IIM-S: Strike One

So the fray all started with the first Interview for the Seventh IIM of its kind: Shillong. 

My interview was on 15^th Feb at Hotel Mantras, New Delhi.  My interview was scheduled at 1400 hours, and I reached the venue 2 hours well in advance.

When I reached the venue, I was guided towards the Basement of the Hotel near the Swimming Pool. With 2 hours to kill, I thought a wise option would to be drink as much coffee/tea (provided), eat as much biscuits and engage as much as I could in some random chit-chatting with fellows around. Simultaneously, I cross-checked my Interview form and files once again. Very soon, I came across a friend from IIT Roorkee. When two fellows from the same institute meet, all it leads to is pure bakar. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I also came across a girl from Reliance Industries Limited, the company I got placed in and got some insights into the work culture of the company. I was told soothing things about Reliance from her, like Reliance is a cool place to work at with no work load.  In times of tension, little things like these can provide you much-needed solace.

Hardly had the clock stuck 1345 hours when a young man aged 30-35 came and took our attendance. After a couple of minutes more, they finally called 8 people for Case Study-GD inside a room on the second floor.

As soon as we entered the room, there were 8 chairs each with a number plate and we were told to sit in a specific seat. I was allotted seat number 6. Panel consisted of three members with an old person (aged more than 60) and two not so young (aged 45-50). One of the panelist listed certain guidelines and told that we have a case study in front of us and we have 10 mins to analyze and write about it and then 15 mins to discuss.

Case Study Topic: The case dealt with the Air India facing a financial crunch because of loads of its outstanding bills from the Government of India. Some mammoth hypothetical data was given and as a Minister of Civil Aviation, we were asked an opinion on whether private jet carriers should be compared with Air India in terms of profitability and facilities. Is this comparison really justified or not?

I got ample of time to put forth my viewpoints. After 10 minutes, one of the panelist told time is up and we need to start our discussion. To my surprise, for the first 1^1/2 minute no one spoke. There was pin-drop silence around. I could have initiated the discussion, but why be a bond? Thanks to a guy on my right, who started the GD putting forth his gyaan on the case.  Then a guy on the extreme right carried forth. I was the third one to put forward my point. I think I made decent attempts, and got sufficient time to speak. There wasn’t a fish market in our GD.  Finally we ended the discussion when the panelists asked us to cut the crap out!  We were subsequently told that we would be interviewed according to the numbers allotted. That meant, I would be the 6^th person to be interviewed.

GD was over by 2:30PM and my interview was expected to start after 2 hours. Meanwhile, I was busy wandering like an idiot and selling "All The best" biscuits outside the interview room.  

I was called in at 4:30 pm by one of the panelist (He was wearing specs, so I’d call him S). There were other two interviewers seated inside. An old man (I’d call him D) and another not-so young man (I’d call him Y). 

So this is a brief account of whatever happened. Read on!

S:  Abhishek Bangr-ea-niya. Please come in.

Me: [For God’s sake it is Bangrania] Thank you, Sir. And, a very good afternoon to you Sir.

S:  Please be seated and hand me over your file.

While he started flipping over my certis/marksheets/scorecards, etc, etc. Mr. D chipped in.

D: So you are from which college? And, which year?

Me:  [Isn’t all this already written there? I mean everywhere.] Sir, IIT Roorkee. I’m a final year student of Chemical Engineering.

D:  Tell me about your college.

Me:  Told. Even told it has got a wonderful history, and it is a wonderful place to be in. 

D: [Puzzled at my response] So you think IIT Roorkee is better than all other IITs?

Me: Told each IIT is unique, and some gyaan on how and why.

D: Shouldn’t we convert all colleges in India into IITs?

Me:  Cannot. And, should not. Some bakar on why.

D: Why are we not considering making Benaras Hindu University into an IIT?

Me: Got confused with the name. Was told he meant IT-BHU. Knowing it, told some arbit bakar.

Then Mr. Y chipped in with something random all of a sudden.

Y: What is the climing of your state like?

Me: [Shocked] Climing? I don’t know Sir what that means.

Y: You don’t know the climate of your state?

Me: Climate, Sir. Yes. Okay. Pleasant it is. I love it, Sir. I love the North India, especially Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Y: How would you rate Uttarakhand as a State? Development-wise?

Me: Gyaan

Y: Any recent news about your state? How is the Government like?

Me: Told. Arbit bakar.

Y: Where do you live?

Me: Dehradun, Sir.

Y: Does this Dehradun lie in Uttarakhand? Or UP?

Me: [What?] It is the capital of Uttarakhand, Sir. It was a part of UP till 2001.

Y: Has Dehradun seen massive improvement after the formation of a new state?

Me: Gyaan

Y: Where is Uttarakhand lagging on national level and why?

Me: Told.

Y: What are the Sources of income for your State?

Me: Told.

Y: You told Tehri dam. Tell me the current scenario of this dam.

Me: Told.

Y: How would you help Uttarakhand youth in getting employment opportunities?

Me: Gyaan.

Y: I read somewhere that Dehradun is becoming very populated and even polluted these days. Why?

Me: Sir, many people are migrating from other cities in view of better opportunities. As a result, there is a large human influx and consequently these problems. 

I was happy with the fact that no technical questions were being asked when suddenly Mr. S chipped in, who earlier had been continuously staring at me.

S: Okay, Abhishek. You had a subject on Process Dynamics and Control in your 6^th Semester. Could you throw some light on this subject?

Me: Told something. Couldn’t define it properly. Was stuck. He also didn’t seem satisfied with my answer.

S: No, I ain’t getting it. Tell me again and explain it to me by drawing whatever you are saying.

Me: Told some weird definition. Drew a CSTR with a control valve. Told him the kinds of Control Valves and how it functions. Somehow managed to draw the Control Valve diagram correctly after cutting it once and redrawing it.

S: Okay, then there is another subject you studied. This is Process Equipment Design. Tell me how and what all considerations are kept in mind while designing any equipment?

Me: Chem fundaes told.

S: Design any equipment of your choice explaining everything in detail.

Me: Thought for a second. Wasn't remembering anything, unless something stuck  me. I thought of drawing the diagram of Coke drum (the one on which I did my Intern at RIL). Coke drum is my forte. Hehe

S: Tell me the metallurgy details of this Coke Drum.

Me: Sir, Metallurgy details as in?

S: What kind of material is used in it and why?

Me: Told different layers with the innermost being Stainless Steel.

S: If I use Mild Steel, what would happen?

Me: Metallurgy? I am not a Metallurgical engg, Sir! Still, some gyaan

S: You are wrong!

Me: [I thought I was correct] Okay, I am sorry Sir.

S: What is the importance of Organization & Management in a Chemical Engineer’s life?

Me: Gyaan

Hardly had I completed my answer when Mr. D jumped in with a completely offbeat question.

D: Do you like taking or giving bribes?

Me: No, Sir. As a man of principles, I’d never do such a thing.

D: As a manager of a hypothetical company, if you don’t become a part of it, your company would incur a huge loss and your employees would go broke. According to me, you should take it, else you’ll come on roads financially ruined.

Me: Thought for a second, and replied with a stern NO. Accompanied by some gyaan.

D: Tell you what, this way you’ll ruin your company, your employees and yourself. Think!?

Me: Didn’t understand whether he was asking me a question or was telling me the answer. I just smiled and nodded stupidly.

S: Abhishek, you have a PPO from Reliance Industries Limited, which is an awesome company. Why do you want to waste two precious years of your life in Shillong doing MBA? Go and join that company. You’ll learn a lot.

Me: [Waste?]Sir, I want to know the business side …… [interrupted]

S: Abhishek, don’t give me clichéd answers.

Me: Rephrased and told. He seemed satisfied.

D: Tell me what will we teach you at Shillong?

Me: Umm… I think Finance, Accounts, and all that  ...

D: [Chuckles] What do you mean by “all that”? Tell me did you check it or not?

Me: Sorry Sir, I didn’t.

D: Are all IIMs same?

Me: I think, Sir.

D: Why would you like to join us?

Me: Shillong Gyaan

All this while, Mr. Y kept on writing something hiding his notebook. I wonder what?

S: Okay, Abhishek. That’s it. You may leave now. And, yes take a toffee.

D: All the best!

Me: Thank you, Sir!

Y: Which IIM interview do you have next?

Me: K, Sir.

Y: Okay, all the best!

Me: Thanks a lot, Sir.

I wanted to pick one toffee, but caught hold of three and ended up with two.

So, that was it. Good 25-30 minute Interview.

One Down! K, next.