MY IIM C Interview Experience - 2009

I reported @ the venue half an hour before the scheduled time. the candidates were divided into five groups of 11. The GD Topic was " Go ahead, Dont wait for Me". The GD went for 10 min with one min of summarizing in the end. everyone got atleast a few chances to speak . I spoke 3-4 times . I would rate my performance as a average ..

I was the last candiate to be interviewed. My interview went on for 20- 25 min. The panel consisted of 2 IIM C prof and an alumni . HEard that IIM c had given 1200 calls for 400 seats .. My interview started off well but i kind of felt the panel was not convinced toward the end.. So only an outside chance this time. Here is the transcript .

P2 : sit down
ME: Thanks you sir

P2 : Tel me abt urself
ME: grad in industrial Engineering , 4 years exp in Sw. 2 yrs in NY .. now want to switch to finance industry ... blah blah .. ( all 3 panelist had a sarcastic smile when i said i want to move to finance)

p2 (Convinced that i qualify for a NRI candidate ) : u studied Op. research explain linear programming to a 8th std guy
ME : its a way of arriving at a solution for inequalties.. with some exampleas.. blah blah ( happy to see that the prof was convinced with my answer )

P2 : explain scenarios in which linear programming does not give optimal solution
Me : Forgot sir , dont recollect regeneration method

P2 : asked abt my work ex and said that my 4 years in undergrad is waste as my work ex is in sw and pointed out that my 4 years in sw would be a waste if i switch to finance.
Me: i told them that i wanted to do financial modelling . explained that mathematics in finance got branced out from Op. Research and i learnt mathematical modelling in undergrad and programming in work ex and explained him that fin modelling and programming go hand in hand and a lot of work is being done in this area and i want to specialise in it. ( The prof looked convinced with my answer and asked P3 to continue . )

p3 ( alum from IIM C with bald head) : who is the head of insurance vertical in TCS ?
ME : Dunno Sir.my BRM is Mr. Johnny

p3: Whats happening at AIG ?
Me : My client being AIG I was preapred for this. told them all I had prepared for 2 min .. sub prime.. CDS...CDOs..bail outs.. hw they help other companies too ... I supported bail out decision of FED

p3: What is Mr. Obama Saying ? Do u support his policies ?
ME : Sir, I am happy that the policy makers are doin something .. In 1990s JApan had recession and the policy makes were using only fiscal tools and recession lasted long. With both fiscal tools and Bail outs of Banks the recession time can be considerably reduced.

p3 : What abt his out sourcing policies ? will it affect TCS ?
ME : It may have short term effects but in the long term India would still get projects. I also told them tht only direct outsourcing of companies to their IT divisdion would be most affected. TCS would still retain their projects at client locations.


p3 : Tell me ur directs affects of recession in ur project.
ME : development projects getting postponed.. cost cutting.. blah blah blah

p3 : Why MBA ? I already doin well at ur place continue to grow in TCS .. The top 40 doesnot have MBA ?
ME : I want to switch to technical side in finance industry .. done with CFa Level 1 .

p3 : dont u have these roles in TCS.Why dont u do that without MBA ?
ME: TCS does hav some roles in hedging foriegn currencies. These roles are limited and requires MBA ..

p3 : What does ur dad has to say abt MBA ?
Me : ( I am really pissed of with this q. What has dad has to do with one doin MBA?) Told him that he too wants me to do MBA. I also explained him doin MBA will give one higher sphere of influence in an orgainisation )

p3 : Why do u have to do it fiannce when the industry is down. ? hedge funds r not foin to exists any more
ME : Industry will have its own cycles . My interests is in Fiannce and i want to pursue it . Also told him that Fin institutions will continue to xist as ppl will make money out of fear and greed. If someone shows 5 % above maket returns ppl would continue to invest in it

p3 : ( looks partially convinced .. ) asked me to compare ROI of being in onsite and doin MBA
ME. ( i feel i really flunked this question ) MAde a few assumptions like getting a jonb in Mumbai for 2 years before getting a job abroas..showed them that over a period of 10 years i would earn better in IIM C than being at my curent position .

The interview panel did not looked convinced ,,, ( atleast thats what their facial expression showed..) asked me to do my maths and said Thank you..
I did not expect them to end it abruptly .. ( probably they were hungry as it was half past one. )
thanked them and left the room

Later , I exchanged pleasentaries with P3 ( Sriini vasa Rao) learnt that Mr. Ravi Venkatesh is the head of Insurance vertical in TCS. Quite a costly way getting to know the Boss (approx 2000 $)

Will Hindi be Cali's Third Language

Indians are a very talented breed and are all over the world. Its an old adage that Sun never sets in an British Empire. It would be appropriate to say Sun never sets in indians world too. Right from UK to Australia to India. Indians have started occupying plum jobs that in various countries that a ppl in all countries have started developing disliking toward indians.

In US of A it is so much that a few places are being called mini India. In a few restaurants you can get away with knowledge of only Hindi or Tamil or Telugu. The tele serials have indians as protoganist. That demonstrates the penetration of indian culture in USA .While it is a good sign for Indians ppl in the native country donot generally think so. especially when their jobs are being scrapped.

Inspite of all this indians would still continue to travel to all places and not so far in the future we would see boards that has signs in Hindi , Spanish, and English.