Thursday, March 12, 2009

IIM Calcutta Interview: "Beware of depressors"

To start with the experience I had filled in Calcutta as my center, so went there by train, overall a good trip. For a change had a nice pizza and some good pastries which one cannot get in roorkee.

I reached the center an hour before, the clerk checked my documents, then they called us for GD.
The topic was "Are Entrepreneurial skills different from that of manager". I did not start but was second to speak, didn't speak much, but was OK with some points. In individual summary I spoke for about 40 seconds on my take on topic.

I was the first one to be called for Interview, so i was waiting outside the door, the guy who was second also came and stood besides me. He was a tall huge guy, bengali accent, a student of manipal, he suddenly gets excited and says
B- " You know what, None of us will get selected"
Me - " Whattttt?"
B- " Yes, I am telling you, we were soo bad in gd" ( I didnt know that we did so bad")
Me - " Whatttttt?"
B- " Even you did horribly bad"
Me- " Yaa I know, Koi nahi dost chalta hai"
B -" No, I am telling you no one will get thorugh this group"
Me- " Hmmmmmm"
B - " accept that girl , and the boy beside her, he spoke soo well"
Then the boy he was speaking about was getting his papers checked he goes to him congratulates him as if he has cleared all rounds and says to me " Good luck"
If anyone has Interview left, Please never listen to these type of guys.

Till that time I had no idea I did soo bad in Gd, although I knew I did not spoke much, but not horrible. This was just seconds before I was called in.
This is my interview :

There were 4 panel members, 3 faculty 1 alumini ( Centre was calcutta)
A lady prof. started by reading out my form to the rest saying things like he plays hockey he watches football, and this Himanshu wants to go in a real sector( with a grin on her face)
F1 is the female prof, A1 the alumini, M1, M2 the other ones

M1: You took coaching for iit?
Me: Yes sir
M1: so you are a kota product right? ( Didnt look at me for an answer, kind of wicked smile)
F1: Why Real estate? Do you have any Knowledge?
ME: Yes mam, I am doing my civil Engineering from IIT Roorkee so i have knowledge of civil, Also I did my Intern in L& T
F1: IS L&T in Civil ( she asked the other panel members)?
Me: Yes mam it has been principal contractors on many occasions.
M2: What did you learn there?
ME: Told him had a mix of tech & managerial training
M1: What does the manager in civil really do?
Me: Sir, planning scheduling, also because the projects are long to keep team motivated
F1: So do you require to study it?
Me : yes mam, I think I should have some skills in the field.
M1: Name some real state companies?
Me: Unitech, then i stuttered a bit, then said L&T is a contractor ( Damn!!! I Knew at least 15 names, none of them came, I should have spoken about parsavnath dev, i did my training in 2nd year in it)
M2: Is DlF not?
Me: Yes sir it is, it comes next to unitech.
F1: Have you got a job?
Me: yes mam, In TATA Bluescope Steel in Marketing.
M2: Himanshu Tell us about how you felt in your training?
Me: Sir, It was a good experience, Learned a lot
M2: Was it anything more than books?
Me: Yes sir
M2: That is Why I am saying a Job is better then MBA. Go do the job you have got
Me: Sir, If i am going for a market job, I think it would be better if I have theoritical knowledge
M2: What knowledge , tell us what you want you want to know in marketing?
Me: Sir, everything how to do a market study, how to design the product
M2: See you already know it
Me: Sir but still I need to stuidy it
M2: No, you will learn it by doing it.
Me: Sir I still think I should do it, Also my company will spent 6 months to train me.
M2: See just 6 months
Me: Sir but i dont just want to go in marketing in Real estate.
M2 You can expand slowly
Me: Sir but my growth would be better if I do MBA
M2: What kinda growth
Me: Sir, in terms of many things like package
M2: You will be paying 12 laks here Himanshu
Me: Sir I still think MBA would be the best for me, I have taken job as a back up If I don't get a chance this year

I thought that the why MBA Things closed down, With F1 giving me a reassured smile, then she again started it
F1: Do you think Real estate will sustain, It is in doldrums right now
Me: Gave the prepared answere with few points on why it would sustain
M2: have you been following share market prices of dlf & Unitech
Me: Sir not the exact prices but i have an idea that they have fallen drastically
F1: Do you think A MBA is requires in Civil?
Me: Yes Mam, job is one of the most pressured jobs as you have to keep up with targets, lots of pressure.
F1: Still you want to go?
Me: Yes mam It would allow me to use both my Civil Eng. & MBA skills.

This time it finally ended with A1 who was for the whole time just smiling at my answers
He gave in some theatrical expressions then said:
A1: Why Manchester United?( I had written it that I follow Man utd)
Me: Said all about gud attack, improving defense, Sir Alex tactics & selection of players matching mine. Spoke for around 1 min
A1: You are also supposedly a gud hockey player , Aren't you?
Me: Yes sir ( With some confidance and a proud smile, No one ever called me a good hockey player :) )
A1: Tell me about Indian football & Indian Hockey, whats the difference both are in bad conditions.
Me: Sir, I do not follow Indian football much but from a general sportsman point of view I think Football also lacks talent apart from bad infrastructure, coaching nd all, also it is not follwed in many parts except Bengal, goa Etc. Regarding hockey I gave a prepared answer telling them about recent good performances in recent times, spoke for another 1 min.
M1: What is difference between parabola & heperbola?
Me: Spoke both the equations, tld parabola def also,
M1: what is practical use of hyperbola?
Me: Sir , i do not know any direct application but since it goes to a constant assym.....( Interrupted by him, I was saying they reach a constant value i.e. an assymptotic value.)
M1: What is max value of e power x?
Me: infinity
M1: e power minus x
Me: 0, sorry sir may i take i bot of time>?
M1: yes( they were all smiling)
Me: sir its infinty,
M1: absolutely

M1: Thank you Himanshu, Ohh do you have any questions for us?
Me: No sir.
Thank you sirs, thank you mam.

Overall I am not getting a gud feel, didnt give in my best, In GD I was lazy dont know what was I thinking, Now it's all luck.