Personal Interview in top B schools: How to drive the PI panel to your knowledge domain

Add Review

MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
March 5, 2014
Personal interview at top B schools is a very crucial round. How to make your Personal Interview -PI, a learning experience without getting inconveniently grilled is being shared by Prof S K Agarwal expert on MBA entrance.
While panelists will try to take him to ride, his skill is supposed to take the panel to his knowledge domain

Personal Interview round at your dream B school should not be a nightmare but must be a pleasant exchange of ideas and knowledge. How to make your Personal Interview –PI, a learning experience without getting inconveniently grilled is being shared by Prof S K Agarwal expert on MBA entrance.

Facing Personal Interview is an Art!
Facing the PI is in fact an art than the out pour of your knowledge only. A personal interview session at any top notch B school, if you are a little skilled will continue for 10 to 15 and in certain cases up to 30 minutes, depending upon the fact how much sharing of knowledge with positive attitude goes on and how much positive energy is generated in the session.

Personal Interview is a two way interaction which cannot be continued either by the panelists or you alone, if either of the two remains irrelevant and irritating. While it cannot be said for the former, the latter has to take the session forward skillfully.

Mould the PI
Your ability to take the interview board to your domain of knowledge is your skill. When you answer a question, you may use such sentences and words on which the interview board gets curious but you are comfortable with the same. It depends how you mould the interview to your desired direction. The opportunity is to be created by you while presenting the answers to their questions.

What can you expect in Personal Interview round?
There may be generic questions based on broad aspects like “ Tell about yourself”, “ How do you OR Where do you see yourself 5 years down the line”, “Why go for MBA after B Pharma”, “why to choose this B school”, “Why should we offer admission to you” and more. Such questions are simple but a little tricky. Although they make you a little relaxed since you already know what to put forth as the answer, more questions could be framed out of your answers. Hence the more important thing is your approach and how you respond to these questions.

Specific questions related to your work experience, academics, your goals, your strengths and weaknesses, your grasp on your favorite subjects and topics, the information that you filled up in the form, will sure make appearance in PI round. 

Key tips to drive the PI
You have to make sure that you have brushed up whatever you have filled up in the form. If you have work experience, make sure that you know fairly well what you have been doing, it’s various aspects. In fact, no candidate knows about everything but there are certain areas about which he knows more. While panelists will try to take him to ride, his skill is supposed to take the panel to his knowledge domain.

To score high marks in GD PI WAT process of B schools for Admission 2014, Click here

How did the toppers turn the table in Personal Interview?
Our candidate recently appeared in PI round at one of the IIMs. He had two years work experience in a public sector Bank but had more interest in the foreign exchange business. How he drove the PI to his knowledge area is worth learning. Let us assume his name is Arvind.

The beginning
Arvind had his interview in the morning session in February 2014. After entering the room and exchanging pleasantries with the three panelists (2 male and 1 female) his interview began with a question on his dress, family coming to academics, his favorite subjects.

The opportunity
While answering one of the questions Arvind categorically stated that he studied something on foreign exchange but found it a little difficult and is trying to resolve whether he should continue with it. One of the panelists began asking questions on forex business of his Bank and whether he contributed anything to it.

To the point answer
Arvind quite recently helped an exporter to materialize his claim of interest for about USD 1500 from a foreign correspondent bank due to inordinate delay in realization of payment. He grabbed the opportunity and answered the question with minute details of forex working and highlighting how well he played his role which was appreciated by all.

Impression
Panelists were impressed and convinced. The PI round became more positive and in some cases when Arvind couldn’t answer some of the simple questions, interview board extended the help to retrieve the answer for example, the question was ‘Which sector was given the highest budget allocation’, Arvind was confused, began to guess, one of the panelists gave a hint that the components of the sector was present in this room also. The hint was for energy and the candidate got it.

Other example
Another female candidate, a graduate in pharmaceutical was being grilled on various GK and economics type of questions. She didn’t have much interest it these topics. During the session she got an opportunity on a question about usefulness of Ayurveda and took the thread. Till the end of the session panelists remained hovering on and around questions on pharmaceuticals and drug manufacturing.

The gist
The gist of discussion is that you should know how to succeed. Success will be yours once you are aware how to market yourself before the interview board. Your approach and skill to present yourself in the PI will secure your seat in your desired B-school.

Other Interesting articles on Personal Interview:

IMI Delhi: Real account of Personal Interview at top B school for MBA Admissions 2014
GD PI WAT 2014: How to ace the Personal Interview round? Get Toppers tips & Expert Advice
GD PI: 10 important Personal Interview tips for MBA Admission 2014
Personal Interview: Model questions & answers for MBA Admission 2014
Real account of PI round: Why a 93 %iler couldn't enter top B-school?
Real account of MBA Admission Interview: Prakriti Goyal, CAT 98 %
GD PI WAT Admission 2014; Time to prepare for the next level

To score high marks in GD PI WAT process of B schools for Admission 2014, Click here

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more news and expert tips on Personal Interview Round for MBA Admission 2014