[FONT=Verdana,Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]Anuj Arora
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IIM-Ahmedabad
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ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND!!!
When Spielberg uncle made this movie long back i guess he would've never guessed that his movie would b a great inspiration for these famous management inst in India called IIM's!!
Surprisingly i got a call from three of these coveted inst A,B &C & even more surprisingly got selected in one of them, usually called the toughest of them & best of them-IIM-A!! now don't ask me how i made it cos even i'm trying my best to get the elusive answer!!
Let me relive those moments of glory......sorry I got lost in those moments!! But I'm back & kicking!! So we were called for gdpi for IIM-A in IIFT!! Great building but not as great as of IIM-A!! so there were loads of students called for gdpi ,ratio is usually 1:8!!let's not discuss stats for now cos they only discourage u!! to my expectation I found a lot of fellow engineer "bhailog" from variety of inst including the IIT's!! why can't these geeks settle for something less than IIM's?? so now we shld proceed to the GD ist!!
A gp of 8 students r called for GD's in various rooms to b courted by different panels simultaneously!!(I mean mass-slaughter!!) In IIM-A there is always a case study given to b discussed!! The gp is usually be seated around a table which can b of L or U or st line type of shape!! It helps if u r seated in the center cos can have others attention easily otherwise it helps if u can raise your decibel level but it shouldn't sound like shouting!! Try to have a "cultured" GD that's what my inst ppl told me!!
So to my disdain I got a corner seat(the seating arrangement is pre-set by inst ppl!!)
We were given 5 min to gather our thoughts on a piece of paper & then after a command of "START" by the panelist the mayhem began!! there r a lot of things seen in a gd!!such as who initiates the gd,but initiating doesn't guarantee better pts!! The grasp of the topic, communication skill(try not saying hindi words in b/w),the quality of pts raised,being a good listener(it helps a lot cos a no of times students say wrong facts or otherwise & u can capitalize on it by saying with sugar coated voice:= " my friend I would differ with u on this statement cos---"!! but don't cut other's pts just for the sake of it!! Take control of your body movements as well,like moving both hands while talking sometimes gives an impression that u r dusting a blackboard!! Sometimes u can b asked to give "summary" or "personnel views" abt the topic!! There is difference b/w the two & please b precise!! U don't have to recite the whole "ramayan"
Usually the panel present in the gd would b there in interview!! So they know what u have performed so try being nice but assertive & forceful!!
The main thing is that in a gd it's not the quantity of time spoken counts but the quality of what u've spoken!
In the gd there can b a variety of topics i.e based on latest happenings ex- "iraq war", conceptual kind ex "if u don't manage the time then time will manage u!!" or totally abstract ex "who need education??" or" yesterday's gone tomorrow hasn't come & we've got today!!" these r previously given topics in IIM's!! so to prepare for these what u need is "knowledge"!! u can't prep in the last 1 month!! So prep slow & steady!! If u don't have the habit of reading newspaper & magazines regularly develop it!! Reading CSR would also help!! if u read INDIA- TODAY then have a reason why not OUTLOOK or FRONTLINE!! This habit would b helpful 4 both gd & pi!!
Now moving to next stage of the slaughter i.e pi !! I was the ist to b called in my gp so obviously considered myself as "Ginny pig" for the whole gp, but as there was no choice "I was ready 2 rock & roll!!" the panel size is usually 2-3,but as I told u earlier don't let facts effect u!! Another imp thing "don't loose your smile no matter what!!" even if u don't answer 4 ques in a row but can confidently answer the 5th one, u r in the race!!
So talking abt my interview, they started off straight with academics (all my prep for the intro thing went waste!!) they asked me which subjects I had & started off!! Abt academics the imp thing is that u can't prep for everything especially engineers(being myself one, obviously I'll b biased & symathetic!!)prep atleast 2-3 subjects they may ask u your fav subject & then say "that's not my fav subject,tell someother subject!!" so if u've prep just one u r gone!! So better've backup!!
Coming back to my interview for non-engg the ques may sound out of the world but notice that to which level they expect u 2 know!! It's mainly how strong your basics r & if u r able to put them in practical situations!! So I mentioned MICROPROCESSOR as one of the subject!! The questioning went as follows:=
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1) anuj what is a microprocessor?
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Anuj) $&%^$^%&%*&(*&%&^%&%^$^$^*
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2) what is the difference b/w a processor & microprocessor?
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Anuj) @#^%#^%$#^&*%*&*&&
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3) how do u fabricate this microprocessor?
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Anuj) sir we use PLANAR TECHNOLOGY!!
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4) what do u do in this tech?
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Anuj) sir we use a SIO2 layer!!
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5) from where do u get this layer?
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Anuj) we've electro graded silicon &#$&#Y^&
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6) from where do u get this electro graded silicon??
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Anuj) we've metal graded silicon & $#$#&$#&&^
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7) from where do u get this metal graded silicon
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anuj) we've silicon & %*$%$#&$#$
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8) from where do we get this silicon?
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Anuj) %&&&%%%##$&#$#
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9) what next?
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Anuj) we have epitaxial layer &$&^&^&%&%
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10) anuj while using all these layers in what form they r?
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anuj) they r in molten form & then they ^*&^%&^
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11) while in molten form r they like iron sheets or what??
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NOW I'D ENOUGH & WAS PI**ED OFF BUT NATURALLY SMILING OUTSIDE!!
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anuj) sir in book it's given till only this level!![/SIZE][/FONT]
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UFFFFFFFFF!! As u would've noticed they c that to what level u can tolerate the 3rd degree torture!! When u answer a ques expect some more coming!! what the panel does is that they c 2 what extent u can answer cos sooner or later they will make u say "SIR I DON'T KNOW" the latter the better!! No superficial knowledge!! Deep knowledge!!
Same way it goes for hobbies!! Let me mention that when u mention hobbies have thorough knowledge abt it otherwise u r gone!! Do extra research which will stand u out from others!!
A lot of ppl say music, now that's very vague!b specific!! For ex I said YANNI!! Now I'd his life history mugged up,his past,his music style,name of albums,larget selling album & why I like his music!! Prep well for hobbies cos take my word it'll b dissected!!
Imp thing in interview is EYE CONTACT!! Hey I don't mean eve teasing!! Look confident!! The other thing is "never contradict yourself!!" once u've taken a stand ,b strong & face the wind but stay put!!
Another imp thing whenever they say "TAKE ANOTHER GUESS!"it's a booby trap don't fall in it!! If u r not sure don't fluke!! But unfortunately I made this mistake!! FLUKING IN IIM-A INTERVIEW?? Yes readers I consider myself lucky that I made it cos to cover up I'd to fluke another 4 times!! Actually I was asked mt Everest's height!! By bad luck I'd no clue!!ist ans was 10,000 feet!! Was asked to take another guess!!(booby trap!! Don't fall for it!!)I took another guess & after that there were 3 more ques regarding that!! Now both panelists & I knew I was trapped!! But I was in a gladiator mood!! I defied all reasoning & logic & answered with confidence & smile! I didn't backed out!! I knew that only way out of this mess is that pretend that nothing has happened & stay cool!! Although I would highly recommend that u don't make this mistake & if press gets u & u make the mistake DON'T PANICK!
Face the music but stay cool!! This is what they c that if u make a mistake how do u handle it?? Do u've the guts to back up your wrong statement?? Cos not everytime u'll know the answer!! Also I couldn't answer a couple of ques don't let it ruin rest of the interview!!
Other thing is not let panelists expressions make u feel let down cos they will try to discourage with occasional sneer & odd comment!! Just smile & ignore!! No matter how bad is the comment "BE BESHARAM YAAR!!"
So I think enough for now & best of luck to all for the written & gd pi's!! if u want to give any comments on the article u r most welcome & u think anything else would b helpful??
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AS ARNIE BHAI RIGHTLY SAID SO DO I SAY IT :="I'LL B BACK"!![/SIZE][/FONT]