ISB Interview 2005

Overall: Went low till they asked me if I had any Questions, and picked up pace from then ....question even after interview was over.. read on...

Interview Duration: 30 mins

Inteview Panel: Menon

Current Student

GMAT: 670

IT (Embedded) Exp: 32 months

University: OU Hyd

International Exp: 3 months and 3 weeks

Scheduled time 2:30 pm @ Gachibowli ISB campus

I went at 1:45pm, all the Adcom members were out for Lunch.

After me couple of ppl followed,

One Mr. Samul, from Satyam was called at 2pm, half-an-hour later,

he came out and just sat on the near by sofa, didnot speak for 2 min,

I am sure that the interview panel must have grilled him thoroughly.

I thought, that the Adcom would be waiting to tear me apart,

Was called in at 2:30pm

Went inside,

A very chearful face of Mr. Menon appeared,

we shaked hands and I sat,

He tookout my file, and went through it, while I gave my resume'

Menon: We would take 15 to 20mins

Menon: What should we call you "bhimsen" or "joshi"?

Me: Joshi

Menon: Tell me two things Family Background and one salient feature about you

Me: went on --- ok ok types

Menon: So many Enggs are doing IT now a days, will there be more engg and no work? Where will the IT industry be after years

Me: Did a good job.. gave few numbers

Menon: What exactly are your job responsibilities now?

Me: Answered

Menon: I give you a location and three camps should be arranged, how will you arrange them, so that distance between them is same?

Me: Equilateral Triangle 'Is there any trick involved?'

Menon: OK

Menon: 1gm, 2gm, 3gm weights wala problem

Me: {with experience in this group} Promptly 4 and began explaining

Menon: Oh...you knew the answer!

Me: Yes!

Menon: How many PCs would be sold to corporate industry next year.

Me: Fumbled Jumbled and Answered; though not convincing

I am sure, they thought "a aage badao .... iss me dum nahi hai..."

Menon: Post ISB

Me: Answered ok ok

Menon: What position Exactly

Me: Jr. Manager

Current Student: How many layers above is that

Me: One Layer {only one layer?}

----some grilling continued on this....

Current Student: What was your College experience like

Me: Used 'diverse' in bwt

Current Student: Diverse?

Me: Tamil, Mallu, etc + made friends who were very good at comm and analytical skills

Current Student: What are you good at?

Me: Answered

By this time I was very sure that I am out!!!!

Menon: Is there any thing you want to ask us?

Me: IIM ISB collabration

Menon: What? What kind of collabration

Me: Bangalore is nearby so why can't we have any events bwt ISB and IIMB

Menon: Good Suggestion

Me:What are the researches going on and how would they help current batch of students

Menon: It would not help current batch of students, as research would take more time

Me: IIM A students did one research on saving water

Me: Hyderabad is also going to face some sever water crises, why can't we do some research on Osman Sagar and give a report to AP Government?

Menon: Good Suggestion; send me any documents, if you have.

Me: ok

Menon: You seem to be lot more interested in IIMs, why don't you join there?

Me: Gave my reasons

Menon: If you would have come to us after 2 years it would have been good for you. Now you seem to be fit for IIMs, where the average exp is around 2 to 3.

Me: Gave good reasons

Menon: Very Good

By this time I thought I was able to get them engaged in some kinda conversation

second and third question I created on the spot --lucky me--- based on Mr. Menon's answers.

And Adcom suddenly seemed to be lot more interested in me,

Menon: We get lot of applications with high GMAT score, More Work Exp and also from IITs.

Why Should we select you?

Me: I understand that my GMAT score is less.... etc.. but I the fact is that you have given me an interview call, which implies that there is some thing more than the above.

Menon: We have called you because, you have good acads, strong essays and strong work exp!

---------'Surprised!! Strong Work Exp" probably he ment in terms of responsibilities

Me: Was prepared for the answer and answered it well Work + Organizing events + developing company

Menon: Do you get time to work after all this?

Me: Clean Ans.

Menon: Well, it was nice meeting you.

Me: Same here

Current Student: Shaked Hands

(This is not the end)

Went out and remembered that I forgot to get the Visitors pass signed.

Went back...(Thought I had totally goofed up)

Scene: One other fellow was getting his share...

Me: Peeping through the window :-)

Menon: Please come in :-)

Me: Sir, I forgot this visitors pass to be signed

Menon and Current Student (at the same time): We forgot to ask you, how would you fund your ISB study.

Me: 10 lacks loan and 6 lacks from pocket

Menon: Oh.. so you have saved 6 lacks!

Me: Yes!!!

Came out and was happy that interview was over... releved .....

went to office and had a really busy day after that...

If you have come till this point congrats!!!