SIBM Pune Interview Experience: From Trading Desks to B-Schools – This BITSian’s Journey to an MBA
Candidate Profile
- Background: Engineer from a prestigious tech institute (BITS Pilani)
- Work Experience: Approx. 18 months in finance and insurance tech roles, including derivatives trading
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 90%
- 12th Grade: 80%
- Undergraduate CGPA: 7.0
- SNAP Percentile: 98.99
Interview Panel
- 2 Interviewers (1 Male, 1 Female)
- Date: February 4, 2023
Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach
🟦 Icebreakers & Personal Journey
🔵 M1: Tell me about yourself.
📌 Tip: Start with a concise overview of your academic and professional journey. End with why you’re sitting in that interview room.
🔵 M1: Why did you leave your role as a derivatives trader at Axxela after just 7 months?
📌 Tip: Always tie transitions to learning, growth, or alignment with long-term goals—not dissatisfaction.
🔵 M1: You have only 17 months of work experience—why an MBA so early?
📌 Tip: Articulate how the MBA fits into a bigger vision, especially if you’re making a functional shift.
🟦 Finance & Market Awareness
🔵 M1: What’s the current Fed funds rate? What was it when you were trading?
📌 Tip: Stay updated on macroeconomic indicators, especially if you have a finance background.
🔵 M1: What do "hawkish" and "dovish" mean? Would you call Powell hawkish?
📌 Tip: Link these terms to current policy decisions—it's okay to share a personal take if backed with logic.
🔵 M1: Do you invest in stock markets?
📌 Tip: Be genuine. A spark of enthusiasm here can work wonders if you’re well-read.
🔵 M1: Name 10 companies you’ve invested in and their prices.
📌 Tip: It’s okay to not remember every detail, but try to show patterns in your investment decisions.
🟦 Business Insight & Industry Questions
🔵 M1: What types of insurance does Acko sell?
📌 Tip: If you’ve worked in the domain, go beyond listing—explain business logic and market dynamics.
🔵 M1: What if the auto insurance sector faces mass claims—how is Acko protected?
📌 Tip: Show strategic thinking: tech-led pricing, diversification, and risk management.
🟦 Behavioral & Managerial Questions
🔵 F1: What are the different conflict management styles?
📌 Tip: Familiarize yourself with styles like collaborating, avoiding, competing, etc. Examples help.
🔵 F1: Which style do you prefer as a manager?
📌 Tip: Situational adaptability is good, but highlight one that aligns with team-building and leadership.
🔵 F1: Is 135 a prime number? You have 2 seconds.
📌 Tip: Brush up mental math basics. Quick, confident answers matter.
🔍 Key Takeaways for Future Aspirants
- ✅ Be ready to defend every decision on your resume—especially job switches and early MBA motivation
- ✅ Know your domain: insurance, investing, interest rates, and current affairs
- ✅ Be conversational but sharp—interviewers appreciate wit and clarity
- ✅ Behavioral questions test emotional intelligence—add examples wherever possible
- ✅ Even quirky questions (like quick math) test presence of mind—stay calm and alert
📢 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.
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