IIT Kharagpur – From Numbers to Narratives: A Finance-Curious Engineer’s Interview Experience
Candidate Profile
- Background: Engineering graduate with a strong inclination towards mathematics and problem-solving
- Work Experience: 1.5 years in a technology consulting role
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 93%
- 12th Grade: 95%
- Undergraduate CGPA: 8.4
Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach
Icebreaker & General Questions
🟢 Panel: Tell us about yourself.
📌 Tip: Use this opportunity to highlight your academic foundation, work experience, and the unique perspective you bring. Emphasize your interest in finance or business if your background is purely technical.
🟢 Panel: What are the three latest business news articles you've read?
📌 Tip: Stay updated with recent headlines in finance, business policy, or global economics. Pick stories that you can talk about confidently and offer your opinion on.
🟢 Panel: What books have you read recently? (Followed by cross-questioning)
📌 Tip: Be honest and ready for follow-ups. Pick books that reflect your curiosity—whether fiction, non-fiction, or biographies—and connect the themes to your values or learning mindset.
Technical & Analytical Questions
🟢 Panel: Solve a conditional probability question.
📌 Tip: Refresh key probability concepts like Bayes’ theorem, independence, and mutually exclusive events. Think aloud to show your approach.
🟢 Panel: Answer a question on Fourier transforms.
📌 Tip: Even if you're not confident, try explaining the concept broadly. Use examples from signal processing or engineering contexts.
🟢 Panel: Trigonometry and integration-based problems.
📌 Tip: Revise fundamental identities and integration techniques like substitution and parts.
🟢 Panel: Solve a time and work problem.
📌 Tip: Use standard formulas and demonstrate logical step-by-step reasoning. Interviewers appreciate clarity over speed.
🟢 Panel: How can you get a fair outcome from a biased coin?
📌 Tip: This is a classic puzzle. The answer typically involves using two coin tosses to eliminate bias: Toss twice—HT is heads, TH is tails, repeat on HH or TT.
Finance & Business Awareness
🟢 Panel: What is PPE on a balance sheet?
📌 Tip: PPE stands for Property, Plant, and Equipment. Explain its role as a non-current asset and depreciation impact.
🟢 Panel: What is WACC?
📌 Tip: WACC is Weighted Average Cost of Capital. Discuss its components (cost of equity and debt) and relevance in corporate finance decisions.
🟢 Panel: What are the four main financial statements?
📌 Tip: Mention: 1) Balance Sheet, 2) Income Statement, 3) Cash Flow Statement, 4) Statement of Changes in Equity. Explain what each conveys briefly.
🟢 Panel: What is COG or COGS?
📌 Tip: COGS stands for Cost of Goods Sold. It's the direct cost attributable to the production of goods and a key figure in calculating gross profit.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- ✅ Prepare across a broad range of topics—math, logic, finance, and general awareness.
- ✅ Expect deep dives into concepts even if you mention them casually.
- ✅ Always be ready to justify book or news references—don't bluff.
- ✅ Clarify your thought process, especially during technical questions.
- ✅ Brush up on basic finance terms even if you're from a non-commerce background.
Disclaimer
🔍 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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