Done with my XLRI Interview…..

Finally the most awaited day has come & I reached chennai railway station by 8.30..Viggy123 came down to pick me..Went to his place & changed my attire..Special Thanks to Viggy’s mom who helped me in pressing my shirt & tie…

Reached the Venue by 10.15 AM…..The Guy who came out of the interview hall started explaining me that he was grilled on Finance sector (As he is working for HP Finance Organisation)…

Surprised, when I was called in by 10.45 AM though my interview was scheduled at 11.00 AM…

Panel: Angry Prof (AP-Had a serious face), friendly Prof(FP) & Smiling Prof (SP-was wearing a smile through out the interview)

& Yours Truly (Prem)

AP: Good Morning Prem, Sit down

Prem: Thank You Sir

(FP starts going through my file)

AP: So many of you from HP have applied for this, isn’t it

Prem: Don’t know Sir (with a smile)

AP: Yes they have

Prem: Smiled

AP: Some of your colleagues have told us that HP is a cost center, what is your take on it?

Prem: Sir, I work for PSG….(AP cuts me there with a serious face)

AP: I asked you something else…

Prem: Iam coming to that answer only..explained about my division & how it is a cost center, but HP as a company is a Profit center was my conclusion..

AP:Can you differentitate HP & Lenovo Laptops

Prem: Sir, basically all the brands have similarities in performance as the internal components are all third party products..what differentiates is the external stuff…Explained the HP testing, Laptop Surface,Safety, Protection, availability of spares for 4 years etc…

AP: Are you sure, you guys assure spares for 4 years

Prem: Yes Sir

AP: What value addition can this course give you?

Prem: Can I understand this question as why MBA?

AP: No this course

Prem: Point1: Diversity of the batch with people with huge experiences will help me to understand cross vertical functionalities

Point 2:Soft skills to handle subordinates (Explained my perception about how a Manager has to play a key role in meeting organisational goals as well as subordinates emotions)

Point 3: Faculty knowledge & XL alumni network

AP was noting down all the points

AP: I will give you an easy solution for your expectations

Point 1: Join a club u will get diversity

Point2: Join the MDP programme for soft skills

Point3: Your course doesn’t have an alumni network

Prem (Back footed): Can I add a little more to my previous answer

AP: with a sarcastic smile-Do you wanna improvise your answer

Prem: Yes….

Point 4: My next role may demand me know a little about finance & HR as well as I wanna move to operations..this course can give me that

Point: Accelerated Career growth

AP started nodding his head (Got relieved)..Looked at SP….

SP: what’s the full form of your school name.

Prem: Sri Venkateswara Matric School

SP: Which Place in India has the famous Venteswara Temple

Prem: Tirupathi, AP

SP: Whose avatar is Venkateswara?

Prem: Lord Vishnu

SP: What are the roles of Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva

Prem: Brahma: Creates, Vishnu: Protects, Shiva: Destroys

SP: If shiva is the destroyer, why should junta worship him?

Prem: I don’t know the Hindu mythology, but my perception is any human is scared of death, so its basically the fear which makes us to worship shiva

SP: How is Indian Economy doing?

Prem: Its doing Good

SP: What do you mean by doing Good?

Prem: From a Middle class person’s perspective, the Job opportunities are humungous today compared to 10 years back, so its doing well

SP: How did the job opportunity increased?

Prem: Due to foreign investments

SP: But we still have beggars & some of ours sisters are forcefully doing prostitution?

Prem: When I say Economical growth, it’s the increase in the average livelihood..But whatever said & done, we cannot change the lives of every individual..especially if you talk about beggars, I would put them into 2 categories..People who really cannot work & people who don’t want to work (Considering begging as a full time profession), How do you change them..Its their mindset which is stopping them from working (My smile turned big when I was answering this)…

SP: If you get the power to formulate policies, what will you do to eradicate begging?

Prem: There was a period, when low income groups never sent their kids to school, then the Mid day meal scheme came in..The parents thought that meal as an Incentive..Likewise, I would provide free trainings like lathe cutting, welding etc with an incentive attached so that beggars attend these classes & once the course is over they can be assigned with some work..the incentive part is important for a person to come out of his comfort zone…

SP looks satisfied & asks FP to take over

FP: Prem, there is lots of change in your career, you did BE, CSE – Moved to Sales then you are working as an accounts Manager…

Prem: Sir, When I did my BE I was a day scholar traveling 240 KMs up & down (explained my mother’s illness in a brief)..So could never concentrate on studies..By the time I got my first Job I had 6 other offers for Technical roles..To be honest with you, I was never strong in my technical skills, hence didn’t want to do injustice to my job..So chose sales a I was very good in Networking & my teachers always to mock at me saying that I can get in to sales..In HP, Iam an account Manager & not an accounts Manager..

FP realizing his mistake looks at the sheet & says oh

FP: Prem, you have worked in several states, how did the difference in culture hampered you in your work

Prem: explained about how the local language is of significance & how it has hampered me in Kerala & Goa, How food has played a role in my staying there

FP: How would you then handle cross country cultures in Future?

Prem: little compromise & adaptation would help me?

FP: From the beginning we had been suggesting you to compromise & now you have accepted it….

Prem: Sir, I can compromise & adapt if it really helps me to fulfill my primary goal instead I cannot compromise on my primary goals for these trivial things

Not only that whatever adaptations I have undergone has always helped me in my personal life as well…(Explained it by saying how learning a language & adapting to food has helped to enjoy new places)…

FP looks at AP &SP..Unanimously they decide to wind it off & say thank you

I thanked them back..FP asked me to call the next chap…

I looked at AP & asked his permission to take my file..AP says sure sure…

Net, net the first 5 minutes I was blocked by AP & in the rest I was cruising,.There were no questions for which there is a single answer..99% questions were talking about my perceptions..Actually the stipulated slot was for 20 mins, but it went for about 30-35 mins…

Lets see, whats gonna happen..As far as my feeling goes, Iam happy that I delivered my best….

Comments solicited………..