IIM-B accepts CAT scores for admission to its Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP). It ranks among the top five B-schools of India. Apart from the general MBA/PGP programmer, IIM-B offers MBA in Business Analytics as well as other specialized/executive programmer. The final selection depends upon the candidate’s past academic performance, work experience, accomplishments, entrance test score, and performance in the admission rounds.
Selection Process
The admission procedure at IIM-B is conducted in the following order:
- Shortlisting (based on CAT score and overall profile)
- Written Ability Test (WAT)
- Personal Interview (PI)
Written Ability Test (WAT)
In this round, the candidates are required to write on the given topic. These topics are based on issues and latest developments in socio-political, economic, and business arena. Some of the topics are abstract in nature. Candidates are given 30 minutes to write on the topic. Here are some of the topics assigned to the candidates during PGP admissions 2022:
- Some say financial literacy should be included in the Indian school curriculum. Others say it might burden the students. Write your opinion on this.
- Is the pace of covid vaccination significant and widespread? How is covid vaccination drive different from others done in the past?
- India is the third largest global start-up ecosystem in the world. Discuss India’s emergence as a global start-up hub and the contributing factors. Is this phenomenon accidental or intentional?
- Government increased themarriageable ageof girls from 18 to 21 to resolve problems like gender inequality. Do you think that this will help the government achieve its targets?
- COVID-19 struck us when we were not prepared and taught us a lot of lessons. Do you think we can prevent the next pandemic?
- Elderly population is increasing. In 2021, it was 138 million and it is projected to grow to 343 million in 2035. What policy would you suggest to handle this situation?
Interview Experiences
A group of three panelists asked the candidates about their values, work experience, internship, academic background, hobbies and more. Each interview lasted for 25-40 minutes. In some of the interviews, the panel directly started putting questions about academics and work profile, skipping the introduction part. Here are the interview experiences of four candidates at IIM-B:
Interview 1:
Background: B.Tech (Electrical), Fresher
Questions:
- Do you have any relative studying here?
- So, your college placements are over. Have you got any offer?
- Why not get some work experience before you do MBA? Justify your choice.
- Do you know about Li-ion battery?
- Are you aware of the history of EV? Why is US successful in its implementation but not India? What would be its impact on common man? So, I am a common man, can you convince me to buy EV over petrol which is cheaper?
- How does power grid functions?
- So you must studied about Induction motors, can you tell their structure?
- What are your hobbies? Have you participated in any competition in it? Which rank did you get in that powerlifting competition? Which are your favorite authors? Which genres do you read? Explain Sapiens in one line to me. What other books on Anthropology and Astronomy you’ve read?
Interview 2:
Background: B.Tech (Mechanical)
Work Experience:4 years
Questions:
- Tell me about your internship. So, which approach did you use?
- Tell us about your workplace. In what field it is leading and how is it leading in that? What is your exact designation about? Tell us about your job responsibilities.
- Why did you change your job? Give me some examples of how you approached a specific problem.
The candidate was further asked about different problem-solving methods as mentioned in their profile. Some of the questions were around the theoretical implications of the methods. Many were asked questions on the candidate’s internship. Most of the questions were from SOP and work experience mentioned by the candidate.
Interview 3:
Background: B.Tech.
Work Experience:40 months at JP Morgan
Questions:
- There are elections going in Uttarakhand. Can you create a model to predict who will win? Will it cover real sentiments or will there be a bias? (Questions around ML)
- Why MBA as a career path, when there are many lucrative jobs in Software Engineering?
- Can you give us a perspective of what you plan to do after MBA?
- What is the difference between monetary policy and fiscal policy?
- What is the relationship between unemployment and inflation?
- How do you value an asset? How do you value a stock? What is the intrinsic value of an asset? How do you value a crypto asset?
- What is the difference between Technical Analysis and Fundamental Analysis?
- Do you know about derivatives? Explain in layman terms.
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Interview 4:
Background: B.Tech (Mechanical)
Work Experience: 2.5 years (in Supply Chain) at ITC and o9 Solutions
CAT Percentile: 99.74
Questions:
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why did you shift from ITC to o9?
- What was the impact of covid on ITC cigarette? What is revenue of cigarettes for ITC? Why is it not growing? Is it good thing to invest in tobacco business?
- Are there any social initiatives by ITC? Some companies have said that it is a value-destroying business, do you think CSR activities are good for companies?
- What is your take on Indian stock market and economy situation of last 5 years?
- Why will RBI cut interest rates? How will it impact the economy & stock market? If we sell the put option, how will it impact?
- What impacts the option premium? Can you tell me yesterday’s impact on premium? What about Greeks?
- What is the value of delta at ATM?
- Why is ITC share not rising?
- Which packages does o9 give? What does replenishment package do? What customised solution did you give? How do you make models?How is replenishment done? What are the factors behind it? But that can be done on excel as well.
- Tell me the uniqueness of o9 model. What is the technical term for the model?
- Is it ethical to endorse soft drink as a celebrity?
IIM Bangalore
Panel: P-3
Classroom: M-22
S no: 3
Total students in my panel: 8 (2 Females and 6 Males)
Date: 12th feb 2019, 1st interview of the season
Slot: Afternoon slot
Reporting time: 1:00 PM
Document verification started at 1:00 PM .
WAT started at 2:00 PM and was over by 2:30 PM
WAT Topic(Duration: 30 minutes, 10 minutes to think, 20 to write).: Traditional rote based learning (memorization techniques) are largely replaced by modern activity based learning system. Compare the two of them and discuss the merits and demerits of each.
5 minutes break was given. Interview started at 2:35 PM.
Panel:
There were 2 panel members.
P1: Prof R Narayanaswamy (Male around 45-50 yrs)
P2: Prof Rajluxmi V Murthy (Female around 45-50 yrs)
PI:
After a wait of around an hour, P1 called me at 3:20 PM for the interview. Entered the room, greeted them. P2 told me to keep my file on the other table as they didn’t need it. They already had My SOP and Personal data form on their table. (Same room as WAT and same people as panel members)
P2: So you mentioned in your SOP that Jharkhand is a land of mineral resources, so is it a boon or bane? (Meanwhile P1 was looking at my form on his laptop)
C: I like to think it as a boon. Because it creates employment etc etc….
P1: But you didn’t listen to the question. Is it only a boon or is it both and why?
C: Sir, nothing can only be boon. If I will look at the other side of it, it is a bane. Gave example of plight of people of jharia. And pollution..
P1: So, Why do you think your state is not so developed and facing these issues?
C: Told. Also told that somes cities like Bokaro and Jamshedpur are clean as well as developed too.
P2: So, Why do you think those areas are developed and your town is not?
C: Because of the vision. The companies like TATA and SAIL are there utilizing the resources properly.
P2: Have you been to Bokaro?
C: Yes ma’am there are two bokaro in Jharkhand. Bokaro steel and Bokaro thermal.
P2: So, which one have you been to?
C: Both.
P1: They must be very close right?
C: No sir both are far and very different places.
P2: So, Bokaro steel is in which direction with respect to ramgarh?
C: (What is happening here) Ma’am I don’t know.
P2: But you can tell by the direction of sun?
C: I used to be in bus usually as bokaro is in between my hometown and college.
P2: Can’t we see direction in bus?
C: Yes ma’am we can, but I haven’t paid much attention towards it.
P2: Major mineral resources factories in your hometown?
C: CCL, IFFCO, BCCL etc.
P2: So, What will you do to make your area developed?
C: (Thought for 10 seconds. Could not think of anything. Somehow managed) Infrastructural improvement and land which are empty will put into use.(P1 was smiling sometimes and observing me keenly. He was looking at my form too)
P2: So, you must have received Gold medal?
C: Ma’am I will receive when my convocation will happen.
(Both seemed quite surprised).
P1 and P2: Why? It’s not over?
C: Ma’am in my college it happens late for every batch. ( a little embarrassed)
P1: So, I can see that you had a pay cut of 1/5th of your salary, still why did you switch? Did TCS ask you to leave or You were not getting time to prepare?
C: Told my prepared answer and aligned it with my long term goal etc etc..
P1: But people generally don’t do that.Anyways what is this organization in which you are working?
C: Told.
P1: (Laughs) Oh now I can see. You must have thought through this. You are an agrawal na. They are very good in business.
C: (Laughs) Sir, money was not a factor here. And my dad is in service, :p
P1: Oh then that’s disappointing, Coz Agrawals are famous for business.
C: Smiles
P1: So what do you like to read?
C: Takes 5 seconds pause. Sir mostly….. Interrupted
P1: Do you even read or not?
C: ( I should have answered quickly) Sir, I like to read moral based story books like Panchtantra.
P1: (With a sparkle in his eyes) Oh wow Panchtantra. Do you remember any story?
C: Told the famous crocodile and monkey story.
P1: But that’s very common. Any other?
C: Told one in which how scarcity of money led to disagreements in family.
P2: But isn’t this opposite? Generally more money leads to disagreements. We have heard right that more money leads to quarrels?
C: Yes ma’am, that too is the case. But it depends. Both the situation can lead to disagreements.
P2: So, according to you what is the optimum amount of money?
C: There is no optimum of money. It depend on person that what amount of money makes him feel content.
P2: So, What is the optimum amount of money for you?
C: I should have that much amount that if I want to buy something, I should be able to. Like if I want to eat pizza I should be able to buy it. (facepalm. Should have given a better example)
P2: So, you will be sad if you will not be able to buy one?
C: No, Instead I will be motivated to earn more so that next time if I will want to eat pizza I should be able to buy it.
P2: You don’t have fantasy for expensive gadgets like Iphones?
C: No ma’am.
P2: So, a normal smartphone will do?
C: (smiles) Yes ma’am.
P1: So, You had training in classical music. Name any raag with 5 swaras.
C: (could not recall). Vrindavani Sarang
P1: Vrindavani Sarang?
C: Sir, I am not sure. Learnt it long time back.
P2: When did you take the training? When you were in koderma or ramgarh?
(At first my father was posted in koderma, then he was transferred to Ramgarh)
C: From 2004 to 2007 ma’am, Mostly in koderma.
P2: Yours must be hindustani classical right?
C: (biggest facepalm moment. Don’t know why on earth I said that) No ma’am it was carnatic.
P2: In north india do they even have teachers who teach carnatic?
C: yes ma’am
P2: Then your teacher must have been a South Indian.
C: No ma’am he was Bengali.
(P1 and P2 gave me a skeptical look at this. And by this time I have realized that I have screwed up the hobby part)
P2: Any questions?
C: Sir, In WAT we were asked to compare traditional rote based learning and modern learning, so BSchols follow which method?
P1: We like to believe that it is modern one but can’t say with 100% surety.
C: Sir, I have read somewhere that IIM B follows a three tier course system of lectures, seminars and case studies, so is it a mix of both?
P1: You can say so.
P1 & P2: Ok Ruchika, All the best. You may leave now.
C: Thank you!
The interview was over by 3:45 PM
Duration: Around 25 minutes
Verdict: CONVERTED
Duration: 25-35 minutes
No. of Panelists: 2
Excerpt from Interview 1-
Candidate profile: Work Experience of few months
So, from which college did you graduate? What is your work profile? If you are asked to improve the efficiency of operations, how would you go about it? How is your company preparing for the electrification of transportation system? Do you know the working of a battery? Tell me about the instances where you played a leadership role in college. And what did you do? What are your hobbies? Who is your favourite footballer? And why? Talk about any one current topic that you feel is most important for the country at this time. Do you have any questions for us?
Excerpt from Interview 2-
Candidate profile: B.Tech, Work Experience of 32 Months at Citi
So you have done some research internship in Germany during college. Tell us about that. You used these algorithms, why are they called Machine Learning algorithms? Did you write all these algorithms? So you have written in your SOP, that you want to be a Product Manager. Why? What does a PM do? Explain a situation when a product can fail. So when do you completely shut a product? What are NBFCs? Why do we need NBFCs when we have both public sector and private sector banks? Have you followed any recent NBFC financial crisis? Name some NBFCs in India. Why do you think banks fail? If privatization can solve problems, then why do private banks/NBFCs fail without getting involved in corruption? Tell us about your current work in Citi. What are your hobbies? Have you read any book on Product Management?
Excerpt from Interview 3-
Candidate profile: B.Tech, Work Experience of 25 Months at Adobe
How are you?
How is Adobe?
How is that possible when you’re here?
So, what is the revenue of Adobe?
What is its employee strength?
These days companies are trying to capture the market to beat the competition, tell me who do you think is winning the e-PDF (like kindle) market (Amazon, Microsoft or Adobe)?
Tell me who’s your market?
I have recently seen a lot of people wanting to become a product manager. Tell me what is the role of a PM?
So, a product manager has to be a financial expert to read profit/losses right?
Do you know what happened recently between Adobe and Samsung? Is OCR based on neural networks?
Tell me how you’ll explain neural-net based OCR to your grandma.
Assume she has only one book, say Ram Charita Manas. Now, how’ll you explain? You have such strong academics, then why MBA?
Feedback – Personal Interview
Average Duration: 20-30 minutes
No. of Panelists: 3
Excerpt from Interview 1-
Candidate profile: B. Tech (Mechanical) with work experience in ITC Ltd.
You have studied in Mechanical engineering and you are working in ITC selling cancer sticks? So, ultimately you supply packaging to the cigarette market? Don’t you think this is wrong or unethical? What choice does a passive smoker have? So after choice it becomes an addiction. People become addicted to smoking and then where is the choice? Do you know about e-cigarettes? Are they less harmful? Say we stop the cigarette market altogether, what would happen to the revenue? How do you find your current job now? You have learnt so much. Then why do you want to do MBA now? You have worked only for 7 months. Why not continue at ITC? Tell me the current share price of ITC. (The interviewer handed a paper to the candidate). Please draw here how the share price varied over the past 1 year. When was GST implemented? You have shown that the price increased after that. Why did it increase? How have the share prices been affected over the past 1 week? Tell us about VIT. How was life there? (The candidate mentioned about playing football) So you were a player as well as a manager? So you mentioned that you have a multicultural team. How did you manage? Did they know English? Why 4-1- 2-3? What is the role of the 1 here? So did you have Chinese people in VIT? How are they? I mean how are they at academics? But the Chinese claim that they have premier universities. Why would they come over to study in India? So there were no Chinese members in your football team? Oh, but they are proficient coders. Are they not? Okay, coming back to ITC. Tell me what you have you learnt there? Tell me one instance when you dealt with something and you learnt and gained a lot from that experience. So it turned out okay in the end? But don’t you have a boss who supervises all this? Considering the volumes at stake? Okay, so the orders you place. Do you have any price agreements in place? How is the gross contribution? What goes into the variable cost? How do you deal with imports?
Excerpt from Interview 2-
Candidate profile: B. Tech (ECE) with work experience in automobile sector
So, you are from Kota? Where is it? Why is Kota in news nowadays? What else in Kota? Do you know the recent statement of HRD Minister? Do you read any newspaper? Do they post all the news links? Why do they post the links? How they are going to reduce the syllables? What did you study in 12th Physics? What did you study in Thermodynamics? What is the first law of thermodynamics? How will they reduce the syllabus? Which language is not important among these? What do you think is the reason behind student suicides? In every city of the country, coaching centers are there, but why do suicides happen in Kota? So you did this Supplier Improvement project. Tell us about it. What was your contribution in this? Why do you want to improve these suppliers? Why did you tolerate these suppliers so long? When can you move to the new suppliers? Which parts do they supply? Is headlamp an important part? Is it an aesthetic part? Tell us about your work, what do you do? If your company MD comes to you and asks you to choose any department, which one you will choose? Are you sure? Tell us about your marketing project. Is it your regular job? Do you think Tata Nano is a poor product? Is it a successful product? What are the reasons behind its failure? Can you tell us about any other marketing campaign? How did they turn around? How can you use the IoT to improve the Quality of Parts? Do you know IoT?
Excerpt from Interview 3-
Candidate profile: Fresher, B. Tech (Mechanical)So you are currently in your final semester. Why didn’t you go anywhere outside to study? What was your rank in JEE Mains then? So what were the other options available? What is the difference between rankings of these institutions? Then why not go for civil in Nagpur or Surat? Don’t you think the difference in rankings is significant? Tell us about your internship at Ford. Have you got a placement in college? Then why not join the company? Don’t you feel work experience is required? So, after undergoing mechanical from NIT, doing internships at Ford, BHEL and SAIL, having a job offer in hand, why do you feel the need for pursuing management education? Which fields of management are you interested in? Why is that so? Why only finance? You said that you are interested in calculations. Without using pen and paper, calculate how many tennis balls can be filled up in an aero plane? You are free to take assumptions. So, why would you fill up an aero plane with tennis balls? How will you make a kid understand how big an aircraft is? Don’t you think it would be better to make him or her imagine the size of aero plane by gestures rather than telling these calculations? So, you have interest in music and I can see that you have done diploma in Tabla with a merit position. Then why not make a career in Tabla?
Feedback – Group Discussion
Average Duration : 40 minutes
No. of Panelists: 3
- Case was about a ban by the Union Health Ministry on scenes in movies which depict smoking. Questions comprised of curbing tobacco production and whether the ban was justified or not?
- Case study on a pharmaceutical company not publishing warning of diabetes on a medicine for schizophrenia.
- Case study was about effect of modern modes of communications like mobiles and emails on lives of professionals
IIM Bangalore – Interview Experiences
Feedback – Personal Interview
Average Duration : 30 minutes
No. of Panelists: 2
- Excerpts From Interview 1: How would a friend describe you? Do you know what IIMBs logo means? How would you go about resolving a conflict between two friends? Explain your job profile? Tell us about one creative work that you have done in your job? Give your opinion about the policies of US on the Nuclear Power and Energy issues?
- Excerpts From Interview 2: So you know a lot about retail sector. Tell us something about Indian retail scene. Tell me about the regulatory scenario? What is cash and carry model? Have you analyzed yourself whether you are fit to be an entrepreneur? What is it that you want through your company? What do you really want to do in life? What is the one quality that differentiates entrepreneurs from a successful CEO? Most of the entrepreneurs we know are not MBAs. Why do you need an MBA degree? What is the one quality that differentiates entrepreneurs from a successful CEO? Most of the entrepreneurs we know are not MBAs. Why do you need an MBA degree?
- Excerpts From Interview 3: What would you like to discuss: Your work-ex or Your Engineering? If I purchase a good for Rs.100 and pay back this money back to bank in time. Then what is the bank getting out of this? The way the credit card industry is working on, isn’t it unethical? Why do we generally lose the mobile connection signal in between while travelling? What are the spellings of your surname? Do different spellings have different meanings?
- Excerpts From Interview 4: Tell me why do you think Gandhi was the man of century? Why do you think that Gandhi did not have good relationship with his sons? Why do you want to do MBA? When do you want to start your own business? What is that something that you want to start? What is art of living?
- Excerpts From Interview 5: What would you bring to the learning environment at IIMB? Would you be able to study again and withstand the academic rigor? What do you plan to do if you are not able to convert your calls? How was your performance in cat? Rest of the questions were on my work experience.
Overall Feedback – PI
In the group Discussions, 10 Minutes were given to read the case and then it was followed by a 20 min discussion. Following this, the students had to fill out a form summarizing the discussion and were also required to pen down views on two questions. The two questions were: Who do you think is the most influential person in the 20th Century? Why? And what are your career aspirations. How does a PGP from IIMB fit into it?
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