SPJIMR – From BBA to B-School: How This Decision Science Student Took on the SPJIMR Interview Panels
Candidate Profile
- Background: Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Decision Science)
- Work Experience: Fresher
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 97.2%
- 12th Grade: 97.6%
- Undergraduate CGPA: 8.4
- CAT Percentile: 99.1
- WAT Topic: “Same Sex Marriages – Progressive Thinking or Threat to Indian Culture”
Interview Panel Structure
- Group Interview 1 (GI 1):
- 🧑🏫 Panelists: 1 Male (Strategy & International Business), 1 Female (Operations & Supply Chain)
- 👥 Group of 4 candidates – all had applied to PGDM in Business Management and/or Operations & Supply Chain.
- Group Interview 2 (GI 2):
- 🧑🏫 Panelists: 2 Male interviewers
- 👥 Group of 5 candidates (no overlap with GI 1)
Interview Questions & Candidate’s Approach
🔹 Icebreaker & General Questions
🔵 GI 1: “Introduce yourselves.”
📌 Tip: Keep your introduction crisp and tailored to the specialization you're applying for. Mention achievements, background, and interests in a balanced way.
🔵 GI 2: “Introduce yourselves in a different way.”
📌 Tip: Use this opportunity to stand out. Talk about hobbies, passions, or unique personal stories that align with your personality.
🔹 Technical & Analytical Questions
🔵 To others, extended to candidate: “What do you know about cryptocurrency? Boon or bane?”
📌 Tip: Even if you're unsure, relate it to concepts you understand (digital payments, blockchain, etc.) and give a balanced viewpoint.
🔵 “Can two indifference curves intersect?”
📌 Tip: Solid fundamentals in economics help here. Prepare well for microeconomic theory questions.
🔵 “What are some macro/microeconomic trends you observe?”
📌 Tip: Refer to recent budget developments, inflation patterns, or consumption trends. Think of what’s changing in the current economy.
🔵 “What is fiscal deficit?”
📌 Tip: Understand key economic indicators and their implications. Use simple definitions and real-world examples if possible.
🔹 Personality & Opinion-Based Questions
🔵 “Why do you think fewer people read nowadays?”
📌 Tip: Provide thoughtful, sociological reasoning—attention span, content formats, and lifestyle changes. Personal examples help.
🔵 “How can reading habits be improved?”
📌 Tip: Think about actionable, modern solutions—book clubs, short-form reads, gamification, etc.
🔵 “Do you agree with gender reservations in colleges?” (One-line answer format)
📌 Tip: Choose your side, and give a logical, respectful justification—avoid controversial tones.
🔹 Ethical & Situational Questions
🔵 Scenario: “Your group project is accused of plagiarism. You’re told one person will be failed based on confession. What do you do?”
📌 Tip: These questions test integrity and leadership. Avoid blame-shifting. Focus on collective responsibility and truth-seeking.
🔵 “Your and another student’s answer sheets are identical. Who copied?”
📌 Tip: Ethical dilemmas should be tackled with honesty. Express willingness to resolve the matter through fair discussion or review.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- ✅ Expect both technical and behavioral questions—even as a fresher.
- ✅ Reading about current trends in economics and business pays off.
- ✅ Prepare for abstract ethical situations; think about fairness, leadership, and group dynamics.
- ✅ Structure your thoughts even for subjective or opinion-based questions.
- ✅ Personal interests and hobbies matter—use them to differentiate yourself.
📢 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.
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.
Leave a Reply