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Grains to Greatness: SPJIMR Marketing Interview

SPJIMR – From Grains to Greatness: How This Export Sales Executive Took on the SPJIMR PGDM Marketing Interview

Candidate Profile

  • Background: Bachelor’s in Commerce
  • Work Experience: 1.5 years in Sales & Marketing, specializing in rice and wheat exports
  • Academics:
    • 10th Grade: 89%
    • 12th Grade: 87%
    • Undergraduate: 80%
  • CAT Percentile: 99.28%ile
  • Program Applied: PGDM in Marketing

Written Ability Test (WAT)

  • Topic: Would you make money working on your own/job or would you rather win a lottery and retire at the age of 35? Explain reasons for your choice.
  • Time Given: 20 minutes
📌 Tip: Use this opportunity to display clarity of thought and values. Whether you choose financial independence or early retirement, link your decision to your personality and long-term vision.

Group Interview 1 (GI-1)

  • Panel Composition: 2 female interviewers (late 30s)
  • Candidates in Group:
    • Candidate 1 (9 months in consulting)
    • Candidate 2 (BCom Hons, fresher)
    • Candidate 3 (our candidate)

Icebreaker & General Questions

🔵 Panelist: Introduce yourself in one minute (All)

📌 Tip: Practice a concise and structured introduction, touching on academics, work, and career goals.

🔵 Panelist: Why Marketing? (All)

📌 Tip: Link your passion and skills to real experiences and explain how marketing aligns with your career vision.

Technical & Analytical Questions

🔵 Panelist: What is STP? What are the types of targeting? (C1)

📌 Tip: Know the fundamentals—Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning—and be ready to elaborate with examples.

🔵 Panelist: What do you do at work? How did you get this job? (C1 & C3)

📌 Tip: Be honest and specific. Talk about the scale, market, and your personal contributions.

🔵 Panelist: What are the 4 M’s of Marketing? (C2 & C3)

📌 Tip: Be ready to explain Market, Message, Medium, and Measurement (or alternatives like Men, Money, Machinery, Materials depending on interpretation).

Application-Based & Scenario Questions

🔵 Panelist: Role in college clubs? (C2 – Women Development Club)

📌 Tip: Always include impact. If you held a leadership role, talk about initiatives and outcomes.

🔵 Panelist: Post-COVID marketing for PVR Cinemas? (All)

📌 Tip: Think in terms of digital transformation, safety campaigns, and loyalty programs.

🔵 Panelist: You like Indian rap? Who’s your favorite rapper? Heard about Raftaar vs Emiway? What kind of marketing is this? (C3)

📌 Tip: Use such niche interests to show how pop culture reflects real-world marketing strategies like guerrilla or rivalry marketing.

🔵 Panelist: Can you name another example of rivalry marketing? (C3)

📌 Tip: Examples like Pepsi vs Coca-Cola or Burger King vs McDonald’s work well here.

🔵 Panelist: How would you use YouTube Analytics to grow your channel? (C3)

📌 Tip: Show your understanding of metrics like watch time, CTR, and audience retention.

🔵 Panelist: Why did millennials shift from Facebook to Instagram? (C3)

📌 Tip: Talk about UI/UX, content format preferences, and generational trends.

🔵 Panelist: You have two rival buyers but can sell to only one—how do you choose? (C3)

📌 Tip: Highlight strategic thinking—loyalty, long-term value, negotiation leverage.

🔵 Panelist: How are you different from your competitors? Sell to us. (C3)

📌 Tip: Be assertive but customer-centric. Tailor the pitch using insights from earlier questions.

🔵 Panelist: Okay if we ask accounting concepts? Did you study marketing in undergrad? (C2 & C3)

📌 Tip: Be honest. If yes, mention specific courses. If not, express how you've compensated practically.

Candidate’s Turn – Asking the Right Questions

🔵 Candidate: Why does SPJIMR use purple in its branding? (C2)

📌 Tip: Thoughtful branding-related questions can show you're observant and interested in marketing psychology.

Key Takeaways for Aspirants

  • ✅ Be prepared for deep dives into your hobbies—especially if they link back to marketing.
  • ✅ Use personal experiences to connect theory with practice.
  • ✅ Keep your answers concise but insightful in a group format.
  • ✅ Prepare marketing frameworks like STP, 4Ps, 4Ms, and real-life brand war examples.
  • ✅ Don’t forget to ask an intelligent question—it can leave a lasting impression.
📢 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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