From Journalist to MBA: How This Storyteller Navigated the IIT Delhi Interview
Candidate Profile
- Background: Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism
- Work Experience: ~3 years in business journalism, covering startups and financial markets
- Academics:
- Class 10: 90%
- Class 12: 87%
- Graduation: 7.1 CGPA
- CAT Percentile: 99.12
- Other Details: Interview held at IIT Delhi, morning slot, 3-panelist panel
Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach
Icebreaker & General Questions
🔵 F (Female Panelist): “Tell me about yourself.”
🔵 F: “Do you like journalism?”
🔵 F: “Will you go back to journalism?”
➡️ Candidate began to answer but was interrupted…
🔵 F (smiling): “You don’t look happy. I want you to smile.”
🔵 Candidate (smiling): “One reason I wish to pursue an MBA is to explore opportunities beyond journalism.”
Career Intent & Motivation Questions
🔵 M1 (Male Panelist): “What if, in the future, you again find something else more interesting than a corporate career?”
🔵 F: “What’s your long-term goal?”
🔵 F: “Tell me more about your work with an NGO.”
General Awareness & Opinion-Based Questions
🔵 M1: “Tell me something about your hometown.”
🔵 M2 (Male Panelist 2): “What do you think about social media and its impact on traditional media?”
➡️ Candidate spoke about the declining credibility of speed-driven news and cited a recent marketing controversy as an example.
🔵 M2: “So what should traditional media do?”
➡️ Candidate suggested leveraging social media to fact-check and establish credibility.
Candidate’s Turn – Asking the Right Questions
🔵 F: “Do you have any questions for us?”
➡️ Candidate asked the panel their views on social media vs. traditional media, acknowledging their different generational exposure.
Key Takeaways for Aspirants
- Expect panelists to test both technical competence and emotional composure.
- Be prepared to justify career shifts with thoughtful reasoning.
- Leverage examples from your work to demonstrate awareness of industry trends.
- Don’t shy away from light-hearted moments; show grace and adaptability.
- Asking insightful questions at the end can leave a strong impression.
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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