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Karate to Markets: IIM Shillong Fresher’s Tale

🎓 IIM Shillong Interview Experience: From Karate to Market Research – A B.Com Fresher’s Journey

Candidate Profile

  • Background: Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) graduate
  • Work Experience: Fresher (no prior work experience)
  • Academics:
    • 10th Grade: ~91%
    • 12th Grade: ~92%
    • Graduation: ~7.8 CGPA
  • CAT Percentile: 97.32 percentile

Interview Panel

  • Panel Composition: 2 interviewers (1 Male, 1 Female)
  • Mode: In-person interview following a Group Discussion (GD)
  • GD Format: Case study; 3 minutes reading time, 10 minutes discussion

🗣️ Interview Questions & Candidate’s Approach

🔹 Icebreaker & Profile-Related Questions

🔵 F (Female Panelist): “You’ve practiced karate—can you tell me more about it?”

📌 Tip: Always prepare to elaborate on extracurricular activities listed on your CV, focusing on achievements, discipline, and skills gained.

🔵 F: “Can you name some traditional Indian martial arts?”

📌 Tip: List well-known forms like Kalaripayattu, Silambam, Gatka, and Thang-Ta; be ready with a brief description.

🔵 F: “You mentioned reading Dan Brown and Sidney Sheldon. Is The Da Vinci Code fiction or non-fiction?”

📌 Tip: Clarify that it’s a work of fiction with historical references, and briefly mention its genre (thriller/mystery).

🔵 F: “Dan Brown often writes about European architecture. Can you name some examples?”

📌 Tip: Familiarize yourself with key landmarks from his books—e.g., The Louvre, St. Peter’s Basilica, Westminster Abbey.

🔵 F: “Artists’ lives are sometimes controversial. Do you think we should separate the art from the artist?”

📌 Tip: This is a subjective, philosophical question; frame a balanced opinion with examples, acknowledging both perspectives.

🔵 F: “How do musicians earn money?”

📌 Tip: Cover income streams like album sales, live performances, royalties, streaming platforms, and merchandise.

🔵 F: “Are you aware of the dispute between Taylor Swift and Spotify over copyrights?”

📌 Tip: Stay updated on such high-profile cases; a quick summary mentioning streaming rights and artist compensation would suffice.

🔹 Business & Analytical Questions

🔵 M (Male Panelist): “Is there a difference between marketing research and market research?”

🔵 M: “What exactly is the difference?”

📌 Tip: Clarify that market research studies the market (customers, competitors) while marketing research examines marketing processes (pricing, promotion effectiveness).

🔵 M: “What is consumer analysis?”

🔵 M: “State some methods or tools used in consumer analysis.”

📌 Tip: Mention techniques like surveys, focus groups, customer interviews, sentiment analysis, and tools like Google Analytics, CRM software.

🔵 M: “If you’re advising me on investing in a company, what ratios and percentages should I check? Explain in detail.”

📌 Tip: Focus on key financial ratios: P/E ratio, debt-equity ratio, current ratio, ROE, ROCE; explain what each indicates about company performance.

🔹 Personal Interests & Closing Questions

🔵 M: “Apart from the hobbies you listed, how else do you spend your leisure time?”

📌 Tip: Share any informal interests like podcasts, volunteering, or fitness, but stay professional.

🔵 M: “What was the latest anime you watched?”

📌 Tip: Feel free to answer honestly—tie it back to any skills or insights if possible (e.g., cultural learning, storytelling appreciation).

✨ Key Takeaways for Future Candidates

  • Be ready to explain every hobby or interest you mention on your CV.
  • Brush up on basic finance and business analysis—even as a fresher.
  • Expect broad, interdisciplinary questions blending academics, current affairs, and personal interests.
  • Stay calm during philosophical or opinion-based questions; structure your thoughts clearly.
  • Keep up with recent controversies in entertainment, tech, and business for general awareness.
📢 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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