From Chemicals to Cases: How a Manufacturing Engineer Tackled the IIM Visakhapatnam Interview
Candidate Profile
- Background: Chemical Engineering graduate
- Experience: 2 years in the manufacturing sector (core engineering role)
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 93%
- 12th Grade: 88%
- Undergraduate CGPA: 7.8
Interview Panel
- Composition: 2 Panelists (1 Male, 1 Female)
- Mode: Virtual Interview
- Panel Tone: Balanced — Male panelist was conversational; Female panelist adopted a rapid-fire and slightly stress-inducing style
Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach
Icebreaker & Work Experience
🔵 M: Tell me about yourself (TMAY).
📌 Tip: Use this to highlight education, key work experiences, and your motivation for an MBA. Structure helps—use the past-present-future approach.
🔵 M: Elaborate on your work experience.
📌 Tip: Mention your role, responsibilities, key projects, and how they impacted production efficiency or cost management.
🔵 M: You're working in core manufacturing. Why an MBA now?
📌 Tip: Emphasize the desire to move into strategic or managerial roles where you can influence broader business decisions.
🔵 M: How does a plant shutdown affect product delivery timelines?
📌 Tip: Explain with operational flow—inventory buffering, supply chain bottlenecks, and cost implications.
🔵 M: What are malleability and ductility in material science?
📌 Tip: Malleability = ability to be hammered into sheets; Ductility = ability to be drawn into wires. Use examples like gold or copper.
Business Acumen & Behavioral Fit
🔵 F: What are the three steps in a negotiation?
📌 Tip: Since negotiation was part of your CV, be precise—common stages: preparation, discussion, agreement.
🔵 F: Difference between manager and leader?
📌 Tip: A manager ensures systems run smoothly; a leader inspires change and innovation. Stay calm if interrupted—clarity and composure matter.
🔵 F: What will you bring to IIM Visakhapatnam?
📌 Tip: Reflect on your unique experience—cross-functional understanding, work discipline, and team collaboration in high-pressure environments.
Geography & General Awareness
🔵 F: How many states would you cross traveling from Gujarat to Vizag?
📌 Tip: Think through the route—prepare for basic map-based logic.
🔵 F: What’s the capital of Andhra Pradesh?
📌 Tip: Amaravati is the legislative capital; acknowledge the ongoing development of administrative frameworks.
🔵 F: How many IIMs are there? Difference between old, new, and baby IIMs?
📌 Tip: As of 2025, there are 21 IIMs. Old IIMs = established legacy (e.g., IIMA, IIMB), New = post-2010, Baby = post-2015; differentiate by batch size, infrastructure, alumni strength.
🔵 F: What is green hydrogen?
📌 Tip: Hydrogen produced using renewable energy—vital for decarbonization efforts.
🔵 F: Define inflation and deflation. How do they affect GDP?
📌 Tip: Inflation = price rise; Deflation = price fall. Controlled inflation can indicate growth; extreme inflation/deflation distorts GDP and economic stability.
🔵 F: What is GDP?
📌 Tip: Gross Domestic Product = total market value of all goods and services produced within a country in a given period.
🔵 F: Any recent news from the IMF?
📌 Tip: If you don’t know—be honest but show willingness to stay updated.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- ✅ Expect stress-testing in rapid-fire rounds—stay calm and composed
- ✅ Don’t just name-drop technical terms; explain them clearly
- ✅ Be honest when you don’t know an answer, but express curiosity
- ✅ Clarify why an MBA is your logical next step—even from a core background
- ✅ Prepare for both business and general awareness questions
📢 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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