MBA Mania

ISB Interview Experience – Class of 2010

The following is the actual interview experience of an ISB aspirant
Date: 13-10-2008
Venue: Delhi
The questions were
1. why MBA
2. Why in the specific sector, or a specific profile
3. Your interests and hobbies, what is that hobby or interest amongstall that you like most or are passionate about
4. how would you manage an event, organize get funds.
5.As i had written i am a keen dramatist and a poet..they asked me torecite something which i did. basically they were just enjoying themselves..aisa laga maje le rahe hain…”haan toh bhaiya tumne yeh likhahai…chalo kuch pesh karo…kaafi thak gaye hain hum”…and then ustart of..beware if uv written a dance..mujhre se kam main kaam nahinchalega..
6. Whats the biggest challenge that uv faced at work.
7. finally ..do u want to ask something… .

The interview took less than 15 minutes

ISB Interview Experience 2 : Class of 2010 Round

I reached about 1 hr before the scheduled time but would advise other people to be there 30 mins before the given time. Idle time makes you more nervous. I was handed over the essay about 30 mins prior to the interview. The abstract essay that I had to write was a good time pass and helped reduce the anxiety. Finally, I was called in and there were 3 interviewers in the panel – one was from the ADCOM and the other two seemed to be ISB alums. The atmosphere eased when they started interacting. It was more of an interaction than a formal interview and I felt very comfortable. The only thing you need to do is give it a good start. Just be calm and confident and that’ll take you through. Sequence of questions asked to me : 1. Tell me in brief what your company does and what is your role at work. 2. What do you see as your strengths while you have been working. 3. Cite an example for the strengths you are talking about 4. Tell us something about your venture, why didn’t it do well? 5. You have 3.5 years of IT experience and some experience of entrepreneurship, why do you still want to do an MBA. 6. What is you dream co. post ISB? 7. Case study : You are the head of marketing of a group which has to market an Airplane with automated pilot system. What will be your strategy? The interview lasted around 25 mins.

ISB Interview Experience 4 : Class of 2008

Profile: IT Engineer – 4 years

I was the last candidate to be interviewed for the day. My interview started at sharp 6:30 (as was communicated to me in my interview call) and lasted for only about 20 minutes. I was led into the interview room from the waiting hall by one of the interview panelists, who I discovered later was an alumnus of the school. There are 3 men in the interview panel. (2 are alums, in the middle seat is a grim looking Professor)

As soon as I entered, they all stood up to shake hands with me and promptly greeted me as “Welcome Madam editor”. (I had mentioned in my first essay that Written Communication was my strength and that I was the editor of my college magazine).

1. Alum: What was the last article you wrote?

Ans: I wrote an article on “Ways of Learning”

2. Same Alum: Tell us more about the article.

Ans: I mentioned the types of learners and what professions are suited to each kind of learner etc.

3. Different Alum: Started pointing out the weaknesses of my article and what more could I have included.

Ans: I was very cool and either agreed or disagreed with his points exactly the way I honestly felt about each point.

4. Prof: What do you think is the way of teaching at ISB? Are you in sync as a learner with that kind of teaching?

Ans: I knew in detail about this. I mentioned Case studies, negotiation classes, leadership classes, presentations etc.

5. (The interviewer is quite surprised by the depth of my knowledge). We don’t put all that on our website. How do you know so much?

Ans: My Boyfriend is from ISB. I have been to ISB earlier and attended one of the classes.

6. Professor: I don’t want to ask his name.

Ans: I don’t mind telling though. It will only add to my interview. He is a good performer 

7. Alum(changing the topic): Tell us about your international stint. What was different in UK?

Ans: (Yes! I am prepared with this one). Social Responsibility, respect blah blah

8. You have to choose a boss and a team mate from an Englishman and an Indian. Who would you want as what?

Ans: English man as the boss- more organized.

Indian as a teammate – smarter. I like to work in a challenging environment. (I am impressed with myself. That’s a smart answer)

9. Alum: You have mentioned that you are managing 2 projects in your job. What will happen if we select you? Who will take care of those?

Ans: My Boss already knows that I am appearing for ISB. He is prepared. Moreover, as a good leader I have groomed my second in command very well. And then of course I will have 2 solid months after the result for knowledge Transfer

10. Prof: Why don’t you join IIMA?

Ans: (I am prepared with this… I know what you want to hear… IIMA sucks!) I give some well practiced bullshit.

11. Professor: Aha! I know why you want to come. From your boyfren you know about the kind of parties we have!

12. Alum: Would you like to go back to your organization after MBA?

Ans: (Honest reply) Yes. It has given me the following opportunities… blah blah.

13. Professor (wants to trap me). All the applicants from company Y (main competitor of my employer) say they don’t want to go… all the applicants from your company say they want to go back. Why?

Ans: (Another smart ass answer) Sir, if they all are saying it then it must be true!

14. Do you have any questions for us?

Ans: (Of course, I am prepared with this) Do you think that IIMA Exec course is a competition for ISB?

A discussion follows abt this.

15. Professor: Tell me your boyfren’s name.

Ans: Sir, ABC. (No reaction from the Prof)…. Sir, do you know him?

16. I have the humble task of placing the students at ISB… what do you think, I wont know him? Anyway, nice meeting you.

Shake hands. Leave.

ISB Interview Experience 5: Class of 2011 Round 1

I had given 2 mocks already with App-help and my performance was decent. However I was getting butterfly’s just a day before. Was very nervous and would have messed up but then I strummed my guitar and I felt fine.

My Name: X

GMAT: 730 (5)

Workex: 3 years at the time of joining, if selected
Time: 9.40 AM
Pre interview Essay topic: “Youngistaan”

The Panel consisted of:
P1: This person looked from Adcom. Was only taking notes
P2: This lady was an alumnus
P3: This guy was also an alumnus, and surprisingly his name was also “X”

(I was called in along with the P1, shook hands, was surprised when P3 said that his name was also “X”)
P2: So you are from Comany Y? You must know Market Research? Have you heard the term “Ethonography”?
Me: (Blank.. Smiled) No, I don’t.

P2: (Looked at P1 and P3) Okay forget it. Jumping from your department from IIT to marketing must have been a huge jump. Why did you leave your department?
Me: (I was prepared) Blah blah.. blah.. Got interested in marketing so joined my firm.

P2: (Again looked at P3) P3 don’t we get interested in so many things, doesn’t it mean we make it our career. (P3 was very serious he never smiled. P1 after saying this looked at me and smiled.)
Me: I (Smiling) am also interested in marketing because blah..blah. All throughout my life I have loved watching movies, advertisements, tv etc….

P3: (interrupted) What is your favourite add on television which has been aired off late?
(I was taken by surprise. I hadn’t prepared this question. Should have but hadn’t. My bad. Kept quite for few seconds, felt like loosing my composure. But regained and spoke.)
Me: It’s an add, that was aired some time back. “The pug add of Vodafone”.

P3: Do you know who made it?
Me: Sorry, I don’t.
P3: You want to go into media marketing, don’t you think you should start knowing about media marketing? P1 and P2 nodded in agreement.
Me: I agree, I should know more about media marketing domain.

P3: So X why do you want an MBA, you should go directly into advertising or media, why MBA?
Me: I have set certain goals for myself. At my firm I have learnt few skills like blah blah…, however I need a lot many skills such as ….blah blah….which only an MBA can provide.
P3: Not convinced. But these skills are already mentioned as your strengths. You don’t need an MBA for this.
Me: (I knew this gentleman was not in a mood of agreeing. So I looked at P2 ). Mam, won’t you agree that these skills still require grooming which only an MBA can provide. (She smiled, as I looked hard at her for approval)

P2: So, tell me something which you done in last two years at my firm which you are really proud of?
Me: actually there are a couple of things. There was a new incentive compensation plan design project which had come to our company and I was put on it. It was for an “EYE CARE MAJOR” and its sales force was de-motivated and they were falling short of the national forecast. We did this that.. achieved this.. blah blah.
P3: No no, stop.. help me understand I didn’t understand anything you said. What exactly did you do? What was the problem?
(I was a little nervous here. Did I choose the right example? How should I explain it to him. I put my hands on the table hoping they would help me in explaining.)
Me: I explained things in detail and told him two simple things.
P3: So your ideas was just to lower the threshold?
Me: No sir, we also made the plan portfolio oriented. So now only if one person achieves a basic minimum in the other 2 products say 2 and 3 that he will get a higher payout in the present product or else not.
P3: This is all that you did? This is pretty common sense.
Me: Wasn’t common to them.
P3: You said it was an eye care major?
Me: Yes it is. Should I give you the name? (He said no). They have anywhere 140 to 150 reps.
(P3 looked completely dissatisfied. To make up I looked up at P2.)
Me: Mam, it was a new project. We were doing something of this sort for the first time. I really related to this project because I learnt a lot on this.

P2: Very few media companies come to ISB campus. What if you don’t get selected in it?
Me: I’ll go for FMCG Marketing.
P2: Only 6-7 FMCG Marketing companies come to campus and they take the top of the brass. What if even that doesn’t happen?
Me: You want to know my second back up plan… hmm… okey, I have marketing analytics experience, will go back in marketing analytics.

P2: So you think they’ll take you at the pay check you would want to?
Me: Yes.. I believe so.. they will.

(This is the only time P1 Spoke)
P1: So you were so much into media marketing and now you want to go back to marketing analytics.
Me: Sir it is just something I’ll do while meanwhile I’ll keep trying for Media Marketing.
(He didn’t speak again)

P2: So tell us some instance at your workplace where you exhibited some sign of leadership.
Me: Organised party.. dance,music and even composed a song on my firm’s life.
P3: So you composed a song. What was it?
Me: I have my guitar outside, should I bring it.
P3: No that’s okey.
Me: so should I sing it without guitar?
P2: Yeah yeah, go ahead.
Me: (hummed the song.. one paragraph)…
P2: Nice.

P2: So do you have any questions for us?
Me: Blah Blah.. Blah…
P2: answered.

She shook hands…so did others…

I got up and just confirmed the name of the word “Ethonography” and smiled and left.
Lets see what happens.