IIM Shillong Interview Experience: Navigating a Grilling Session with an Operations Background

Candidate Profile

• Background: BBA in Operations Management
• Work Experience: 18 months as a Supply Chain Analyst at a leading manufacturing firm (Asian Paints)
• Category: General, Male
• Academics:
  • 10th Grade: 78%
  • 12th Grade: 87%
• Interview Date: 2nd February 2023

Panel Composition

• Panelists: 2 Male Interviewers (M1 - Friendly, M2 - Strict)

Group Discussion (GD) Topic

Case Study: A man from a humble background runs a coaching center. Post-COVID, students are shifting to online platforms dominated by large, competitive institutes. What strategies should he adopt to sustain and grow his business?

Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach

Icebreaker & Profile-Related Questions

• 🟢 M1: Tell me about your educational and family background.
• 📌 Tip: Keep this concise. Highlight key academic milestones and briefly mention family to reflect groundedness.
• 🟢 M1: Why MBA?
• 📌 Tip: Clearly connect your operations background and work experience to your desire for managerial roles, leadership growth, and strategic decision-making.

General Awareness & Current Affairs

• 🟢 M1: You studied at a Railways Institute. Why are people throwing stones at Vande Bharat Express?
• 📌 Tip: Stay calm on such unexpected questions. Address socio-economic factors, lack of awareness, and behavioral issues.
• 🟢 Follow-up: How would you convince them to stop such activities?
• 📌 Tip: Suggest community engagement, awareness drives, and collaboration with local authorities.
• 🟢 M1: Why is Railways being privatized? To what extent has it been implemented?
• 📌 Tip: Discuss efficiency, modernization, and financial sustainability as reasons. Know recent developments like private trains and PPP models.
• 🟢 M1: Any recent news that brought your state into international focus?
• 📌 Tip: Always stay updated with key events related to your home state—be it geopolitical, cultural, or economic.

Technical & Analytical Questions (The Grilling by M2)

• 🟢 M2: Explain Supply Chain, Logistics, and Transportation.
• 📌 Tip: Be precise. Supply Chain is the broader network, Logistics is about movement & storage, and Transportation is a subset focused purely on movement.
• 🟢 M2: Your definitions of logistics and transportation sound similar. Clarify.
• 📌 Tip: Emphasize scope—logistics includes warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfillment, whereas transportation is just about moving goods.
• 🟢 M2: What is the Bullwhip Effect?
• 📌 Tip: Know key terms well. The Bullwhip Effect refers to demand variability amplification as orders move up the supply chain.

Academics & Work Experience

• 🟢 M2: (After reviewing marksheet) What did you study in these courses? (6 course-specific questions)
• 📌 Tip: Revise core subjects from your degree—especially the basics of operations, supply chain, and quantitative methods.
• 🟢 M2: Tell me about your role at Asian Paints.
• 🟢 M2: What decision-making is involved in your job?
• 📌 Tip: Highlight scenarios where you optimized processes, handled vendor management, or improved logistics efficiency.
• 🟢 M2: How has your degree helped in your job?
• 📌 Tip: Link theoretical knowledge to practical applications—like using inventory management concepts in real supply chain operations.

Key Takeaways for Aspirants

• ✅ Expect contrasting panel dynamics—stay composed whether it’s a friendly chat or a grilling session.
• ✅ Revise core academic concepts thoroughly, especially definitions and key theories.
• ✅ Be prepared to explain job roles with a focus on decision-making and business impact.
• ✅ Stay updated on current affairs, especially topics linked to your background or state.
• ✅ Use structured answers when differentiating technical terms—scope and context matter.

Disclaimer