prakharkanpur

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<h2>Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, (Gujarat) Interview<h2>
> panel member 1:
>
> Q:what are u doing?.
> Q:Billing..eh? Dont u think its very far away from what u have studied .
> A:Not exactly,we use knowledge learnt in college.
> Qwhat princlples of computer science are u using in your company?
> A principles of software engineering
> Qwhat is that...i dont understand that..please explain.
> A We follow the software engg process model...like we do requirements
> analysis...
> Q(Interrupting) Have u done requirements analysis?have u discussed with
the
> client?I dont want what your company is doing,i want to
> know what you are doing
> A:I joined when the project was in testing phase...so i do testing and bug
> fixing.
> Q:so,tell me what principles of computer science are u using in testing.
> A:I am using principles of testing.
> Q:what are those.?
> A:(i talked about full branch coverage and psychology of testing)
> Q:whats all that i dont understand...
> (at this point it got too much..i mean too much of interruption...just
kept
> saying no to whatever i was trying to say..and kept
> on asking me to explain properly...even though i was doing just
> that...maybe he was trying to stress me out...luckily i maintained my cool
> throughout the interview.)
>
> Q:OK,take this sheet of paper and write an algorithm for sorting.
> A:I started writing bubblesort algorithm in plain english...
> Q:what are u doing?writing an essay?
> A:No.sir u asked me for an algorithm and i am writing it in form of steps
in
> simple english
> Q:cant u write a flow chart?
> A:yes sir,but this is one of the ways it can be written.
> Q:Now,explain it to me
> A:let us consider an example
> Q:NO,i dont want an example..explain without it.
> A:(i start explaining..i mention about indices somewhere)
> Q:what is an index.explain
> A:i explained in a very simple way(just like i would teach a child)
> Q:eek:k,tell me how many exhanges are there?
> A:answered correctly
> Q:Dont you have a better algorithm?
> A:yes sir,(i talked about the improved bubble sort algorithm(passes in
> opposite directions) )
> If you want a still faster algorithm,there is quicksort..do u want me
to
> explain it?
> Q:No,thats enough
> Now,the lady takes over.
>
> Q:Ok,******...i just saw that u have scored 100 out of 100 in your
10th
> std and 99 in your 12th in mathematics.You must be very
> good at mathematics
> A:I like mathematics.I used to do well in mathematics....in fact i was
part
> of the karnataka math olympiad team that participated in the
> indian national math olympiad.
> Q:what was your position in the karnataka regional math olympiad?
> A:19th
> Q:eek:k,i see you have scored 91 in your social sciences paper in 10th std..u
> must be good at it..right?
> A:(i only smile)
> Q:Ok,tell me what are fjords
> A:answered correctly
> Q:where do u find them?
> A:answered correclty(initially i said u can find them on the coast of
GReat
> britain and later told her that the best example would be
> scandinavia.)
> Q:correct. (she asked me to draw some diagram...related to watersheds)
> A:dont know..
> Q:what is autonomous nervous system?
> A:answered correctly.
> (that was all she asked)
>
> member 3:
>
> Q:what is WTO?
> A:answered correctly
> Q:when was it founded?
> A:dont know
> Q:what is IMF?
> A:answered correctly.
> Q:what is the difference between WTO and IMF?
> A:answered correctly
> Q:how does the IMF get money for financing its schemes
> A:answered correctly
> Q:what is G7 ?
> A:answered correctly
> Q:can u name the countries of G7
> A:usa,uk,france,germany,italy,japan,canada
> Q:what is the percapita income of usa,china and india
> A:(india s was bang on target..but gave approximate values for china and
> usa)
> Q:what is happening to japan's economy right now?
> A:dont know
> Q:what about sri lanka?
> A:dont know.
> Q:eek:k,you must be good at math..let me ask u a few questions..
> what is a point of inflection?
> A:answered correctly
> Q:draw a graph which has a point of inflection
> A:i drew a straight line an told him that every point on it is a point of
> inflection.
> Q:now draw a graph which has maxima ,minima and point of inflection
> A:was able to draw
> Q:where is the minima?
> A:showed him.
> Q:what is cramer's rule?
> A:answered correctly.
> Q:draw the graph of a rectangular hyperbola
> A:drew it correctly
> Q:do the ends of the line become parallel to the axes
> A:they meet the axes at infinity.
> Q:why is it called a rectangular hyperbola?
> A:i dont know
> Q:what is descartes rule..in algebra.?
> A:dont know
> Q:thats all i think,please fill up these two fields in your app form
> (i do it)
> Q:where are your original markscards?
> A:i havent brought them..you had not asked in your letter.
> Q:no,we had asked..
> A:(politely) no sir you havent
> Q:show me the letter
> (i gave him the call letter)
> Q:(quickly looks at it and gives it back to me)Read properly,Read "C".
> A:no sir,it is for extra curriculars not marks cards(i read out the line
> aloud)
> Q(takes back the letter and keeps reading it hoping to find something)
> A(i wait patiently
 
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Here are some more swashbuckling interview questions and answers set as an example

There were 3 people in the panel:

Alumni (A): Young looking person probably in late 30s, looks cool and calm. He is seated on extreme left.

Professor 1 (P1): Probably in 60s, looks serious, doesn’t look like the guy who would return you a smile. He is sitting in the middle.

Professor 2 (P2): Late 50s, he smiles, looks like a person who is happy with his life. He is on the right.

Me (M): All my thoughts are in italic, just to make clear, what I am saying and what I am thinking.

M: Good Afternoon Sir

P1: Good afternoon, please take the seat.

There is a huge table between us, I have my folder in my hands, I look for a chance to pass it to them, but no one looks very much interested, they are looking at some documents or something else. I just keep it with me and sit down.

P1: What are you doing right now?

M: Sir, I am at 4th year IT-BHU, Ceramic Engineer. (Wasn’t clear enough)

P1: What?

M: I am currently in my 4th year at IT-BHU, doing Ceramic Engineering, though I am working as a Game Designer right now.

A: Game designing, such as games for EA Sports, Lan Gaming?
I have this cool smile on my face all this time, don’t know why but I guess it’s the word ‘Game’ that bring it to my face

M: Sir, I started my company in 2nd year Bright Ants with the aim to develop social games for all platforms starting with Facebook.

A: What are your views about LAN Gaming, EA Sports etc.

M: There is a difference between traditional games and online games, social games.

A: Online Games, so you mean games from Zynga?

M: Yes sir, I worked as a game designer in Zynga recently in December and January for 2 months. They had come to campus for recruitment of engineering profile, but during the interview it changed direction and I ended up as a game designer. As, they had never hired a fresher as a game designer so I was asked for an internship. I talked with my HOD and he gave me permission for some time.

A: So, what are your views about it?

M: Sir, Social gaming is here to stay, it’s not a bubble waiting to burst. Zynga few years back was considered nothing as compared to EA Sports which was 5 Billion dollar company. Recently, in December when Zynga IPO was launched it was valued at 10 Billion and since then the share price has increased from 10 USD to 14.65 USD.

A: So, you’re wasting your talent by doing an MBA.
I knew it was coming sooner or later, here comes the most important question, Why MBA?

M: Sir, as an MBA, I would learn a lot, it will help me learn and evolve as an individual.

A: I honestly can’t find one reason for you to do an MBA.

M: Sir, I have not done an MBA, so I don’t know about the course structure and what I am going to learn, but there would be a lot to learn not just from my teachers but also from my peers.

P3 looks quite happy, he has been happy throughout, maybe he just likes my face.

A: You’re not getting my point, there is no point for you to do a MBA, just run your company, you’re good at it, why become manager?

M: Sir, as an MBA, I would learn to better manage myself, my company, my team.
He looks somewhat satisfied, looks towards other professor. There is a silence for sometime. I intervene.

M: Also, 10 years down the line, I would like to take my family business to new heights.

I knew the conversation was going nowhere, and I did not want to come to Current Affairs or tech questions, my only bet was to take it towards Tourism industry, though I had not done anything for it, nor was I prepared but it still seemed a safe call. I knew at least why MBA would end now!!
3 sec pause, I was exploring the uncharted territory now, waiting for them to ask “What Business?”

P1: What business?

M: Hotel Business. We have 4 properties, 2 running, and 2 under development. We have recently tied up with Royal Orchid in Jodhpur. I assume they know the name Royal Orchid.

P1: Tourism is a risky business. Is there guaranteed income and revenue?

M: No sir, it depends on various factors, like for example in Rajasthan, it is dependent largely on international tourists. So, in case of a global epidemic like anthrax in early 2000, it was a big hit on industry. Also, if there are any terrorist threats in the country it affects directly to industry.
I was not paying attention to grammar, nor am I very good at it. So, you’re expected to see more mistakes in one paragraph then probably in a whole essay. That’s the way it works for me, I just keep saying something that makes my ideas or views clear enough.

P1: Isn’t it over crowded already?

M: Actually not, In India there is actually a need to increase the number of budget rooms. The global ratio of a luxury room to budget room is 1:7 where as in India it is only 1:1. So, we have a lot of scope for development here.

P1: Do you know how many are business or travel?

M: Sir, I don’t know the exact numbers, but it actually depends what place we are looking at, like in metro cities Delhi, Bangalore, business travelers are high, and in Rajasthan, Varanasi tourists are more.

My confidence was kind of sky rocketing at this moment, I knew I was timing it middle of bat.

P1: What is the future of this sector?

He looks serious all the time, I wonder if he’s ever going to smile. May be he just had a bad lunch.

M: Sir, it is a service based business, I personally feel it’s got huge untapped potential that we need to utilize. For example, when I was in Germany(I had to put it somewhere about my internship) last year, I used to travel a lot around Europe on weekends. So, they have so much developed their any small historical building, they will project it as a must see.

I was super excited this time, making all sorts of weird hand signs and facial expressions, kind of like telling a story.

As soon as you arrive at any station, they obviously have exceptional transportation system. But, they would give you these very good, creative pamphlets, brochure of their city, especially made for youth. Where as in India, even the great Chouhan Fort of Ajmer is degrading (the best word that came to my mind, I know I suck at vocabulary and everything related to English). We need a lot of efforts from government, individuals to promote Terrorism, O! I mean Tourism (I am laughing and so are they) definitely not terrorism.

A: you want to promote terrorism?
M: Laughing, literally No I am fine with tourism, no terrorism.

P1: Hmmm, but don’t you think it’s over exploitation, I mean when more people will go, it becomes damaged. So, in order to protect it, you need to stop tourism.

It sounded absurd, and I was confident that I could tackle this illogical conclusion.

M: Sir, I understand what you’re trying to say, for example, you reach on the top of Sand dunes in Jaisalmer, and you see coke bottles, wafer packets lying around, you won’t like it. You might like it the first time, but you won’t like to recommend it for next time. It becomes a onetime experience, I won’t be recommending it to my friends.

P1: So, you’re getting my point, you need to stop tourists to make it clean.

M: Sir, I personally believe everyone should take a break and travel around, relax a bit and enjoy their life.

I don’t know why I said those words; it was totally out of context. He shows a disappointed look.

P1: What I mean is you’re damaging the environment.

M: Sir, government is not doing adequate efforts. So, now it becomes the duty of the businessman to make sure they keep it clean, because their business is dependent on it.

I knew I was beating around the bush, how could I be trapped in such an illogical inference. I was losing some vital confidence here, but I knew I had to hold ground anyhow.

P1: You know even Mount Everest it getting dirty, the beautiful Ajanta and Ellora caves are not even close to what they were 10 years before. He gets a bit loud trying to prove his point.

M: Sir, I agree to with you on the problem , and If you are saying such a case in Ajanta and Ellora caves then it must be true, but your suggestion of stopping tourism will affect a lot of people who are dependent on it. Again I am talking non sense here, but whatever I am doing I make sure I at least look confident.

P1: That is not the issue, see tourism is like Petroleum, it’s a depletable resource, more you use it, it will not be available for future generations, like you use petrol, so it will end one day.

I have a real broad smile on my face.

M: Sir to me that sort of solution is not a solution, but rather not attempting the problem, you’re trying to run away from the problem, I am sure there is a better solution which is more efficient, we need to look at alternatives for effective usage.
I have no clue what I am saying, but I am saying it clear and I am sure Tourism is not Petroleum, so I would get some points soon.

P1: What is effective usage? Caves are dying!!
A flash of bright light, I got an idea. I am way more confident now. So, I start speaking a bit more affirmative, while making all sorts of weird hand signs and expressions

M: Sir, take the example of Eiffel Tower. You don’t let 1,000 people go top, you have to stand in a queue, wait for your turn, you have to preserve it. When people come down then the next group is allowed to go top, if they are done for the day, then nobody can go. They have different levels and charge differently according to each level. You don’t rush people in. I am saying the same thing again and again, yeah!! I got a point this time.

So, in our case if we cannot manage 1,000 people inside the case, we need to limit them. If we don’t have enough resources or man power to manage a large group, we keep it to a limit to make sure it’s not damaged any further due to overcrowding. This way we presever the scenic beauties for our future generations, make sure our natural resources don’t vanish and people enjoy tourism to it’s maximum potential

I knew I had nailed it here this time.

P1 and P2: And how would you distribute the tickets, first come first serve or auction based, because according to Supreme Court auction is the best form of distributing a resource which has supply and demand. See, there is demand for it and supply, so there should be auction?

I have a smile as usual, though I wonder where did this come from, weren’t we discussing Tourism and Petroleum.

M: I don’t think so, then you’re limiting the experience to the rich, everybody has equal right to travel, enjoy the beauty, have fun, so auction can’t be the method.

P2: You’re talking about experience, so a poor person who eats at Dhaba( mind you, lot of people eat at dhaba and they are not poor, but I decided to skip this one with him) should just go to the 5-star hotel and claim to have equal rights to that experience of a lunch at 5-star, you can’t limit him from that according to your logic.
Now I am smiling so wide, I have a look like “are you kidding me?”

M: Sir, when you are using a natural resource or something that belongs to everyone like Sand Dunes, or Caves, you cannot sell it on a higher price cause it belongs to everyone, but when I talk about a 5-star experience that’s what I have made, I have every right to sell it at whatever price I want. I am not forcing anybody to come and pay me for it, everyone is free to either use it or not use it, but because it belongs to me I have every right to charge whatever I want.

P3 nods his head and smiles, P2 has his looks.

P2: But, whatever you do, whenever there is a demand and there is a supply there would be black marketing and people would be willingly selling their places at higher prices. See, there are some temples which are free to visit, but they have long queues where you have to wait for hours or even days maybe, but if you’re willing to pay a luxury fee you can get entrance easily. So, whatever you do it will always happen.

I was wondering if they would get on the ethical question of if it’s right or wrong, because that would be a real tough nut to crack, but they did not ask it.

M: Sir, I agree with whatever you have said, I would like to point out a recent example about which I was reading recently. In Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary there used to be bookings online for travel visits. So, travel agents used to book online early and then sell their seats later on an exorbant prices. So, what they have done now is you need to have an ID proof for using your ticket later on. I think the same can be done in all cases where we want to protect the place from Black marketing. Anybody who wants to use it must bring in his ID-proof at the time of visiting. I think this will largely solve the problems.

I was happy nobody questioned the ethics of visiting temples by paying prices, relieved.

They all looked pretty satisfied now.

A: So, I am done sir.

P1: I am done too.

P2: But, you cannot let him have such a free ride, you have to put him under the grill.
3-5 Sec Pause

I am smiling, over confident look as usual. Kind of like “Bring it On”. I was wondering should I express Poker interest right now.
Right then, the thunder struck

A: Alright, so “What is Integration?”
I hear it the first time but he wasn’t clear. So I ask again hoping it’s not the ‘I’ word.

A: “What’s integration?”
I Smile

M: Sir, integration is basically Summation of values over a period. I have this look like, yeah, cool, it’s this thing. Though it was pretty clear I was not in my comfort zone.

A: So, you know what’s integration right, you know it’s ‘dx’ and over the area under the curve basically.

M: Yes, I know.

A: So, can you please integrate “X^2 +2” from 0-2 without integrating but using summation.

M: I can take 10-20 seconds.

A: Yeah
I take the paper with a pencil, start cribbing something on the paper, wondering why the hell I had to stuck up with integration, why would it come back to haunt me in my interview. Why do you always have to pay for your bad deeds? After, thinking about these thoughts for some time.

M: Sir, I am a bit confused, So I can’t actually integrate
He laughs off

A: Obviously, integrating directly is going to be very easy.
Take another 15 seconds wondering, the curve would go up. At 0 value is 2, at 1 value is 3 and at 2 value is 5. Can I approximate this thing somehow?

M: Sir, actually I am not able to focus right now on the question

A: He smiles, Why?

M: I don’t know, maybe it’s the interview pressure or something else, but my mind is not able to solve this one right now.

A: What exactly is going through your mind?

M: It’s just blank right now. Otherwise, I would have solved this one easily. Sir, I can give you an approximate answer.

A: Can you give an exact answer?

M: ‘No’

Only if I would have done something productive at that time, maybe only drawing the curve I would have solved this one, but, alas I had to wonder about Integration and its love with me.

A: Ok, what is differentiation?

M: Differentiation is basically rate-of-change-of..value.. of …curve. It is slope of curve.

Making sure I extend each vowel to it’s maximum limits, I answered in that tone.

A: Ok, So, can you differentiate Mod X Cube?
I start writing something on my paper. After 5 seconds.

A: Ok, can you differentiate Mod X?
I again start writing something. After 3 seconds

A: Do you know what Mod X is?
I start smiling loud, draw Mod X graph point it towards him

M: Yeah this one I know. Show it to him, with a way too big a smile in the lost cause.
He is also smiling.

A: So, can you differentiate it?

M: No, sir we cannot differentiate it because it has 2 values at 0.
I know it’s a noob answer, but, that is how my calculus is, I don’t get limits, and that sign of integration itself creeps me out. Why is that the case with me? It is a totally different story, completely beyond the scope of this interview.
A: How It has 2 values?

M: Sir, as on the positive side value is +1 and on the negative side value is -1. So, we cannot have a fixed value at 0, so we cannot differentiate it. Totally, non engineer style answer continues.

A: Don’t use the graph to explain, explain in terms of logic. Ok, tell me what can you differentiate?

M: Sir, we need the graph to be continuous to be differentiable (Seriously shows my lack of knowledge in the field, don’t think I was in pressure, it’s just that I don’t know even basic calculus).

A: And what is continuous?
This answer is going to be awesome.

M: Sir, continuous is that which we can differentiate.
I have a wide smile on my face, he laughs.

A: Don’t make a loop and even that is incorrect.

P1: You see that Mod X graph is continuous or not?

M: It is continuous.

P1: So?

M: Yes, so not necessarily continuous graphs can be differentiable, they should not have a sudden change in their slope.

P1: Listen, it’s like this, the limit RHS value is not equal to Limit LHS value, so we cannot have a single value.
I keep nodding my head heavily while saying yes sir, yes sir.

P1: You can also look at the graph and tell it.

M: Sir, I was explaining it from Graph, but he (I look at A) told me to explain without
graph. I wanted to say this only that the slope is not continuous.

M: Actually, sir I have been completely out of touch of integration from last 4 years, otherwise I used to be very good at this before.
I have a familiar smile on my face.

A, P1, P2: Thank you.

M: Thank you.

I stand to leave and notice that the folder was with me only the whole time. Damn, why did I not pass it in the beginning? I wonder if I should pass it now. Anyways, it’s already too late. I walk slowly towards the door, pause for .5 sec in between and then just go through it wondering Did I screw it up bad? What do you guys think? Let me know.
I missed out on a lot of things, few of the game design documents in my folder, one research report, my intern at IIM A, my independent applications, some cool projects. Pretty sure if I had passed that folder things would have been different. But, all’s well that ends. Can’t say ‘ends well’ here



Time: 4:50 PM
Cheers
 
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