Great Lakes PGPM & PGDM 2025
ApplyAdmissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
Questions in interviews for IIMs are not merely confined to academic qualifications or professional experiences, but also include those related to your hobbies. It is important that while mentioning one’s hobby, the candidate must be thoroughly aware about it and should answer the questions well. Careers360 brings to you some of the experiences of the candidates related to hobbies so you know the tricks and strategy to face and tackle questions on hobbies.
New: CAT 2024 Percentile Predictor
Latest: CAT 2024 Question Paper (Slot-wise)
CAT 2024: Slot 1 Analysis | Slot 2 Analysis | All Slots Analysis
Suggested: CAT 2024 Score vs Percentile
Every individual tries to follow his or her hobbies during their leisure time. However, if one is facing an interview to make it to the IIMs, it is important that the individual does not fake it. At the same time having a thorough knowledge about your hobby does not guarantee you a seat in the IIMs.
Debapriyo Sarkar, who made it to IIM Ahmedabad tells us about his experience on Quora with regard to his hobbies. From the given example, we can see that the candidate was fully aware about his hobby, which was reading books and was able to answer the questions convincingly.
P1: Okay. What do you do in your free time? Me: I enjoy reading. I also maintain a blog. I play the piano and the tin-whistle, but I'm an amateur at both. P1: What kind of books do you read? Me: Mostly fiction, sir. P1: Name some of your favourites. Me: Slaughterhouse Five, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Great Gatsby, Crime and Punishment... P1: Who is the author of To Kill a Mockingbird? Me: Harper Lee. P1: Have you read her new book? Me: No, sir. But I know the gist of the novel. |
Here we see that the candidate was able to answer to any query of the panellist with ease and without hesitation. He was not beating about the bush.
One of the panellists even asked the candidate about a particular character of a novel and the interviewee answered the question to the satisfaction of the panellist.
P1: So what do you think of the change in attitude of Atticus? Me: Sir, I am a huge fan of Atticus' character in To Kill a Mockingbird. He is one of my idols. I heard his character underwent a drastic change in Go Set a Watchman. He has even been called a racist. That's all I know. P1: Aren't you curious about his new attitude? Me: Yes sir, I am. But many Harper Lee fans have decided to boycott the book because the publication was controversial. She had said throughout her life that she won't publish another book. There are theories that it was published without her consent. Hence, I decided not to read it for now. |
Sarkar had a very clear thought process. It is important to remember that you just have few minutes to make an impact on the interview panel. Hence, you should be thoroughly prepared. Since sky is the limit for preparing for interview, you must select a few topics with regard to hobbies and devise a plan of action for its preparation.
Sometimes the candidates go through stress interview and they believe that they would not be able to make it to the IIMs. However, the result is just the opposite. At the IIM Ahmedabad interview, towards the end Sambit Debnath, who finally made his way to the coveted institute, was asked to convince the panellist that he was a guitarist. There was no guitar in the interview room.
On Quora, Sambit, narrates his experience about how he showed to the interview panel that he knew how to play guitar.
G1: We will wrap it up now. So you are a guitarist? Okay Sambit, there is no guitar in this room. How will you convince me that you are a guitarist staying in this room? G2: (cutting in) We are not experts, we cannot make out by seeing your fingers. (to G1) Can you? Me:(Hastily) No no... it's not how the finger itself looks! If you feel my fingertips you can see that they have formed calluses - these form by practicing over time. Initially when you start playing the guitar your fingers pain a lot during fretting the strings. But gradually your fingers adapt and these hard calluses form on the fingertips. So now, I have very little feeling in the fingertips of my left hand (flicking the tip of my left middle finger with my right hand, for theatricality). All guitarists have fingers like this. G1: Wow! Pretty Cool man! We're done. Take a toffee and leave. |
Earlier, Sambit was low on confidence as according to him the first round of interview was quite stressful. Since, there was no guitar in the room, Sambit was mulling to show them a video on his phone, little realising that they were not allowed to bring their phone inside the interview room.
It was suddenly that Sambit recollected his composure and gave a more than satisfactory answer to the panel. The end result was that he was able to make his way through IIM A.
A thorough understanding of your hobby is not a guarantee that you will be able to make it to the any of the IIMs. Amit Singh was able to answer the questions about his hobby pretty satisfactorily at the IIM Lucknow interview. The hobby quoted by him was slightly different from what the candidates normally mention such as reading or any particular sport that they pursue.
Amit Singh mentioned on Quora that he had stated ‘Ophiology’ as the hobby, which means the study of snakes. Singh was expecting to be asked questions on ophiology at other IIM interviews. The panellist enquired what it means and then asked him what would happen to an individual if a snake bites him or her.
P1: So, your hobby is Ophiology? Me: Yes Sir. P1: What does it mean? Me: Sir, it means study of snakes. P2: Wow! That's interesting. So, tell me-If a snake bites me, how long will it take for me to die? Me: It depends. P1: It depends upon what, Mr Amit (smirking)? Me: Sir, It depends upon the species of the snake. Chances are, that snake is non-venomous, as only 1 out of every 4 snakes are of venomous species in our country. |
Though the candidate was able to explain what his hobby is all about. However, making an assumption in an IIM interview is not correct. Singh assumed that in case the question is tricky, then the best way to get away is by stating ‘It depends.’
Singh was asked by one of the panellists as to how much time will it take for him to die. It seems from the answers that are mentioned by Singh on Quora that there was a monologue for almost a minute, where Singh thought that he was in the safe boat as he used “ It depends” to answer every aspect of the question.
It depends upon how long the snake made contact with your flesh. Longer the contact, higher the dose of venom, and faster would be its effect. It depends upon how far or near from you is the anti-venom available. Most of the Big 4 venomous snake's anti-venom is available in hospitals and you just need to reach there fast. Finally Sir, having said all this, you might die instantly too as a result of the snake bite, as many snake-bite related deaths are not because of the venom but because of heart attack resulting from panic. |
Singh was not able to make it to the IIMs, may be because he had either not performed well in the CAT exam or had not answered the other questions upto the satisfaction level of the interview panel. Even in the hobby question, while answering it, there was a monotony. One must remember that, if one is well versed with something in that case the candidate must confidently share the knowledge in an interactive manner.
In India, a large section of the population is cricket buff. Hence, it is important that when a candidate states that cricket is his hobby, he is able to explain it properly. Nishant , who made his way to IIM Ahmedabad in 2015 had stated that he was fond of analysing cricket. Nishant had mentioned on Quora that the panellist who quizzed him about cricket seemed to be very stern and was not among those whom you could take for a ride.
P: You talked about analysing cricket. Analyse Dhoni’s captaincy in India’s 4-1 loss to Australia. Me: Talked about three things primarily which are 1. Team combination 2. Bowling changes and 3. Field Placements. How the ill combination of all three resulted into India’s drubbing. |
Nishant was able to explain about all the three parameters at length to the panellists. He believed that he was able to convince the panel that he was passionate about the game.
Hobby is something, which each individual enjoys during his or her leisure. Hence, it is important that the candidates, while mentioning their hobbies should explore various questions and answers. At the same time, they should keep their cool while answering questions on hobbies. While answering such questions, candidates need to show how passionate they are about it. Last but not the least, at no point of time, candidates should talk in a frivolous manner about their hobbies.
Also Read
Stay tuned to www.bschool.careers360.com for more news and updates
Save
Yes, the CUSAT CAT exam is held online. It is what is called a computer-based test, where candidates respond to questions on the computer screen.
It covers Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics topics. The questions are multiple choice.
For information regarding the most accurate details and up-to-date information available on CUSAT CAT, including format, eligibility criteria, and important dates, visit the official website for Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) or refer to the official notification released by the university.
https://www.careers360.com/exams/cusat-cat
Hello aspirant,
As the score is accepted by 21 IIMs, other prestigious B-schools, and 1,300 MBA colleges in India, CAT 2025, a business aptitude test that evaluates candidates on quantitative aptitude, data interpretation, logical reasoning, verbal ability, and reading comprehension, will most likely take place on November 30, 2025, with an official announcement making the announcement by July 30, 2025.
For more information, you can visit our site through the following link:
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-2025
Thank you
Hope it helps you
The student cannot join the postgraduate MA program directly in the second year of the MA after completing the MBA.
Universities generally expect students to begin the first year of a masters' program even though they had qualifications at the level of a bachelor's degree. The university's curriculum along with the courses are planned to give an in-depth knowledge of the subjects.
But you could opt for:
Postgraduate Studies:
Research Career: In case research interests you, then you can pursue a Ph.D. in your specific interest.
Specialized Master's Programs: Find any specific master's course that supports the career goal.
Professional Certifications:
Make a professional certification in CFA, CA, or FRM to enhance the professional skills and better opportunities in the career field.
Job Entry via MBA
After gaining an MBA from a renowned institution, it's possible to get entry into the corporate world where the diversity in the career field is assured.
In the end, it would depend on what you would like and what you are particularly interested in. It will be better if you take a suggestion from your academic advisor or career counselor.
Hello Pratik,
If your family income exceeds 8 LPA, it will affect your eligibility for the NC-OBC category under the CAT reservation rules. The NC-OBC category requires that the family income should be below 8 LPA to qualify. If you anticipate that your income will exceed this threshold, you should update your status and notify the CAT authorities .
Here's what you can do:
Email the CAT authorities
: Inform them about the potential change in your income status and request to be considered under the
General
category, if applicable. You should do this before the examination or any further processing, as your eligibility for the OBC category depends on the income criteria.
Documents and Proof
: Make sure you have a valid
OBC certificate
and any relevant documentation regarding your family income, in case they require verification. Also, be aware that if your income exceeds 8 LPA, you might need to apply under the
General
category, as the OBC-NC reservation is no longer applicable.
General Category Consideration : If your application is accepted as General, you will be evaluated based on the General category criteria, including cutoffs and ranking.
To summarize, notifying the CAT authorities is the correct approach to avoid discrepancies later, and if your income is above the threshold, you will be treated as a General candidate for the admissions process.
For more details about CAT exam you can check out an article by Careers360 whose link is given below:
Link: https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hi Shreya ,
Having a tattoo on your wrist should not create a problem during the CAT exam as long as it does not contain any content that violates exam rules , such as communication-related symbols , unauthorised messages or any text resembling formulas or answers .
For a safe side , it is recommended :
1. Inform the Invigilators : Let them know about your tattoo during the identification check , so there are no misunderstandings .
2. Follow the Guidelines : Ensure you follow all instructions regarding permissible items and dress code on the exam day .
Hope this helps you .
ALL THE BEST .
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.
A Business Development Executive (BDE) is a professional responsible for identifying growth opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance a company's market position. Typically, a BDE conducts market research, analyses industry trends, and identifies potential clients or business prospects. He or she plays a crucial role in developing and implementing sales strategies to achieve revenue targets.
A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
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.
A sales manager is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan.
The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
9 IBS Campuses | Scholarships Worth Rs 10 CR
400+ Company Visits | Highest CTC Offered: 21 LPA | Average CTC Offered: 8.65 LPA | 100% Placement Assurance
Highest CTC: INR 28.25 LPA | Average for Top 100 offers: INR 17.34 LPA | Ranked #63 in India under Management category by NIRF | 148 Recruiters
Diamond rated by QS-I-GAUGE | Only Indian University member in the Global Liberal Arts Alliance
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by EQUIS, AACSB & AMBA | Avg. CTC 15.1 LPA