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"Encounters Of The Third Kind!!!"- by Anuj Arora *When Spielberg uncle made this movie long back, I guess he would've never guessed thathis movie would be a great inspiration for these famous management institutes in Indiacalled IIMs!!!

Surprisingly, I got a call from three of these coveted institutes - A, B & C, and even moresurprisingly, got selected in one of them, usually called the toughest of them all and bestof them - IIM-A!!! Now don't ask me how I made it, because even I'm trying my best toget the elusive answer.Let me relive those moments of glory... Sorry I got lost in those moments!!! But I'm back& kicking. So we were called for GDPI for IIM-A in IIFT. Great building but not as greatas of IIM-A. So there were loads of students called for GDPI, ratio is usually 1:8. Let'snot discuss stats for now because they only discourage you!! To my expectations, I founda lot of fellow engineer "bhailog" from variety of institutes including the IITs. Why can'tthese geeks settle for something less than IIMs??? So now we should proceed to the GDfirst!!

A group of eight students are called for GDs in various rooms to be courted by differentpanels simultaneously. (I mean mass-slaughter!!!) In IIM-A, there is always a case studygiven to be discussed. The group is usually seated around a table, which can be of L or Uor straight-line type of shape!! It helps if you are seated in the center because then youcan have others' attention easily, otherwise it helps if you can raise your decibel level, butit shouldn't sound like shouting. Try to have a "cultured" GD - that's what my institutepeople told me.So to my disdain, I got a corner-seat (the seating arrangement is pre-set by institutepeople.) We were given five minutes to gather our thoughts on a piece of paper and thenafter a command of "START" by the panelist, the mayhem began!!! There are a lot ofthings seen in a GD. Such as who initiates the GD, but initiating doesn't guarantee better

points. The grasp of the topic, communication skill (try not saying Hindi words inbetween), the quality of points raised, being a good listener (it helps a lot because a no oftimes, students say wrong facts or otherwise and you can capitalize on it by saying withsugar coated voice: - " My friend! I would differ with you on this statement because"!!! But don't cut other's points just for the sake of it. Take control of your bodymovements as well, like moving both hands while talking sometimes gives an impressionthat you are dusting a blackboard!!Sometimes you can be asked to give "summary" or "personnel views" about the topic.There is difference between the two, and please be precise. You don't have to recite thewhole "ramayan."Usually, the panel present in the GD would be there in interview. So they know how youhave performed, so try being nice, but assertive and forceful.The main thing is that in a GD, it's not the quantity of time spoken that counts but thequality of what you've spoken.In the GD, there can be a variety of topics, i.e., based on latest happenings, for example -"Iraq war", conceptual kind, for example - "If you don't manage the time, then time willmanage you." Or totally abstract, for example - "Who needs education???" Or"Yesterday's gone, tomorrow hasn't come, and we've got today." These are previouslygiven topics in IIMs!! So to prepare for these, what you need is "knowledge". You can't

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prepare in the last one month. So prepare slow & steady. If you don't have the habit ofreading newspapers and magazines regularly, develop it. Reading CSR would also help.If you read INDIA TODAY, then have a reason for why not OUTLOOK orFRONTLINE. This habit would be helpful for both GD and PI.Now moving to next stage of the slaughter, i.e., interview!!! I was the first to be called in

my group, so obviously considered myself as "Guinea pig" for the whole group, but asthere was no choice, "I was ready to rock and roll!!" The panel size is usually 2-3, but as Itold you earlier, don't let facts effect you!! Another important thing is "don't loose yoursmile, no matter what." Even if you don't answer four questions in a row but canconfidently answer the fifth one, you are in the race.So talking about my interview, they started off straight with academics (all mypreparation for the introduction thing went waste.) They asked me which subjects I hadand started off!! About academics, the important thing is that you can't prepare foreverything, especially engineers (being myself one, obviously I'll be biased andsympathetic), prepare at least 2-3 subjects, they may ask you your favourite subject andthen say, "That's not my favourite subject, tell some other subject." So if you've prepared

just one, you are gone. So better have a backup.Coming back to my interview for non-engineers, the questions may sound out of theworld, but notice that to which level they expect you to know. It's mainly how strongyour basics are and if you are able to put them in practical situations. So I mentionedMICROPROCESSOR as one of the subjects. The questioning went as follows: -1) Anuj, what is a microprocessor?Anuj) $&%^$^%&%*&(*&%&^%&%^$^$^*2) What is the difference between a processor and microprocessor?Anuj) @#^%#^%$#^&*%*&*&$%&@(*^3) How do you fabricate this microprocessor?Anuj) Sir, we use PLANAR TECHNOLOGY!!!

4) What do you do in this technology?Anuj) Sir, we use a SIO2 layer.5) From where do you get this layer?Anuj) We've electro-graded silicon$Y^&^%$#^$^%^$#^$^6) From where do you get this electro-graded silicon?Anuj) We've metal graded silicon & $#$#&$#&&^$#^$^#$$^%7) From where do you get this metal graded silicon?Anuj) We've silicon & %*$%$#&$#$#&$#&8) From where do we get this silicon?Anuj) %&&&%%%##$$#%$#&$#$9) What next?Anuj) We have epitaxial layer & $&^&^&%&%%$#&$#$10) Anuj, while using all these layers, in what form are they?Anuj) They are in molten form and then they ^*&^%&^%$#&$#$%$#11) While in molten form, are they like iron sheets or what?(Now I had had enough and was pissed off, but naturally smiling on the outside!!!)Anuj) Sir, in book it's given till only this level!!!UFFFFFFFFF!!! As you would've noticed, they see that to what level you can tolerate thethird degree torture. When you answer a question, expect some more coming. What the

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panel does is that they see to what extent you can answer, because sooner or later, theywill make you say, "SIR, I DON'T KNOW!!!" The latter the better. No superficialknowledge. Deep knowledge.Same way it goes for hobbies!!! Let me tell you that when you mention hobbies, havethorough knowledge about it, otherwise you are gone. Do extra research, which will stand

you out from others.A lot of people say music. Now that's very vague! Be specific! For example, I saidYANNI!!! Now I had his life history mugged up, his past, his music style, and name ofalbums, largest-selling album, and why I like his music. Prepare well for hobbies,because take my word, it'll be dissected.Important thing in interview is EYE CONTACT!!! Hey, I don't mean eve-teasing. Lookconfident. The other thing is "never contradict yourself." Once you've taken a stand, bestrong and face the wind, but stay put.Another important thing - whenever they say, "TAKE ANOTHER GUESS!!!" it's abooby-trap, don't fall in it. If you are not sure, don't fluke. But unfortunately, I made thismistake. FLUKING IN IIM-A INTERVIEW??? Yes readers, I consider myself lucky that

I made it, because to cover-up, I had to fluke another four times. Actually I was askedMount Everest's height. By bad luck, I had no clue!! First answer was 10,000 feet. Wasasked to take another guess. (Booby-trap!!! Don't fall for it!!!) I took another guess, andafter that there were three more questions regarding that. Now both panelists and I knew Iwas trapped. But I was in a gladiator mood. I defied all reasoning and logic, andanswered with confidence and smile. I didn't back out. I knew that only way out of thismess is that pretend that nothing has happened and stay cool. Although I would highlyrecommend that you don't make this mistake, and if pressure gets you, and you make themistake, DON'T PANICK!!! Face the music, but stay cool. This is what they see that ifyou make a mistake, how do you handle it? Do you've the guts to back up your wrongstatement? Because not every time, you'll know the answer. Also I couldn't answer acouple of questions. Don't let it ruin the rest of the interview.Other thing is not to let panelists' expressions make you feel let down, because they willtry to discourage with occasional sneer and odd comment. Just smile and ignore. Nomatter how bad is the comment, "BE BESHARAM YAAR!!!"So I think, enough for now, and best of luck to all for the written and GDs and PIs!!! Ifyou want to give any comments on the article you are most welcome, and you think ofanything else, it would be helpful?AS ARNIE BHAI RIGHTLY SAID, SO DO I SAY IT: - "I'LL BE BACK!!!"

* Contributed by -Anuj AroraB.Tech. Eletronics & Communications,Kurukshetra University,Now at IIM-Ahmedabad.Send your comments about the write-up at anuj005@rediff.com