Today was the first day of PGSEM program orientation. I was very excited, going back to school after 10 years. It’s for 3 days and college had arranged for accommodation but I was not sure whether I will stay in hostel or come back. However I had carried luggage but kept in car on reaching IIMB. After getting the room keys, went to hostel room which reminded me that I am actually in a college hostel and not in some hotel room. Anyway, it was on top floor so opened the room windows and left for lunch in Amruth Kalsa, the name of hostel mess. By that time many people had come there and there were lot of introductions going on which might have happened again during the course of the day. Special lunch was organized for us and after having that I was looking forward to the dinner at MDC.
After finishing the lunch, we went to auditorium where some activities were planned by SAC (Student affairs committee). On reaching the audi, the first shocker came. We all were given 3 big fat books for the 3 courses in the first quarter. And the big realization finally dawned upon me that getting in doesn’t mean that degree will come as a cakewalk, probably getting in was the easiest part. Anyway SAC (seniors) gave us one information form to fill and started calling one by one to get photos clicked probably for ID card. Some were mostly uninterested; some got it clicked again after setting their hair and all. One guy again asked the photographer in the evening to click again after coming in formals. I was reading through the schedule book where the final quarter exam date was given which was clashing with the deliverable date on which I am working currently in office and SAC members were telling that first quarter GPA matters the most. I wanted to say “aal is well” but what came out was God, please help.
SAC then started presentations on various things – academics and various activities/committees and answered the various queries people had about various things. And then came the million dollar question – how can placements/better jobs be facilitated for this course. SAC told the various things they have been doing to make the industry more aware about this program. I must say SAC team really organized the orientation well, were present till late in night, considering they all are working professionals like us.
Then the actual inauguration came. Everyone was in formals. Last I was in formals during the PGSEM interview and before that I don’t remember when. Prof Pankaj Chandra, director, and Prof N Agarwal, Chairperson PGSEM were present along with Mr Harsh Manglik, chairman Nasscom, who was the chief guest. I was smiling and getting excited, not actually because of the speeches which these 3 distinguished gentlemen gave though each of them gave a truly excellent and thought provoking speech and I am looking forward to more of these in my IIMB days, I think it was the aamir khan effect of actually being a student at IIMB.
After that we went for dinner and we were told to assemble outside audi at 9 pm. All 75 students were divided into 4 groups and there were group activities planned during the 3 days, probably to give a platform to incoming students to mingle and know each other better. Most of the people reached audi late and everyone got a mild blasting from the SAC team. Anyway, the activities started with antakshri. Each team had to sing maximum songs on the given word in 45s. We came first in reverse order, which I think is because we got word “ishq” which is not hindi :) Don’t mind my excuse.
Its 11pm and now we are doing the final task for the evening - write a blog which our team has to submit by 7.45am tomorrow. And yes, I am staying back at hostel; thankfully I didn’t forget to bring bedsheet.
For those interested in Harsh Manglik's speech, read here
Monday, May 31, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
My PGSEM (MBA@IIMB) 2010 Interview
My interview was on 24th April at 9 am. I reached the campus at around 8.35 am. At the classroom blocks gate, there were 2 persons from IIMB who told to go to room L11 for one essay writing. L11 was a techie class -- audio system, projector, smart system like credit card swipe machine for attendance ...or maybe I am out of college for 10 years now, that's why I got too fascinated by all that :). BTW my kid's school also has projector in all classrooms. Anyway, at 9 am we were given the topic -- Issues and challenges before Human Resource Management in India. 10 minutes were given to think through it and 20 mins to write the essay.
After the essay, we were given our interview schedule. There were multiple interview panels and I was in P2. Each group had 10 candidates. It was in M23 class.
I went to M23. There were 9 guys and 1 girl. One person from admin collected xerox of mark sheets/experience letters from each one of us. The interview started at around 10 am. I was 8th in the queue. Each interview lasted for some 20-30 mins with one taking almost 40 mins. It was a long wait. My turn came at around 1.20 pm. 3 hours I was just waiting and waiting on the chair, and yes there were 2 whose was after mine. There was one conference going on in the next classroom. During there second tea break, one guy actually asked me whom I am waiting for there for so long. I told him about PGSEM interview -- he smiled and wished me luck.
Finally 1.20 pm!!
There were 2 members in the interview panel -- lets call them P1 and P2. I don't know there names,
They offered me seat. Probably it has been too long for them also taking interviews, so may be it was fun time for them :)
The interview started -- no question about introduction.
P1: This is your 4th company. Why did I do so, and at hindsight do I think it was good or bad for me?
I told the reasons why I changed -- some gyan that I wanted to go into development only. In first job after development, I landed into maintenance type work which I didn't want to do. Second company got merged with someone and was not doing well. 3rd one didn't have too many projects....and so on
P1: How do you think about software engineering as a career option, if you have to tell me to my son in 10th, what will you say?
Only job where constantly paid to study/learn, lot of things newly coming every now and then, unlearn and learn...that's why it never gets boring + its better to do MS than jump straightway into job...and so on
P2: But whats the point when you can loose jobs, no guarantee, very few jobs..
Its with all private sector. Agreed that only 5-7 lakhs are software engineers, but its a plush job and where potential is unlimited. Lot of indirect jobs are also getting created because of this. And yes, we need more sectors to open up like software -- biotech, BPOs etc
Now it was mostly P2 -- I don't know faculty or alumni, but P1 I think was faculty
In my SOP, i had put theme as entrepreneurship. Other than this, I was asked on nothing from SOP, and nothing else from anything else either.
P2: Do you have any ideas?
Yes
P2: Which ones
I told him one about retail and one in software (thanks to my office buddies. we have been discussing a lot about these for sometime now)
P2: He asked about retail -- have I done any analysis, what I would need, capital and other stuff
Somehow I managed
Then it was about my software idea
P2: You can start now itself, why need an MBA
I told that I can do, but once it scales up I will need all the skills in sales/marketing blah blah
P2 was not convinced. He was trying to portray I don't need MBA or maybe he was checking if I am myself clear about why I want to do MBA and what I want to do after MBA:)
P2: You can do MBA from Bangalore university or elsewhere. Some correspondence course, why waste time and money
Told him no correspondence course can match the learning of class, and when you want everything best for you, then why not get trained by the best college in country
P2 was still not convinced. Many times to his questions I asked him -- I don't agree or I don't buy this.
P2: Do you have any stats on how many students have graduated
I told him I don't know about PGP, but PGSEM around 500-600
P2: There have been thousands of students altogether, but we have not heard any great stories on entrepreneurship. So again I don't need MBA
P2: In business you need selling skills, which you have as you are unconsciously trying to sell why we should take you.
I replied for a businessman these things should come consciously and blah blah
P2: Its just theory in class, how will theory help you in business.
I said PGSEM being a part time course is a great advantage. Whatever we learn in class can try to apply those concepts during workweek. Its actually 2.5 years of practical, and its upto the candidate what he wants to take from this course.
Thankfully track of interview shifted now.
P2: If you are asked to handle some project, which model you will use
I couldn't get the question -- maybe because of so much of defense which I did for why I need to do this MBA. Actually he was asking about waterfall/spiral/agile model etc
P1: If we don't take you, what will you do
May be I will apply again next year
P2: But will you continue your business
Surely I will do
P2: But will you apply again next year
Yes, I will do both things.
GOOD LUCK.
Keeping my fingers crossed!!!
More on PGSEM can be found here.
After the essay, we were given our interview schedule. There were multiple interview panels and I was in P2. Each group had 10 candidates. It was in M23 class.
I went to M23. There were 9 guys and 1 girl. One person from admin collected xerox of mark sheets/experience letters from each one of us. The interview started at around 10 am. I was 8th in the queue. Each interview lasted for some 20-30 mins with one taking almost 40 mins. It was a long wait. My turn came at around 1.20 pm. 3 hours I was just waiting and waiting on the chair, and yes there were 2 whose was after mine. There was one conference going on in the next classroom. During there second tea break, one guy actually asked me whom I am waiting for there for so long. I told him about PGSEM interview -- he smiled and wished me luck.
Finally 1.20 pm!!
There were 2 members in the interview panel -- lets call them P1 and P2. I don't know there names,
They offered me seat. Probably it has been too long for them also taking interviews, so may be it was fun time for them :)
The interview started -- no question about introduction.
P1: This is your 4th company. Why did I do so, and at hindsight do I think it was good or bad for me?
I told the reasons why I changed -- some gyan that I wanted to go into development only. In first job after development, I landed into maintenance type work which I didn't want to do. Second company got merged with someone and was not doing well. 3rd one didn't have too many projects....and so on
P1: How do you think about software engineering as a career option, if you have to tell me to my son in 10th, what will you say?
Only job where constantly paid to study/learn, lot of things newly coming every now and then, unlearn and learn...that's why it never gets boring + its better to do MS than jump straightway into job...and so on
P2: But whats the point when you can loose jobs, no guarantee, very few jobs..
Its with all private sector. Agreed that only 5-7 lakhs are software engineers, but its a plush job and where potential is unlimited. Lot of indirect jobs are also getting created because of this. And yes, we need more sectors to open up like software -- biotech, BPOs etc
Now it was mostly P2 -- I don't know faculty or alumni, but P1 I think was faculty
In my SOP, i had put theme as entrepreneurship. Other than this, I was asked on nothing from SOP, and nothing else from anything else either.
P2: Do you have any ideas?
Yes
P2: Which ones
I told him one about retail and one in software (thanks to my office buddies. we have been discussing a lot about these for sometime now)
P2: He asked about retail -- have I done any analysis, what I would need, capital and other stuff
Somehow I managed
Then it was about my software idea
P2: You can start now itself, why need an MBA
I told that I can do, but once it scales up I will need all the skills in sales/marketing blah blah
P2 was not convinced. He was trying to portray I don't need MBA or maybe he was checking if I am myself clear about why I want to do MBA and what I want to do after MBA:)
P2: You can do MBA from Bangalore university or elsewhere. Some correspondence course, why waste time and money
Told him no correspondence course can match the learning of class, and when you want everything best for you, then why not get trained by the best college in country
P2 was still not convinced. Many times to his questions I asked him -- I don't agree or I don't buy this.
P2: Do you have any stats on how many students have graduated
I told him I don't know about PGP, but PGSEM around 500-600
P2: There have been thousands of students altogether, but we have not heard any great stories on entrepreneurship. So again I don't need MBA
P2: In business you need selling skills, which you have as you are unconsciously trying to sell why we should take you.
I replied for a businessman these things should come consciously and blah blah
P2: Its just theory in class, how will theory help you in business.
I said PGSEM being a part time course is a great advantage. Whatever we learn in class can try to apply those concepts during workweek. Its actually 2.5 years of practical, and its upto the candidate what he wants to take from this course.
Thankfully track of interview shifted now.
P2: If you are asked to handle some project, which model you will use
I couldn't get the question -- maybe because of so much of defense which I did for why I need to do this MBA. Actually he was asking about waterfall/spiral/agile model etc
P1: If we don't take you, what will you do
May be I will apply again next year
P2: But will you continue your business
Surely I will do
P2: But will you apply again next year
Yes, I will do both things.
GOOD LUCK.
Keeping my fingers crossed!!!
More on PGSEM can be found here.
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