Hello. A brief introduction first. I am a design graduate from NIFT with extensive work ex in apparel retail at India's leading organizations namely Raymond and Fabindia. I'd quit my full- time role as a designer to expand my scope mainly into the field of marketing a few months before this interview. At that time I'd taken up a freelance project as a marketing manager for a private label based out of Delhi.
Now that you know my profile briefly, let me take you through that one hour of the interview, which changed my life forever!
My interview was scheduled at at 10.40 AM, I arrived the location (Sheraton, New Delhi) by 10 AM and headed straight to register myself. This is when, probably the best part of the entire interview process happened to me- when the Adcom rep asked me- "Are you here to take an interview or are you giving one?" I was like- "Umm.. Can I? Nevermind. I am Shruti and I am here for my interview at 10.40 AM." I was guided to a waiting room filled with other candidates waiting for their 10.40 AM slot who were completing their verification formalities. This is the time you should use to pace yourself and tell yourself that you'll be the best of you today. This can be done in multiple ways- either you can talk to your fellow mates or you can shut your yes and draw deep breaths or you can call someone for a pep talk! Whatever works for you. I indulged in some small talk with the candidates sitting next to me before I was called in at 11 AM by a member of my own interview panel (that's how it is).
Here’s how the questions were like ..
Q: Hi Shruti. I am XYZ. How are you feeling?
Q: So, (glancing though my application) Tell us something about you on this application?
Q: Howcome the transition from engineering prep to NIFT?
Q: Oh but you are a 9 pointer and a gold medalist, then what more did Raymond want?
Q. What are you doing currently?
5 minutes gone by.
Q. Give us a strategy right now for this brand you are working with right now? You have a paper and pencil and there is a glass of water if you want to drink water. You have a minute.
Q. It is not a sustainable business model. How will these guys remember you 10 years from now?
Q. Ok. Forget this. Now you are a marketing head at ABC, What will be your strategy? Take a minute. Think.
Q. Not sure. This is not enough. Anyway, how will you implement this?
55 minutes gone by.
Q. Alright. Tell us something about your family?
Q. Huge sum. How will you repay the loan?
Q. Any questions for us?
Q. Shruti. I still don’t know why MBA? Anyway. Bye.
I was sure that I needed to start working harder on my plan B since plan A would yield a negative result. However, upon receiving an admit, when I look back I realize that there were two key behavioral tactics that might have worked in my favor. First, never contradict yourself even if they try to push you over the edge. Hold your ground strong and back it up with a rational reasoning. Second, take your time to answer when stumped with an unexpected question. Being a designer, lacking understanding of marketing or strategy my only support was common sense and my experience. I made the best of that one minute by recollecting similar instances from my past.