Globsyn Business School PGDM Admissions 2025
Highest CTC: Rs 18.33 LPA | Average CTC: Rs 7.39 LPA | Experiential Learning | Classes by Industry Professionals | Alumni Mentorship Program
How to Tackle Basic Questions at B-School Interview
Updated on Feb 14, 2020 11:49 AM IST | #CAT
How to Tackle Basic Questions at B-School Interview - Personal Interviews for final selection to Top B-schools including Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) often make or break admission chances of MBA aspirants after cracking CAT. While B-School admission boards often grill candidates during interviews with follow-up questions on candidate’s interest areas and academic background, their focus remains on assessing them on the basis of their personality, attitude, passion and approach towards tackling challenges.
Thus, your approach to deal with basic questions in interviews is the final impression you leave on your interviewers. The basic objective is to assess whether the candidates possess the ability to logically answer basic questions.
So, what could be some of the basic questions that you need to be ready with before your admission interview; and experiences of selected MBA students on how they answered such questions, after being shortlisted on the basis of CAT scores.
Also Read
What B-schools look for in a Candidate
Basic questions asked by interview panel
Q. Tell us something about yourself?
Q. What do you do in your free time?
Q. What are your hobbies?
Q. What is the reason for choosing a particular institute to pursue your MBA?
Q. Why did you choose a particular course for specialisation?
Q. Tell us something about your city?
Q. Which is the most famous cuisine of your city?
Q. Which is your biggest weakness? Substantiate it with examples?
Experience of candidates who made it to IIM
Key tips while answering personal interview questions for IIMs.
1. On why you want to do MBA?
All of us possess certain inherent managerial skills. In our day to day life, knowingly or unknowingly we are managing our life, from getting up in the morning to going to our workplace. However, in this era of cut throat competition, we provide you certain tips, which will help you to crack the personal interview for IIMs.
With candidates from diverse backgrounds, such as engineering, humanities and commerce stream and those with a certain degree of work experience also applying for the MBA course, one of the common questions that is asked as to why you want to to pursue an MBA. Candidates must answer the question in a manner that the panel is led to ask him questions from the information that he had given.
Krishna Bharadwaj, who made his way to Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad shares on Quora his experience on how he tackled the question related to his decision to pursue MBA.
Krishna Bharadwaj, IIM Ahmedabad student. Why MBA? How can MBA help you? To be able to know how the MBA helps me, I would first have to know what I'll be learning in case I join. That's available in/at <publicly accessible data source> Agreed, but I would like to get a more personal opinion, preferably yours, since you teach there. Well, you'll learn X, Y and Z. Thank you. From what you've told me, I feel that X will help me achieve A, Y will give me better understanding of B and Z will be a good foundation for C. Together, they could very well comprise the skill set I consider necessary to achieve my goals. And hence, MBA. Fair enough. So do you have any questions for us? Well, how has your day been so far? |
If we look at the above answer, we see that the candidate was able to convince the panel with his answer as he clearly sited his objective for pursuing an MBA.
Thus we can say that the panel is looking at clarity of thought and purpose. Candidates must not try to impress the panel by giving an ‘out of the blue’ kind of answer as it would only go against him or her, if he or she is not able to back it up with concrete example in case of a follow up question.
Another candidate, Sharad Singh, who made his way to Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad shared his personal interview experience on Quora.
Sharad Singh, IIMA More often than not the answer would be generic. One doesn't need innovation everywhere. In my IIM Calcutta interview on why MBA, I said: I want to know what it takes to create and run a company so that I can start-up later. |
Normally, personal interviews are supposed to be a serious affair and one cannot afford to trivialise it. Normally, the environment is tense and all said and done the candidate is nervous. However, from the above answer given by the candidate, we see that the candidate was able to maintain seriousness of the interview and at the same time maintained his wittiness.
2. How to tackle a question like tell me about yourself?
Though the question looks simple to answer, however, you must remember that you cannot make it monotonous by giving out the same information which is already before the interview panel in the form of your resume. It is about how well you play with words (e.g instead of saying that a person is fat, you can say that he is horizontally challenged). Avoid using jargons or adjectives while answering such questions. In case you decide to use adjectives, you should back them up with solid examples. Ahead of the interview, try to make note of the things that define you and the probable questions that might be asked related to those things. Self analysis is the best analysis. Any misinformation could backfire and you might end up on the losing side.
Rajat Jain, wrote in Quora about his interview where he was asked to tell about himself
P1: - So, Rajat tell me about yourself. (a classical interview question) Me- I am Rajat Jain, pursuing Civil Engineering and I did my schooling from Delhi. I like to read detective fiction and solve sudokus in my free time. |
CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages
Comprehensive CAT prep guide with focused practice on Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
Download NowHere, we see that the panellists seemed convinced with Rajat’s answer and were in no mood to probe him further. Though it is quite possible that he might have been asked questions related to his liking towards reading detective fiction as well as solving sudokus during the free time.
Always remember that while facing the interview board, you need to be humble, calm and have a pleasant smile on your face. Be your natural self, but don’t Carry a casual body language and at the same time adopt a professional approach.
It is quite possible that the candidate’s interview was scheduled just before the lunch or towards the fag end of the day, where the panellists were tired and were in mood to grill the candidate. Sometimes, positive body language and confidence while answering the question, goes in favour of the candidate
In both the above cases, the candidates calmly answered the questions and did not show any kind of anxiety. Remember that this question is normally asked by the interview panel to strike a chord with the person as people on both sides of the table are strangers. So, despite him having your resume, do not press the panic button.
3. What are your hobbies?
While mentioning your hobby, be very clear and precise about what you say and be thoroughly prepared for it. Anything wayward will go against you and reiterate that once again do not say anything which will take you off guard.
Here is an example where the candidate was able to judge that one of the panellists was Bengali from his accent and accordingly she gave the answer. She had mentioned that her hobby was cooking.
Aparajita Saha, who made her way to IIM Bangalore in 2014, had mentioned cooking as her hobby. The panellist who asked "So... your hobby is cooking?" pronounced her name as 'Oporajita.' Immediately, Aparajita was able to gauge that the panellist was a Bengali. She took this as an opportunity to turn it in her favour.
Aparajita Saha speaks on Quora about her experience on answering the question on her hobby.
P: So... your hobby is cooking? A: Yes A: I will make a Bengali style pomphret curry for you today. I was marinating fish, frying them, making curry, garnishing with coriander leaves and serving them to the panel. Everything in the air of imagination. I was so flowing in fish-curry emotions that I could actually see the curry being made from scratch and smelling wonderful and the Bengali judge loving it. I could feel him salivating when I said "The curry is done." P: Did you forget something? |
Such instances indicate that you have to be mentally alert. Had she not been able to judge that one of the panellists was a Bengali, it was quite possible that she would have told them something which was her favourite while cooking or may be some south Indian dish. By being able to judge the regional background of the panellist, she was able to keep the interest of the panellist while she was explaining to them the process of cooking the Bengali cuisine.
Thorough and strategic planning is the key to success for personal interview, remember that you need not waste your time in doing extensive research on any topic. The preparation has to be “FOCUSSED”. You are not expected to write a thesis, hence at the heart of your preparation should be reading the right kind of content rather than trying to read each and every everything. Your brain has to be tuned in a manner that it is able to filter the information which it has to take and which it has to delete.
Articles
Certifications By Top Providers
Accounting with Tally ERP9
Via NIIT Digital Banking Business Model
Via State Bank of India Digital Skills Artificial Intelligence
Via Accenture Thinking Critically
Via Harappa Banking 101 A Guide for Beginners in the Banking Sector
Via EduBridge Business Analytics Foundations
Via PW Skills Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQOxford Brookes University, Oxford
Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UKNorthumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8STCardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YBUniversity of Reading, Reading
Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AHBristol Baptist College, Bristol
The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJSAT 2025 Exam: Dates, Registration, Fees, Syllabus, Eligibility
20 min ⋆ Jun 23, 2025 12:06 PM ISTSAT Exam Dates in India 2025, Month Wise Test Date - Check Here
9 min ⋆ Jun 23, 2025 07:06 AM ISTPTE Describe Image Practice Test: Sample Questions and Answers
10 min ⋆ Jun 23, 2025 11:06 AM ISTIELTS Full Form - Types, Pattern, Eligibility and Fees
9 min ⋆ Jun 09, 2025 09:06 AM ISTACT Exam 2025: Dates, Registration, Fees, Eligibility, Syllabus, Sample Paper and Results
15 min ⋆ Jun 23, 2025 10:06 AM ISTPTE Summarize Spoken Text Tips and Tricks To Score High
9 min ⋆ Jun 23, 2025 10:06 AM ISTPopular Courses and Specializations
List of colleges accepting CAT
Browse Bschool Colleges by State
Questions related to CAT
Have a question related to CAT ?
Yes, candidates who qualify in CUSAT CAT can gain admission to various participating institutes based on their rank. These include engineering colleges associated with CUSAT, such as its own School of Engineering in Kochi, Model Engineering College, and over 20 government and private engineering colleges across Kerala like College of Engineering Thrikkaripur, Co-operative Institute of Technology Vadakara, and MG College of Engineering Thiruvallam. The final seat allotment is based on your rank and your choice of program during the counselling process.
Pradeepa P 02 July,2025
Hello Ashish,
Yes, you can get admission to MBA programs at IISWBM without a CAT score, but only for certain courses. Note that IISWBM has MBA programs under the University of Calcutta and flagship courses like MBA (Day) or MBA-HRM typically require a CAT score. Other programs like the PGDM or Executive MBA/Course may have other entrance examinations on which consideration would be made, or considerations may be based on merit, and of course work experience. Always run any eligibility detail checks with the official IISWBM (https://www.iiswbm.edu/) website or The IISWBM prospectus.
gopi 30 June,2025
Hello,
Yes, a state (Delhi) NC-OBC certificate is valid for CAT 2025 , but it must be in the central government format (for appointment to posts under Government of India).
Also, it should be issued after 31st March 2025, as required by IIMs. If your certificate meets these conditions, it will be accepted.
Hope it helps !
Prachi Kumari 28 June,2025
Hello aspirant,
With 375 marks and an AIR of around 2.6 lakh in NEET 2025, getting admission to Ayurvedic & Unani Tibbia College (AUTC), New Delhi under the state quota is quite difficult. The cutoffs for government BAMS seats in AUTC generally stay below AIR 50,000, especially for the General and EWS categories. Your score may not meet the cutoff in the first or second rounds, but you might still have a slim chance in the mop-up or stray vacancy rounds, depending on how many seats remain and how other candidates opt. If you're a Delhi domicile and have all your documents ready, you should definitely apply and fill AUTC as a top choice. It’s also good to keep backup options in other AYUSH colleges open.
OISHEE BANERJEE 01 July,2025
GIBS Business School in Bangalore accepts multiple national and state-level entrance exam scores for admission to its PGDM program. You can apply using scores from exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, ATMA, or various state-level CETs.
The admission process typically considers your entrance exam score along with your academic record, performance in the group discussion and personal interview, and any work experience you may have. For the BBA program, admissions are generally based on your Class 12 marks and do not require entrance exam scores.
If you're planning to apply, it's a good idea to keep your exam score, academic documents, and personal statement ready for the selection rounds.
OISHEE BANERJEE 24 June,2025
Popular CAT Questions
Directions for question :
M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, one of the top four audit and accounting firms in the world with headquarters at London, UK, and with an operational presence in 153 countries, hires Management Trainees (MT) from all the premier management institutes of India thrice every year, in the months of January, May and September.
Each new group of Management Trainees (MT) have to go through a four month rigorous training schedule, after which they have to pass through a test consisting of a written assessment and a case-analysis. The top hundred ranked Management Trainees (MT) based on the performance in the test are confirmed as Management Executives (ME). The rest are given the opportunity of undergoing the training for four months one more time along with the next batch of Management Trainees (MT) and then passing through the subsequent test consisting of the written assessment and case-analysis. The Management Trainee (MT) who fails to get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the second time is fired.
The scatter-graph below depicts the number of Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte taking the tests from January 2020 till May 2022, and the vis-à-vis hired Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte who were fired :
It is also known that for the month of September 2019 at Deloitte, 96 hired Management Trainees (MT) failed to be confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the first time, and that 36 hired Management Trainees (MT) were fired.
Question :
In which test did the minimum number of Management Trainees (MT) get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) in the second attempt ?
Option: 1
September 2020
Option: 2
May 2021
Option: 3
January 2021
Option: 4
January 2022
Directions for question:
The bar-graph given below shows the foreign exchange reserves of Nepal (in million Rupees) from 2014 to 2021. Answer the following questions based on the graph :
Question:
What was the percentage increase (rounded to the nearest integer, if deemed necessary) in the foreign exchange reserves in 2020 over 2016 ?
Option: 1 None
Option: 2 None
Option: 3 None
Option: 4 None
Explore Career Options (By Industry)
Marketing Director
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
4 Jobs Available
Business Development Executive
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
3 Jobs Available
Content Marketing Specialist
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
3 Jobs Available
Sales Manager
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
2 Jobs Available
Marketing Manager
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
2 Jobs Available
SEO Analyst
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
2 Jobs Available
Digital Marketing Executive
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
2 Jobs Available
Business Analyst
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
2 Jobs Available
MBA/PGDM Admissions OPEN
Amity University Noida MBA Admissions 2025
ApplyAmongst top 3% universities globally (QS Rankings)
Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) Admissions 2025
ApplyNAAC A+ Grade | Among top 100 universities of India (NIRF 2024) | 40 crore+ scholarships distributed
UPES MBA Admissions 2025
ApplyRanked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement | Last Date to Apply: 15th July
Galgotias University | Admissions 2025
Apply25+ years of legacy | NAAC A+ Grade | 800+ Recruiters | 1.5 CR-Highest Package
Shoolini University Admissions 2025
ApplyNAAC A+ Grade | Ranked No.1 Private University in India (QS World University Rankings 2025)
GNA University MBA Admissions 2025
Apply100% Placement Assistance | Avail Merit Scholarships
News and Notifications
February 07, 2025 - 05:12 PM IST
January 27, 2025 - 05:47 PM IST
January 23, 2025 - 07:45 AM IST
January 19, 2025 - 02:21 PM IST
January 16, 2025 - 02:32 PM IST
January 13, 2025 - 10:45 AM IST
January 10, 2025 - 04:28 PM IST
Stay up-to date with CAT News
Back to top