Interview debrief- Location - Campus, Two profs The interview was quite relaxed.

It started with the

extompore topic. Spoke for a minute , after which P1 cross questioned on a few points. P2 then
asked me to guess the number of potholes in ahmedabad. Seeing my face go blank, he supplied me
with some data on road network and population after which I was able to manage. Some cross
questioning on the significance of the number at which I arrived. Then I was asked to present my
views on demonetization - no cross questions on this. Lastly, they asked me a few questions related
to my profile. Overall the experience was quite good. The duration must be around 20 minutes.

Had my interview on 6th Nov 2016, Delhi --

Their list had around 30 people. Most of them turned up for the interview. I was one of the last ones
to be called for the interview. I enquired about the rationale behind this and was told that they are
calling people according to their application number.

My panel had three members and all of them were professors. When I asked for their names, they
told me to check them out at the website. I wanted to protest but I kept quiet.

Interview started with Extempore topic in which I was grilled a lot. They asked my opinion on various
things. Then moved to my job profile and asked me questions. Then some more questions on my
hobbies and other things that was mentioned in the profile. I was grilled on everything. I couldnt
convince them much on anything. I made them laugh as well. It was like a conversation but a grilling
one.

Why PGPX was asked and that was my last question. And I did leave with grin on my face.

No idea about how it went. Also, they didnt check any of the original documents

IIMA PGPX Interview Experience 1

For class entering in 2015

Profile: Indian, IT, Male

My interview was mainly profile based. They explored more on the work I had done, the
responsibilities I handled, initiatives taken, few things on my current company and why
MBA.

It started off with asking me with what my current responsibilities were and then they
started dwelling on the people management aspects of my role. They asked if I had
contacted IIM B Alumni. Further they probed onto why I had continued in the current job
for so long and what I enjoyed about it. Few things again on how the people management
aspects had changed at Infosys over the last decade.

Then they moved on the why MBA part and why now and finally ended up enquiring on
my personal life(family etc). Ended with a question from my side which they tried their best
to answer.

Final Result : Admitted

IIMA PGPX Interview Experience 2

Profile: IIT, 10+ years of technology experience incl. international experience

There were 2 interviewers in the panel. They were true gentlemen, very calm and polite.
They made the whole process smooth like butter and my interview was over before any
stress could set in. When I was waiting in the waiting area, one of them called me to the
room. On our way to the interview room, we had few informal conversations such has how
their day have been, about the weather etc. Once we entered the room, he took his seat
and the other panelist asked me to take my seat. I think both of them were professors.
There was no alumnus in the panel.

My extempore topic was lying in a piece of paper in the desk. It was Recession is the
mother of innovation. I was asked to think for 2 mins then talk on the topic for a while. I
gathered my thought and was ready to start with in a minute. I started to speak in favor of
the topic, at the same time did not rule out other factors leading to innovation. The 2nd
panelist countered me by saying that the word Mother of implies that it was the ONLY
reason for the innovation. I realized my mistake and changed by stand by saying that
Recession leads to innovation, but not necessarily the only reason for the innovation. I
was cross-questioned few times and was asked to sight some examples when recession
happened in recession and when it happened in No recession. This process continued for
a while before the panelist moved to other questions.

The other panelist shot some regular questions,

The other panelist shot some regular questions,

1. Since how long I have been in the USA?
2. Before coming to USA where was I working?
3. Who is my Client and what he does?
4. What is the nature of my work?
5. Why I want to do MBA and where do I see myself in next 5 years.

While I answered these questions, other panelist asked me about my onsite experience in
Sweden, which was my first onsite experience. I discussed in detail about my experience.
The mood of the room was relaxed and tension free; we were in more of a discussion
mode. They seemed to have liked my experience in Sweden.

He then enquired about current scenario of mess workers in my college. I was General
Secretary of Mess and this probably had caught his attention.

We then talked about Indian political scenario and my views. I, being avid followers of
current affairs, discussed it in detail.

At the end, it was over; I shook hands with both of them. One of them did mention liking
the conversation with me. Overall, I am happy about the whole process and I am
optimistic about the prospect. Finger crossed.

Final Result : Admitted

IIMA PGPX Interview Experience 3

Profile: MS from US, 10+ years of experience in Sales, Marketing, BD etc

My PGPX interview process was in my opinion far superior than EPGP interview process.
The two man PGPX panel focused on a friendly, polite, conversational style of interview. I
was given a topic and asked to speak about it. When I made my first mistake the
interviewer stopped and corrected me and used it as a take-off point for the conversation.
He even helpfully drew my attention to a particular aspect he wanted me to focus on.
Topics discussed during the interview ranged from the Chinese president to my thoughts
on a good development model for India. Throughout the process I got the feeling that the
moment I strayed away from the topic the interviewers drew me further away and it was
up to me to bring it back on topic.

Final Result : Admitted

IIMA PGPX Interview Experience 4

Profile: IIT, 20+ years of experience incl. international experience

I just had my interview yesterday. The extempore topic was ' What should India do to win
200 medals in the 2020 olympics'. Other than that, it was about the current company, work
and the hobbies that I had mentioned in the application. A question about Mary kom. Why
I wanted to do the program at this stage and a few questions about past work
experiences. They talked to me about the program and wanted me to know that it is quite
intense and placements are not 100%(not the same as the 2 year pgp program).

Final Result : Admitted

IIMA PGPX Interview Experience 5

GMAT score: 690

Profile: 6 years Indian Army, 1 year HR

There were 2 interviewers both were IIMA profs. Interview was conducted in IIMA campus
on 30-09-12.

Q1 So you asked the other interviewees what is being asked in the interview?
Ans No. Not much. Rather current students were there and I asked them many questions.

Q2 What did you ask them?

Answered

Q3 Where all were you posted in Army?

Ans I said my first posting was in Allahabad then there were questions on what all is there
in Allahabad. There is a famous church in Allahabad and I knew who build it and why it
was build in Allahabad. One prof asked me whether I know what Allahabad University was
earlier. I said I do not know.

Q4 You have done BBA and Certificate program in Management then why you need
to go for PGPX?
Ans I answered that objective of PGPX and other programs which I did earlier is different
and I elaborated it a bit.

Q5 Why you want to go into Retail or Real estate industry (I have written in my
essay that I want to get into operations role in these industries)?

Q6 Do you think you will be able to survive in Real estate industry where there are
lot of unethical practices?
Ans I said I will keep my ethical standards intact. After this they gave me extempore topic
and one Prof glanced through my documents. While seeing the certificates she asked why
you did MSc in Applied Psychology. I answered it and this led to a discussion between two
profs.

Q7 What are the five things that corporates can learn from Army?
Answered

Final Result: Offered Admission

IIMA PGPX Interview Experience 6

GMAT score: 720

Profile: 16+ years in Apparel industry

I was the first candidate of the day, 8.30 AM slot. I was directed to Panel-3. There were 2
profs.
I shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

Q1: Walk us through the resume - I kept it short and started from latest assignment and
moved backwards all the way towards 12th class. In the process I highlighted significant
achievements at each stage . This lasted for 5-6 minutes.
Prof no.1 was scanning my originals which were neatly put in a folder in serial order.
Q2: Why MBA /Why now

Q3: Future of textile industry,

Q4: What will you do for textile industry

Q5: How has China changed the landscape in textiles & apparel industry

Q6: Surprise question : I had indicated that I am fluent in Tamil, so they asked me to recite
Thirukkural - I could remember one of the couplet studied 3 decades back, I recited it
well with meaning.

Q7: They informed that the course is tough and would call from tremendous dedication, I
told them that I am prepared etc etc ..

Final Result: Offered admission

IIMA PGPX Interview Experience 7

Location: IIMA PGPX campus.

Time: 3PM

Interview panel No: 3

Interviewers: 2 one smiling (lets say A) and another not smiling (lets say B)

1. A - so when did you arrive? (ice-breaker)

Answer - Yesterday in Ahmedabad city. Today at 1:50 out here.

2. A - Gave me a topic. Asked to think and speak - Space Tourism.

Answer - Frankly could not remember much except Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic is
saying he will invest. Good to have research on how to do it cheap.

3. B - not smiling. Wants me to speak about what I do - Presales.

Answer - some stuff .. Also made mistake - did not practice this answer well.

4. B - asks about ERP business today (I do presales for ERP).

B - So is ERP dead today?

Answer - No! More and more businesses are moving to it.
5. A - asks about why MBA
Answer - told him some well practiced stuff.

6. A - define strategic leadership, if you were to go back to your company what role will
you play? How will MBA help?
Answer - Again, some practiced stuff.

7. A - Asks about strengths as an IT guy - 4 or 5.

Answer - God! I did make this one up on the spot.. Bet he understood!! Luckily did not BS
much. Even Prof Smiling A did not seem too impressed though.

8. A - Why is Europe in such a bad shape today?

Answer - funds arrived in the Euro Zone. Ireland is good study in failure. Everyone thought
they had access to it. So funds were mismanaged and misappropriated. spoke too much
as well L

9. A - Max team you have lead? Currently?

Answer - Some facts and figures.

10. A - What else can you tell me about yourself?

Answer - Interested in Tae Kwon Do. Etc.. etc..

B - So you still do Tae Kwon Do?

Answer - Yes.

11. A - Any question for us?

Answer - A practiced question ... Nothing tremendous.

12. A - anything else you want to ask us?

Answer - There was a student that we were talking to outside. He answered most other
things I had to ask. Thanks!