MananS4G
so guys, ISB interviews are not tough but far more conversational than most of the international b-school interviews where mostly, it is a Q&A with lesser follow-up questions.
The idea to cover the nitty-gritty around your past experience or whatever else you might have mentioned in your application to ensure a) absolute clarity around what you’ve written and b) how it links to the future.
While it’s fine to be aspirational around the goals and move to a space where you haven’t had a lot of experience, it is imperative to do a lot of research about your goals. Let’s face it, you’d be applying for the jobs that you are aspiring for in the next 6 months given the placements are almost done by December.
Hence, goal clarity (the what and how) is very important while ISB helps bridge the gaps around the path to get there.
Not going through the profile isn’t cool. Cutting off in between doesn’t usually happen but few alums tend to take "stress interviews" to see your reactions (not cool again). This by no means would be a reason for an acceptance or rejection.
I agree but what raised my eyebrow were two things. Firstly, one of the panel members assumed I had product management experience because in my essays I mentioned I wanted to see learn how intertwined with supply chain it really is. She assumed I had product management background. A simple scan of my resume would have refuted that and avoided that line of questioning all together. Secondly, at the end another panel member asked do you any work experience in India, again my resume clearly mentions I never worked in India before. I mean these are quite basic things and on top of that constant interruption by one of them. I wanted to ask few questions regarding ISB and why should I choose it and what their experiences were. I didn't want to sound so assertive at that point anymore.
Trust me I wish they asked me about my goals, not even a word about it. They had a line of questioning around Product management and when I clearly disrupted the rhythm I feel like they wanted to get it over with at that point.