Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
Note: This page will be updated regularly as and when we receive PI Experiences directly from students and trusted sources
One of the toughest colleges to get into out of the Holy Trinity i.e. IIM ABC (Ahmedabad, Banglore, and Calcutta) is definitely IIM Calcutta. Hence, it’s no surprise that cracking the PI at IIM C is a hell of a job. But what kind of questions are asked in the PI? and how is the actual experience like? Let’s get the answers to all these questions with this article on the real-life IIM Calcutta Interview Experiences of students!
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 1:
Date - 10/02/23,
Hyderabad, 8.00 AM, fresher (2022)
3 panelists M1, M2, F1
M1: why low CGPA in B.tech ( told )
M1: mention any national/ international/ state news ( mentioned AP capital issue )
M1: asked me to explain what would I do If I am the CM and why ( explained )
F1: tell me about your project ( explained )
F1: Is it business worthy?
F1: what would be the risks?
F1: why MBA
F1: strengths, weakness
M2: what is a random variable?
M2: difference between expected value, average value?
M1: any questions
END
Pleasant interview, just like a conversation
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 2:
Profile:GEM 9/8/6
BTech Metallurgy
IIT Bhubaneswar
3 months workex Software Engineer
Three panelists 2M 1F
P1: Let’s start with your introduction.
Which is your favourite metal?
Where is Lithium found mostly?
Draw a map of South America showing the countries you mentioned (Chile, Argentina and Bolivia)
Who is the President of Argentina?
You have not studied in your graduation. Give honest reason.
Can you do Maths? Make a quadratic equation which has 2 answers, 0 degree and 90 degree.
P2(F): Name a person Whose life would you like to live and why?
What did you learn from traveling all over India?
If you have the opportunity to become the CEO of a company, which company would you choose and what changes would you make?
P3: Do you follow cricket?
What series is going on currently in cricket?
( P1 interrupts) Who is Allan?
What other sports you follow?
Give 3 interesting facts about the FIFA world cup held recently.
(P1 interrupts) You are giving boring facts, tell me more interesting ones.
Have you been to Rajasthan?
Have you taken a camel ride?
Do you know about camel milk?
Why is it not popular?
Show how a camel rises from the ground using your hand.
P2: If you were the CEO of a tech company and had to layoff people, what would you do.
How could your company have better handled your layoff? Is layoff in person better or by mail?
Imagine I am an employee and you are an HR breaking the news that I got laid off.
Ok, That will be it….
Wait, you forgot your pen.
The interview lasted for over 30 minutes. It started chill but P1 did some grilling in the middle. I answered most of the questions smoothly but could have been more elaborated in some of my answers.
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 3:
BCom graduate, 8/9/9
18 mins
Questions asked:
- Tell me about you
- Asked about the societies i was a part of during college – Told
- What did you do in the placement cell and other societies. – Told
- What is a fund flow statement – Told
- What is the effect on demand of competitive goods, supplementary goods – Told
- What is elasticity of demand. – Told
- What are profitability ratios. – Told
- Methods of valuation of company – Told
- Take on ChatGPT – Told
- Take on budget – Told
- First Miss World – Didn’t know
- Miss World 2022 – Didn’t know again
- Any ethical dilemma you faced – Told
- What if you friend is sick, and since it’s the deadline for submission of a project, would you let him copy your assignment? – Told
- Any current news – Told
Thank you, you can log off.
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 5:
About me: General Non-Engineer Female Fresher
10th – 10 CGPA, 12th – 96.5% (Commerce), Grad – 89.87%
Final year BMS (Bach of Management Studies), Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, University of Delhi
CAT Percentile – 98.83
Interview Date – 10 Feb 2021, total duration ~10 minutes
Q. Give us a short intro, anything you want us to know that isn’t on the form?
– Spoke about my background, my hobbies, my objective of doing MBA (I was very careful of not mentioning things like my acad scores, college etc. as was asked by them)
Q. Okay, which course are you in? (Oops sir, seedha direct intro puch lete hahaha)
– Answered
Q. You are interested in art, so can you name some famous painter and their painting?
– Pablo Picasso, Leonardo Da Vinci
Q. Any prominent Indian painters?
-Rabindranath Tagore, Jamini Rai
Q. Do you think this skill of yours will be useful in the industry?
– Spoke about personal qualities like creativity, patience, focus, attention to detail which art taught me that I can use in my management career
Q. I mean to ask, could you name a company which can allow you to use your art skills directly, on the front-end?
– Mentioned ‘Chumbak’ – I wasn’t sure whether they had understood the name correctly, so I casually mentioned how you mostly see their stores on airports etc.
Q. So what exactly do they do?
– Designing/graphics of common objects like laptop covers, magnets etc. – strong USP, customers identify their products etc.
Q. So is it a start-up or a well-established company?
– Sir initially it began as a tiny start-up, but now it has been in the market for more than 10 years, have strong revenue figures and many brand-wide collabs, so it is quickly pacing towards becoming a prominent company.
Q. What are angel investors?
– An angel investor (also known as a private investor, seed investor or angel funder) is a high-net-worth individual who provides financial backing for small startups or entrepreneurs, typically in exchange for ownership equity in the company.
Q. How are venture capitalists different from them?
– A venture capitalist (VC) is a private equity investor that provides capital to companies with high growth potential in exchange for an equity stake. This could be funding startup ventures or supporting small companies that wish to expand but do not have access to equities markets. but not very concrete
Q. Have you heard of AntInvestor?
– No sir, but I’ll surely read about it
Q. No problem. So have you studied stats in your graduation?
– Yes sir.
Q. Tell me about the Chi Square Test
– A chi-square test for independence compares two variables in a contingency table to see if they are related.
Q. Are you sure? Isn’t it the opposite?
– Thought again, then said “No sir, as far as I can recall, this is correct.” (I later checked to find that it was actually correct!)
Q. Did you have any Maths subjects?
– Sir not explicitly, the closest to math we did was stats.
Q. Okay, but are you comfortable with Math?
– Sir the last I studied Maths was in Class 12, but this year due to CAT I have revised quite a bit, so I believe I can answer basic stuff.
Q. Okay then, you have a pen and paper right, please note down this equation: 2x^3 – 18 = 0. Help me find the Minima for this?
– Sir we will have to find double derivative for this. So, the 1st derivative will be 6x^2 = 0. And the 2nd derivative is 12x = 0. (I then got confused because I was getting x=0 as the critical value, and was not sure how to proceed.)
Sir I’m not sure, but I think the minima would be at x=0.
Q. Okay, let’s see if you are right. Can you roughly draw the curve of this function on the graph?
– Drew the standard cubic curve (Thankfully I had looked at the shapes just an hour before my interview)
Q. Yes, so now tell me what will be the minima from this graph?
– Sir according to this it should be minus infinity.
Q. But just a minute back you said it will be 0?
– (Sheepishly) Yes Sir, I’m sorry I was not very sure as I had lost touch.
Q. Not an issue, just never let go of calculus as it comes into use quite often. Now, do you read the newspaper?
– Yes Sir, I try to keep myself aware of the major happenings around me.
Q. Okay, so tell me about the NEP
– Started answering about what it is
Q. Just tell me any two main points of the NEP
– Told about 5+5+3+4 pattern, the opening of new medical colleges, lateral entry and exit in college.
Q. All right Vanyaa, thanks a lot, you can log off.
– Thank you so much for your time, Sir!
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 6:
Venue: Indian Habitat Centre, Delhi
Profile: Undergrad in Civil Engineering from IIT Delhi
Personal Interview:
So there were three panelists. PANELIST1 was sporting a pony tail and was wearing a blazer over a polo T-shirt so my guess was that he is an alumni. PANELIST2 was very casually dressed. PANELIST3 was dressed formally.
PANELIST1: (Reading out my form) Okay, so you want to gain bird’s eye view of the industry. Here, take this sheet and draw me front and top view of the bird’s eye. You must have done Engineering Drawing course in your first year right?
Candidate: Yes sir. Just the eye though or the whole face?
PANELIST1: Just the eye.
Candidate: (I drew exactly the eyes i.e., elliptical with sharp edges)
PANELIST1: Saw the drawing and asked me to write an equation for the (kind of elliptical) curve.
Candidate: It is kind of an ellipse but it has sharp edges. Can I assume it to be an ellipse to write its curve equation?
PANELIST1: Sure. Go ahead.
Candidate: (Wrote the equation)
PANELIST1: Can you differentiate it?
Candidate: (Was converting the implicit equation into explicit equation and then differentiate it)
PANELIST1: Will there be any problem in differentiating this? Are you sure?
Candidate: No problem sir. I am sure.
PANELIST1: Okay. Do you remember any incident from Mahabharata related to bird’s eye?
Candidate: Yes sir. Dronacharya’s bird eye test (explained it properly)
PANELIST1: What does bird’s eye refer to here?
Candidate: Focus and concentration.
PANELIST1: Did you intend to use it to convey same meaning in your career goals?
Candidate: No sir, mine was to actually gain bird’s eye view of industry as to learn about the industry from a comprehensive perspective just as a bird would look down at an object or area from a high elevation.
PANELIST1: Do you know of any other bird in mythology?
Candidate: Sir I know there are many but I am not able to recall any name. (Perhaps he was expecting to hear Garuda)
PANELIST1: Which bird would you like to be if given a chance?
Candidate: Vulture
PANELIST1: So you like to prey on people, hunt them down?
Candidate: (laughingly) No sir. Actually, I used to watch Animal Planet and I really liked the way vulture used to hunt.
PANELIST1: Okay. If you were a bird where would you want to go? Just remember you’re a bird not a person so think from bird’s point of view.
Candidate: Some place where there is less air pollution and mobile towers. I would choose France.
PANELIST1: Does France has less pollution?
Candidate: Yes sir. I think so.
PANELIST1: Who is the Prime Minister of France?
Candidate: Sir I don’t remember his name. Actually, Prime Minister is not the most important position in France, President is. The President is Emmanuel Macron.
PANELIST1: Are you sure there are both PM and President in France?
Candidate: Yes sir. Absolutely sure
PANELIST1: What do we call such governments which have both PM and President.
Candidate: Republic, oh wait no that’s when top position is elected. I don’t know sir.
PANELIST1 asks PANELIST2 and PANELIST3 to take over.
PANELIST2 was reluctant to ask any question. It looked like he wanted the interview to get over soon.
PANELIST3: Okay so your hobby is watching movies and TV series. What kind of movies and TV series do you watch?
Candidate: Sir, all kinds, across languages, across genres. But I prefer Fantasy, Mysteries and Thrillers.
PANELIST3: What languages?
Candidate: Hindi, English, Japanese, Korean, German, French.
(Actually, I haven’t watched any Korean TV series but just said it in flow.)
PANELIST3: (See my dumb luck) Which Korean?
Candidate: (Attempting to bluff) Death Note
PANELIST3: (Looked convinced) Alright. On what platform do you watch these?
Candidate: Sometimes Netflix, Amazon and sometimes I download them.
PANELIST3: Do you always used to watch them in same way?
Candidate: No sir. Before college I used to watch on television. After coming to college I mostly watch them on my laptop.
PANELIST3: So among youth, who are watching these on TV and who are streaming it online?
Candidate: We can segregate them into three groups for urban youth. Before 18, 18–23 and 23 above. Before 18 mostly TV. 18–23 mostly downloading and sometimes Netflix and Amazon Prime. After 23 mostly Netflix and Amazon Prime and sometimes downloading.
PANELIST3: Okay. (Looking towards PANELIST2) Do you want to ask something?
PANELIST2: What other calls do you have?
Candidate: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Lucknow and FMS.
PANELIST2: What will you choose if you convert all of them?
PANELIST3: Don’t worry. Tell us a straight answer.
Candidate: I consider all these three institutes equally good and I would be lucky to get admission into any of them. Right now I just want to ace all my interviews and want to leave the decision-making process after I get my results.
PANELIST3: Still you have to choose one. What will you choose, come on?
Candidate: Sir actually the thing is IIM A is mecca for marketing, IIM B for consulting, IIM C for finance. Right now I am not sure which specialization I would go for and that’s why its really confusing for me. But still if you want an answer my preference would be A, C and B.
PANELIST3: Okay so you like marketing more than finance? Hmm… Tell me why do you think B is called mecca for consulting?
Candidate: Bangalore is tech hub. Lots of firms and companies have their headquarters there so lots of consulting firms visit IIM B for recruiting.
PANELIST1: Yes you’re right. What skills do you think a marketing, finance and consulting guy should have respectively?
Candidate: Marketing guy should have good interpersonal skills and charming personality (I was thinking about sales guy in my mind so went wrong here), finance guy should have good quantitative aptitude, basically natural aptitude for Mathematics and consulting guy should be quick-witted, basically resourceful.
PANELIST1: Don’t you think consulting guy should have the qualities you told for marketing guy?
Candidate: Yes sir. There are certain skills which are bound to overlap but I believe that consulting guy should mainly have quick wits to handle any situation.
PANELIST3: (looked disappointed) Okay tell me why did you choose C over B?
Candidate: Sir because I am good at Mathematics. I do have a natural aptitude for Mathematics.
PANELIST3: Alright then. You know you should read a book by David Kahneman. It would really change your outlook I think.
Candidate: Absolutely sir. What is the name of the book?
PANELIST3: Thinking fast and slow.
PANELIST1: I think his name is Daniel Kahneman. Yes an excellent book. Must read.
PANELIST3: Yeah right, sorry. Okay X, that’d be all. Thank you.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 7:
IIM Calcutta experience for Batch 2021–23
Date – April 9, 2021
Profile – B.COM Hons. Fresher, SRCC
10/12/UG- 95/95/9.24
Joined the link at 10, was let in at 10.30
One Male Professor(P1), One female(P2)
Me – Good Morning!
P1, P2- Good Morning Dev.
P2 – Okay Dev, so almost every BCOM graduate is doing something else along with their graduation like CA or CFA. What are you doing?
Me- (Little confused what to say) – Ma’am I invest in the stock Market.
P2- Great, so you might have already made some bucks in the market. So tell me why the stock market is at all time high while the economy is not in good shape.
Me – Yes Ma’am, even RBI said that market is at very high level when we see the economy but there are some reasons for the same. First is the significant inflow of Foreign investment in India. The FDI is at all time high in invest with huge funds inflowing specially in past one year accumulatively. Second is that Participation of Retail investors is significantly rose in past few months. The increase has been manyfold. Third the salaried and business class mainly through mutual funds is investing around Rs 8000 cr every month as the awareness of SIP is increasing. So these are the main reasons for the boom.
P2 – Okay good. Do you know about the 2008 subprime crisis
Me -Yes Ma’am. (Explained a little bit about it)
P1- So what were these instruments called?
Me – Sorry Sir, I don’t remember.
P2- Okay Dev, So let me ask you a question from Class 12th. So you have studied economics right.
Me – Yes Ma’am.
P2- Okay so tell me which among Accounting costs and economic costs are higher and why?
Me – Ma’am, economic costs are generally higher than the accounting costs as they also include the implicit costs such as rent of self owned land along with the explicit costs. Accounting include mainly the explicit costs so are lower than economic costs.
P2 – Okay, So let me take you a little backwards again. You have done probability in class 10th right.
Me – Yes Ma’am
P2- Okay, So I am giving you a question of probability. Please solve the same.
Me – Okay Ma’am.
Somehow I solved the question and found afterwards that it was correct as well.
Not a very big interview, lasted around 10 mins. Was ver chill. No HR questions or WHY MBA or IIMC. OVERALL I was happy with the experience.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 8:
My profile:
Class X/XII/B.Tech: 10/95/73
B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay
32 months of work experience in an Oil and Gas firm.
The Interview:
There were two male profs, say P1 and P2.
P1: So Shalin, tell us everything about yourself, who you are, what you do and why have you come for this interview.
Ans: Told a well prepared answer starting from ‘Tell me about yourself’ to ‘Why MBA’
*P1 and P2 both smile and lauded for my fluency in English
P2: So you work in the Director’s office. Tell me 3 differences from management perspective in the role between the CEO of your company and head of one of the Refineries of your company/
Ans: Mentioned points regarding other divisions like marketing, finance etc. for the CEO part and more centric and operation based role and decision making in the Refinery head part.
*lot of cross questioning and discussions from both of them in all the points.
P1: Tell me your views on privatization of banks.
Ans:The administrative efficiency of a private bank as compared to PSBs is better. The overall customer service is better in a private bank. Therefore, privatisation of PSBs will bring about an enhanced customer service experience.
*Again, both P1 and P2 cross questioned in all the points I mentioned.
P2: A probability question that I don’t remember exactly.
P2: What do you know about IIM Calcutta?
Ans: Told 6–7 points that I read about IIM C.
P1 & P2: Do you want to ask anything from us?
Ans: What is the best part of your day to day work that you like the most?
P1: Laughed and replied that may be if you come here you can interview me for the student magazine.
P2: Okay Shalin, you can now log off. We are done here.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 9:
IIM Calcutta interview experience for the batch 2021-23
Profile – Sanjana (94/98/9.135) with B.Sc.(H) Chemistry [2015-18] from Miranda House College
(University of Delhi).
Panel No – 1 (2 panelists, both Male)
Date – 13th February 2021
My first interview for MBA (Batch 2021-23 that too without any mock interview) so I was a little nervous.
P – Did you work after graduation?
Me – No sir, I prepared for UPSC.
P – Where did you reach?
Me – Sir in my first attempt, I didn’t get through prelims by 2 marks and in the second attempt, I also didn’t get through the prelims but marks are yet to disclose so I don’t know where I stand.
P – How’s your preparation going on for June (UPSC Prelims is on 27th June 2021)
Me – Sir when I started the preparation I was very clear that I’m going to give 2 full-fledged attempts (only). So I didn’t fill the form for the third attempt.
P – What was your optional?
Me – Sir my optional was chemistry.
P – Was it your graduation subject?
Me – Yes sir.
P – From which college have you graduated?
Me – Sir, Miranda House College affiliated with the University of Delhi.
P – Sanjana our courses are math orientated, are you comfortable with math?
Me – Yes sir. In fact, my electives in the first 2 years of my graduation were math subjects.
P – Okay so take a pen and paper and tell me when a dice is rolled twice what’s the probability that the sum comes out to be a perfect square?
Me – 13/36
[Here I made a silly mistake. I jot down the cases for 4 i.e, (1,3), (2,2), (3,1) and 9 i.e, (3,6), (4,5), (5,4), (6,3). But when it was time to answer I should have calculated the total number of cases which are 7 and hence the answer should have been 7/36 but I wrote 4 and 9 so big on a blank paper that I just summed them up that is 13 and gave 13/36 as my answer]
P – Draw the graph of – 1/x^2?
Me – Drew and showed them [After the interview when I checked again I found a silly mistake and hence a wrong graph]
P – From which state do you belong?
Me – Sir, Haryana.
P – Who is the governor of your state?
Me – Sir, Satyadev Narayan Arya.
P – From which part of India does he belongs?
Me – Sir, I’m not aware of this thing.
P – From which party does he belong?
Me – Sir the conventions which are followed in our country according to them he should be having no party affiliation at present.
P – Can he be affiliated with a party before assuming office?
Me – Yes, sir
P – What do you think your governor was affiliated to which party?
Me – Sir since the BJP government is in Haryana so I’m assuming he is/was from BJP (the line of reasoning should be – since the governor is appointed by the President and President acts according to the Cabinet and BJP government is there in the Union Government so that Governor should be from BJP, But I got confused because of the presence of BJP at both Union and state of Haryana but later I got a chance to correct myself, let’s see how)
P – Since TMC is in West Bengal so the governor of West Bengal should be from TMC?
[Dimag ki batti jali ekdm se]
Me – No, sir. Since the governor is appointed by the President and BJP is in the Central government so the governor should be from BJP.
P – You’re having a pen. What is its cost?
Me – Sir it may be 10 or 15 rupees. I don’t know exactly because it was bought by my Papa.
P – Okay so how would you calculate the cost of a pen?
Me – Sir, the cost of the pen will include the cost of raw material used such as plastic and ink etc and marketing cost and fixed cost.
P – What is the fixed cost?
Me – Sir, the cost which will be there irrespective of the number of units of product produced such as salaries of employees, rent of the building, etc.
P – Which is the most renowned company from Haryana?
Me – Sir, I’m not aware of this.
P – How will you measure the performance of a company?
Me – Sir, economically we can measure the performance of a company by its profitability but overall performance should take into account factors such as sustainability along with other financial indicators and mentioned a Deloitte survey carried out during pandemic where above 80% of people said that performance of companies should be evaluated based on what they are doing for the society.
P – What is ESG and CSR?
Me – Sir I don’t about ESG but in CSR which is ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ companies having turnover over a specific limit need to invest 2% of their turnover into the social sector.
P – What’s the difference between Nifty and Sensex?
Me – Sir Nifty takes into account the market capitalization of 50 companies whereas Sensex takes into account the market capitalization of 30 companies. Nifty is used by NSE and Sensex is used by BSE.
P – Any other difference?
Me – Both differ in their values like Sensex keeps hovering around 45000 and Nifty keeps hovering around 15000.
P – Okay Sanjana, Thank you.
Me – Thank you sir and left the meeting.
Key takeaway – If it’s your first interview do tell them that it’s your first interview and you’re are really excited about it so that if you make mistakes or nervous they can understand you.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 10:
SUDARSHAN SINGH CHAUHAN
-I was 4th in my panel
Confidence – 9.5/10 (.5 cause of all the current affairs I heard they were asking and some statistics questions like variance and some other stuff which I just don’t get. Also, there was no lady in my panel, damn!!)
Preparation – 2/10 (2 points thanks to IIM L interview, that’s it. I had no mock GD or mock interview.)
There were 3 people in the panel:
Alumni (A): Young looking person probably in the late 30s, looks cool and calm. He is seated on the extreme left.
Professor 1 (P1): Probably in the 60s, looks serious, doesn’t look like the guy who would return you a smile. He is sitting in the middle.
Professor 2 (P2): Late 50s, he smiles, looks like a person who is happy with his life. He is on the right.
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Me (M): All my thoughts are in italic, just to make clear, what I am saying and what I am thinking.
M: Good Afternoon Sir
P1: Good afternoon, please take the seat.
There is a huge table between us, I have my folder in my hands, I look for a chance to pass it to them, but no one looks very much interested, they are looking at some documents or something else. I just keep it with me and sit down.
P1: What are you doing right now?
M: Sir, I am at 4th-year IT-BHU, Ceramic Engineer. (Wasn’t clear enough)
P1: What?
M: I am currently in my 4th year at IT-BHU, doing Ceramic Engineering, though I am working as a Game Designer right now.
A: Game designing, such as games for EA Sports, Lan Gaming?
I have this cool smile on my face all this time, don’t know why but I guess it’s the word ‘Game’ that bring it to my face
M: Sir, I started my company in 2nd year Bright Ants with the aim to develop social games for all platforms starting with Facebook.
A: What are your views about LAN Gaming, EA Sports, etc.
M: There is a difference between traditional games and online games, social games.
A: Online Games, so you mean games from Zynga?
M: Yes sir, I worked as a game designer in Zynga recently in December and January for 2 months. They had come to campus for recruitment of engineering profile, but during the interview, it changed direction and I ended up as a game designer. As they had never hired a fresher as a game designer so I was asked for an internship. I talked with my HOD and he gave me permission for some time.
A: So, what are your views about it?
M: Sir, Social gaming is here to stay, it’s not a bubble waiting to burst. Zynga a few years back was considered nothing as compared to EA Sports which was 5 Billion dollar company. Recently, in December when Zynga IPO was launched it was valued at 10 Billion and since then the share price has increased from 10 USD to 14.65 USD.
A: So, you’re wasting your talent by doing an MBA. I knew it was coming sooner or later, here comes the most important question, Why MBA?
M: Sir, as an MBA, I would learn a lot, it will help me learn and evolve as an individual.
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A: I honestly can’t find one reason for you to do an MBA.
M: Sir, I have not done an MBA, so I don’t know about the course structure and what I am going to learn, but there would be a lot to learn not just from my teachers but also from my peers. P3 looks quite happy, he has been happy throughout, maybe he just likes my face.
A: You’re not getting my point, there is no point for you to do an MBA, just run your company, you’re good at it, why become a manager?
M: Sir, as an MBA, I would learn to better manage myself, my company, my team. He looks somewhat satisfied, looks towards other professors. There is a silence for some time. I intervene.
M: Also, 10 years down the line, I would like to take my family business to new heights. I knew the conversation was going nowhere, and I did not want to come to Current Affairs or tech questions, my only bet was to take it towards Tourism industry, though I had not done anything for it, nor was I prepared but it still seemed a safe call. I knew at least why MBA would end now!! 3-sec pause, I was exploring the uncharted territory now, waiting for them to ask “What Business?”
P1: What business?
M: Hotel Business. We have 4 properties, 2 running, and 2 under development. We have recently tied up with Royal Orchid in Jodhpur. I assume they know the name Royal Orchid.
P1: Tourism is a risky business. Is there guaranteed income and revenue?
M: No sir, it depends on various factors, like for example in Rajasthan, it is dependent largely on international tourists. So, in case of a global epidemic like anthrax in early 2000, it was a big hit on the industry. Also, if there are any terrorist threats in the country it affects directly to industry. I was not paying attention to grammar, nor am I very good at it. So, you’re expected to see more mistakes in one paragraph then probably in a whole essay. That’s the way it works for me, I just keep saying something that makes my ideas or views clear enough.
P1: Isn’t it overcrowded already?
M: Actually not, In India there is actually a need to increase the number of budget rooms. The global ratio of a luxury room to budget room is 1:7 whereas in India it is only 1:1. So, we have a lot of scope for development here.
P1: Do you know how many are business or travel?
M: Sir, I don’t know the exact numbers, but it actually depends what place we are looking at, like in metro cities Delhi, Bangalore, business travelers are high, and in Rajasthan, Varanasi tourists are more. My confidence was kind of skyrocketing at this moment, I knew I was timing it the middle of the bat.
P1: What is the future of this sector? (He looks serious all the time, I wonder if he’s ever going to smile. Maybe he just had a bad lunch)
M: Sir, it is a service based business, I personally feel it’s got the huge untapped potential that we need to utilize. For example, when I was in Germany(I had to put it somewhere about my internship) last year, I used to travel a lot around Europe on weekends. So, they have so much developed their any small historical building, they will project it as a must see. I was super excited this time, making all sorts of weird hand signs and facial expressions, kind of like telling a story.
As soon as you arrive at any station, they obviously have an exceptional transportation system. But, they would give you these very good, creative pamphlets, brochure of their city, specially made for youth. Whereas in India, even the great Chouhan Fort of Ajmer is degrading (the best word that came to my mind, I know I suck at vocabulary and everything related to English). We need a lot of efforts from government, individuals to promote Terrorism, O! I mean Tourism (I am laughing and so are they) definitely not terrorism.
A: you want to promote terrorism?
M: Laughing, literally No I am fine with tourism, no terrorism.
P1: Hmmm, but don’t you think it’s overexploitation, I mean when more people will go, it becomes damaged. So, in order to protect it, you need to stop tourism. It sounded absurd, and I was confident that I could tackle this illogical conclusion.
M: Sir, I understand what you’re trying to say, for example, you reach on the top of Sand dunes in Jaisalmer, and you see coke bottles, wafer packets lying around, you won’t like it. You might like it the first time, but you won’t like to recommend it for next time. It becomes a onetime experience, I won’t be recommending it to my friends.
P1: So, you’re getting my point, you need to stop tourists to make it clean.
M: Sir, I personally believe everyone should take a break and travel around, relax a bit and enjoy their life. I don’t know why I said those words; it was totally out of context. He shows a disappointed look.
P1: What I mean is that you’re damaging the environment.
M: Sir, government is not doing adequate efforts. So, now it becomes the duty of the businessman to make sure they keep it clean because their business is dependent on it. I knew I was beating around the bush, how could I be trapped in such an illogical inference. I was losing some vital confidence here, but I knew I had to hold ground anyhow.
P1: You know even Mount Everest it getting dirty, the beautiful Ajanta and Ellora caves are not even close to what they were 10 years before. He gets a bit loud trying to prove his point.
M: Sir, I agree to with you on the problem, and If you are saying such a case in Ajanta and Ellora caves then it must be true, but your suggestion of stopping tourism will affect a lot of people who are dependent on it. Again I am talking nonsense here, but whatever I am doing I make sure I at least look confident.
P1: That is not the issue, see tourism is like Petroleum, it’s a depletable resource, more you use it, it will not be available for future generations, like you use petrol, so it will end one day. I have a really broad smile on my face.
M: Sir to me that sort of solution is not a solution, but rather not attempting the problem, you’re trying to run away from the problem, I am sure there is a better solution which is more efficient, we need to look at alternatives for effective usage. I have no clue what I am saying, but I am saying it clear and I am sure Tourism is not Petroleum, so I would get some points soon.
P1: What is effective usage? Caves are dying!! A flash of bright light, I got an idea. I am way more confident now. So, I start speaking a bit more affirmative, while making all sorts of weird hand signs and expressions
M: Sir, take the example of the Eiffel Tower. You don’t let 1,000 people go top, you have to stand in a queue, wait for your turn, you have to preserve it. When people come down then the next group is allowed to go top if they are done for the day, then nobody can go. They have different levels and charge differently according to each level. You don’t rush people in. I am saying the same thing again and again, yeah!! I got a point this time.
So, in our case, if we cannot manage 1,000 people inside the case, we need to limit them. If we don’t have enough resources or manpower to manage a large group, we keep it to a limit to make sure it’s not damaged any further due to overcrowding. This way we presever the scenic beauties for our future generations, make sure our natural resources don’t vanish and people enjoy tourism to it’s maximum potential I knew I had nailed it here this time.
P1 and P2: And how would you distribute the tickets, first come first serve or auction based, because according to Supreme Court auction is the best form of distributing a resource which has supply and demand. See, there is a demand for it and supply, so there should be an auction?
I have a smile as usual, though I wonder where did this come from, weren’t we discussing Tourism and Petroleum.
M: I don’t think so, then you’re limiting the experience to the rich, everybody has equal right to travel, enjoy the beauty, have fun, so auction can’t be the method.
P2: You’re talking about experience, so a poor person who eats at Dhaba( mind you, lot of people eat at dhaba and they are not poor, but I decided to skip this one with him) should just go to the 5-star hotel and claim to have equal rights to that experience of a lunch at 5-star, you can’t limit him from that according to your logic. Now I am smiling so wide, I have a look like “are you kidding me?”
M: Sir, when you are using a natural resource or something that belongs to everyone like Sand Dunes, or Caves, you cannot sell it on a higher price cause it belongs to everyone, but when I talk about a 5-star experience that’s what I have made, I have every right to sell it at whatever price I want. I am not forcing anybody to come and pay me for it, everyone is free to either use it or not use it, but because it belongs to me I have every right to charge whatever I want. P3 nods his head and smiles, P2 has his looks.
P2: But, whatever you do, whenever there is a demand and there is a supply there would be black marketing and people would be willingly selling their places at higher prices. See, there are some temples which are free to visit, but they have long queues where you have to wait for hours or even days maybe, but if you’re willing to pay a luxury fee you can get entrance easily. So, whatever you do it will always happen.
I was wondering if they would get on the ethical question of if it’s right or wrong because that would be a real tough nut to crack, but they did not ask it.
M: Sir, I agree with whatever you have said, I would like to point out a recent example about which I was reading recently. In Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary there used to be bookings online for travel visits. So, travel agents used to book online early and then sell their seats later on exorbitant prices. So, what they have done now is you need to have an ID proof for using your ticket later on. I think the same can be done in all cases where we want to protect the place from Black marketing. Anybody who wants to use it must bring in his ID-proof at the time of visiting. I think this will largely solve the problems. I was happy nobody questioned the ethics of visiting temples by paying prices, relieved. They all looked pretty satisfied now.
A: So, I am done, sir.
P1: I am done too.
P2: But, you cannot let him have such a free ride, you have to put him under the grill. 3-5 Sec Pause
I am smiling, overconfident look as usual. Kind of like “Bring it On”. I was wondering should I express Poker interest right now. Right then, the thunderstruck
A: Alright, so “What is Integration?” I hear it the first time but he wasn’t clear. So I ask again hoping it’s not the ‘I’ word.
A: “What’s integration?” I Smile
M: Sir, integration is basically Summation of values over a period. I have this look like, yeah, cool, it’s this thing. Though it was pretty clear I was not in my comfort zone.
A: So, you know what’s integration right, you know it’s ‘dx’ and over the area under the curve basically.
M: Yes, I know.
A: So, can you please integrate “X^2 +2” from 0-2 without integrating but using summation.
M: I can take 10-20 seconds.
A: Yeah I take the paper with a pencil, start cribbing something on the paper, wondering why the hell I had to stick up with integration, why would it come back to haunt me in my interview. Why do you always have to pay for your bad deeds? After, thinking about these thoughts for some time.
M: Sir, I am a bit confused, So I can’t actually integrate He laughs off
A: Obviously, integrating directly is going to be very easy. Take another 15 seconds wondering, the curve would go up. At 0 value is 2, at 1 value is 3 and at 2 value is 5. Can I approximate this thing somehow?
M: Sir, actually I am not able to focus right now on the question
A: He smiles, Why?
M: I don’t know, maybe it’s the interview pressure or something else, but my mind is not able to solve this one right now.
A: What exactly is going through your mind?
M: It’s just blank right now. Otherwise, I would have solved this one easily. Sir, I can give you an approximate answer.
A: Can you give an exact answer?
M: ‘No’ Only if I would have done something productive at that time, maybe only drawing the curve I would have solved this one, but, alas I had to wonder about Integration and its love with me.
A: Ok, what is differentiation?
M: Differentiation is basically rate-of-change-of..value.. of …curve. It is the slope of the curve. Making sure I extend each vowel to its maximum limits, I answered in that tone.
A: Ok, So, can you differentiate Mod X Cube? I start writing something on my paper. After 5 seconds. A: Ok, can you differentiate Mod X? I again start writing something. After 3 seconds
A: Do you know what Mod X is? I start smiling loud, draw Mod X graph point it towards him
M: Yeah this one I know. Show it to him, with a way too big a smile in the lost cause. He is also smiling.
A: So, can you differentiate it?
M: No, sir we cannot differentiate it because it has 2 values at 0. I know it’s a noob answer, but, that is how my calculus is, I don’t get limits, and that sign of integration itself creeps me out. Why is that the case with me? It is a totally different story, completely beyond the scope of this interview.
A: How It has 2 values?
M: Sir, as on the positive side value is +1 and on the negative side value is -1. So, we cannot have a fixed value at 0, so we cannot differentiate it. Totally, nonengineer style answer continues.
A: Don’t use the graph to explain, explain in terms of logic. Ok, tell me what can you differentiate?
M: Sir, we need the graph to be continuous to be differentiable (Seriously shows my lack of knowledge in the field, don’t think I was in pressure, it’s just that I don’t know even basic calculus).
A: And what is continuous? This answer is going to be awesome.
M: Sir, continuous is that which we can differentiate. I have a wide smile on my face, he laughs.
A: Don’t make a loop and even that is incorrect.
P1: You see that Mod X graph is continuous or not?
M: It is continuous.
P1: So?
M: Yes, so not necessarily continuous graphs can be differentiable, they should not have a sudden change in their slope.
P1: Listen, it’s like this, the limit RHS value is not equal to Limit LHS value, so we cannot have a single value. I keep nodding my head heavily while saying yes sir, yes sir.
P1: You can also look at the graph and tell it.
M: Sir, I was explaining it from Graph, but he (I look at A) told me to explain without graph. I wanted to say this only that the slope is not continuous. Actually, sir, I have been completely out of touch of integration from the last 4 years, otherwise, I used to be very good at this before. I have a familiar smile on my face.
A, P1, P2: Thank you.
M: Thank you. I stand to leave and notice that the folder was with me only the whole time. Damn, why did I not pass it in the beginning? I wonder if I should pass it now. Anyways, it’s already too late. I walk slowly towards the door, pause for .5 sec in between and then just go through it wondering Did I screw it up bad? What do you guys think?
Let me know. I missed out on a lot of things, few of the game design documents in my folder, one research report, my intern at IIM A, my independent applications, some cool projects. Pretty sure if I had passed that folder things would have been different. But, all’s well that ends. Can’t say ‘ends well’ here
VERDICT: Selected!!
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 11:
ANNGAD SINGH
IIM Calcutta Interview: The Blood Bath
Profile: B. Tech. , Final Year, Electronics and Communication, Delhi Technological University (DCE).
10th/12th/Grad: 89%, 88.8%, 63%, CAT: 99.84 Percentile
Practice from actual CAT Mocks and score 99.99%ile
There are three panelists, all males. Professor of Economics to my left (Econ), a younger professor in front (Prof), alumnus to my right (Alum). I’m the second last to go in.
Alum: So why is there an extra N in your name?
Me: <Told> * He starts smiling*.
Prof: So did your life change?
Me: My life has been good lately, so I have no reason to complain. *All smile*
Prof: *Looks at my form* Everything is fine, why 63% in college? (Damn)
Me: Sir, only initially the scores were low, then they rose.
Prof: Yes, but why? (I try to underplay and move on. He pushes a lot)
Me: I was a topper throughout school, but there was resentment coz of missing a seat of a decent course at IIT by a small margin, so I neglected acads. Later I realized my mistake, scores have been rising consistently, scored 78% in the latest sem.
Alum: Missed kya, you mean rank nahi aayi? What did you get at IIT?
Me: Metallurgy at IIT Roorkee.
Alum: So Delhi Technological University… Admission was through rank or board exams. I tell AIEEE. He asks rank, I tell.
Alum: Which calls do you have?
Me: C, L, I, K
Alum: So Calcutta is your best shot.
Me: Yes, sir.
Alum: Okay tell me, will the normal curve touch the x-axis?
Me: In the graphs we see, it does. May I use the notepad.
Alum: You’ll make the graph touch now. What’s the point.
Me: Sir I’m writing the equation. *I write the equation* It has to tend to infinity, so it’ll never exactly be zero, so no. Alum nods.
Econ: What is the standard form of Normal curve?
Me: Sir, N(0,1). Both nod.
Prof: *Stares at me deeply as if he can see through my soul* So, Why MBA?
Me: I want to have a venture of my own down the line. Given my experience from my internships, I would want to get into the social sector. So immediately after education, I want to get into business consulting to gain insight into the industries, gain exposure on solving problems, blah.. *Prof literally rolls his eyes*.
Alum: Why not invest now? You’ll invest Rs 10, make it 100. Turn 100 into 1000. That’s what an entrepreneur does.
Me: Sir, chances of failure are much higher without proper education and experience.
Alum: But you’ll lose only 10 Rs.
Me: Sir, there is an added cost of time and effort. And I still feel that I’ll be better off with proper education.
Prof: What are the qualities an entrepreneur must have?
Me: I start listing, he writes them down as I speak. First and foremost, Resourcefulness. Leadership. Creative thinking. Specialization in a field. *Alum cuts me*
Alum: What is leadership?
Me: (After thinking): Sir, leadership is the art of extracting the best out of people based on their potential, and helping them align with their goals.
Alum: If you get an on-campus opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship from DTU, will you take it?
Me: Definitely not sir. I want to gain experience first.
Alum: That’s talking like an employee, not a leader.
Me: I wouldn’t want to take a hasty decision without equipping myself with the required skills. *Nods.*
Alum: Give an example of specialization helping an entrepreneur.
Me: After thinking 5 secs. I briefly cite the example of Elon Musk, his specialization in physics, his education, his work on electric cars and space tech.
Prof: Give me an example where someone created something after creative thinking.
Me: <I begin to give the examples of Uber and Zomato, Deepinder Goyal being a strategy consultant.>
Prof (cuts in): Tangible item batao. You are also from the transport business (father’s business in the form), you know these are aggregators.
Me: <I give the example of wearable tech for women security by a startup of our college.>
Prof: What if I hug the girl and the device gets pressed?
Me: Sir, the device needs to be pressed twice in quick succession. So that’s highly unlikely.
Prof: Haan still, I hug her and it gets pressed twice?
Me: There wasn’t any solution yet while I was working with them. Later it must have been solved. Probably the distress signal can be canceled by the app to prevent hoax calls. That’s a viable solution. *Alum nods*
Alum: Is there any tech which revolutionized the electronics industry?
Me: Sir, the transistor. When in the 1920s they were developed, *Prof cuts says don’t tell stories*
Me: Sir, it is coz of transistors that we have such high computational capacity in our devices today.
Alum: I think it’s the bulb. It doubled your day. Without that, the transistor would never have been made.
Me: Sir, the transistor could have been developed… during the day also?… (Both smile) Transistor would have come up later, but it would have.
Alum: Bulb made people develop and use electrical energy. Without it, electricity wouldn’t have been used. *Some more discussion follows*
Me: That is true. In that case, I agree, sir.
Prof : *Goes through my form thoroughly. Visibly annoyed at college marks*: Everything else is fine. Tell me why acads are low. This is an indication that you’ll not do well at Calcutta.
Me: Sir, I agree that I went wrong. In the first half, they were low. Later I picked up and put in efforts. Scores have risen.
Prof: Show me your mark sheets.
No. That is the only thing I’ve dreaded for a month. A part of me dies as I hand over the folder. Prof takes out every single mark sheet from the folder and scans.*
Prof: What happened in 3rd sem. What is all this? What, 42%..?! …46% in 4th..?!
<I quickly tell that it’s 60% in both now, coz I cleared the backlogs, embarrassed at myself as I say it.>
Me: Sir I genuinely didn’t think these subjects would help me. I didn’t see a future in them, so I didn’t study. But, I did realize my mistake later. I retook the exams, studied over and above the academics, made my base strong.
*Alum Asks the subjects with backlogs. Probability and Stats is one. Econ says you won’t survive C without maths. I say my maths is strong. Full marks in 10,12th. Had a backlog in Probability n Stats, so studied again. Plus studied stats for 6 months alag se from edx and Coursera.*
Alum: So your base is strong in PSP now that you’ve studied. Shall I ask questions, will you be able to answer?
Me: I nod, yes sir, I should be able to.
*By now, I realize the interview is tanked, there is no coming back. I have to say yes, that I’ll be able to answer.*
Econ: *Asks 2-3 basics. I answer correctly* What’s volatility?
Me: I don’t know sir.
Econ: But you’ve studied stats. Wasn’t this there?
Me: No sir, I’ve never studied volatility.
Econ: But you’ve heard stock market volatility. (I insist I don’t know. He pushes further.)
Me: If you’ll allow me to make an educated guess, it could mean the tendency of the stock to deviate from the mean.
Alum: Does the stock market have a mean?
Me: Yes sir, it should have, mean reversion is a method used in algorithmic trading.
Prof cuts: Isn’t a deviation from mean standard deviation. So how is it different?
Me: I talk about SD. Then say I’m sorry I don’t know about volatility, though they should be related.
Prof: So for you, volatility and standard deviation are the same.
Econ: Then how is stock market index calculated in Sensex?
Me *recalling what I had read. I checked this specifically, but forgot*:
Sir, I think it’s based on indices of the top 30 companies. They are dynamic in nature. Etc etc. (I know I went wrong somewhere, waiting for them to point it out.)
*More discussion follows*
Prof: That’s comparing apples and oranges. You can’t do that.
Alum: Are you guessing or do you know it?
Me: I’m guessing sir. I don’t know about stock markets. (Shit. Sounds like the last nail in the coffin.)
*I feel like a chimp, may I leave? Can we start this all over again, is there a reset button? I thought I was better than this.*
Prof: So what are your hobbies?
I’m glad they didn’t end the interview. They’re asking more, must mean something. Or they’re just getting sadistic pleasure. I’m clueless.
Me: Playing chess and watching movies.
Alum: So in chess, (I’m hoping he’ll ask a game related technical question). Why is a rook called a rook? King is king, the queen is queen, why is rook a rook. (Fuck this shit now)
Me: *Giving an I-don’t-know, I’m-thinking-deeply look*
Alum: There must be a reason.
Me: Sir, it should have to do with the king’s army, considering the rest of the pieces. Alum nods. I know that the 8 pawns have professions farmer, doctor, etc.
Econ, Prof smile: Oh, we didn’t know that! Interesting!
Alum: So why is there a bishop in the army?
Me: Sir, historically priests and religious people have had influence over kings and queens. They have been the right hands of the royalty.
Alum: Do you know anything about European history?
Me: Yes sir, the church was powerful. (Thinking chess should be older, and it originated in India, not Europe. But the form we play today was developed in Iran or Europe, not India. I keep shut)
Alum: And they engaged in wars.
Me: Yes sir, the crusades. *Nods*
Prof: What type of movies do you like?
Me: Sir, almost all genres.
Prof: Which movie won the most Oscars?
Me: Titanic.
Prof cuts: How many?
Me: It’s either 9 or 11. [it’s 11]
Prof: Is it the only movie to have won that many…9 or 11?
Me: There’s another one. Either Ben Hur or Casablanca [There are 3- Titanic, Ben Hur, and LOTR, 11 each]
Alum: What’s the oldest movie you’ve watched?
Me: 12 Angry Men, 1957.
Alum: Have you watched Mughal-e-Azam.?
Me: Yes sir, as a kid I did. (Almost immediately regretting saying that)
Alum: When was that released?
Me: I think the early 1940s.
Alum: Sure?
Me: I think so, but not sure. [It’s 1960]
Alum: Isn’t that your oldest movie then?
Me: Smiling. Oh, yes, sir. He smiles back.
- Econ: Wasn’t it in color?
Me: Initially it was black and white with one song colored. Later it was released in full color.
Alum: Where did you do your industrial training?
Me: I talk about my internship at CIIE, the business incubation center of IIM-A.
3-4 questions follow. They keep a straight face, don’t seem impressed.
*At this point, I simply want to leave. I pray they don’t end the interview here. If they ask more, means I’m going right somewhere, I got something going for me. I don’t know what, but something*
Econ: Gives a math question while the two of them talk. Sum of N terms without formula.
Me: Sir it was a method famously developed by Gauss when he was a child, write series in reverse and add. *I write it and show. Econ cuts, okay okay fine.*
Prof: Can you add N^2 series.? I take 2 mins. Prof joins back in. Econ tells I solved the first one.
Prof: Have you read it before (Sum of N)?
Me: Yes sir.
Prof: On PagalGuy?
Me: No sir, long ago I read it generally.
I’m still stuck on N^2, trying to solve it using cubic series. Econ says it’s ok, leave it.
Econ writes Fibonacci series, asks me what series is it its significance.
Me: Fibonacci series sir. (You’re mocking me now?)
Econ: What is its significance?
Me: *I recall the spiral photo made with the series…. Of a girl splashing water with her hair in that Fibonacci spiral*
Sir, it makes a graph like this. I draw. It’s a logo also that I saw. [Dept of Stats and Data Sciences at UT Austin used it somewhere.]
Econ: Yes, right. What is it called, some significance?
Me: *I think and think and it hits me* Is it ….the Golden ratio?
Prof: Leave it. We asked this yesterday too. You’ve asked someone.
*What the actual fuck. You got to be kidding me. I prepared a year for this interview, and it has come down to this? I somehow manage to put up a helpless smile.*
Prof: I think we’re done. Do you have any questions for us?
Me: Sir, I’d just like to say one thing. I know my college acads are low and I’ve faced the brunt for that. I’ve had to work extremely hard in the last 2 years to make up for it. I made a mistake once, so I know not to make it again. I’m not going to squander an opportunity again and I’ve learned that.
Prof *Much more calm tone now*: See, we’re here to select people, not reject them. It’s all relative. You’ll not get a 3rd sem again at IIM. You can’t make a comeback. But we believe life gives a second chance…..I nod.
Alum: Do you have any questions for us?
Me: No thank you, sir, nothing as such.
We exchange pleasantries.
Prof: You’ve been smiling all through. Take a toffee.
I thank and take.
Prof: Uhhh, take another one!
Feels like he’s absolutely pitying me by now. I smile and say it’s okay.
Prof: Arre..Take It.
I take another, thank them and leave.
Verdict: Selected!
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 13:
SHREYANSH DANGI
Let me give a brief introduction to my profile,
99.86% in CAT, B.Tech. ICT passout from DAIICT, had around 32 months of work experience teaching quantitative aptitude, average 10th, 12th, and grad scores. This is for IIM-Calcutta
The panel had 3 interviewers (let us call them P1, P2, and P3, P1 was in the fifties, P2, P3 were in the thirties probably).
P1: So, Shreyansh, you are an academician, where do you work?
Me: Answered, told that I teach quant at a CAT coaching institute (interrupted)
P1: So cracking CAT must have been easy for you?
Me: Not exactly sir, Quant was easy as I teach this subject but there are other aspects of CAT examination which weigh 66% in the examination. I had to really work hard to prepare for verbal ability and logical reasoning.
P1: So, what have you learned in Verbal, vocabulary?
Me: No sir, (felt sad saying this), although I have read word power.
P2: So, mostly reading novels and books?
Me: YES. ( I said yes and stopped, there was a 10-sec pause after this, after the interview, I realized this was my chance to talk about all the novels that I had read and planned to talk about, but what did I answer? “Yes”: facepalm:)
P3: Okay Shreyansh, since you are a maths teacher, we are going to ask you some tough mathematics questions, as compared to other candidates, but we will start with easy ones and later increase the level gradually.
Me: Smiled, nodded.
P3: Prove that sum of first N natural numbers is…. whatever it adds up to be.
Me: Took notepad given by him, proved by the principle of mathematical induction, spoke all the stuff while I was writing, handed the notepad back to P3. (P3 looked satisfied.)
P1: (while going through my transcript) You have scored excellent grade in cryptography, do you know what RSA encryption is, and write an equation for the same?
Me: Answered
P1: What’s the principle of RSA encryption based upon? Me: It makes an assumption that the product of a large number is tough to factorize again.
P1: You are missing a very important aspect, it is the product of large prime numbers.
Me: (Amazed by P1’s interest in the subject, ) yes, sir, it is prime numbers. There is an RSA challenge being held every year to find out the complexity of the problem and improvise the method.
P1: What’s RSA full form? Me: S stands for Shamir, R for Ron, it has been a long time, not able to remember exactly
P1: Its Ron Rivest-Shamir-Adleman Me: Yes sir.
P2: Okay another maths question for you, a and b are odd numbers, a>b. By what largest number, a^2-b^2 will surely be divisible by?
Me: worked it out in the head, told its 8.
P2: Please explain how you reached to 8? (I hadn’t written anything till then) Me: Wrote detailed explanation, assumed a= 2n1 – 1 and b =2n2-1 and proceeded. Explained correctly.
P3: Answer is correct but you are quite slow for being a mathematics faculty! Me: Smiling, sir I got the answer very quickly, but to prove it is 8, proper steps need to be carried out.
P2: Do you follow world news?
Me: Yes
P2: Whats Syria refugee crisis? Me: Answered. (Partially correct)
P2: What is your opinion on Patel Agitation? (As I am working in Ahmedabad) Me: They are asking for reservation, but Patels are a rich community in parts of Gujarat… (interrupted)
P2: Everyone says the same, reservation should not be there.
P1: How is Anandiben Patel’s work?
Me: Answered (interrupted again)
P3: Okay this is the last question for you, as you said you have improved on logical reasoning, show us your reasoning skills. (Drew a problem statement on a piece of paper, something related to constructions of flyovers and different styles of flyovers) There are two styles of flyovers I have drawn, analyze and mention the pros and cons of both. Me: Stared at the diagrams for 1 minute, explained.
P3: Correct, exactly because of this, one is constructed mostly in Mumbai, other in Bangalore.
P1, P2, P3: Okay Shreyansh, we are done.
Me: Smiling, thank you, sir.
Verdict: CONVERTED!
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I didn’t have calls from IIM A/B/I/S/SPJ even after the percentile due to past academic performance but managed to convert my best call IIM-C. The interviewers were nice, I smiled throughout the interview except for the cryptography RSA questions part and hence sailed through. Right after the interview, I remembered all the things I could have said, 2 different proofs I could have shown for the proof asked, books and novels I could have told about that I read, but in the end, it all works out for the best. Right, when I thought I was out of the game, even though I didn’t know, I was completely in the game. #JokerForLife
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 14:
Total Panelist – 3
P1 – Age 30-35
P2 – Age 45-50
P3(F) – Age 30-35
P1 – So you have shaved your beard I guess?
ME – Yes sir.
P1 – Why so?
ME – I’ve heard from a lot that it throws a good impression somehow ( with a tiny hidden smile)
P2 – weird smile So what do you think?
ME – I’d hope that it did. (With a smile)
* All of them smiled *
P1 – Name your subjects from your last semester.
ME – Told them that our programme used to follow annual examination system and not semester, and named the subjects that I had in my last year.
P2 – What is Deferred Tax Liability?
ME – Told briefly (with example)
P1 – Can you explain why does the figures of Nifty and Sensex keeps fluctuating every hour, infact every minute ? (Out of syllabus ofcourse)
ME – Was in middle of my explanation, * interrupted by P2 *
P2 – Explain Deduction 80C
ME – Told (with example)
P3(Female) to P2 – I think Taxation wasn’t a part of his last year syllabus.
P2 – looking at me is it?
ME – Yes sir, it was in my second year syllabus.
P1( nodding) So you still remember terms from second year syllabus.
P2 – If you were asked to structure the lamest excuse for doing MBA in one line, what would be it?
ME – My friends were doing it. ( Just a casual response I never thought I would give in an IIM interview.)
* All of them laughed *
P1 – My fellow colleague is an Engineer and doesn’t know much about Finance fields like Audit Taxation etc. Can you please take him through a short tour of the sector?
ME – Of course sir.
Told the core meaning of all the fields, how are they different from each other, how are they related to each other, and how all the fields are co-dependent on each other.
P2 – Thankyou.
Now P3(Female) enters the arena with her weird questions.
P3 – what city do you like?
ME – Calcutta.
P3 – Do you like to go to cafes and chill?
ME – Yes mam.
P3 -Suppose you’re in a crowded cafe, and a random girl comes and proposes to you on her knees holding a flower, how would you react or say that would break her heart and make her happy simultaneously.
ME – Told that I will try to manage a flower as well, then I would get on my knees too and would say “I am sorry, I have a girlfriend” Which would probably break her heart for the moment.
And then, with a smile, i’ll continue “The girlfriend, who is holding a flower right now bending on her knees”.
Which would make her happy.
P3 – *Smiled
P3 – Use a cheesy pick up line to impress me, would you?
ME – * Shocked for 3-4 seconds *
I can surely try mam.
” Can you tell me what am I wearing? ”
P3 – A formal outfit I guess?
ME – ” No mam, i’m wearing the smile you just put on my face ”
* All of them laughed *
P1 kept laughing moments after P2 and P3 stopped.
Even I kept smiling while they were laughing
P2 – So do you write ? ( Was in my hobbies)
ME – Yes sir, but not frequent. I just write when I feel like.
P3 – Name two female writers from India who have done excellent in the field.
ME – Mam, in a way, everyone has done their part brilliantly.
But the works of Arundhati Roy and Anita Desai has fetched quite a few Booker Prizes and a lot of people like to read them in comparison to others in the field. So, I would name them.
P1 – Name one famous book of each of them
ME – Told.
P2 – Okay, Thankyou. You can log out.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 15:
B.Com graduate with 2 years of work ex
Panel 2
Panelist 1- late 40s Panelist 2- late 30s
P1-
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Would you like to share if you enjoy any extracurricular activities.
3. What’s the difference between commerce and e-commerce
4. What’s the difference between Accounting and Accounting Principles
5. What is TDS and where does it go in the balance sheet.
6. |x| + |y| = 1, draw it’s graph.
P2-
Since you are from delhi, what are your views on farmer’s protest and how do you think that these protests are disrupting the lives of people in Delhi?
P1-
1.What all calls do you have?
2. Any question for us?
Thank you, you can leave now.
Duration – 10-12 mins
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 16:
(Dual in Physics and Chemical Fresher)
P1
1. Explain E=mc^2 in layman
2. Its use in Atomic Bomb
3. Use of Theory of relativity in GPS
P2
1. Condition for lines to be parallel, intersecting
2. Plot y=ln(x)
3. Use of ln(x) in real life
4. Ask what you want
5. What’s your percentile?
6. What other calls?
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 17:
GEF 99.69%ile
CS Fresher
Panel- 1 sir and 1 ma’am
Interview lasted for 15-20 min
1.) Asked about PS
Told I was interning at Amazon
2.) Asked about my role and my project
Told I was in AWS and my project is to move an open source video conferencing platform like Jitsi on AWS, benchmark it and scale it up.
3.) Compare Jitsi and Zoom
Told Jitsi is more elite in user interface..told some more features of Jitsi like you can play youtube videos directly by entering url rather than sharing screen
4.) Asked if Jitsi has a future and if it can take over Google meet or zoom
Had a discussion why the width of railway lines are same throughout the world, why in US people generally drive on opposite site… (understood they were thinking..older architecture is already in place so if we change the standard we will have to replace the older infrastructure)
5.)Why manhole covers are circular..
I told a vague answer but they gave me a hint saying suppose you have a square cover is there any dimension that is greater than ‘a’?
I caught the clue..I said the diagonal is √2a and that in circle diameters are all equal..
6.)Any recent news that touched your sentiments either positive or negative..
Told them about uprisings in Russia and how Navalny being a blogger created an impact..so being a writer myself I think we can create an impact
7.)Asked if this could be misused
I talked about the current ongoing dispute between Twitter and Indian govt..
8.) Asked my views whether it should be regulated
I gave a diplomatic answer
9.) What all calls you have and how will you rate each of the interview experience
Done.
(Pretty chill and encouraging people.. smiling and joking all time)
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 18:
My profile:
Class X/XII/B.Tech: 10/95/73, B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Bombay
32 months of work experience in an Oil and Gas firm.
The Interview:
There were two male profs, say P1 and P2.
P1: So Shalin, tell us everything about yourself, who you are, what you do and why have you come for this interview.
Ans: Told a well prepared answer starting from ‘Tell me about yourself’ to ‘Why MBA’
*P1 and P2 both smile and lauded for my fluency in English
P2: So you work in the Director’s office. Tell me 3 differences from management perspective in the role between the CEO of your company and head of one of the Refineries of your company/
Ans: Mentioned points regarding other divisions like marketing, finance etc. for the CEO part and more centric and operation based role and decision making in the Refinery head part.
*lot of cross questioning and discussions from both of them in all the points.
P1: Tell me your views on privatization.
Ans: Told a few prepared points.
*Again, both P1 and P2 cross questioned in all the points I mentioned.
P2: A probability question that I don’t remember exactly.
P2: What do you know about IIM Calcutta?
Ans: Told 6–7 points that I read about IIM C.
P1 & P2: Do you want to ask anything from us?
Ans: What is the best part of your day to day work that you like the most?
P1: Laughed and replied that may be if you come here you can interview me for the student magazine.
P2: Okay Shalin, you can now log off. We are done here.
Overall it was more of a discussion on what my views were on certain topics.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 19:
BTech, Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Tirupati
Work ex : 7 months
Panel 1:
1: What are you currently doing – (Software Engineer)
2: What work you do.
3: Which programming language do you use.
4: What is bubble sort?
5: What is time complexity of bubble sort.
6: Best sorting algorithm ( answered conditional on data we have)
7: When to use which sorting algorithm with example.( Count sort, Quick sort, insertion sort by telling best, worst and average time complexity)
8: While answering time complexity question, you used term Big O, explain that.
9: You have good technical knowledge, quite handsome package with in-hand salary then why mba
10: told standard answers saying all PORs during college and all but he didn’t seem interested and interrupted and asked do you think you will get higher salary than this after doing mba?
11: Continued with interest in Product Management role… Interrupted again and said with your technical background I can get that profile without mba also.
12: continued saying how mba can help me for PM but again he interrupted and handed over Interview to another panel.
Panel 2:
1: May I ask you questions on Maths and Probability? (yes)
2: if You have 5₹ and you get 1₹ if there is Heads on toss and lose 1₹ when you get Tails on toss. After how many tosses you expect to go bankrupt.
3: probability of getting one head in 7 tosses.
4: random variable question related to same topic
5: PMF for bionomial distribution.
6: Variance of same
7: Assume that I am an investor who wants to invest in farming sector as due to new laws we have good opportunity to do same. So when do you think this farmers protest will end? Tell me in months.
8: Reason behind my answer (15th August) to above question
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 20:
2 male Panelist
P1,P2 both mid 30s
P1 straight face at start later camera was off P2 seemed strict at start but eventually got normal
P1: No introduction
Most of the questions were around the business I started
Some were on Tabla (as I’ve written it in hobbies)
P2: double differentiate Cos(sinx)
X + 1/X =2
X^3 – 1/X^3 = what
graph of y^2=x
y=x Intersection points
Total area of intersection
Why MBA
Which field why
More questions on business
Niche and motivation behind it.
Not a typical IIM C interview most of it was profile based no technical no current affairs but hope it helps
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 21:
Dt- 08/02/2022 , 10:30 a.m. (last in my panel)
Started at 12:50 pm. Lasted for 22 minutes.
B.Sc. Maths, Fresher
2 panelists- 1 sir(S), 1 ma’am (M)
M,S: Hi Nabanita! (Greeted)
M: Show us your photo ID.
M: From which college have you completed your graduation?
M: So, they’ve also started giving CGPA. Your CGPA is very good. What was your rank?
M: You were in top 10% then?
M: First you did your graduation in mathematics, now you want to do an MBA. Can you explain how an MBA can help you?
M: Help me to understand in layman terms.
M: So, what’s the condition of the world economy now? How is it impacting us? Why the share prices of Google & meta fell down? How the crude prices getting affected?Tell me about price hike.
S: Anything you want us to ask you?( Told calculus)
S: Give an example of a function in one variable whose minima is more than its maxima. What is the condition?
S: Two trains are moving towards each other with a speed of 10 m/s each and initially they are 100m apart. A fly is flying from one train towards another with a speed of 25 m/s. After how many flights, it will get smashed between the two trains?
S: Tell me the smallest number that can be expressed as the sum of two cubes in 2 different ways. (Ramanujan number)
S: How will you prove that the no. of primes is infinite?
S: Do you want to ask us anything? (Ma’am were you referring to the World Economy? I’m unaware of it.)
M: You’ll learn about it.
M: Recently Bratya Basu received an award. Can you tell us about it.
S: Name a book by *(some Bengali author). [ Sir,I don’t read Bengali texts much)
S: Yes,yes Hindi elocution! We are sorry.
M: What’s your CAT %ile ?
M: Thank you. (Told thank you ma’am,thank you sir)
S: Thank you!
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 22:
Dt- 9/02/22 panel 3
93.2/92/ cat 99.92 architect fresher
In total the interview lasted 15 mins max, I’m unclear as to how it really went, so i would like to describe it in a more de/tailed way, please excuse the verbosity
There were two panelists- one sir, one maam. They started by asking me to show ID then mam commented on it. I explained, then she immediately asked me “why not get work-ex” then asked me a few follow-ups on that.
Then directly said, “okay we will ask you quant ques” the question was –
350 employees in a firm. firm has to give bonuses. 10 rs to males 8.15 to females. All females accepted the bonus, And x% males rejected the bonus, the total amount of bonus to be given is independent of the no. of male employees. How much bonus did the female employees get in total?
I solved it a little, and asked mam for the ratio of men to women. mam said not given. I thought more, asked for the total budget given, mam said not given, I finally asked her if males were 0. Mam said no. So after trying to solve it, i said the answer is coming in variables, mam said it should be a definite value. so I told mam I am unable to solve it.
Then sir took over and said he will ask me from a different topic, he asked –
There’s a chance that in the population, 1 % of the people have a disease. Then if you get tested… And the result is +ve, the probability of you having the disease is 90%, And if the result is -ve there is still a probability of 10% of you having the disease. now you got tested, and it came positive. So now what’s the probability of you having the disease?
I solved using bayes theorum, but i heard 1% population as 10% so i got the answer as 1/2 so sir pointed out the “1%” then I solved it again and got 9/108 which was correct. Sir asked a follow up “Do you not think it is very low considering u got a positive test?” I thought for 10 secs and answered because the population is 1% hence it makes sense. Sir said yes correct answer.
Now he told me he’s going to share the screen and show me a building, which I have to identify.
I answered “the architect is definitely Antoni Gaudi, I can tell from the art style of the balconies but I am unsure of the name of the building”. Sir then proceeded to show me the next photo, but it being not very descriptive of the structure, he closed the website. Then asked me to name any 3 buildings of the architect, but his share screen was still on and it was showing the google results of the same. And the names of the buildings were on the screen. I answered “Sir, i can see the answers on the share screen”. Then he quickly closed it and said he just wanted to hear “Gaudi” and that he was done.
And that was the interview.
They asked me if I have any questions, I asked them about the campus and if the lakes there cause any issues. Mam mentioned flooding. Mam asked me my best call and asked me which institute I would prefer, A or C. I gave a diplomatic answer saying it is a difficult choice for me. I felt being overtly complimentary will not seem genuine. Mam said she understood, while smiling. And said I can leave the meeting.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 23:
Dt- 11/02/2022 8:30 am Panel 6
Profile: 89.2/91.8/72.85
General B.Com Fresher
Duration: 15-20 mins
Panelists: Both males, middle-aged
I’m listing down the questions I was asked.
- You’re just 20? Don’t you think you’re a little young for an MBA?
2. Your name is Vaidehi. Where does it come from?
3. Goddess Sita was from Videha? I heard she was from Janakpur. How can she be the Princess of 2 kingdoms? (Couldn’t answer satisfactorily)
4. What do you like to do?
5. What do you write on Quora?
6. What do you like about MS Dhoni?
7. If you had to write about a political leader whom would you write about? (Answered that I don’t follow politics much, but mentioned Narendra Modi and the reasoning behind my choice)
8. Who was Veer Narmad? (Name of my university)
9. What was his contribution to South Gujarat? (Mentioned that he’s a poet but couldn’t mention the names of his works)
10. Why are the people of Gujarat so entrepreneurial?
11. What is rank of Gujarat in the ease of doing business? (Didn’t know, talked about the unemployment rate) Follow up – Which is the state with the least unemployment? (Answered)
12. So should I set up my business in Surat? (Had a light conversation on this)
13. Who is the Prime Minister of New Zealand? (Didn’t know)
14. Do you know if she’s a female or a male?
15. If you were forced to make a guess, what would you choose? (Male of Female)
16. One academic question on Costing. (Couldn’t answer)
17. 4 questions on economics. (Answered 2 of them perfectly, 1 ok ok, and 1 didn’t know at all)
18. 1 question about taxation. (Answered)
19. Current oil price. (Answered) Follow up – Method used for calculation (Couldn’t answer)
20. Do you have any questions for us? (Had a fun conversation on this for 2 mins)
21. Which other calls do you have?
Overall, very chill conversation. Didn’t feel like an interview at all.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 23:
Pranjal Sharma 10th-95, 12th-59.8, grad- 55.6 Bachelor of Arts ( history, polity, sociology)
CAT- 99.91 , Fresher
11th Feb 2022, morning slot, 3 panelists
P1- Hi pranjal , show us ur ID
P1- r u nervous?
( me – yes sir, a little nervous nd excited)
P1- don’t worry we’ll not grill you . relax.
(smiled)
P1- introduce yourself nd something about ur family background
P1- so UP guy, how’s election going on in your state ?
P1- how many legislative councils are there in UP?
P1- what is difference between legislative assembly and legislative council
P1- did u vote?
P1- why BJP?
P1- tell us any 3 major development projects in your area
(told about jewar airport, ganga expressway, THDC power plant . 30 seconds for each)
P1- what is PPP model?
P1- is privatisation good?
P1- do u read newspaper?
P1- what is happening in karnataka?
P1- don’t u think that it is a fundamental right to wear whatever they want to?
P1- who is the union minister of Law n justice?
P1- what is repo rate nd reverse repo rate ? current rate?
P1- yes. now my colleague will ask u some questions
Now P2
P2 – u did quite well in ur 10th. then what happened after that?
P2- science in 12th then arts then business administration. what is ur ultimate goal ?
P2- what are ur fav subjects in graduation ?
(I told history and polity)
P2- tell us about maurya empire?
P2- difference btwn empire nd dynasty
P2- How industrialisation began in india?
( told in detail for 3-4 minutes. gave examples of Jmashetji Tata, tata sons and Aditya birla group. 2-3 cross questions by P1)
P2- How Attorney general elected? who is AG at present?
P1 – u look well prepared (smiled). let’s test ur quant skills. do u have pen n paper?
P2- write down eq. 2xy-5x+y =55. no. of integral solutions?
P1 – draw the graph of ( -x cube +3x ) nd show us.
now P2
P2- what are ur hobbies?
(mentioned playing cricket and writing poetry)
P1- ohh that’s nice . tell me how many types of poetry are there?
( told that I don’t know indepth, I just follow up the rhyming. I have written just 2-4 for one of my female friend.)
( they all laughed)
P2- ok. recent best performance in cricket
( told about azaj patel’s 10 wickets haul in an inning, Jason holder’s 4 wickets on 4 balls, india won U19 WC for 5th time )
P2- what is that 4 on 4 term called ?
ok pranjal we’re done. do u have any questions to us?
( I said no)
P1- Ok now u can leave the meeting
I said thank you to everyone.
overall it was just conversation, much of opinion based. no grilling. P3 looks like alumni , asked no question just smiling during entire interview. thankfully I answered every question except 1-2 duration around 22-24 mins
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 24:
Dt- 11th Feb 2022
CAT – 95 (SC)
Work Ex – 31 Months (till Jan)
1 M, 1 F
Waiting time – 2 Hrs
Ma’am First;
Que 1. Tell me something about yourself?
Ans – Gave well prepared answered (highlighted that helped team in saving 1.2crore at RIL)
Que 2. Elaborate on how you helped in saving money
Que 3. Few more follow up questions
Que 4. Tell us about your Job role at RIL
Que 5. Had mentioned Operations, so She said that you must be knowing the Operations Planning, told her that we are allowed to do experiments but we have to follow the SOPs
Handed over to Sir,
Que 1. So, have you gone through the MBA Curriculum, said that yes sir but not in details?
Que 2. It will be math oriented, are you ok with this?
Ans – Told him yes and but out of practice for last 3-4 years.
Surprise – Laptop crashed all of sudden, couldn’t understand what just happened, gathered myself and called on the contact no mentioned in email, this went on for 5-6 mins, laptop took its full time to refresh and got hanged as well after restart
Was lucky enough to enter again;
They asked what had happened and what was I using
Sir contd. – So, please answer the last que, told him that I couldn’t hear it and if he could repeat it.
Que – He repeated and asked how to calculate the Maxima & Minima
Ans – Was easy and so explained with all the graph and methods;
Que – Asked the significance of First and Second Derivatives
Que – Asked how to calculate the slope when only graph is given
Ans – Answered but could have explained it in a better way
Que – Do you Read News?
Que – What is something you hate in the budget?
Ans – That I was expecting tax cut income tax slab as no of ITR returns were increased this year
Que – Few more follow ups on it as why were you expecting this?
both said done and Ma’am asked if I had anything to ask?
I asked if they could suggest something I could work on to compensate that I lost while working in a particular role and with limited opportunities in COVID – Ma’am said that I didn’t lose anything but I have gained a rich experience and that’s more valuable.
Overall it was good and easy but got panicked due to the glitch.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 25:
Dt- 12th Feb 2022
CAT – 97.68 (OBC)
95/91.4/68.7
Electronics and Instrumentation, BITS Pilani
Panel 5
1 M, 1 F
Waiting time – 1 Hrs
Ma’am First;
1. Briefly tell me something about yourself.
2. What is your dream company? (Told no company as such, but would love to work as a (Product Manager) PM in any company)
3. Why PM? What is so special about PM that everyone I see wants to be PM. Some conversation in that.
Somehow a topic on IoT came up in the conversation… so I had 1 question on that.
Passed on to 2nd panelist
1. I see you have done a course called current affairs in one of the semesters. What did you learn in that?
Told learned to make unbiased opinions to news etc.
Follow up… Okay So make an unbiased opinion on any of the recent news except the Hijab controversy.
2. (Still seeing the transcript) You have done some math courses I see. (The compulsory math courses of 1st year)
3. Asked how to calculate maxima and minima. And a question on matrix and determinants (in which I messed up)
Back to panel 1:
Okay Aditya that is it from our side. Do you have any questions? (I said no as my mood went off as soon as i messed up the matrix question)
You may leave the meeting. Thank you
Total time: 20 to 23 minutes
Experience: Ma’am was good, she looked satisfied by the answers. Sir looked a little unsatisfied
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 26:
Dt- 12-2-2022
Panel 5 slot 4, 2 panelists 1 Ma’am and 1 Sir
I was 3rd among 5 people in my slot
CAT – 97.68(86/99/96)
X/XII/Grad – 9.6/84.6/62
Gen-PwD-Male
BA maths fresher
Was asked to show an ID proof first
Q1. Introduce yourself
Q2. What maths subjects do you like??
Q3. How do you find the maxima and minima of y=f(x)?
Q4. What is Bayes theorem in statistics?
Q5. Do you follow news and current affairs?
Q6. What are your views on what is going on in Ukraine?
Q7. Do you think direct taxes like income tax is egalitarian compared to indirect taxes like GST?
Q8. What was the last book that you read?? What did you like about it? What did you dislike about it?
Q9. MBA is a very stressful course. Do you think you would be able to handle it??
Q10. Do you have other IIM calls?? Which ones??
Do you have any questions for us
I said no
Okay you can leave the meeting
I thanked them and left the meeting
Overall chill interview
I answered all questions
Only later my dad explained that my take on the tax related question was completely wrong
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 27:
February 16, 2022
Panel-2: 8:30 AM
P1(M), P2(F)
1st person in slot to be interviewed.
GEM / 99.73
95.5/97.33/9.35 ( B.Tech in CSE)
Work-Ex: 30 months
P1: Introduce yourself.
A: Gave the well-prepared answer.
P1: When someone says “end-to-end software development” I’m sceptical. Explain your role better.
A: Answered.
P1: Still sceptical man. Elaborate.
A: I start and mistakenly use enormousness.
P1: You’re a Toastmaster yeah? Why not enormity?
A: My bad. It’s enormity and not enormousness.
P1: Why do you think the difference?
A: Answers with respect to enormous and gorgeous.
P1: Fine. I hope you’d know about politics? Domestic/International?
A: I try to keep up, sir.
P1: What’s AK party?
A: No idea
P1: What’s JKL party?
A: No idea.
P1: Who’s Lukoshenko?
A: No idea.
P1: You don’t know anything. Frame your own question and give me your answer.
A: Starts with Freedom Convoy.
P1: Not a good question. Try again.
A: Talks about Jasmine Revolution.
P1: Fine. Tell me about the ruler.
A: I don’t recall the full name sir.
P1: See, you don’t know much. Fine. You read Dan Brown, right?
In one of the movies, he talks about a specific sculptor.(he gave a description) Name him.
A: I took some time to guess the movie he was referring to but mentioned all the books that did turn into movies. Came to inferno.
P1: Sculptor? Any idea?
A: Can’t recall.
P1: Where did the story end? Where is it set?
A: Answered.
P2 who was poker faced till now starts.
P2: Tell me about elections.
A: Talks about state and WB civic polls.
P2: Any idea of panchayat polls?
A: Sorry ma’am. No idea.
P1 cuts in.
P1: But, do you think WB polls are actually polls?
A: Answered.
P1: Substantiate more.
A: Answered.
P1: Your hobby is travelling. Where did you travel last?
A: Nepal
P1: Talk about what you felt was different.
A: Talks about people, culture.
P1: Why do you think Buddhism has permeated into Nepal?
A: Makes a mistake by not mentioning India first.
P1: You only have fluff. You don’t know stuff. How come you keep India for the last?
A: Sir,…. (cuts me off)
P1: Where was Buddha born and where did he gain enlightenment?
A: Answered.
P1: See, you have a good academic record but you only know things from 20 feet high. Lot of fluff, no substance.
A: Smiles through it.
P1: Fine. What do you know of IIMC?
A: Finally something that my last minute cramming helped me on. Talks about courses, clubs, alums, exchange, projects and the Institute history.
P1 is done.
P2: Let’s discuss Russia-Ukraine crisis.
A: Answered in brief.
P2: Impact that you feel will be prominent on India.
A: Answered. Mentions about the gas pipeline that US has threatened to cut off.
P1( cuts in ): You don’t know the Nord Stream?
A: Sorry sir. Couldn’t recall it at the moment.
P1: I have nothing to say. Looks super disappointed. Waves me over to P2.
P2: Why MBA?
A: Answered
She smiles through my answer making me doubt if I was too stupid.
You can log off. Thank you.
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 28:
Date: 21.02.2022
Engineering Female; 30 months work ex in Oil & Gas PSU
Panel 10; Slot 1; Sequence 1
Time: 8:30 ( Interview at 9:00)
1. Introduce yourself.
2. Why MBA?
3. Asked a few questions related to calculus and graphs
4. Which newspaper you follow?
5. Name a major issue affecting oil and gas prices currently.
A: US- Russia tension over Ukraine.
6. What are Russia’s demands?
7. What happened in 1990s related to this issue?
8. What do you know of Crimea?
9. Any other region you know of where tensions are going on.
11. What books you read?
12. What is Victorian era ?
13. Asked justification for each and every genre I read.
14. What other calls you have?
Thank you.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 29:
Dt- 21 Feb 2022
93, 86, 7.74, 99.92%
GEM 2.5 years workex
It was a chill interview. No grilling. Just a conversation ahout my profile.
2 panelists.
P1- Started by saying that I am a Job Hopper(). I disagreed and explained why I left my last job. Then discussion came on why MBA. I explained. He disagreed and asked me that why do I want to leave a job with a great pay to go for MBA after which, it’s a high chance of me getting a haircut on my current salary. I explained my decision about my switch of profiles and Why MBA is important for me and help me in long term. Few more cross questioning on this. Why not MBA abroad, why switching from such high paying profile, etc. This continued for around 10 mins.
P2- Said that as I have mentioned that I like to follow sports, he would ask some questions around that.
Which Indian chess prodigy recently defeated Magnus Carlsen.
IPL auction questions
Questions around football
Lastly they asked which calls do I have and if I completed any of the interviews and how were they. They asked me how do you think today’s interview went. Asked which I would choose, IIM-A or C. I refused to talk a stand saying that I haven’t given any thought to this yet and would decide once I have information on my choices after some research. They laughed on my diplomatic response and said I was lying.
Overall, I think it was a pretty chilled out Conversion and panels were smiling all along.
P.S. Don’t know if they agreed on my stand of why MBA. They seemed pretty firm that I don’t need one. Hoping that doesn’t affect my selection.
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 30:
Dt- 21/02/2022
97.2,85.69,7.591,99.4%
Engineer , 6 months workex
Time : 20-25 minutes
P1
Introduce yourself , why MBA despite having job in Amazon related to CS
-> I Told about interest about Business analytics
Asked why not do course in business analytics rather than MBA ?
Tell about centre tendency
Tell about SEZ(special economic zone)
Tell about Logistic park
Tell about Green corridor
Tell about a incident that happened before pandemic at the base camp of Mount Everest
Do you like politics ?
Tell difference between union territory and states ?
P2-
Tell about the recent stock market crisis
Draw a concave curve with downward slope
Draw same which is discontinuous
End. Thank you!
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 31:
Dt- 21st Feb 2022 , 3.30pm
1M+1F panel
1) Tell me about the work you do (direct work ex since I have 30 months exp)
2) Impact of pandemic on the company and sector. How did the company adapt to the changes
3) Key learnings from your experience
4) How is engineering helping you in your work
5) Asked fav subject – told fluid mechanics but still asked maths question XD
6) Whats the derivative of e^x
7) Can you prove it using first principles
Total 10-12 mins discussion with sir mainly related to workex post which ma’am started asking
8) Where are you joining from currently? – Mumbai
9) Can you give me some recommendations for places to visit and things to eat if I visit mumbai
10) Asked about an example of efficient delivery system happening in mumbai before advent of zomato/swiggy – Cryptically referring to mumbai dabbawalas
11) Do you know how they have been doing it so well?
12) Can you tell me something about the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Done
Duration – approx 25 mins
Overall a chill interview. They will ask maths irrespective of your fav subject XD. If you have >2 yrs workex then you can expect your interview to be more around that.
IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 32:
Dt- 23 Feb 2022
Eng Fresher
1M, 1F
1.Tell us about yourself which is not in your application form
2. What are you very passionate about? -Dance
3. You have mentioned bhangra as your achievements, what are the elements of nature used in that- i don’t get your question
4 Is it done just for fun or there is any purpose also- Told about punjabi culture and occasion Baisakhi
5 Which crop is cutted in Baisakhi
6 Kharif, Rabi crops etc.
7 Seasons in punjab
Male-
1 You have studied maths
2 Which part you are more comfortable about
(Told Algebra and Integration, he asked all topics except these )
3 Difference between permutation and combination
4 What is Inverse matrix
5 What is the reason behind inverse matrix
6 Bionomial expansion
7 Binomial expansion with negative power
Do you have any question?
You may leave. Thank you!
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 33:
Dt- 24th Feb 2022
2 panelists
Waited 57 minutes before interview
Q) Show me any identity card (didn’t carried any, checked the drawer, Passport was there, so showed that)
Q) Which ministry issues passport
Q) What is written in the first page
Q) what do you mean by republic in republic of India
Q) How many states have you been
Q) Cultural Difference between North and South India
Q) Cultural Difference between Orissa and West Bengal
Q) Different between Hyderabadi biryani and Kolkata Biryani
Q) Other IIM calls
Q) When was B interview ( answered 14th Feb)
They laughed and asked Significance of 14th Feb
Q) How was the interview
Q) How good you are in maths
Q) Taxicab Number ( heard first time)
Q) X^0 ?
Q) How will you prove or explain X^0=1 to a 6 class child
End. Thank you!
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IIM Calcutta Interview Experience 34:
Dt- 25th Feb 2022
IIM C, Panel 20
Fresher, CAT : 98.63
Integrated M.Sc. in Mathematics
P1: Tell me something about yourself.
Why MBA?
What will you do if you don’t get into IIM this year?
P2: Did you study Complex Analysis and real analysis?
What is the geometrical intepretation of multiplying a vector by i?
What is convergence of a sequence ?
What is monotone convergence theorem?
Gave a question on probability- A test have 99% accuracy. You gave the test and you are positive. What is the probability that you have the disease?
Do you have any question?
You may leave. Thank you!
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