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Engineer to MBA: IIM Shillong Interview Tale

From Workshop Floors to MBA Dreams: How This Engineer Navigated the IIM Shillong Interview

Candidate Profile

  • Background: B.Tech in Automobile Engineering
  • Academics:
    • 10th Grade: ~85%
    • 12th Grade: ~71%
    • Undergrad CGPA: ~6.4
  • CAT 2022 Percentile: 94.14%ile
  • Work Experience: ~3.5 years (~41 months) in a fabrication company, specializing in manufacturing operations

Interview Panel

  • Panel Composition: 2 Male Professors (both with PhDs, one specializing in Operations, the other in Marketing)
  • Location: Online/Offline not specified
  • Duration: ~15 minutes

Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach

Technical & Engineering Questions (Marketing Professor)

🔵 Panelist: What is 1st Angle Projection and 3rd Angle Projection?

📌 Tip: Be ready to explain core engineering graphics concepts with diagrams or examples. Focus on differences in symbol conventions and views.

🔵 Panelist: What is GATE in workshop practices?

📌 Tip: Clarify whether the panel refers to the competitive exam or a specific term in manufacturing. If unsure, ask for clarification before answering.

🔵 Panelist: What is Cv in Engineering?

📌 Tip: Cv often refers to flow coefficient; connect your answer to fluid dynamics and valve design, giving a simple application example.

🔵 Panelist: Why can’t we use water in an Internal Combustion Engine?

📌 Tip: Frame your answer around properties like flammability, energy content, and engine design constraints. Relate to combustion chemistry.

🔵 Panelist: If I replace the AC in this room with a refrigerator, will the room get cold?

📌 Tip: A conceptual question testing thermodynamics—explain heat dissipation and closed system principles.

🔵 Panelist: Do the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics and the principle of electrons preferring lower energy states contradict?

📌 Tip: Clarify they operate in different contexts—entropy deals with macroscopic systems, while energy states are quantum phenomena.

🔵 Panelist: Define Quality.

📌 Tip: Give a textbook definition but complement it with an example from your work experience to show application.

🔵 Panelist: What are the 7 types of Quality?

📌 Tip: Be prepared with standard quality dimensions (performance, reliability, durability, etc.) and relate one or two to manufacturing.

🔵 Panelist: What is Quality of Conformance?

📌 Tip: Explain as meeting specifications in production; cite a real-world scenario where this impacted product delivery.

Business Awareness & Operations Questions (Operations Professor)

🔵 Panelist: Which automobile company did a recent M&A?

📌 Tip: Stay updated on recent mergers in auto sector—cite a recent example and its strategic reason.

🔵 Panelist: What is FADA?

📌 Tip: Know acronyms relevant to auto and trade—FADA stands for Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations; explain its role briefly.

🔵 Panelist: What was the Farm Bill, and why were farmers protesting?

📌 Tip: Present a balanced view—cover both government’s intention and farmers’ concerns.

🔵 Panelist: Who is the largest semiconductor-producing country?

📌 Tip: Straightforward factual question—currently Taiwan, with significant production by TSMC.

🔵 Panelist: Which company in Taiwan?

📌 Tip: TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is the key player.

🔵 Panelist: Which company is setting up a semiconductor plant in India?

📌 Tip: As of recent updates, names like Vedanta-Foxconn joint venture or Micron could be cited; stay current.

🔵 Panelist: Why were US companies unable to sell automobiles at full capacity?

📌 Tip: Link this to semiconductor shortages, supply chain disruptions, and pandemic-related production bottlenecks.

🔵 Panelist: What caused the semiconductor shortage?

📌 Tip: Highlight factors like COVID-19 demand shifts, supply chain interruptions, and geopolitical tensions.

🔵 Panelist: Tell me about the Sri Lankan political crisis.

📌 Tip: Summarize key events—economic mismanagement, debt crisis, protests leading to leadership change.

🔵 Panelist: Why did China leave the ports in Sri Lanka during the crisis? How can India help Sri Lanka more?

📌 Tip: Present a diplomatic, economic perspective—focus on humanitarian aid, debt restructuring, and trade partnerships.

Personal & Miscellaneous Questions

🔵 Panelist: What do you do in your leisure time?

📌 Tip: Use hobbies that show balance and leadership (sports, volunteering, technical projects) while being honest.

🔵 Panelist: Which computer game have you played the most?

📌 Tip: A casual question—keep it light but avoid naming games that imply time-wasting. Connect skills if possible (e.g., strategy in chess or simulation games).

🔵 Panelist: Show me certificates for extracurricular activities.

📌 Tip: Always have digital or physical copies ready. If unable to show, explain sincerely why and mention plans to forward.

Key Takeaways for Future Aspirants

  • Stay updated on recent business events, especially in your domain (automobile, manufacturing, global trade).
  • Expect questions blending technical knowledge with practical business implications.
  • Be ready to explain basic engineering principles clearly, without jargon.
  • Keep personal answers relatable yet professional; even casual questions test composure.
  • Always have your documents and certificates organized and easily accessible.
📢 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.
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