To Sail The SAIL

An Exclusive Exam Guide, GD & Interview Experience for SAIL MT

Mende Suresh, Management Trainee (SAIL)-2015

You Have Two Hands

One To Help Yourself
The Second To Help Others
 Author's Profile & Contact Details

Full Name: Mende Suresh

Academics: Civils Coaching at YSR Study Circle, Hyderabad-2015

B.Tech Mechanical Engineering-RGUKT (IIIT) Basar-2014-88.2%
Intermediate-M.Bi.P.C.-RGUKT (IIIT) Basar-2010-92.9%
10th Class-SSC-ZPHS-2008-87.33%

Selections: 1. AE (Assistant Engineer) in TSGENCO-2016

2. SAIL Management Trainee-2015
3. IBPS PO IV-Canara Bank-2015
4. Ramky Infrastructures Limited-Management Trainee-2014
5. Nagarjuna Cements Limited-Management Trainee-2014
6. Others: IBPS RRB Qualified-2015, SSC CGL Qualified-2015

Achievements: 1. Selected for Civils Coaching-2015 in YSR Study Circle, Hyderabad.

2. GATE-2015 All India Rank 6191 (Marks: 56.99, Score: 605)
3. IIT-Bombay Research Internship Award 2012-13.

Present Status: AE in TSGENCO at Paloncha KTPS V & VI Stages, Khammam.

Contact Details:

E-Mail: suryamande@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mende.suresh.5

Author's Note:

1. Though I left SAIL recently, I can still provide my assistance through my friends or provide
their contacts for your preparation.
2. This total document is purely based on conscience. No authorised source is responsible.
3. Nothing is punishable for any type of mistakes in this document. Nothing of this document
is ensured. Your trust in this document is merely left to you.

Any type of suggestions-comments-feedback-opinions-compliments-criticising are always welcome

Wishing You All The Best

Selection Process: Written Test, Group Discussion & Interview (This guide helps you for Vizag
Steel Plant & NMDC exams also as the selection process is same for them too!)
1. Written Exam
It is elimination round.
Pattern: 1. Technical---------------------100Q
2. Non-Technical
1) Aptitude----------------25Q
2) Reasoning--------------25Q
3) English------------------25Q
4) GK & Current Affairs-25Q
Total-------------------------------200Q
Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
Negative Marks: 1/4th that is 0.25 marks deduction for every wrong answer
Requirements to Qualify-Two Conditions
1. Candidate should secure 50 percentile marks in all sections i.e. he should secure
marks in all sections in such a way that he should stay above 50% people among all
candidates in every section.
2. Candidate should secure over all cut off marks decided by the SAIL (it is in general
above 50% marks i.e. 100+ marks but may vary every year)

Books for Preparation:

1. Technical Section
MadeEasy Handbook, indiabix.com, ies bits, any other fundamental and theoritical bits focusing
mainly on basics but covering all subjects. Most questions are theoritical not problems.
2. Non-Technical Section
Aptitude & Reasoning-RS Agarwal
English-Wren & Martin English Grammar
General Awareness-Lucent GK
Current Affairs-Daily news paper, Monthly current affairs magazines of previous 4 months

**Refer my bank exams guide for Non-Technical section preparation

Weightages: Exam:GD:Interview= 75:10:15

(Approximately 1:4 of total number of vacancies are shortlisted from the written exam)
2. Group Discussion
It consists of 3 rounds, each team has 8 members and 4 judges are there to watch. It is not an
elimination round. Some marks are given to every candidate out of 100 marks.

1. First Round
Event: A theoritical/practical problem is given and it can be technical or general topic.
And a casual discussion has to be done by all the team members to get a final conclusion on
that topic. Any individual can contradict the total group decision with proper reasons.

Time: 30 mins (5 mins for Individual Thinking + 25 mins for Group Discussion)

Judgement On: How you think and represent your ideas, solidity of reasons you tell, telling your
point at the same time allowing others to tell, how close you are to the group.

My Experience: Our total group understood the problem in a wrong way so total discussion went
in wrong direction so judges warned us not to do that in next round.

2. Second Round
Event: A passage is given on a specific topic and a list of 10 points are given in a zig-zag way and
all of them are related to the passage but we need to order them which is most aim of the
topic by giving them preferences 1, 2, 3...10.

Time: 30 mins (5 mins for Individual Thinking + 25 mins for Group Discussion)

Judgement On: How close is an individual's preferences to the total group preferences and if
contradicting then how much successful to bring total group his/her side.

My Experience: All the 7 members stood on one point and I alone stood on a different point. It was
like a fish market and initially nobody was listening to nobody but at the end they
came to one point. Actually the topic was Make in India and we were given 10
options to tell which is most aim of this programme? All the members told that It
is for employment generation in India but I told It is mainly for the Economy
development of India and I continued contradicting the total group till the
time is over by giving proper reasons but failed to bring them to correct path
within the time.
3. Third Round
Event: A list of trusts and their background is given. SAIL is willing to donate Rs. 5 crores to one
of these trusts. Which trust you prefer and why?

Time: 30 mins (5 mins for Individual Thinking + 25 mins for Group Discussion)

Judgement On: How close is an individual's thinking to the total group thinking and if
contradicting then how much successful to bring total group his/her side.

My Experience: Initially different poeple supported different trusts but at the end all of them came
to a consensus and supported a single trust. But I felt their reasons unsatisfactory
and hence I supported a different trust as I felt strong reasons towards that trust..
Finally the judges seemed satisfied with my points than that of the group.

Etiquettes of Group Discussion:

1. No coat or suit is needed to be wore for GD. No marks for any dress sense.
2. Prepare about current hot topics and go. Have general idea about current happenings.
3. Ask the GD panel anything you want-a pen, paper, water, any other querry only before the Group
Discussion starts or in the break time of each round. Asking in the middle is not good.
4. Remember the team members names and address them with their names. This is impressive.
5. Clearly understand the problem/topic given or else everything goes wrong.
6. Clearly make a note of your points in the time given to you to represent them in discussion.
7. See everyone and speak to all by just having a look at all. No lookings at the panel while talking.
8. Be louder so that your voice can reach everyone. Ask others to be louder too if needed.
9. Play dominant role like initiating the topic, controlling everyone (when they shout at each other)
by saying a valid statement, sticking to one view though covering all views, ending the topic etc..
10. Never afraid of being alone if your point is the real valid point with accepted reasons. A lie can
not become a truth just because everyone is supporting it. Your loneliness is your uniqueness.
11. Never afraid of any others in the group. None came from the heaven nor does you.
12. Only because of time limit, never align with the group decision though you don't want to. You
have right to preserve & represent your own thoughts along with the group thoughts.
13. Everything you say in the discussion should be formal and royal. Avoid silly language.
14. Carry a slight smile while talking even in the case of contradicting someone's idea.
15. Nod your head vertically to accept, horizontally to reject others' ideas.
16. Never contradict the group opinion. Generally, it is better to align with the group decision.
3. Interview
It is not an elimination round. Certain marks are given to each candidate based on their
performance out of 100 marks. It was a panel interview and the panel comprise 4 members. All of
them were males. I was the last but one candidate to be interviewed on that day. I waited all the day
and it happened at 5.00pm-No worries I was still active. It lasted for 15 mins. I entered the room
saying May I come in sir? They told me Yes come in. I wished them nothing and they offered
me a seat to sit. I told thanks and sat. They were looking at my Bio-data forms....

M1: Hmm so you are Mr. Suresh right?

Yes sir I'm Suresh.
M1: Tell me where exactly you come from?
I come from a village near Ramagundam of Karimnagar district which is in Telangana State.
M1: Oh! You are from Telangana! Are you happy to be in a separate state?
For me, it is irrespective. But yes, I love my mother land Telangana and I'm here not to carry the
regionalism but to carry the talent of my mother land to contribute it to the nation-India.
M2: I can see all your academic background is good and you seem to have very much
knowledge. If I select you and put you under a boss who has not even minimum
knowledge, then what do you do?
That is not an issue sir. Infact, working under such condition is what the real talent is. If not
knowledge, he may have other talents-I look for them and learn. Before I come here, I am already
prepared to work with and cope up with any type of people in the company. I know the world is not
ideal as we expect and I know there are different type of people in the company with different levels
of talent. And it is my talent to work with anyone till the company recognises it.
M2: Good! Hmm I see you are selected for Bank PO job. Why are you coming to SAIL again?
Sir, Though I am selected for a Bank PO job, I still have a little bit of like towards my core sector in
my heart and if given opportunity I'll surely join this job and stay permanently.
M3: Good! You did a project related to Pneumatics. Tell me the difference between Hydraulics
and Pneumatics?
Sir, Pneumatics deals with gases especially air while Hydraulics deals with liquids especially water.
M3: Where do you think these are helpful? Tell me an example...
They are helpful in many ways like braking system, screw jock,
M3: Oy! Screw jack or some other jack?
Hmm screw jack sir!
M3: Ha ha ha..it is hydraulic jack.
Sorry sir, at the instant I am confused in screw jack and hydraulic jack as both of them are jacks.
M3: That is OK it happens. Now tell me what is screw jack and what is hydraulic jack?
Both of them are machines for raising some weight but the former uses a screw mechanism while
the latter uses hydraulic mechanism.
M4: Tell me how we should rotate a screw to tighten it by just seeing it?
Observe the screw thread pattern on the screw and rotate it in the opposite direction to tighten it.
For example, if the thread pattern is in clockwise direction then rotate it in anticlockwise direction.
M4: What principle is used in Hydraulic jack?
Pascal's law is the principle used in Hydraulic jack sir.
M4: What is Pascal's law?
It says In a static or zero acceleration fluid, the pressure at a point is same from all directions and it
is same in horinzontal lines but varies in vertical lines.
M3: Why does a kite falls swinging here and there rather than falling straight?
I think while it falls, due to its shape, it is also exerted by air force which moves it here and there.
M4: Hmm what is Archimedes principle?
It says When a body is merged in a fluid, it is exerted by an upward lifting force called buoyancy
force which is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the body.
M4: I have a steel ball and a steel boat. Both have the same mass. If I place them on the
surface of the water, which one sinks first? And why?
The steel ball sinks first than the boat as the boat has more volume hence displaces more water and
therefore more buoyancy force is exerted on it which somehow lifts it upward not to sink.
M2: Do you have a motor bike?
I'm sorry sir, I come from a poor family and I don't own a motor bike so far.
M2: Oh sorry! Hmm atleast did you have studied about engines in your subjects?
Yes sir I did.
M2: Tell me which engine is used in motor bikes?
Hmm two stroke engines are used previously but now almost all are of four stroke engines sir.
M2: Which type Diesel or Petroleum?
Petroleum engines are used sir.
M2: What is the other name to it?
Spark Ignition engine sir.
M2: Which engine is heavier?
Diesel engine is heavier and hence is used in heavy vehicles like buses, trucks etc..
M1: In your bio-data, I can see swimming is your hobby right?
Yes sir it is, but I am not a professional swimmer. I learnt it for self protection and for carnal health.
M1: Tell me Suresh, can you swim if I tie with a rope both your legs and both your hands?
Ha ha ha...Dear sir, as I told you before I am not a professional swimmer and I do not know such
techniques. I am happy if you can teach me such trick.
M1: Is it possible? What do you think?
Hmm I think it is possible as I see in news papers that some gurujis & swamies lay on the surface of
the water holding both their hands and both their legs. But I do not know how to do it.
M1: Ha ha ha...Well I know how to do it but I don't tell you. Go and find it after interview.
Surely sir. I am enthusiastic to know it.
M2: Tell me two things which are not in your bio-data form?
1. Once upon a time I was a cattleman which made me very resistant to any type of living
conditions. So I can work in a very dirty plant to a very neat AC room.
2. I do not have a girl friend so far so all my time is yours if you select me.
M2: Ha ha ha....no problem you will get a girl now if selected...care your girl and care your
job. Deficiency of any one is not good as everything has its role in life...OK
Ha ha ha...Ok sir. I am good at balancing.
M4: Good! What is the meaning of your name and how?
It means Indra-the ruler of the gods. It comes from the sanskrit word Sura+Esha = Suresha
where Sura=the gods & Esha=the ruler of. As the time go by gradually it became Suresh. It is
also another name for the god-Vishnu.
M4: How many horses are there for the chariot of Surya Bhagvan?
There are 7 horses for his chariot as depicted in ancient books.
M4: What might be the reason that there are only 7 horses?
They might be representing the colors of a rainbow which are formed due to sun rays or seven
chakras of human body which lightens up our minds or seven days in a week which are because of
the sun one way or the other.
M1: Ok Suresh! Nice talking to you. You can go now.
Thank you sir. Pleasure talking to you all.
Etiquettes of Interview:
1. No tie, no suit is needed though it is a Maharatna company. They only exeggerate the person but
not his talent. Be simple, formal & royal. A formal shirt, belt & formal shoes thats it!
2. Sit royally as equally as to them. That is what they want. All of us are human beings after all.
3. Bring all your documents in a neat file. Maintain body neatness & voice clarity.
4. Talk to them as if you met new friends. They don't like any fear in you.
5. Answer need not to be correct. Your way of expression and thinking is checked.
6. Carrying a slight smile in face helps a lot in answering. They like to see you in smile.