Crypto, Consulting, and Choices: How This Candidate Navigated the IIM Lucknow Interview
Candidate Profile
- Background: Engineer with a specialization in industrial engineering and operations
- Work Experience: Around 1.5 years in project management at an IT services firm, focusing on client delivery and process improvement
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 95%
- 12th Grade: 96%
- Undergraduate CGPA: 8.3
- CAT Percentile: 99.1
Interview Panel
- Panel Composition: 3 interviewers (all male)
- Mode: In-person interview at IIM Lucknow campus
Written Ability Test (WAT)
- 📝 Topic: “The next recession will be due to cryptocurrencies”
📌 Tip: In WATs, focus on structuring your argument logically. Even if unfamiliar with the topic, frame both pros and cons, cite global trends, and conclude neutrally or with a solution.
Interview Questions & Candidate’s Approach
1️⃣ Icebreaker & Profile-Related Questions
🔵 Panelist: Why did you choose to apply for both PGP and ABM? What kind of exposure do you have to the agri-business sector?
📌 Tip: If applying to multiple programs, justify each choice distinctly. For ABM, link any coursework, family background, or interest in food supply chains/agri-finance.
🔵 Panelist: [Grilled on ABM for 5 minutes]
📌 Tip: Prepare for deep dives into program-specific knowledge—even if you don’t have prior domain experience, show curiosity and awareness of key challenges in the sector.
2️⃣ General Knowledge & Local Awareness
🔵 Panelist: Tell us random things about Ahmedabad.
📌 Tip: Expect quirky or informal questions about your hometown—mention famous places, industries, cultural aspects, or notable facts confidently and conversationally.
🔵 Panelist: Tell us about your college.
📌 Tip: Be ready with a 2-3 line elevator pitch covering your college’s reputation, notable alumni, academic focus, and what it’s known for.
3️⃣ Work Experience & Professional Exposure
🔵 Panelist: What are your day-to-day activities at work?
📌 Tip: Outline your typical tasks clearly—prioritize mentioning leadership roles, collaboration, and project deliverables to show readiness for a management program.
🔵 Panelist: What tools do you use in project management?
📌 Tip: Don’t just name tools (e.g., Jira, MS Project, Trello). Explain how you’ve used them for planning, tracking, reporting, or stakeholder management.
4️⃣ Decision-Making & Goals
🔵 Panelist: What calls do you have? (Candidate answered: B, C, L, I)
🔵 Panelist: Which one will you choose?
📌 Tip: Answer this tactfully. Show respect for the institute you’re interviewing at, but be honest about preferences based on program fit, specializations, or campus culture.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- ✅ If applying to multiple programs, be crystal clear about why each one appeals to you.
- ✅ Expect questions about your hometown or undergraduate college—prepare anecdotes and facts.
- ✅ Be ready to explain your work experience beyond job titles—focus on transferable skills.
- ✅ Stay calm even when panelists “grill” you; composure under pressure counts.
- ✅ Always prepare a diplomatic answer for “Which B-school will you choose?”
📢 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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