Reverse Interview - Part 1

My MBA preparation took a nosedive as soon as I started for it. However, being the kind of an optimistic personality that I am, even then I hoped for at least one call from a decent B-School. It was only after I wrote all the papers that I realized how badly I yearned for one. Now that the saga is almost over ('almost' because that is the reason behind this post and u all will get to know about it in a short while) in retrospect I think my life would have been so very beautiful had I realized it a few months earlier.

... sigh!! ...double sigh!! ...triple sigh!!

Anyways.. thats a completely different story all together and I will cover it some other day in a separate post.

Coming back to the point.. Hopeless as the papers went, with every result that came pouring in, my dream of securing a place amongst the creme de la creme of the future business fraternity received setbacks as well.. While I was still trying to get over my failures, suddenly from nowhere NMIMS called me.. A few formalities followed and the stage shifted to Room N0. 902, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies for the next round of the selection process aptly called GD/PI round.

As I was waiting there in the room, a myriad of thoughts/questions came to my mind. Will I be able to convey my thoughts well enough to the selection panel? What topics will they propose before us to discuss? What if they asked me about my career goals? (I must admit I was completely blank on this one). Will I be able to steal few minutes in order to speak my heart out while discussing the topic? And the most important one.. Will I join the institution if at all they see at least some part of a potential manager within me?

While I was still trying to figure out answers to these questions, 2 dominant personalities entered the room. A lady and a gentleman. The lady introduced the man as the vice chancellor of NMIMS, Dr. N.M.Kondap. They talked a bit about the institution and the selection procedure and tried their best to make us feel comfortable. There was nothing wrong with their efforts but somehow it all proved futile to pacify those naughty butterflies creating mayhem in my stomach which by then had reached their extreme limits.

I can best describe myself then as a moron waiting haplessly to get screwed just like a scapegoat. I saw others being called for group discussion and the butterflies got more eager. Then, our group was called. We were asked to wear batches which had our chest number printed on top of them... a.k.a S.S.B. style. We took our respective seats and waited for the instructions from the moderators (They were 2 in number). By then I had won over my nerves and was ready to burp out on whatever topic they would propose (We used to be champions of bakarch**i in our college days).

Applause... Thanku.. Thanku..

I think I performed quite decently in the discussion. I put forward a couple of crucial points, burped for about 3 to 4 minutes and summed up the discussion. Everything was going as per the plan except... except..... Now when I think of the incident, I can't help myself putting up broadest of smiles that I can manage. Gosh!! How can I be so stupid? For God sake it was the only call I managed. And how could I let it go that way. But it had to happen and it happened. In the middle of the discussion I don't know why but I was fiddling with my pen completely unaware of its potentially dangerous orientation in between the hands.. And then.. And then.. it just popped without any warnings and fell right in between the panelists.

Ahem!!!!!

I don't know how grave my crime was.. but certainly no one expects that knida behavior from a future manager..

Anyways, the GD ended with I summing up the discussion. I carried all the discussed points quite well and explained their relevance with the topic provided to us for the discussion.
All in all a satisfying performance.. (Please leave the popping incident at the mercy of the moderators)... perhaps!!!

(Contd..)

Introducing Shalin

The time has finally arrived. The wait is over. Its my date with the blogger's world not as a reader though but as an author. Yeah! I must admit this world is not new to me. I have been quite regular with some blogs here. But what i am new is at jotting down my thoughts and trying to make fellow bloggers a look at my dashboard.
I hope i will succeed in both my attempts.. Amen!
Hey! hang on.. There's a lot to come shortly.
Till then,
adios!!!