🎓 IIM Shillong Interview Experience: From Coding to Cooking – How This Mechanical Engineer Aced His B-School Interview
Candidate Profile
- Background: Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering)
- Work Experience: 2 years in an IT company (software development and client support roles)
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 95%
- 12th Grade: 85%
- Engineering: 7.2 CGPA (out of 10)
- CAT Percentile: 99.1 percentile
- Category: General Male
Interview Panel
- Panel Composition: 2 interviewers (1 Male, 1 Female)
- Female Panelist: Human Resources domain professor
- Male Panelist: Mechanical/Operations/Marketing domain professor
Group Discussion (GD)
- Topic: Case study on Pricing Strategy
- Format: 3 minutes reading + 10 minutes discussion
Interview Questions & Candidate’s Approach
🔹 Icebreaker & Personal Profile
🔵 F: “There’s a difference between your photo and your appearance today—can you tell us why?”
🔵 F: “Tell me more about cooking—what makes it a hobby for you?”
🔵 F: “How would you go about starting a cooking YouTube channel?”
🔵 F: “Is baking soda the same as baking powder?”
🔵 F: “Why is MasterChef Australia so popular compared to other cooking shows?”
🔹 General Awareness & City Development Questions
🔵 F: “Mumbai is already a major city. Why did the Maharashtra government emphasize Pune’s development? What makes Pune special?”
🔵 F: “What sectors operate from Pune? Why are companies moving there?”
🔵 F: “Do you know about any river linking projects in India?”
🔵 F: “How will it benefit people? How can ecological damage be mitigated?”
🔹 Technical & Academic Questions
🔵 M: “Tell me about your work experience.”
🔵 M: “What is elasticity? What is ductility? What’s the difference?”
🔵 M: “Difference between Otto and Diesel engine?”
🔵 M: “How are steam table values derived?”
🔵 M: “Why IT after Mechanical Engineering? Don’t you think you wasted 4 years of Mechanical?”
🔵 M: “How do different utensils (cast iron, stainless steel, etc.) compare? Which should be used for what?”
🔵 M: “What’s happening in Pakistan currently?”
Key Takeaways for Future Candidates
- Always be prepared to defend your career choices positively, even if they seem unconventional.
- Turn hobbies into strengths—your passion projects can showcase leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Stay updated on both technical knowledge and general awareness topics.
- Expect interdisciplinary questions connecting your academic background, work experience, and personal interests.
- Answer with structure, even for casual or personal questions—it shows clarity of thought.
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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