SPJIMR Interview Experience – Cracking It with an IM Edge and Tech Insights
Candidate Profile
- Background: Engineer with a specialization in Information Technology and a strong academic foundation.
- Work Experience: 1 year in a technical role with exposure to product and IT systems.
- Academics:
- 10th Grade: 9.9 CGPA
- 12th Grade: 96.4%
- Undergraduate CGPA: 6.8
- CAT Percentile: 98.82%ile
- SPJIMR Specialization Chosen: Information Management (IM)
Interview Panel Composition
- Three alumni interviewers – one each from Operations, Marketing, and Investment Banking backgrounds.
- Duration: A lengthy and detailed 1 hour 30 minutes session.
Interview Questions & Candidate's Approach
🟢 Icebreaker & General Introduction
🔵 Panelist: Surprise us with something not mentioned in your application form.
📌 Tip: Always keep a unique and personal anecdote ready—ideally something that reveals a new dimension of your personality or achievements.
🟢 Domain-Based & Analytical Questions
🔵 Panelist: Scenario-based discussion on marketing an apparel family business.
- The panel initiated a creative case involving one candidate’s family business in apparel.
- The candidate was asked to provide suggestions based on their IM specialization.
- Focus of discussion: How IT and digital platforms could improve reach—especially by creating a website and optimizing customer interaction.
📌 Tip: Be prepared to give cross-functional suggestions even if the scenario isn’t from your specialization. Highlight how your domain (e.g., IM) can enable better solutions for others.
🟢 Personal Fit & Career Alignment
🔵 Panelist: Why didn’t you choose marketing despite your background in neuroscience and psychology?
📌 Tip: Link your choice of specialization with long-term goals. Highlight how your interests (e.g., product management) blend psychology with technology to justify IM over Marketing.
🟢 Product & Tech Thinking
🔵 Panelist: What can Amazon do to improve its app?
📌 Tip: Offer a UX or feature improvement based on user behavior and tech feasibility. Refer to examples or gaps you’ve noticed personally.
🔵 Panelist: Talk about a product you like that’s not popular and suggest improvements.
📌 Tip: Choose a niche product you're passionate about. Focus on design, utility, marketing gaps, and how it could be scaled or improved.
🟢 Hobbies & Personal Interests
🔵 Panelist: What are your hobbies? Can you tell us your favorite song?
- The candidate mentioned singing and shared a favorite piece.
📌 Tip: Don’t hesitate to show personality! Cultural interests humanize your profile and make you memorable.
Key Takeaways for Future Aspirants
- ✅ Be prepared for creative, situational questions—even ones based on other candidates.
- ✅ Cross-functional thinking is crucial—connect your specialization to real-world problems.
- ✅ Justify your MBA specialization with logic tied to career goals.
- ✅ Prepare for product-based questions that test analytical and user-centric thinking.
- ✅ Let your interests and personality shine—they matter just as much!
📢 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.
📢 Stay tuned for more first-hand B-school interview experiences and expert tips!
🔍 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.
📢 Stay tuned for more first-hand B-school interview experiences and expert tips!
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