Cracking the FMS Delhi Interview: A Banker’s Journey to the Red Brick Building

Candidate Profile

• Background: Economics graduate from a prestigious Delhi University college
• Work Experience: 14 months at ICICI Bank
• Academics:
  • 10th: 96.8%
  • 12th: 9.01 CGPA
• CAT Percentile: 99.98
• Interview Date: April 19, 2023
• Duration: 7–8 minutes
• Panel: 4 members (2 Male, 2 Female)

Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach

Breaking the Ice & Profile Discussion

🔵 Panelist 1 (F1): You studied at Hindu College. Did being close to FMS motivate you to pursue an MBA here?

Candidate Response: Shared interest in pursuing a master’s degree since Class 12 and how FMS's red brick building inspired him.

Extempore Round

🔵 Panelist 2 (M1): Speak on the topic “Business Cycles and Life Cycles.” You have 10 seconds to think and 1 minute to speak.

Candidate Response: Correlated economic cycles (recession, expansion) with human life stages. However, started speaking immediately, which the panel didn’t appreciate.

Banking & Finance Knowledge

🔵 Panelist 3 (F2): What are HNI (High Net Worth Individual) customers?

Candidate Response: Explained ICICI Bank’s classification criteria.

🔵 Panelist 3 (F2): What are NRIs?

Candidate Response: Gave a clear explanation.

🔵 Panelist 3 (F2): What are Overseas Citizens?

Candidate Response: Initially didn’t know but attempted after the panelist provided a brief explanation.

Personal Interests & Additional Credentials

🔵 Panelist 3 (F2): You run a YouTube channel? Tell us about it.

Candidate Response: Explained content related to CAT quantitative aptitude and time-saving tricks.

CAT Score Confusion

🔵 Panelist 2 (M1): You have only 48 percentile in Quants?

Candidate Response: Corrected that it was a scaled score, not percentile (actual percentile was 99.93). Panelists were momentarily confused but understood after an explanation.

Economic Concepts

🔵 Panelist 1 (F1): Difference between oligopoly and monopolistic competition?

Candidate Response: Gave a detailed explanation.

Final Questions & Closing

🔵 Panelist 1 (F1): What all calls do you have?

Candidate Response: Mentioned all IIMs, XLRI, MDI, and SPJIMR.

✅ Final Verdict: Converted in the first list!

Key Takeaways for Future Aspirants

• ✅ Stay composed, as panelists may try to unsettle you.
• ✅ Structure your extempore response and take the thinking time seriously.
• ✅ Be thorough with banking and financial concepts if you have a relevant background.
• ✅ If the panel misinterprets something, clarify confidently but politely.
• ✅ Have a solid answer for Why FMS? and your post-MBA career goals.

Final Reflections

🎯 The candidate felt that despite the chill atmosphere, the process heavily favored those with high CAT scores and strong academic credentials. Post-interview, he enjoyed networking with fellow aspirants before heading home.