SIBM Pune Interview Experience – From National Court to Stock Charts: How This Analyst-Turned-Trader Aced the SIBM Pune Interview
Candidate Profile
- Background: Engineering graduate with a knack for numbers and strategic thinking
- Work Experience: Approximately 2.5 years as a Data Research Analyst
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 83%
- 12th Grade: 86%
- Graduation: 75%
- Former national-level basketball player
- Self-taught part-time trader with over 40 clients and a cumulative profit exceeding ₹3 crore
Written and Group Exercises
- WAT Topic: Describe your day without electronic gadgets, without using the word “people”
📌 Tip: Be creative and descriptive. Use storytelling to demonstrate adaptability and self-awareness.
- Group Exercise Topic: Minimizing the effects of recession
📌 Tip: Show economic awareness, teamwork, and how you can add value to a group discussion with both ideas and collaboration.
Interview Panel
- Panel Composition: 2 Interviewers (1 Male, 1 Female)
- Duration: Around 20–22 minutes
Icebreaker & Personal Fit
🔵 P1 (Female): Tell us about yourself
📌 Tip: Blend your personal, academic, and professional journey with key achievements. Make it a compelling story.
🔵 P1: Are you here for entrepreneurship or the flagship MBA program?
📌 Tip: Align your goals with the institution's flagship offering unless you have a very specific alternate interest backed by experience.
🔵 P1: With a national-level sports background and successful trading business, why MBA?
📌 Tip: Talk about intellectual curiosity, formalizing business knowledge, and long-term leadership aspirations.
Career & Technical Insights
🔵 P1: What is non-NSE certified trading?
📌 Tip: Be transparent and informative. Explain any niche certifications or self-taught approaches.
🔵 P1: How do you juggle a full-time job with active trading and client responsibilities?
📌 Tip: Demonstrate time management and ethical boundaries. Highlight any performance recognition at work.
🔵 P1: Walk us through a full trade example. What if it goes against you?
📌 Tip: Explain risk management strategies like stop loss, price action, and emotional control. Simplicity is key.
🔵 P1: How would you market your trading business further?
📌 Tip: Approach it like a mini marketing case—target audience, channels, messaging, and differentiation.
General Awareness & Finance Questions
🔵 P2 (Male): Adani-Hindenburg issue—what happened and why did the stock fall?
📌 Tip: Stick to facts and explain concepts like short selling and stock manipulation in layman terms.
🔵 P2: What is stock manipulation and how can it be done?
📌 Tip: Show your understanding of market regulations, ethics, and investor psychology.
🔵 P2: Why not become a full-time financial analyst instead of pursuing an MBA?
📌 Tip: Clarify your long-term vision—why you need broader strategic exposure beyond just finance.
Career Goals & Self-Awareness
🔵 P2: Specialisation preference?
📌 Tip: Keep it flexible but focused—demonstrate clarity of thought while showing openness to exploration.
🔵 P2: Strengths and weaknesses? What have you done about the weakness?
📌 Tip: Choose real traits. For weaknesses, always include a resolution strategy and improvement story.
Candidate’s Turn – Asking the Right Questions
🔵 P2: Any questions for us?
📌 Tip: Ask about mentorship, alumni network, or how SIBM Pune supports entrepreneurial thinking within the flagship MBA.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- ✅ Unique profiles—sports, side hustles, and business—can make you stand out. Own your story.
- ✅ Articulate how your current achievements tie into your future goals.
- ✅ Be ready to defend unconventional choices with structured reasoning.
- ✅ Keep up with current affairs, especially financial and economic news.
- ✅ Use the “any questions” moment to show genuine curiosity about the program.
📢 Disclaimer: Real Stories, Modified for Privacy
🔍 The above interview experience is based on real candidate interactions collected from various sources. To ensure privacy, some details such as location, industry specifics, and numerical figures have been altered. However, the core questions and insights remain authentic. These stories are intended for educational purposes and do not claim to represent official views of any institution. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.
📢 Stay tuned for more B-school interview experiences and preparation tips!
🔍 The above interview experience is based on real candidate interactions collected from various sources. To ensure privacy, some details such as location, industry specifics, and numerical figures have been altered. However, the core questions and insights remain authentic. These stories are intended for educational purposes and do not claim to represent official views of any institution. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.
📢 Stay tuned for more B-school interview experiences and preparation tips!
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