Weightage given to Personal Interview as compared to entrance examinations by top government institutes in the final selection

Looking at the selection process of IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, personal interviews are given more weightage than CAT scores. IIM Ahmedabad gives the interview twice the weightage than the CAT score in the final selection criteria, whereas some colleges, such as IIM Kozikode and IIT Delhi, give equal weightage to both CAT scores and personal interviews. Some colleges, such as IIM Mumbai, Rohtak, and Raipur, give more weight to CAT scores than personal interviews.

 * for two different Programs

Weightage given to Personal Interview as compared to entrance examinations by Private institutes in final selection

We can clearly see that none of the top management colleges listed below prioritise personal interviews over entrance exams. In fact, the weightage given to the entrance examination exceeds that of the personal interview.

We can easily conclude that government MBA/PGDM colleges prioritise personal interviews over private colleges.

Items to bring to your interview:

The following items are necessary for candidates to carry to the interview centre:

1. Identity proof: Government ID

2. Copy of e-mail received regarding interview date and time

3. Copy of the form filled out for that college.

4. A copy of the entrance exam result.

5. Originals and one copy of each of the previous qualifications

6. Original and copy of work experience and salary slips.

7. Caste/EWS/PwD certificate, if candidates fall into that category.

8. Certificate for any other achievements mentioned in the form.

9. Small notebook and pen. 

What happens during a personal interview?

A personal interview for admission to an MBA college in India is a one-on-one discussion that may involve a team. Interviewers or committee members want to know if the candidate they are interviewing is genuinely interested, has significant future plans and is qualified for the management programme or if they are simply pursuing another course.

The interviewer or their team attempts to evaluate the candidate's communication skills, cultural fitness, sentimental/professional attitude, learning readiness, verifying information about previous qualifications and work experience if any, testing calmness and problem-solving attitude, understanding future goals and motivation behind them and ability to form personal bonds.

So it's basically a very important part of the selection process where candidates' overall personality, positivity and ability to work under pressure are tested.

Top MBA Interview Questions:

Q1. Please tell us a little about yourself/tell me what is not written in your resume

This is the most frequently asked interview question. How you answer this question will have a significant impact on how the interview goes. Try to be concise but remember to include relevant and important information. 

Include details about your life, such as your education and employment history, as well as your hobbies and interests. It would be even better to demonstrate a personal interest in management.

Q2: What motivates you to pursue an MBA?

Here, you must demonstrate that you are pursuing an MBA for the correct reasons. Do not act as if the only reason you came here was to get more respect and a better salary. Demonstrate a genuine desire to collaborate as a team to overcome obstacles and complete projects.

Inform them that you would make an excellent addition to any business. Show that you value MBA power and influence. Demonstrate your understanding of management's role in the corporate and wider world. Explain how it will help you achieve your professional goals. Don't act as if you're getting an MBA because someone told you to.

Q3: In five years, where do you see yourself?

The interviewers ask you this question to see if you see yourself in a managerial role. They want to know whether you have a plan and are sufficiently ambitious. Having a plan demonstrates that you understand the MBA's importance to your career. Your response should be both practical and aspirational. You should provide sufficient information about what you intend to do and how.

Q4: Why should we choose you?

Your main goal in responding to this question is to demonstrate how you meet their student requirements. Explain your strengths, such as your ability to work under pressure, ambition, hard work and teamwork.

Q5: Enquiries concerning your Past

This is an excellent opportunity to tell them about your previous professional or academic accomplishments, challenges, and solutions. You can go into more detail here. Tell them about your decision to get an MBA. If you have prior professional experience, you should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of your role, organisation, and industry.

Q6: What part of your current job do you enjoy the most? 

Nice opportunity to explain what part of your job you enjoy and express the details of your job, as well as how it will be more enjoyable after completing the MBA. Remember, this is consistent with your preferences and hobbies.

 Q7: There are benefits and drawbacks to consider.

This one is critical. Your responses will show the interviewers how self-aware and conscious you are of yourself and your actions. I am sure you have heard of SWOT analysis. It represents opportunities, weaknesses, threats and strengths.            

Suggested format for your response.

First, share your strengths with them by describing an experience that led you to realise you possessed that particular strength. Hard work, critical thinking, time management, effective communication and the ability to work under pressure are some examples. Add situations that demonstrate its strength.

When discussing your flaws, make sure not to say anything that contradicts or undermines one of your strengths. After claiming to work hard, admitting to procrastination is inappropriate.

During the interview, avoid using any deceptive tactics, as they will quickly be discovered. Be honest. If you reveal a flaw, explain how you plan to fix it.

Q8: What makes you wish to enrol at this specific school?

This round, the interview panel will assess your familiarity with the school you are interviewing for. People will ask if you know anything about the college other than its ranking and placement.

Learn about the college's history, alumni and distinctive practices. Your response     should demonstrate that you are significantly more knowledgeable than the average applicant.

To learn more about the college's various programmes and activities, speak with former students and conduct online research.

Q9: Have you applied to any other b-school?

This is a tricky one; candidates should mention the names of a few institutes to which they have applied, but there should be logical reasons for doing so. There should not be so much praise for the school one is interviewing at or criticism of other schools.

Q10:  How will an MBA help you advance your career?

This is another excellent opportunity to explain how your career will evolve after completing an MBA and your future plans in detail.

Q11: Have you prepared a backup plan in case you are not selected for an MBA     course?

This is an important question; you should have a thorough understanding of your future plans because you will be questioned frequently about them.

Q12:  Would you like to know more about the program or the institute?

This is usually the final question the interviewer asks. It is up to the candidates whether they ask questions or not. If a candidate believes their interview went well, saying 'NO THANK YOU' is the best option; otherwise any questions about the college or programme should be asked but the answer should not be so simple that the candidate appears silly or too blunt complicating the interviewer's job.

Remember, most of the questions will be asked from your areas of expertise,, your subjects, related to your work experience, hobbies and preferences, so one should be able to answer such questions with logic and an open mind, and there should be no contradictions among answers.

Tips for Performing Well in a Personal Interview:

• Arrive early with all of the above-mentioned documents, dressed professionally.

• During the interview, a positive, happy and ready-to-go attitude is demonstrated.

• Do not try to outsmart the interviewer because they are highly experienced and have participated in numerous interviews.

• If you are unable to answer anything, please apologise and commit to understanding this in a few days.

• Prepare your frequently asked questions in front of a mirror or with someone else.

• Never interrupt the interviewer; be patient and allow the committee members to finish their sentences.

• Prepare one or more questions to ask the interviewer if needed.

• If your answer does not meet the interviewer's expectations, do not be discouraged because there will be more questions and perhaps no one will answer all of them correctly.

• Remember to respond via email that your interview was a great learning experience.

• It is always preferable to have your mentor, another senior or a friend present during the interview preparation so that they can point out mistakes in your approach that you may not be aware of.

• After the interview, relax; even if your interview was not perfect, there is always next time.