This is the real ISB interview experience of a candidate who has 2 years of work experience in TCS and 4.5 years of work experience in a family business of manufacturing industry.
As per the candidate’s information, there were three alumni in the interview panel. In his opinion, the interview was mainly focused on the work experiences, and career goal.
| Work Profile | Manufacturing – Family Business – 2 years TCS – 4.5 years |
| Re-Applicant? | No |
| Interviewers’ Profile | P1 – Alum P2 – Alum P3 – Alum |
| Your Opinion on the approach of the interviewers and their key focus | Your entire profile. They mark areas in your essays where they can ask questions from |
| Suggestions and Preparation Tips for Prospective Students | You should know your current and past work experiences very well. Be clear about your career goals and how would you accomplish them after MBA. Practice with a couple of mock interviews and be prepared for all possible questions related to the details of your work. |
Qn: Walk me through your resume.
A: Talked about my personal background. Took them through my professional journey as well as my extra-curricular activities and interests.
Qn: What promotions did you receive?
A: Trainee -> Assistant Systems Engineering -> Systems Engineer
Qn: How many employees are there in your current organization (family business)?
A: Gave the org chart and the number of resources in each.
Follow-up Qn: What do you do in your current organization?
A: Explained the work I took up, the challenges, the strategy and the results, in detail. Though I forgot to use much statistics.
Follow-up Qn: Did you alone suggest the initiative?
A: Yes, after basic risk assessment, I shared my thoughts with my father and brother. We further brainstormed and strategized.
Qn: How did you find the delivery issue from the balance sheet?
A: Explained my analysis
Qn: How was it like to shift from TCS to Manufacturing? Did you face any challenges?
A: It was not easy for me as I was new to the manufacturing industry. Initially no one trusted my methods. Coming from a MNC like TCS, I found it very different here. Management had Orthodox and conventional way of working, with staff not up for change and had little eagerness to evolve. They feared job loss to automation. I had to go very slow and did not have to expect quick results. After few months things fell in place and I was accepted.
Follow-up Qn: But it is your own organization, how can people not listen to or co-operate with you?
A: Yes, I am the chairman’s daughter but at the same time we have to keep in mind that this is a conventional male dominated organization where people are habituated to take orders only from my father or brother
Follow-up Qn: The organization is quite old. So, previous to your stint how were the inventory maintained? What was happening all these years?
A: Yes, it’s quite old. My father had to overcome many obstacles in personal and professional life to get the organization to the place where it is now. Previously, it was manual updating of stock and inventory and since it was not a big organization they did not feel the need to organize data.
Qn: You have done most of your work with inventory, procurement, vendor management, etc. Now let me give you a situation: tell me an equipment that you manufacture?
A: EP contactor
Follow-up Qn: Name a very vital sub component.
A: Copper Plate
Follow-up Qn: How many vendors are there in total for copper plate in your area?
A: Around 10 approx
Follow-up Qn: How many do you do business with regularly?
A: 3 to 4 vendors
Follow-up Qn: Have you rated them?
A: Yes
Follow-up Qn: What if one that was high in your rating fails a delivery or provided faulty component?
A: If there is a situation where we are supposed to submit a very critical order and the vendor fails because of which we face loss and our reputation is at stake I will definitely get the vendor rating low for the vendor and not place any critical order with him immediately and will pass on the feedback. I will place it with others from my rating list.
Follow-up Qn: Will you stop totally with all critical orders? Will you be so harsh even though you are ordering for a very long time and you have a trust over the years?
A: I am not saying I will never place any order with him. Instead I am saying that I will place orders with him when he goes up on my list again.
Qn: what if he tells you that he will give you the item for 100 where as others are charging 120 for the same? Plus he shows you his entire setup and tells you that he will not fail delivery.
A: Then also I will stick to the old plan since even if I try and lower our procurement cost and he fails delivery we will be charged an hefty amount by the railways for late delivery plus our reputation will be at stake.
Qn: Will your father agree and would he not say that let’s go for low cost?
A: We have always been known for our quality over our competitors. So, even my father will chose quality over cost. (I felt the interviewer was trying to see if I change my answer so kept asking 2-3 times. But, I stuck to my explanation)
Qn: Why do you think you need an MBA? What skills are you going to acquire? How will ISB help?
A: I spoke about the skills that I lack:
- negotiation with vendors
- best practices followed globally in organizations
- basics of financial analysis and decision making
- supply chain management for streamlining procurement
- process optimization with a focus on technology
Talked about how ISB would help.
Follow-up Qn: Then why not IIMA or IIMB?
A: Answered
Qn: We spoke a lot about your current work now lets talk about TCS. What did you do in your PMO lead role?
A: Explained the work flow in details.
Follow-up Qn: Ok so you were the project manager for a project. How did you shift from the technical work?
A: It was an added responsibility along with tech work.
Qn: Give an example of leadership other than your current organization.
A: Talked about a situation during my time at TCS. Some follow-up questions were asked.
Qn: What was the best project award about?
A: Explained the project and my contributions
Qn: What are your plans post MBA?
A: Explained in details what the company plans, where do I fit in, and my long term and short term goals.
Qn: Give 2 strengths that will help you succeed in ISB
A: Never Give Up attitude – gave example of overcoming my hand issue from childhood.
Team Skills: how I worked in teams in TCS and current organization in spite of change in work environment and two vastly different industries.
Follow-up Qn: In ISB, all activities happen in teams and you are divided in groups of 5, so give us an example of a situation where you worked in a team and there was a conflict. How did you resolve it?
A: Talked about a situation at TCS
Qn: Do you have any questions for us?
A: Asked a question
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