I had an interview at Chennai for the GMP program at XLRI. It was a wonderful experience. I would not say it was a perfect interview, because I could not answer a few questions that I though I should have. But overall, it was good. The professors were very friendly and the whole thing was like an informal talk. It went for 20-25 minutes.
I felt there were quite a lot of GK/awareness related questions, and less about why MBA/why GMP/what post-MBA/goals/strengths/weakness etc. I was also hoping to get a few questions on the five essays that I wrote, but none came up. So I would believe that the interview will have a less weightage than GMAT score, academics and other things (like work ex, company worked with etc).
I had the impression that the professors would like to take a stress interview and tear me apart. But it was completely opposite. In fact, one of the professors looked happy with my response and even said "Good". I do not know what that means though. I hope it means good.
I was very happy with the attitude of the professors toward the interview, and I thought it was very comforting and soothing. Especially, because I reached 15 minutes late to the venue. I , along with my wife drove from Bangalore and a missed-turn on NH7, and the Chennai traffic delayed us by 2 hours. Then it took some time to search for the college and park it there. I had taken my formals (jacket, shirt, tie, shoes et-al), and slipped into them in my car itself in the Loyolla College parking lot.
Here are a list of questions I was asked:
0. About my 10/12/graduation marks, to verify that I am the person who filled in the application.
1. Why are you late, what happened?
2. Tell me about yourself, what are your interests outside work.
3. What are the four most developed states in India. ?
4. What are the states constituting the BIMARU belt.
5. How is the manufacturing sector doing ?
6. What are the 4 major things that India exports.
7. About Abdul Kalam's vision 2020
8. Was it a mistake not to select Kalam for a second term for president ?
9. What is the difference between Computer Science, and Engineering ? Is it an engineering discipline or technology. What are bachelor of technology, and bachelor of engineering.
10. Between Barack Obama, and Manmohan Singh who according to you is a better leader ?
11. About my home town - Baharagora in Jharkhand - sudden impulse to education, why ?
12. Maoists, Naxalite problems in Bengal and adjoining Jharkhand.
13. What are Maoists demands ? How can one solve them?
14. Why should we take you ? - 2 reasons.
It was over before I could think of whether it was going good or bad. I thought I did not answer any question completely, and concretely. I had an idea on each topic being asked, but manage to answer only in bits and pieces, especially about Kalams 2020 vision, and about manufacturing/exports. In the end I asked a question - why not Bangalore as a interview venue, and then I picked up a candy and walked out.
However, I feel it went good.I was confident and I think they would like to consider me.
As usual, I will keep my fingers crossed.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
US B School cancels admits of those found guilty of plagiarism
US B-School cancels admits and interviews of those found guilty of plagiarism
Ring any bells !
My advise to those who are applying for B-Schools (in India or abroad) - Do not copy essays. Be original.
It is no surprise that 10 out of the 18 essays found were Indians. We Indians do not know the importance of being original, being ourselves. We just want to follow what others are doing. This is the same case when it comes to writing an essay. People tend to 'research' more and think less.
One simple reason for this is simple - lack of original thinking. We have to stop following something or someone blindly and do what WE want. Second reason is the way we are taught at school. For most of us, it was all about cramming, and getting marks at school. Even at college, we were taught to learn what we are going to write in exams, not whats important or appealing. This has led us to a state where we do things just for the heck of it.
Also the dependency on coaching and tutors is huge. Hardly any student clears his school exams without external help, other than whats taught at school. Hardly any student clears the IIT-JEE of his own. This carries on to when writing essays.
I may not be an expert at essay writing. In fact, none of the b-schools where I have sent essays to have accepted my application. Well, its not all about the essay after all. But at least I wrote them myself.
Ring any bells !
My advise to those who are applying for B-Schools (in India or abroad) - Do not copy essays. Be original.
It is no surprise that 10 out of the 18 essays found were Indians. We Indians do not know the importance of being original, being ourselves. We just want to follow what others are doing. This is the same case when it comes to writing an essay. People tend to 'research' more and think less.
One simple reason for this is simple - lack of original thinking. We have to stop following something or someone blindly and do what WE want. Second reason is the way we are taught at school. For most of us, it was all about cramming, and getting marks at school. Even at college, we were taught to learn what we are going to write in exams, not whats important or appealing. This has led us to a state where we do things just for the heck of it.
Also the dependency on coaching and tutors is huge. Hardly any student clears his school exams without external help, other than whats taught at school. Hardly any student clears the IIT-JEE of his own. This carries on to when writing essays.
I may not be an expert at essay writing. In fact, none of the b-schools where I have sent essays to have accepted my application. Well, its not all about the essay after all. But at least I wrote them myself.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Infy's lessons of leadership - how others can benefit
Read this article about how Infosys leads the way in Leadership
Interesting how Infy found that increasingly people were less trained than the roles that they were in. It found that it will need a pool of leaders in the coming future and started investing in training.
Good lesson for corporates, especially in India IT industry. Its not just about improving the motivation of the employees, its also about how you employ the right person for the right job.
Though, I do not believe in the way it can be extended for every other company. First, no one can maintain such a talent pool, other than the biggies like TCS, Wipro. Sometimes its better (and cheaper/faster) to hire from the market.
For the smaller players, its difficult to follow the talent risk strategy, as sometimes you just can not maintain a healthy balance between demand and supply.
Interesting how Infy found that increasingly people were less trained than the roles that they were in. It found that it will need a pool of leaders in the coming future and started investing in training.
Good lesson for corporates, especially in India IT industry. Its not just about improving the motivation of the employees, its also about how you employ the right person for the right job.
Though, I do not believe in the way it can be extended for every other company. First, no one can maintain such a talent pool, other than the biggies like TCS, Wipro. Sometimes its better (and cheaper/faster) to hire from the market.
For the smaller players, its difficult to follow the talent risk strategy, as sometimes you just can not maintain a healthy balance between demand and supply.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Finally, An interview call - XLRI GMP
After a long wait for interview calls, got one. This one from a school, applying to which I took the minimal time and effort. No essays, no recos. Just filled an app, ordered a DD online and courier-ed it.
Got the call in the first week of Feb. Interview at Chennai, 5th March. Pretty excited.
For preparations, reading a few current affairs topics and trying to get my vocal chords right. I tend to stammer sometimes while speaking. Hope my thoughts come down pouring clearly during the interview. Also, I hope they do not read much into my graduation mark-sheets during the interview.
Application to other UK schools is going on. Submitted Cranfield and Lancaster. Yet to hear from them on anything further. Its going to be feb-end, when most of the deadlines are mostly over and most of the junta has already got offers, or atleast 1-2 interview calls. I am lagging a bit on this regard.
Hope to make it to at least one of the schools.
Got the call in the first week of Feb. Interview at Chennai, 5th March. Pretty excited.
For preparations, reading a few current affairs topics and trying to get my vocal chords right. I tend to stammer sometimes while speaking. Hope my thoughts come down pouring clearly during the interview. Also, I hope they do not read much into my graduation mark-sheets during the interview.
Application to other UK schools is going on. Submitted Cranfield and Lancaster. Yet to hear from them on anything further. Its going to be feb-end, when most of the deadlines are mostly over and most of the junta has already got offers, or atleast 1-2 interview calls. I am lagging a bit on this regard.
Hope to make it to at least one of the schools.
Friday, February 05, 2010
And then the referee dumped me
I am talking about one of my referees. He was supposed to provide me with a letter of recommendation for my applications this season, a season which has almost come to an end without a good start with 2 dings out of 2 apps so far.
He was the manager at my previous organization and it seems he had some issues with HR in giving out recos. God knows what the issue might be, but the reality is I am short of one recommendation, right at the critical phase.
Finally, talked to one QA manager at my current company and got him to write something for me. Thinking of it, I feel I should have opted for this guy from the very outset.
Here are a few lessons I learnt about the recommendation thing:
1. If you are not starting early, and have not decided about the schools in advance (both deadly signs though), get a referee who is in regular contact and can provide you references in very less time. I wasted so much time in getting touch with the person who was in a different city than mine in getting 2 references, which he finally declined to give.
2. Its important that you discuss matters with the referee first, better to do it face-to-face than over phone or emails. This makes things clear and makes a good recommedation.
3. And finally, do not keep recommendations for the last. I would suggest to ask them to be sent out before you submit the application, and that too before the end date. Believe me you will feel a lot better after you have submitted the application in time, and do not have other worries. Also it makes sure you do not miss the deadline for that round. It really helps, especially if you have chalked out the application strategy for each round.
He was the manager at my previous organization and it seems he had some issues with HR in giving out recos. God knows what the issue might be, but the reality is I am short of one recommendation, right at the critical phase.
Finally, talked to one QA manager at my current company and got him to write something for me. Thinking of it, I feel I should have opted for this guy from the very outset.
Here are a few lessons I learnt about the recommendation thing:
1. If you are not starting early, and have not decided about the schools in advance (both deadly signs though), get a referee who is in regular contact and can provide you references in very less time. I wasted so much time in getting touch with the person who was in a different city than mine in getting 2 references, which he finally declined to give.
2. Its important that you discuss matters with the referee first, better to do it face-to-face than over phone or emails. This makes things clear and makes a good recommedation.
3. And finally, do not keep recommendations for the last. I would suggest to ask them to be sent out before you submit the application, and that too before the end date. Believe me you will feel a lot better after you have submitted the application in time, and do not have other worries. Also it makes sure you do not miss the deadline for that round. It really helps, especially if you have chalked out the application strategy for each round.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
UK stops student visas from a few centers following huge volumes
Read this article on ibnlive.
Following huge volumes of applications from certain centers in northern India, UK has , for now, stopped accepting any further applications for Tier 4 visa.
This is a cause of concern. This should not be a cause of concern for genuine students but defintely this makes things difficult going forward. Like stricter regulations etc.
This could be another roadblock for those hoping to go to the UK for further studies like me.
I hope this is just a one-off case and does not effect the general visa application process.
May the visa-god be with me. But before that I need to secure an admission. Well ! thats another story.
Following huge volumes of applications from certain centers in northern India, UK has , for now, stopped accepting any further applications for Tier 4 visa.
This is a cause of concern. This should not be a cause of concern for genuine students but defintely this makes things difficult going forward. Like stricter regulations etc.
This could be another roadblock for those hoping to go to the UK for further studies like me.
I hope this is just a one-off case and does not effect the general visa application process.
May the visa-god be with me. But before that I need to secure an admission. Well ! thats another story.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
After a long time – I am back
I have been busy. Went to the US for a month, then for a week long vacation to North-West Karnataka. And then for 10 days for my brothers marriage. Things at work have kept me busy as well.
And here I am, after a long break, back to my blog.
Feeling refreshed.
The sore feeling of the rejects is well past now.
In the meanwhile I managed to send applications to Cranfield and XLRI (GMP). Keeping my fingers crossed.
And here I am, after a long break, back to my blog.
Feeling refreshed.
The sore feeling of the rejects is well past now.
In the meanwhile I managed to send applications to Cranfield and XLRI (GMP). Keeping my fingers crossed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)