From Electrical Engineer to Finance Enthusiast: How This Candidate Handled the GIM Interview
Candidate Profile
- Background: B.Tech in Electrical Engineering
- Work Experience: 4 months in a corporate role
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 89%
- 12th Grade: 84%
- Undergraduate CGPA: 8.88
- Entrance Exam: CAT – 97.68 percentile
Interview Panel
- Panel Composition: 2 Male Interviewers
- Date of Interview: 20th March 2022
- Programme: PGDM (Banking & Financial Services)
- Duration: Approximately 15 minutes
Interview Questions & Candidate’s Approach
1. Icebreaker & Work Experience-Related Questions
🔵 Panelist 1: What business does your company do?
📌 Tip: Be clear about your employer’s domain, core offerings, and business model. Interviewers expect a high-level understanding even from junior employees.
🔵 Panelist 1: What was your role during your job?
📌 Tip: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response. Highlight your responsibilities, contributions, and any impact you created.
🔵 Panelist 1: Have you gained any significant skills during your work experience?
📌 Tip: Focus on transferable skills like teamwork, data handling, stakeholder communication, or domain-specific tools.
2. Personal & Socio-Economic Awareness
🔵 Panelist 2: What’s the meaning of your name?
📌 Tip: This question checks cultural awareness and confidence. Be relaxed and authentic.
🔵 Panelist 2: Why is West Bengal lagging in terms of industrial development?
📌 Tip: Structure your answer around factors like political climate, infrastructure, policy issues, or investor confidence.
🔵 Panelist 2: If you were the Finance Minister of West Bengal, what would you do to attract industries?
📌 Tip: Talk about policy reforms, ease of doing business, public-private partnerships, and infrastructure improvements.
3. Finance & MBA-Related Questions
🔵 Panelist 2: Which specialization do you want to opt for?
📌 Tip: Clearly link your past experiences and future aspirations to your chosen specialization.
🔵 Panelist 2: What is a balance sheet?
📌 Tip: Offer a concise definition, mention its components (assets, liabilities, equity), and its purpose.
🔵 Panelist 2: Why do countries devalue their currency?
📌 Tip: Explain it using simple economics—competitiveness in exports, trade imbalances, or monetary policy tools.
🔵 Panelist 2: What will you bring with you after joining this program?
📌 Tip: Reflect on your unique experiences, learning mindset, teamwork ability, and eagerness to contribute.
4. Candidate’s Turn – Asking the Right Questions
🔵 Panelist 2: That’s all from our side. Do you have any questions for us?
📌 Tip: Always ask something thoughtful—curriculum customization, industry linkages, or internship support.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- ✅ Be ready to explain your short work experience convincingly.
- ✅ Brush up on state-level economic and industrial challenges if you're from a specific region.
- ✅ Make sure your basics in finance are clear—especially if you're opting for a finance specialization.
- ✅ Think like a policymaker when asked scenario-based questions.
- ✅ Always end with a smart, genuine question—it shows engagement and curiosity.
📢 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.
📢 Stay tuned for more first-hand B-school interview experiences and expert tips!
🔍 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.
📢 Stay tuned for more first-hand B-school interview experiences and expert tips!
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