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19 Sep 2023, 03:33
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Latest IIM Ahmedabad PGPX interview questions compilation
A comprehensive list of IIMA extempore topics https://gmatclub.com/forum/extempore-to ... l#p2710547
IIM Ahmedabad PGPX Interview questions
2 professors interviewed me. The interview lasted for 30 minutes. Got the following questions:
* Questions about projects mentioned in SOP, Resume, and more follow-up questions.
* STG, LTG, and Organizations you want to join and why? A few questions on this.
* Questions for us?
Advice: Go through everything in your application they basically take that, and ask everything around that.
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My interview was held at IIM Ahmedabad on 19th November. Reached the venue at 2 PM as the interview was scheduled for 3 PM. The interview was organized at the new campus building and reaching the interview room was pretty straightforward. They ask you to wait in a small room along with the other candidates which gives you an opportunity to know some of them and release pre-interview jitters by talking to each other, sharing experiences and cracking nervous jokes!
Anyway, I came to know there were 4 different panels taking the interview simultaneously. I don't know if they had divided the candidates between themselves at random or if they had some method to sort the candidates between themselves. What I did come to know was each panel had two professors who would take the interview. The panels differed in their approach to the interview based on the personality of the professors. I heard in one panel the professor was deliberately aggressive while in another they were calm as cucumbers!
In either case, the candidates came out with no clue how to judge the interview outcome once it was over.I already knew the extempore process and was a little prepared as those who went ahead of me were reporting on the extempore topics. The topics included current topics from the corporate world. example: Should Zomato be banned due to rash driving of their delivery executives, Should quiet quitting be considered a cultural phenomenon or another word for lazy people etc..
When I stepped in, the interviewers directly jumped to talking about why I had spent 10 years in the same company, what would a PGPX add to my profile now? whether I was seeking PGPX as a result of the company not doing well in India etc.
They then asked me about what kind of jobs would I be looking for after I finish PGPX. I replied that a product manager role would be suitable given my background. They pounced on that term and grilled me with hypotheticals. As a product manager, how would I re-launch my company's product? why do I think the product failed, why go for a specific approach etc.. The questions were all asked in a calm and inquisitive manner. Yet I had a hard time keeping up with their questions!
Then the other panelist asked me to pick a chit and read it out loud. the topic was 'is diversity in workplace just increasing mediocrity? should companies abandon it and focus on meritocracy?'. I took a stand against it and then the usual back and forth ensued between me and the panelist. They didn't push me too much on my views but put up a few simple arguments and asked me to give specific examples to back my point.
The panellist then asked why chose IIM A when I've lived my whole life in Ahmedabad. I answered with my family and work history to highlight I have enough diversity and exposure. he still said an MBA is an opportunity to explore new places. To which I replied if IIM A had been in Delhi I would have gone to Delhi! Since it happens to be in Ahmedabad i'm applying there
. The other panelist gave a chuckle and the interview concluded on a positive note. In any case, I'm still not sure if I will be selected or not. As I said, you won't get an inkling of what they end up deciding once you leave the room"_______
* Would you prefer working for a large firm or a startup?
* What type of customers do you deal with? (I am from a sales and marketing background)
* What is the breakup of the revenue you have generated for your firm in terms of customer segments?
* What are the main negotiations you have with your customers? (Product Price, Payment terms, Delivery time, T&C)
* Who are the competitors of your firm? Which is better, your firm or the competitor's firm?
* Why do customers prefer your firm over your competitors?
* Why are you sitting here? What do you expect from this program? (A lot of cross-questioning on this.)
* What was the chess event that happened in Chennai recently? (Since I am a Chess enthusiast)
* Who won the event?
* Where did India stand in the event?
* Who was the star performer from India in this event?
* Do you have any questions for us?
__________
1. What do you do?
2. Specific questions on the numbers mentioned in my resume - I was asked multiple follow-up questions on the analytics approach I used for solving a pricing problem
3. Why MBA and why PGPX?
4. What is your dream industry and company?
5. Any questions for us?
___________
1. Introduction to my background, and how I came to the BFSI sector.
2. Why PGPX
3. Current Role
4. Micro and Macro level challenges at the Bank and solutions.
5. How do you see fintech change the shape of banking in India
6. Challenges for PSU's to convert to a neo-bank
7. Post-MBA plans
8. How you'll fund the course fees
9. Any questions for the panel?
___________
Q: What is your preference among WFH/WFO? Why does your company still not provide WFO? Answered: I started defending the stand. There were multiple follow-up questions.
Q: What are the other colleges where you applied? Answered: IIM A and IIM B.
Q Why not ISB? Answered: Class size is one of the reasons.
Q: Which college will you pick between IIM B and A? I explained my decision to join IIM A is driven by discussion with alumni
Q: He asked the names of different alums to whom I contacted.
Q: Introduced my topic: ”Since government employers are overworked, It is justified to take bribes.”
Interviewer 2 (Majorly silent) did you feel lost in your career and what you do in these scenarios?
____________
Why an MBA at this stage of my career (9 years exp)?
What would I bring to the classroom?
____________
The questions related to the work I did for my last client. Then some questions regarding my current firm and its pricing model. Then one question regarding a hypothetical scenario. The overall interview lasted around 20-22 mins. No chance to ask questions of my own and no questions regarding why MBA or goals.
_____________
2. Questions on IND-AS (finance subject related, was on my resume)
3. Questions on GST (something again on my resume), explain it to grandmother (cross-questions)
4. Short term goals
5. Why MBA now
Overall the panel did a lot of cross-questioning but it was good to hold the ground.
_____________
P2 switched to questions specific to my work experience (Alternative Asset Management Industry)
Why PGPX? I used around 2-3 minutes to answer these in detail. We had some fun as well with a few jokes being cracked by both P1 and P2.
What kind of recruiters/companies are you planning to target post-MBA?
Post this they asked me if I had any questions for them and since they had banned me from asking any questions related to COVID-19 and the Internal Immersion programme, I asked them a question about the teaching methodology at PGPX. They happily answered this question and the session ended with me thanking them for their time and the usual greetings.
_____________
Questions about my achievements during my job; automotive sector and marketing-related questions; farmer protests. Lasted for about 20 min. Did not experience any grilling, and both panellists were very pleasant.
_____________
They asked me some questions about my professional experience. Then they asked, "why our generation switch jobs so frequently". Since it was my third job in 5 years. It was an intimidating interview. But I kept myself calm and smiling.
______________
Why Pgpx/IIM-A?
The next 2-3 questions were industry related followed by my short/long term goals post Pgpx
_______________
Why PGPX?
I have my startup - so who will take care of the startup?
I patented one of the products in my startup - Asked a couple of questions around that.
What do you bring to the table? Asked a few questions related to my industry and the work I have done in my career.
Extracurriculars - Football - Who is your fav player - Why and then Messi vs. Ronaldo?
_________________
It was a typical combination of interviewers- one a little soft-spoken and compassionate and the other a little strong and unimpressed. Both of them contributed equally. Thereafter, they asked 'Why You'. A lot of counterarguments here too, the strong guy was not easily convinced.
Next, one question from my interest area ' Energy sector' - How is the energy sector evolving in India? Finally, what are your post-MBA goals?
Altogether a good conversational experience. The interview lasted around 35 mins.
_________________
