Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
Tips To Ace Personal Interview - Do you get jittery when it comes to facing the judge's panel after the CAT 2023 exam for personal interview? Although the personal interview of MBA colleges differs a bit in terms of the external job interview. Yet it is most likely for candidates to have apprehensive thoughts.
What if I couldn’t crack the CAT 2023 personal interview? What will I say if I do not know the answers to some questions? How should I ace my CAT personal interview? Are there any tips to ace it? Well yes, we at Careers360 will provide you with CAT interview preparation tips to an ace personal interview in this article. What a personal interview is? What questions can be asked? What to avoid during personal interview etc., will be there in this article along with the tips to an ace personal interview of CAT. These tips can also be used by candidates during a job interview. As the MBA admissions in India are on peak time, candidates who are to face the admission process of B-schools can also use these tips to ace personal interview rounds.
With context to CAT admission, a Personal Interview is a one on one real-time interaction between a interviewee and group of personnel called interviewer. CAT Personal Interview is a major tool used by institutes (at time of admissions) to gauge the abilities of an individual. In a personal interview not only the verbal responses are noted by the interviewer or panel, but also implied behaviour is carefully monitored.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
180+ Companies | Highest CTC 15 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
Interviewers are curious to know everything about the interviewee. In a personal interview, there will be questions about your personality, your work style, work experience, psychological behaviour towards things and work interest. Always remember to bring out the positive side even if the interviewer has asked a negative question. While there are some questions that do not have any right or wrong answers, make sure to be specific about them and try to answer in a dominating manner.
Do not speak wrong if you are not familiar with the topic asked by the interviewer
Speak only the actual algorithms. Do not try to bluff to look intelligent
Avoid slang/jargon
Be in a formal dress code
Show your presence of mind
Be prepared
Now that you know what a Personal Interview is and what you should not do. Let us now move onto the tips to ace Personal Interview.
Do your research
Do not be empty-handed
Know the basic etiquettes
Learn behavioural interview techniques
Dress for success
Demonstrate confidence
Be an active listener
Use illustrations
Ask questions
Stay calm and motivated
Let's look at the detailed tips to crack Personal Interview one by one carefully:
Learn about the institute or company in which you are about to give the Personal Interview. Take your time to research the institute or company. Doing good research will allow you to stay confident on this aspect and you will be ready to answer all related questions. Read the “About Us” section on the website of the institute or company. If you know people who have studied at the same institute or worked for the same company, go and ask out their opinion about the institute or company. Do not go unprepared.
Do not land up without any documents. Going empty handed may leave the interviewers thinking about exact qualification. Make sure to take the following listed documents.
For CAT 2023 Admission Personal Interview - Take class 10 and 12 certificates. In case of postgraduate admission take a Bachelor's degree as well.
For Job Personal Interview - Take certificates, a Few copies of your resume/CV, any additional educational certification.
Basic Documents - Some passport-size photographs, a pen, notepad/papers.
Due to agitated state of mind, candidates make minor blunders and end up losing points. Candidates remain unaware of the basic etiquettes. Take your time and prepare yourself to know how to face personal interview. Some of the basic etiquettes that candidates must follow are-
Be on time and don’t be late
Do not use a cell phone during the personal interview preparation
Pay attention to what the interviewer is communicating
Talk only about what is necessary. Do not over-talk
Do not badmouth any institute or organization
Maintain a proper body posture
Apart from the basic CAT interview questions, candidates need to prepare themselves for some behaviour based questions as the Personal Interview also judges what is implicit. Behavioural interviews are aimed at judging candidates on how well they have handled their past situations. The best way to prepare for this is to make a list of your strengths and weaknesses and then try thinking of situations where you think you have applied them.
Be in formal attire and look confident. It is said that a well-dressed person is half prepared. Although, there is no proper dress code defined for the interviewee, do not try to be creative with the dress code. Wear a formal dress code. Do not wear heavy perfume. Avoid doing too much makeup if you are not interviewing for a creative company or fashion institute.
Be confident in how you look, speak and behave. Never let the interviewer feel that you are losing confidence through your answers. Remember that non-verbal communication is equally important and helps you portray yourself in a good manner. To look and stay confident maintain a positive body posture. Think positive during the interview. Your mood is reflected in your voice and hence is considered a factor of how confident you are.
Do not force the interviewer to feel that you are losing interest and are being non-attentive to his questions. Listen to what he says and not hear what he says. Remember that “Listening is active” and “hearing is passive”. Hence, be attentive and an active listener.
If the interviewer asks you any questions, try giving the answer along with some examples. Make sure to showcase the positive aspects of the question. Do not exaggerate the examples as they make sound confusing and a part of storytelling. Prepare some illustrations in advance and imagine a situation. Make it sound like a real situation and above all speak it with confidence.
As already known that a Personal Interview is conducted as interpersonal communication. Henceforth, the candidates also have the option to ask question/s from the interviewer with regard to the institute or company. Do not hesitate in asking something that you think can be relevant and support your decision to join that organization or institute. Take complete advantage of the opportunity.
In the case of nervousness, try using the washroom and make yourself at ease. Remember that it all shows on its face. Hence, be confident and remain calm. Prepare yourself in advance to see the after-effects. Take some deep breaths for freshening your mind and enchant that your personal interview will be successful.
During the CAT personal interview, candidates are often asked about their academic background, work experience (if any), reasons for pursuing an MBA, strengths and weaknesses, leadership skills, problem-solving abilities, future goals, and how they can contribute to the MBA program and the business world. Interviewers may also inquire about current affairs, industry trends, and situational questions to assess the candidate's analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
Do's:
Don'ts:
Now that CAT 2023 result has been declared, candidates must prepare themselves for the CAT PI round. The best way to ace CAT Personal Interview is to follow all the personal interview tips above and be thorough with your research on CAT Personal Interview questions. Preparing for answers beforehand and being prepared for how you will react in a particular scenario will increase your confidence.
Yes, the CAT (Common Admission Test) typically does not have a traditional interview as part of its examination process. CAT scores are used primarily for shortlisting candidates for the next rounds of selection, which may include interviews, group discussions, and written ability tests conducted by individual MBA institutes.
CAT interview questions cover a range of topics such as candidates' academic background, work experience, motivations for pursuing an MBA, strengths and weaknesses, problem-solving scenarios, industry trends, and their ability to contribute to the program and business world. Situational and behavioral questions are also common to gauge analytical and decision-making skills.
Yes, interviews are an integral part of the selection process for most IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) after the CAT exam, assessing candidates' suitability, motivations, skills, and potential for their MBA programs.
With a 59.95 percentile in CAT 2024 and ST category, you can expect calls from newer IIMs like IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Jammu, and IIM Sirmaur, as they have lower cutoffs for reserved categories. Non-IIM options like IIT Madras (MBA), NIT Trichy (MBA), and state universities like Delhi School of Economics (DSE) might also consider your profile. Apply to institutions that prioritize diversity and offer ST reservation. Ensure your application highlights strong academics and achievements.
For more details you can visit the link given below
https://bschool.careers360.com/cat-percentile-predictor
Hi,
Based on the previous year analysis, According to your CAT 2024 percentile some of the best colleges offering MBA and PGDM course in Telangana in which you have chances to get a seat are the following
For more information about the colleges in which you have chances to get a seat you can predict using MBA college predictor tool provided below
https://bschool.careers360.com/cat-college-predictor
Hope this information will help you
Hi,
With a CAT 2024 score of 93.94 percentile, you have a good chance of getting calls from several IIMs. Here are some possibilities:
IIM Jammu
IIM Bodhgaya
IIM Udaipur
IIM Kashipur
IIM Vizag
Apart from IIMs, you can also consider other prestigious B-schools like:
Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon
FMS Delhi
IIT Delhi
IIM Lucknow
IIM Indore
IIM Raipur
CAT exam is conducted every year for purpose of admission to various prestigious business school and management institutes in India. The exam is also considered among toughest entrance exams in India. The exam rats the logical skills of the candidates. You can get the college list based on your CAT score by simply visiting CAT College Predictor 2024
Hi Sonu,
Preparing for CAT 2025 through self-study requires the right study materials, a structured plan, and consistent effort. CAT Syllabus comprises of Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC).
You can get more detailed information in the mentioned website of Careers360, it will be helpful enough for preparation of CAT 2025.
If looking for online sources, you can go through few channels on YouTube like- Study Buzz, Takshzila, and Career Launcher. Apps like unacademy and Byju's can help as well.
All the best for your CAT preparation.
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
180+ Companies | Highest CTC 15 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
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
Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | Accredited Grade 'A' by NAAC | 100% Placement
67 Years of Established Legacy | Ranked #79 in India by NIRF | Among the only few top 100 B-Schools currently accepting applications
Scholarships Available