To begin with, let us revise the 10 core MBA interview questions, the most

frequently asked and important questions. These questions are:

#1 Tell Me Something About Yourself?

Ans. Born in Saharanpur City in UP, I was bought up in Ghaziabad. My father is

working with Indian Railways and mother is a home-maker. Younger sibling has
just started off with his MBA programme at Welingkar Bengaluru. I have been an
above average student throughout my study cycle. The life changing moment was
choosing NIFTEM where I have been part of diverse set of activities and was
exposed to lead a few of them closely under some fine mentorship. At NIFTEM, I
have delivered my responsibilities in Placement Committee and organized
several college events. I was also Leading the team during the Village
Adoption Programme for which our team efforts were recognized twice by the VC,
NIFTEM. These activities developed my skills in liaison, marketing and vendor
management.

I’ve always realized the efficacy of clear and precise communications, be it

during networking, sales, negotiations or even during the times of conflict.
During my time at ICFA working as a Manager- Marketing and Events, I played a
key role in designing of the trade events and generating business for ICFA. I
got chance to interact with various prominent industrialists and really
sharpened my networking and negotiations skills. At ICFA, I played a major
role in generating 47% of the total revenue from AgroWorld & Global Leadership
Summit
and Single handedly fetched 29% of the total revenue from these events.

At FICSI, as a Manager- Industry Connect and Special Project, I have been

promoting Skill India Initiatives across the Food Processing sector via
several integrations and interventions. I was involved as key member in
designing and implementing various projects like RPL under which we have
already trained 1 lakh candidates in last FY. It had been a remarkable 10-fold
growth. My responsibilities here at FICSI demands extensive critical thought
process since FICSI is a think-tank after all.

I have also been appointed as SPOC for Apprenticeships related queries under
OT. I have been efficiently delivering results in since I have now a deep
sense of how things work at the grassroot level without compromising values.

Time to time I involve myself in community service work as well. I help in

guiding the underprivileged and also volunteering certain times to contribute
my duties with Civil Defense team at Ghaziabad. With all this, I constantly
try to remain active and thrive for a better tomorrow.

#2 Why do You Want to Pursue an MBA?

Ans. There are two reasons for it. Firstly, roles that I have been playing at
FICSI or I have had at ICFA often provided me platforms to meet the industry
leaders closely and their analytical style of putting the ideas, be it
qualitative or quantitative, has inspired me a lot. It took me no long to
realize that I need to put myself through a rigorous programme, to sharpen
these analytical tools. Other reason is that I have always appreciated the
role of good peers and mentors since they have played a significant role in my
overall development and I strongly believe that only a good institution can
provide me an access to such an environment. With IIM-K comes a strong brand,
peers, alumni network and mentors. These will be the key masalas in recipe for
achieving my career goals.
#3 Why do You Want to Pursue an MBA from Our Business School?

Ans. I have always appreciated the role of good peers and mentors since they
have played a significant role in my development and I strongly believe that
only a good institution can provide me an access to the environment. With IIM-
K comes and strong brand and will surely serve as a platform for me to bring
to become a better individual overall. I would surely like to use this
platform to not only enhance my analytical skills but overall networking
skills as well. I would also like to highlight the fact that I really liked
the way the course has been designed for a shorter time frame and is focused
to fine tune the abilities of experienced candidates.

#4 What are Your Strengths?

Ans.
 My habit of not saying “NO” to any challenging task thrown at me. By the
virtue of working in a small organization and being a close aide of the
CEO, I have been assigned work in the past which is challenging and
beyond the scope of my KRA. I have never refrained from taking up these
tasks as I believe that each difficult task is an opportunity to learn.

 I am someone who thrives under difficult circumstances and always wants

to take up a role through which I can maximize my contribution towards
the organization. Even during COIVD when all Skilling projects are
affected badly, there was an urgent need to identify the new business
opportunities for the organisation and even in the difficult times I
undertook the project for launching FICSI's Online Learning Platform and
fetched sponsorships for the same from the Industries.

 My ability to get along well with my colleagues, vendors, and clients. I

am someone who is always cheerful and does not let the work pressure
affect my relationships with people who are close to me. This has helped
me in building a strong network with people not only within my own
organization but even beyond. I have also lent a helping hand to all the
people who joined after me and were finding it tough to understand the
functioning of the organization.

#5 What are Your Weaknesses?

Ans.
 I need to be a little more authoritative with the people I deal with in
the professional circle. My easy-going nature is sometimes taken for
granted and this affects the quality of the work expected out of the
vendor or my juniors. I need to ensure that I maintain a balance of both
so that the outcomes are not sacrificed at the cost of maintaining a
healthy relationship. There have been instances in the past where I have
not been able to express my disappointment with the work despite
important guidelines being flouted just to ensure that the relationship
does not spoil. It fell on my face when I realized that this has led to
detrimental outcomes and a quality that is below acceptable standards.

 I am a bit emotionally driven and sometimes it has made me land up in

taking wrong decisions. This is because I get emotional about the
outcomes/results. As there has been a situation in which I wished to bag
 a deal very much but wasn't able to break through it. As a professional
thumb rule, one should not pursue a lead more than thrice but I ended up
pursuing it for a long time and ended up diluting the complete
relationship with the client.

 I have a habit of micromanaging things. This happens to me quite

frequently that even after delegating the work to my subordinates or my
colleagues, I interfere during the task completion a lot. This not only
ends up in lowering my overall efficacy on other tasks but also makes
the person feel low in confidence.

#6 What are Your Career Goals Immediately after MBA?

Or Why HUL or Brand Manager?
Or Why Career Shift?

Ans. Brand Manager for Food Processing Sector

I have been involved in consulting but my core functionality has been in

promoting and propagating the key initiatives. Basically marketing, or as we
used to call it at ICFA, concept selling.
I have been by far handling these outreach initiatives alongside my inputs in
designing and development of programmes. That’s what a brand manager does with
a tangible product. All that would change is the product, scale of operations
and end consumer, which anyways occurs even after switching a job. Considering
all this, I would seriously seek to manage and develop some really interesting
brands in a long-term association with an organization in Food processing
sector.

#7 What is Your Long-Term Career Objective?

Ans. A leadership role in Food Processing Sector, I have always tried to

interact with various departments in my current job and would like to continue
the same in my future workplace. It helps me to understand how other
departments work in tandem with the smooth functioning of the organization. In
this way, ten years from now, I would have gained enough knowledge and
expertise to head the company alongside developing my core expertise in
marketing.

#8 Describe a Challenge that You Faced in Your Professional Life. How did You
Overcome It? Or Life Changing Point

Ans. UPTTI to NIFTEM

#9 Describe a Challenge that You Faced Outside your Professional or Academic

Life. How did You Overcome It?

Ans. Citing one incident, my father being part of an investigation team at his
workplace for a huge oversight found that the accused was falsely penalized.
He went out of his way to prove the person’s innocence even though it took a
toll on his mental health. He did it because it was his duty and
responsibility. I learned crucial lessons on integrity and responsibility
through this incident and many more and these form my core values today. While
conducting audits for onboarding vendors at my workplace, I never once wavered
towards taking up 'incentives' regularly offered to provide false information
to my seniors and therefore, had the complete trust of my senior colleagues
and industry associates.

#10 What Questions do You Have for the Admissions Committee?

Ans. Community Service Opportunities and Student Exchange Programme

#11 Questions on the Most Peculiar Aspects of your Candidature.

a. Why Food Processing? Or Why Drop?
The Indian food industry is considered as one of the sunrise sectors due
to its high growth potential and profitability. The Indian food
processing industry accounts for 32 per cent of the country’s total food
market and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export
and expected growth. It contributes 13% of India’s export and almost 6%
of Industrial Investment. The entire process of movement of raw material
from the farm gate level to its final consumption by the consumer shares
13-14% of India's GDP, so the subject is very close to my heart. The
entire chain of the rural economy connected with the urban economy
attracts me. It is the solution for the Food losses, enhancing rural
economy and also fulfilling consumer needs in the changing lifestyle.
The complete idea gave me a convincing notion about why the sector has
bright future and while pursuing the same I realized that so many
opportunity and problems are yet to be addressed.

b. Why Low Grades?

I would not like to shy away from my closer to average grades and in the
first two semesters went really tricky on my part of preparation. But
then I eventually I started diving deeper into the subjects and shift my
study peer groups which boosted my scores and afterwards maintain
consistency around them alongside my salience involvement in managing
co-curricular activities.

c. Why shifting career?

I would not call it a career shift, although with FICSI, I have been
involved in consulting but my core functionality has been in promoting
and propagating the key initiatives. Basically marketing, or as we used
to call it at ICFA, concept selling.
I have been by far handling these outreach initiatives alongside my
inputs in designing and development of programmes. That’s what a brand
manager does with a tangible product. All that would change is the
product, scale of operations and end consumer, which anyways occurs even
after switching a job. Considering all this, I would seriously seek to
manage and develop some really interesting brands in a long-term
association.

#12 Describe briefly your current or most recent job responsibilities. State
the knowledge and skills you have acquired from this experience.

I have been spearheading several projects for FICSI playing a significant role
in terms of planning, proposing, liaison for getting approvals and
implementation of different projects. A brief of my KRAs are as follows:
• Facilitating Skilling Projects supported under different components (like
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), Short Term Trainings, Special Projects)
of PMKVY, NULM, DDU-GKY schemes
• Co-ordinating with National Skill Development Corporation, various Training
Partners, Assessment Agencies and State Skills Mission to design and develop
skilling projects, preparing proposals and liaison to get project approvals
• Monitoring of the on-ground implementation of the on-going projects to
ensure Quality checks
• Promoting Apprenticeships under Optional Trades as SSC’s Apprenticeship SPOC
for NSDC, Industries and Third-Party Aggregators to roll out NAPS scheme
across the food processing sector
• Establishing connect with the Food Processing Units for promoting the Skill
India Initiatives through strategic tie-ups, & MoUs and Fetching Industry’s
interest to support the skilling programs
• Contacting and meeting with key decision-makers and appreciating of the role
skilling can play in the Food Processing sector
• Identification of Industry's Subject Matter Experts and getting reviews and
validations on the existing and upcoming Qualification Packs via Seminars and
Webinars
• Launch of the various digital initiatives like digital learning academy and
Job portal for food processing job roles and getting Industry support for the
same
• Generating Sponsorships for different Initiatives by FICSI
• Creating and aligning the Industrial skilling demand for the workforce
benchmarked as per NSQF & NOS

I play a significant role under the guidance of CEO, FICSI to accelerate

FICSI’s outreach activities:
• Proposing and managing Industry engagement via conferences, seminars,
exhibitions and Job (Rozgaar) Mela
• Handling of Social Media, Press Coverage and Releases, Website Contents
• Co-ordinating with the NSDA and food processing industries in designing and
review of FICSI’s Qualification Packs and the Job Roles developed by FICSI
team in consultation with Industry’s Subject Matter Experts
All these initiatives have given me insights about project management. With my
efficacy in handling these key initiatives for FICSI, management has always
trusted my opinions during the decision-making process. I have played a front-
end role in the identification and managing different vendors wisely. I have
always headed for the out-of-the-box ideas to facilitate the strategic tie-
ups. Added to this buffet were the negotiation-skills which have proven to be
a crucial part in closing any deal with better returns. A keen sense of
observations, proper communications, team management and time to time progress
evaluation have been key factors contributing towards optimization of the
results.

#13 What is your most significant accomplishment so far?

Even without any professional specialization in liaison, marketing and

consulting, I have been able to pull out some remarkable projects and
generated good business with great outcomes in 3 years of life span. I had no
idea about fields of projects in promoting apprenticeship policies. And now
till date in a span of 9 months, I have been able to attract 500+
apprenticeship opportunities under optional trade for the Food Processing
Sector with more than 300+ candidates successfully placed under the same. I am
a NSDC certified SPOC of Apprenticeship Regulations and Scheme Implementation
under OT in Food Processing Sector. I have had very little knowledge about the
skilling ecosystem but I have been able to fetch projects for training more
than 1.5lakh candidates across the sector in the last 16 months. Also launched
various digital initiatives and generated Industry's support for the same. I
had a very limited knowledge of the event organising industry since I
organised a few of them during my graduation and this has further helped me
out in generating a sponsorship of more than 29% of the total revenue for the
star event of ICFA called AgroWorld 2018.

Apart from this, at NIFTEM, I with my team were awarded twice for the projects
that we did during the Village Adoption Programme. My contributions in
placement cell were also recognized and I was also appointed as one of the
college ambassadors at the events where NIFTEM participated.

#14 What are your present hobbies?

 New Gadget and Technology Updates

 Testing of various Android Softwares and Custom Roms/kernels for
different developers and bug reporting
 Networking with people
 Playing Football and Badminton
 Listening Music from varied genres after stressful day at work to relax
myself

#Movie:

1. The Godfather:
a. Don’t make promises you cannot keep
b. Don’t involve yourself in other people’s personal lives
c. Family is the most important thing in life
d. Establish friendships out of respect, business, and trust
e. Be prepared ahead of time. Never make a move or judgement without
careful planning ahead of time
f. Build a powerful community
g. Don’t take things too personal

#11 How will you describe yourself in five terms?

#12 How will your colleagues/friends describe you in five terms?
#13 How will your supervisor describe you in five terms?
#14 What one quality or train separates you from others?
#15 What is the first thing that a person will notice about you when he/she
meets you?
#16 What have been the three key decisions in your life?

#17 What are the five key takeaways that you expect from an MBA?
#18 What student activities do you intend to engage in during your MBA?
#19 What steps have you taken to learn about our MBA program.
#20 What specific concentrations and courses do you intend to take up?
#21 How will you contribute to the MBA class?
#22 If you do not get selected, what will be your alternative?

#24 How do your background and skills prepare you to meet your career goals?
#25 What impact do you wish to leave on your industry/functional area?
#26 Why don't you pursue your career goals by staying at your job? Why invest
time and money in an MBA?
#27 What specific skills would you want to develop for the successful
attainment of your post-MBA goals?
#28 If you are not successful in achieving your desired objective after MBA,
what will be your plan B?

#29 Discuss three recent developments in your industry.

#30 How do you see your industry panning out over the next decade? What major
changes do you foresee?
#31 What is the biggest challenge that your industry is facing?
#32 For this challenge, what solution do you propose?
#33 What are the five key skills needed for a successful manager in your work
function?

#41 Which global business leader do you admire the most?

#42 What, according to you, are five key qualities of an effective business
leader?

I am privileged to be born into a family of strong value systems who not only lovingly brought
me up but also conducted their professional lives ethically. Citing one such incident, my father
being part of an investigation team at his workplace for a huge oversight found that the
accused was falsely penalized. He went out of his way to prove the person’s innocence even
though it took a toll on his mental health. He did it because it was his duty and responsibility. I
learned crucial lessons on integrity and responsibility through this incident and many more and
these form my core values today. While conducting audits for onboarding vendors at my
workplace, I never once wavered towards taking up 'incentives' regularly offered to provide
false information to my seniors and therefore, had the complete trust of my senior colleagues
and industry associates.
 
During my field visits (Village Adoption Programme) as part of my curriculum at NIFTEM, I along
with my team designed several programs for encouraging local entrepreneurship in the village.
However, on-ground challenges caught us off guard but we continued to work with humility,
creating an environment of trust. Our efforts were met with success when the villagers finally
spoke openly to us collaborated with us in the successful implementation of the programs.
 
This robust learning experience helped me chart out different skilling projects under Skill India
Initiatives at work. I identified some NGOs which were working on the model similar to Lijjat
Papad and designed a pilot project for upskilling rural women in the state of Telangana. Under
my management, 2500 women were trained and further engaged in producing traditional
snacks in association with the NGOs providing marketing support. The success of this model
was appreciated and FICSI was approached to adopt a similar model to design a project for
migrant labour across 6 states. 
 
I have also engaged with many start-ups and understood the difficulties they face in scalability
and networking and to address that, while working in ICFA, I led a team to launch various
platforms to aid them in the same. The platforms directly connected start-ups with experts
helping them with resources to scale up at an unprecedented pace.
 
My singular aspiration is to lead a company that works tirelessly towards the upliftment of
society as a whole with its unique line of products and services.  During my research to find a
program that would propel my career ahead in the direction of my goals, I came across your
program and found it in strong alignment with my aspirations of leading with strong values and
conscience. IIM Kozhikode, with its heritage and rich legacy of creating world-class leaders has
always been an institution to reckon with. It would be a matter of great privilege to learn from
the stalwarts themselves and contribute in my small capacity to this institution. With this
purpose, I offer my candidature for this program and express an infallible intent to be a part of
IIM Kozhikode.