Personal Interview (PI) is conducted before offering you admission in a course or any job. The Personal interview shape, duration and type of questions may be different in accordance with the nature of the PI round. The Personal Interview (PI) round is the test of your verbal communication skill, presence of mind and how do you present your views and knowledge skillfully to convince the experts who are interviewing you.
In the admission process for various graduate and post graduate management courses, medical courses, engineering courses among others in some states, the Personal interview is known as counselling session, at others it is Group Interview and at some places it is Personal Interaction round. In civil services it is called the Personality Test of the shortlisted candidate. However, if we define the Personal Interview introduction, all these names broadly suggest the similar process of PI round with slight deviation here and there.
Personal Interview (PI) Format
Three-four experts are appointed as panelists who throw penetrating questions to you on your academics, work experience, current affairs, social issues, about your personality, your native place, on technical issues related to your academics and work place in the personal interview round.
On an average, the duration of a personal interview is around 10 to 20 minutes. In case some interesting and knowledge bearing discussion into a topic or issue starts deeply, it can go beyond 25-30 minutes.
Apart from the one to one personal interaction session, the PI round may also include some other components including Group Exercise, Writing Test, Extempore speech, psychometric tests among others.
Importance of Personal Interview
Personal Interview (PI) is the most important part of your final selection process. It carries high weightage in final selection process in a range from 30 to 50 percent. Immediately after completion of your written exam, it is necessary to improve your personal interview skills and do away with any type of hesitation that you may face during personal interview round.
If you do not get a required minimum score in personal interview, you will not be considered for final selection even if you have scored very high score in your written test.
Personal Interview for MBA Admission
The Personal Interview round is conducted by all the MBA colleges for MBA admission after the 1st stage shortlisting on the basis of written exam score. All the top MBA colleges including 20 IIMS, XLRI, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI among others conduct Personal Interview (PI) round for final selection.. Read More about Personal Interview for MBA
GD PI WAT Preparation: Tips from Experts and Toppers
The personal interview is tried to be kept healthy, positive and less stressful to make you free, feel friendly and natural before the experts. You are encouraged to remain what you are and it is tried that during the course of discussion, you should not feel nervous.
