MBA Universe in its series of publishing the realistic account of personal interviews for admission to top B-schools brings you another real account. The interview was held in the 1st week of March 2013 for admission to one of the top B-schools in India. Name of the B-school is not being given for apparent reasons and the name of the candidate has been changed to protect the identity.
The candidate Yavanika is a commerce graduate and has joined law classes recently. Yavanika is a medium height, fair coloured, a little plum girl. She has chosen to wear blue denim jeans, shirt and a half-jacket without tie. To support her outfit she has put on sports shoes from Nike. With the style and makeup she has applied, she thinks she looks very beautiful.
In the waiting lounge she is seen talking to other candidates and to the staff present there. When she is invited to the interview room, she opens the door and then knocks it and asks for the permission. There are three member panelists (two male and one female).
The female panelist sitting in the middle smiles and replies – Well, you have already come in, please sit down.
Yavanika- Thank you Madam and good morning to you all! In fact, I should have bade good morning before I had sat down. (Gets up again and extends her hand to shake it with the panelists although none of the panelists offered to shake hand with her but reluctantly shook it with a sarcastic smile; after shaking hands Yavanika sits down again)
1st Panelist sitting on the right side-(Going through her Resume) - Tell us about your family.
Yavanika – Oh, sure. My father is a Criminal lawyer and has a very good practice. A large number of clients come to meet him daily. He is very busy. I have one younger sister and younger brother – both are in school. I am the most intelligent child among the three. My suggestion and advice count more in my family and among my classmates also. If you go through my academic record you will find that I have been a bright student through-out. I have always scored more than eighty per cent marks in every class. You see, my CAT percentile is above 93 which is a great score and I am sure I will get the admission to a top Business school. After doing my graduation in commerce, I have also opted for law classes which can help me make a great career. My family is very respectable and well known in my town. I know almost all the wealthy and influential persons in my town. My father is very resourceful, he changes his car every 2nd year.
1st panelist (Taken aback with the answer) – I thought I asked about your family but you are telling about yourself
Yavanika – Sir I haven’t completed yet. Our family doesn’t like to get involved with such people who are not of our standard. My father always says ‘if we want to achieve something we have to live like that’. So we shop at the most expensive stores. Now a day, money is very important and my father’s practice is in very good shape, so we have no dearth of money. After doing MBA I will also earn a very good amount of money to make my family reach one of the wealthiest families of my town.
1st panelist (smiling sarcastically) - How about your mother?
Yavanika – Oh! Didn’t I tell you about her? Well, she is a house hold lady, remains busy in small things like – keeping the house clean, managing the kitchen, up-keeping of garden. She is a sort of miser, tries to spend less. Most of the times giving her pieces of advice on economic and judicious expenditure. Despite having many servants, she sometimes looks after the work in the kitchen and garden. In my view, it is not required as the servants are there to work. But she never listens to me. Sometimes it adversely affects my father’s reputation.
1st panelist – Don’t you think, your mother is efficiently managing the house-hold affairs and contributing much towards family welfare.
Yavanika – (A little arrogantly)- Well, mother sometimes does the work herself which is not good. It is the influence of my father and my efficiency that all the activities go well controlled. In fact I think that my mother can be a good cook but not a very good house manager.
2nd panelist takes over – Why do you want to pursue MBA when you have joined law classes?
Yavanika- I have joined the law classes as my father suggested for the same. He says that we can open a big law firm with consultation on taxation, company law etc. after I complete my graduation in law. MBA will help in the management of that law company.
2nd panelist – If selected, how would you manage your law classes and regular study of MBA.
Yavanika – Oh, that is in fact no problem. Attendance in law classes can be managed and after two years of MBA I would again join the Law classes as this is a four years course. Law can be done while managing the law company.
2nd panelist – You may not be allowed by us to go for another regular course while doing regular MBA from this institute.
Yavanika – (Thinking for a while) – O, then we can take a break for two years in law classes. Alternatively, my father will do something for my better future.
2nd panelist – You will be establishing a new law company, you will need clients and good business. How do you plan to do that?
Yavanika- That’s not at all a problem. My father’s reputation will rein in more and more clients.
2nd panelist- Your father is a Lawyer doing practice in criminal cases whereas you wish to establish a law firm related to company law and taxation law etc. How could your father’s reputation will help you in this venture?
Yavanika- (A little confused) - Sir, all the lawyers know one another. We shall do some campaigning also. But I am sure to have large number of clients associated to us.
2nd panelist-(Not prolonging the time consuming discussion)- Tell me who is your ideal and why?
Yavanika- Sir, my father is my ideal. Although he has very less time for us but he gives whatever I demand. He has guided me to appear in the MBA entrance examination and I took coaching from Delhi. I lived there for six months, prepared hard. Initially I didn’t like living without getting good food and good place to reside but my father made me comfortable so that I could prepare. You see I am an intelligent student so I learned the things very fast. I think I wouldn’t think about MBA if my father didn’t ask me for that.
2nd panelist – How did you prepare for your personal Interview session?
Yavanika – There was no need to specifically prepare for personal interview round. I know I can answer most of the questions. Besides this, questions are generic ones so anybody can answer them. My knowledge is sufficient enough to answer the other questions also.
3rd panelist (takes over) – You claim to be a very intelligent student of commerce. Can you tell me two basic difference between Trade and Commerce.
Yavanika – (Flummoxed)- Sir, both appear same. There is not much difference. Trade is doing business and commerce is also doing business. May be that service sector is not included in trade.
3rd panelist – Could you explain and clarify a little?
Yavanika – (getting a little irritated) – I have explained and I do not know more about it.
3rd panelist – Would you like to know?
Yavanika – If you think it proper.
3rd panelist (smiling still) - Trade refers to mere exchange of goods,i.e., mere buying and selling of goods. but commerce refers not only buying and selling of goods, but also other activities, such as transport, insurance, warehousing, banking and advertising, which helps buying and selling of goods. Trade is a branch of commerce whereas commerce is a branch of business. The scope of commerce is wider than that of trade.
Yavanika – Oh. Thank you. Although this thing was in my mind but I thought it was irrelevant.
3rd panelist- Can you distinguish between diminishing returns and decreasing returns?
Yavanika – The question is little confusing but I know the answer. Diminishing returns is a decrease in the output of a production process while factors of production stay constant. Decreasing returns to scale is what happens as the scale of production increases in the long run when physical capital usage are variable.
3rd panelist – Is this answer complete and correct?
Yavanika (Confused) – Well, I think so as I read it somewhere.
3rd Panelist – You have missed some very important parts in the answer like diminishing returns means a decrease in the marginal (per-unit) output of a production process as the amount of a single factor of production is increased, while the amounts of all other factors of production stay constant. Decreasing returns to scale is what happens as the scale of production increases in the long run, when all input levels including physical capital usage are variable.
Yavanika- Yes Sir, I got it. But I may not need it in future once I get the admission in this Institute.
3rd Panelist – Why should we select you?
Yavanika - Sir, I am a very good student, I can speak well, I have scored a very good percentile. I will pay the entire annual fee and will not depend on any kind of scholarship or assistance. I belong to an authoritative type of family, a quality necessary for a good manager. I have not hesitated while answering your questions. I am very confident candidate.
3rd panelist - Do you wish to ask something about our college?
Yavanika- Well, yes. I see that your college makes the participation in service learning mandatory for first-year students. Is there any provision to get exemption from it?
3rd panelist – I am sorry but there is no provision like that. So, thank you Yavanika for sharing your views with us.
Yavanika – (slightly pushing the chair back with her leg and searching for her belongings-gets up). Thank you, when can I expect the call for admission.
3rd panellist – you will come to know. Thank You.
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Experts’ Feedback
1. The girl behaves like a monopolist. She speaks more, knows less- A tall talk.
2. Is a sort of bully. Lacks courtesy, is arrogant, her behavior needs improvement.
3. She is overconfident person and pampered girl. Has no decision of her own. Whatever guided by father goes for it illogically. Shows no respect for her mother.
4. Has no clarity of thought – contradicts her own statement, is not keen on learning but keeps money at the centre of activity.
5. Has no respect for other people who have less money. Appears to be extravagant. May not learn in the college but might be a nuisance. Not recommended
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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more real account of Personal Interview (PI) and Group Discussion (GD) for admission at top B-schools.
