stanzas in Sanskrit, which
explain what your name stands for. (Most Indian names have their origin in
Sanskrit)

You can relate the meaning of your name to some of the qualities you have
or values that you believe in. For example, if your name is "Dheeraj",
"Satpathy" or "Ajay" you could relate these to some qualities that you
possess ('patience', 'truthfulness' or 'confidence to win' respectively).
Key Points
n Show full confidence in answering this question
n Work out in advance the meaning/ reason for your name
n You can personalize the interview by narrating story of why were you given
this name

TOP

YOU CANNOT ANSWER THE QUESTION

What if I cannot answer the question being asked to me?

Ask a candidate who was unable to clear that important interview and the
usual reply is "Well, I could not answer the initial questions asked, and
became very tense and nervous". Not being able to answer the questions
could affect your performance in the whole interview. Quoting Dale Carnegie,
"Interviews are only 20% based on facts, and 80% based on perception and
communication skills"

Do's
 1) Give it a sincere effort (and it should be reflected)
2) Request the interviewer to rephrase the question in case it is complex or
break in parts in case it is lengthy. This will give you additional time to
rethink
the answer. Example : "Sir, can you rephrase the question so that I can
understand
it completely and accurately" or "I could not completely understand the
question"
3) If you are sure that you can not answer the question, admit it humbly
4) Ask the interviewer if you can give it a try later

Don'ts
1) Try to fool the interviewer by giving vague answers (time is precious!)
2) Try to confuse the interviewer
3) Ask the interviewer to repeat a question more than once.
4) Get nervous or agitated, in case of a difficult question

Recommended routes
At all times, do not lose your clam and be nervous. This may block your
thought process even further. A question or two answered wrongly does not
spoil your chances. You can take the following routes:

Tell " I don't know sir"

Never be afraid to admit the fact that you do not know. You are not expected
to have knowledge of everything. Very often, in stress interviews, the
interviewer will give you a series of questions he is confident you would not
know the answers of. In this case, think about it, take your time and frankly
state that you are not aware of the topic/answer. Be prepared for the easy
question he throws at you at the end. He is testing you confidence and your
ability to maintain a cool head in face of a lot of difficult questions.

Tell "I am not sure, but I would like to take a logical guess"
Stating it clearly in the beginning will lower the expectations the interviewer
has about your answer. In this case, even getting close to the answer can be
looked upon positively. Your ability to arrive at the answer logically shows
that you can think on your feet.

E.g. What many people pay income tax in the country?

Ans: I am afraid that I am not aware of the statistic. I can, however, try to
arrive at a rough estimate using some other figures I know. I understand that
the total income tax collections last year were Rs. X crore. Given the fact that
people over the income of Rs.1.5 Lacs per annum pay income tax, and on
average pay 30% of around 1.5 Lacs per annum (or Rs.50,000 approx.), the
total number of income tax payees is X crores/50,000.
(All figures given above are only illustrative)

Ask the interviewer to repeat the question

The interviewer will often rephrase the question, and even may give a part of
the answer he is seeking as he repeats himself

Tip
Some intelligent candidates use the "Sir, I am not very certain of the answer,
but I would like to take a logical guess" even when they know the answer to
the question pretty well. This has a two-fold effect: First, there would not be
much of pressure from the interview panel to probe deeper into your
understanding of the subject. Second, when the candidate "guesses
correctly," it creates a very good impression on the evaluator.

Preparation
Do practice and brush up the basic of your field of education. Also, remain
abreast with the current happenings in your field. Allocate a day or two in
your schedule of preparation.

Example

Interviewers have asked you a couple of quantitative questions

which you could not answer: Sir, I have not been in touch with
Mathematics for about ".... years" now - the last time I read mathematics
seriously was in "College or Class - XII or....". However, being a quick learner
is one of my strengths and I know that I will be able to learn mathematical
concepts if needed in the MBA course at ".......". Since I am "an Arts,
Economics...." student, I have been studying "..........." for the last few years.

Analysis
This is a very good way to evade the questions you are not very comfortable
at answering - The candidate is trying to point out the following to the
interviewers that
1. He was not well prepared for the question being asked,
2. He can pick up the concepts quickly if required,
3. Try to veers the interviewers to the areas where he is more comfortab

TOP

OVERCOMING WEAKNESSES

What would you do to get rid of the weakness you have?

Why do evaluators ask you this question?

To judge your ability to make up for your deficiencies and your efforts to
overcome them

Do's
1)Admission of the weakness and that you are already trying to cope with it,
having made substantial progress.
2)Describe the need to overcome the weaknesses. Have an example of
where it has worked against you. For e.g., come up with a story of how
your poor handwriting has worked against you in exams.
3) You must tell the interviewers how the positive side of your weakness has
helped you.
4) You must tell the interviewers how you plan to tackle the negative
connotation of your weaknesses.

Don'ts
1) Don't underplay your weakness, or claim that it will not matter, or you
have not given it any thought. The interviewer is testing your desire to
improve.
2) Talk at length about the weakness or justify the weakness
3) Attribute or blame the weakness on someone or the circumstances

top

PACE OF YOUR SPEECH

What should be the pace of my speech in the interview?

Pace
This is a question that always haunts amateur interviewees - should we speak
fast or should we speak slowly and think before we speak. It is important that
you speak the way in which you feel the most comfortable - the way in which
you usually talk with friends and the way which is the most comprehensible
by others. Seek feedback on the speed of your delivery.

Do you talk too fast?

A rapid speaker should concentrate on correct breathing and pausing.
Moreover, he should be very articulate (i.e. he should not mix up words or
speak in a blurred way). He should pause at natural breaks (e.g. where there
are commas and full stops in written English) to take in his breath. Don't
worry, this gives the interviewer some time to assimilate whatever you have
said.

Being too rapid in your speech is not good - if you usually speak too fast, try
to find out why you do so. Is it because you have too many ideas at the same
time or are you uncomfortable with silence and so chatter to maintain a
continuous flow? If you are a natural fast speaker, practice to slow down your
speech, also try to tape what you say and see to it that you pause at natural
breaks. In an interview, it would be better for you to speak a bit slowly so that
you can think before saying, or else you may become muddled and confuse
or irritate those listening to you

Too slow?
Too slow a speaker can be even more irritating as he bores the audience. He
should practice to speak faster and with more articulation. Usually, people
who are not very confident in English tend to speak slow as they compose
their words before speaking. For such people the advice is to start practicing
to speak faster and in small sentences. Also be prepared with answers to
commonly asked questions.

Preparation
1) Read the newspaper loudly. This will help to improve your vocabulary as
well as lessen the fear of communication.
2) Interact with people in English.

Keeping your audience in mind

Always keep the interviewers in your mind. If the interviewer looks bored and
his attention starts wandering, maybe you are speaking too slowly - speed up
your speech. If the interviewer looks a bit annoyed and makes gestures as
though he does not understand what you are saying, maybe you are
speaking too fast - slow down a bit.

Pitch
While pace is all about clarity, pitch is about audibility and substance. One
should make sure that all interviewers are able to hear the answers.
Additionally, modulating one's pitch and pace can help lay stress on
important points.

TOP

YOUR PERFORMANCE IN THE GD

How do you rank your performance in the GD?

Why do evaluators ask you this question?

1) The evaluators would like to find out how objectively you can answer this
question. The evaluators have formed a view about different people in the
GD and they would like to see what your evaluation is vis-à-vis the
interviewers
2) If you were too quiet or spoke a lot, is that what is your normal self?
3) If the GD was disorderly, how you went about it?
4) To check what standards you have for yourse

How do you answer such questions?

1) Be a good listener in the GD. Jot down the important points made by you
and made by others in the group . This will help you to answer questions
related to GDs
2) Try to remember the names of other people in the GD - you can impress
the interviewers if you can state that "Mr. A." made " this point…" but I had
a different perspective about the issue…
3) Be objective about others in the GD - you need not speak negatively about
other members in the group and at the same time you need not speak
negatively about yourself also. Be objective and be positive when you
answer this question.
4) Keep in mind your role as a listener, and rate your listening skills as well
Poor answer
"I was satisfied with my performance and I spoke all I wanted to on the topic."

Analysis
1) Too smug and satisfied
2) No appreciation for others in the group.
3) Nothing additional to add, nor any lead by which the interviewer can
continue on the topic.

Good answers.
1) " I enjoyed the discussion thoroughly. The topic was a challenging one and
could be viewed from multiple angles. I was personally satisfied that I
could lead the direction toward "…" and was able to back my views with
some concrete examples. I was, at the same time, impressed by the
perspective offered by the other candidates and was glad that I could
build on their arguments near the end of the discussion. I am sure I will go
back more knowledgeable on "…" than I was in the morning."

Analysis
The candidate has managed to show his appreciation for the topic and his
colleagues. At the same time, he has highlighted his role in the discussion
and laid stress on the importance of knowledge. The candidate could have
also impressed the interviewers by stating names of the people and the good
points they mentioned.

2) If you spoke very less

The topic in the GD was something I was not very familiar with - since I am
from an Arts background and the topic related completely to the
technicalities of Engineering; I could not contribute much to the GD. But, I did
make some good points namely "…" and "…". I also provided some
moderation and direction to the group when the GD was disorderly at a
point of time

TOP

CREATE TOUR RAPPORT WITH THE INTERVIEWER

How do I establish a rapport with the interviewer?

Initial Contact
A good first impression can be built with:
1)Confident and cheerful greeting.
2) A smiling face
3) Eye contact
4) Taking of permission for entering the room.

The Interview
Helping him relate
1) Use examples in your answers, especially those will be interesting to him.
2) Make sure that the interviewer has understood what you are trying to say,
ask for clarifications.
3) Ask him questions at the end of the interview, about his thoughts on an
MBA, his career at the institute, etc.

Listening actively
Interviewing is based on taking turns - the better you are at listening, the
better you will know when and what to speak. You must show the interviewer
that you are listening carefully and pause when answering to his responses.
Tune in to the interviewer and show that you know who is in charge. Do not
start responding before the interviewer finishes his question. This can distract
or irritate the interviewer and indicate that you are impulsive.

More on Listening

Listening does not mean just hearing the words of the interviewer, it means
making an effort to understand the full meaning. Besides the meaning of the
words, the choice of words, tone, gestures, expressions are significant in
indicating the interviewer's meaning. Understanding the meaning is one
aspect , another being retention. The candidate should be able to recall it at
appropriate time. In case, you have not understood the statements of the
interviewers, ask them politely to repeat the question. This will firstly, give
you adequate time to think and secondly, give you a clear picture of the
interviewer's statements. If you are not in a situation to respond immediately,
ask for a second, assimilate your thoughts, frame your answers and then
speak. This creates an impression that you are a thoughtful person.

Feedback
You should always try to interpret the interviewer's response. You can
reframe the later answers for a favourable feedback of the interviewer.
Observe the facial expression of the interviewers, it will indicate whether the
interviewer has understood what you are trying to communicate or whether
he is happy with the response. A positive response like nodding the head, eye
contact, smiling can encourage the interviewer to ask for clarifications if he is
not happy with the response

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STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

What are your strengths and weaknesses?Give instances.

Why does the evaluator ask you this question?

1) To find out how well you understand yourself.
2) To find out how your strengths are related to your past experiences
and to future expectations.
3) Every person has some weak points. The evaluators would like to
know whether you understand what your weaknesses are and how
you plan to remove these weaknesses.

Most stated "Strength":

Attribute Operational Definition

Long hours, emotional attachment, physical energy, self
Hard work
discipline
Clarity of thought, ability to see relationships among
Analytical Strength
diverse concepts.
Initiative Ability to be a 'self starter'
Attention to Detail Thoroughness, orderliness, self-starter
Leadership Vision, communication by example, consistency between
action, thoughts and deeds, personal sacrifice
Logical, oral and written communication skills, negotiation
Persuasiveness
skills
Entrepreneurship Ability to seek opportunities and enlist support of low-cost
resources, creativity and business acumen
Value for 'Values' Desire for qualitative upgradations, missionary zeal
Influencing without
Political acumen, social sensitivity
Positional Power
Perseverance Self-confidence(not dogmatism), managing
disappointments, innovation
Ability to manage and work in group and with individuals
Team skills
from diverse backgrounds. Sensitivity to the needs of
group members.
Good
Ability to put points across in a manner that others
Communication
understand, fluency is important
Skills

Most stated" Weaknesses:

The weaknesses that you state should have a positive connotation

Attribute Negative Connotation Positive Connotation

Do not understand limits
Over-Confident
of my Believe in what I do
capability
Do not understand limits
Set Very High goals
of Ambitious
my capability
Stubborn in Do not consider ground Have good value system
implementation of realities, difficulty in
rules, regulation, dealing with bureaucracy
values etc and real-life
 problems
Procrastination - put
Fall behind time
off things to a later Take time to analyze problems, consult with oth
schedules etc.
period
Slow Starter Take too much time to
decide on ideas and plans Take time to analyze problems, consult with oth
in the long run better implementation

Weaknesses (additional points)

1) State those weaknesses that do not really effect your capability as a
manager. 'Bad handwriting' is something you can consciously work on, but
it is not a fatal error if you fail to correct it. On the contrary, you do not want
to state 'poor memory' or 'no awareness of computers' as weaknesses in an
MBA interview session.
2) Simply stating those weaknesses that are necessarily strengths can be a
problem at times. The interview may turn around and say 'I asked you for
your weakness, and you are telling me about your strengths'. In this case, it
is critical to have examples or instances where your weakness has let you
down, or held you back in some way

How do you decide on your strengths and weaknesses?

Consider the following points when you decide on what strengths and
weaknesses you have:
1) Past Experience - You should be able to justify your strengths and
weaknesses by stating past experiences and examples. Examiners usually
ask you instances where you demonstrated a particular strength or
where a weakness landed you in problem

2) Future Expectation - You should be able to justify how your strengths

and weaknesses are going to help in achieving your future expectations. For
example, if you would like to specialize in finance, good analytical skills would
be an advantage. If you would like to specialize in HR, team skills and values
become important. For a person interested in marketing, 'getting along well
with people', 'leadership skills' etc. become important.
Interviewers would ask you questions on how your strengths and
weaknesses can help in
achieving your future expectations.

* How convincing you are in what you say - You may be asked questions
on your areas of strengths - for example, if you say that good analytical skills
is a strength, expect some puzzles to be asked. In case you say that 'good
communication skills' is your strength, then you should demonstrate it
through the way in which you speak.

What other questions could be asked related to your Strengths and

Weaknesses?
1) How will your strengths and weaknesses help you in your MBA course?
2) Could you tell us some instances to demonstrate your strengths and
weaknesses?
3) What have you planned to overcome your weaknesses?

Some questions where you could state your strengths and

weaknesses?
1) Tell us about yourself.
2) What are your ambitions in life?
3) Why do you want to do an MBA?
4) What are your hobbies? How have your hobbies helped you?
5) What subjects do you want to specialize in?

A good answer
"I attribute my key strengths to the environment I have grown up in. My
family, as well as my school laid emphasis on personal growth and academic
performance. This dual focus has led me to being a) balanced b) motivated c)
willing to learn new things. At the same time, this focus has demanded an
extra effort from my side, and has readied me to face the pressures and
challenges of IIM".

I, however, tend to jump into things too quickly. I am curious by nature, and
while spontaneity helps, it often pays to wait before leaping. I remember
accepting the responsibility of hosting a school charity event in my house
without asking my mother. She had to bear tremendous pressure, as our help
was away that week. Since that incident, I have worked actively to think
through the consequences of any activity."

Key points to remember

1) Interviewers often ask for more than one weakness and even pause in
order to make you nervous. Do not blurt out a series of weaknesses just
because there is an uncomfortable silence in the room.
2) You should always try to mention ways in which you have worked in
getting rid of your weakness.
3) Attributing your strengths to your environment is a humble way of stating
that you are extremely gifted.

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WHY I SHOULD HIRE YOU?

Because I sincerely believe that I'm the best person for the job. I realize that
there are many other college students who have the ability to do this job. I
also have that ability. But I also bring an additional quality that makes me the
very best person for the job--my attitude for excellence. Not just giving lip
service to excellence, but putting every part of myself into achieving it.
In_____ and _____ I have consistently reached for becoming the very best I can
become by doing the following . . .n become by doing the
following . . .
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