GDPI plays an essential role in the final selection process of candidates in top B-schools. It is very important for the candidates to prepare well for the group discussion and personal interview rounds in order to convert the B-schools. CAT is just an initial stage of the selection process whereas the final selection is decided on the basis of the performance of the candidates in the GDPI round.
Candidates can check the below MDI Gurgaon interview transcript of a 99.68%iler with 90.25/91.83/79.9 profile.
The MDI Gurgaon Interview Transcript of a 99.68%iler is as follows:
Panel: Two gentlemen. One of them in the late 50s, perhaps (P1) and the other (P2) in his late 40s. Not intimidating but not overly friendly. Looked strict on the outside.
P1: Hello Mr. Das, so I see you are a final year student of Computer Science. Tell me the full form of ASCII?
Me: (Completely rattled) Sir, I read about it. It starts with American….
P1: Everything starts with American. Go on, complete it.
Me: (smiling) Sir, I don’t recall.
P1: Okay! No problem. Tell me the name of five Indian IT companies.
Me: TCS, Infosys, WIPRO, Capgemini…..
P1: Is Capgemini Indian?
Me: (facepalm moment) No sir, sorry.
P1: How do you think the change in US presidency will impact the Indian IT sector?
Me: Talked about the relaxation of VISA regulations and hence more opportunities.
P1: Have you heard of any regulator or body in the Indian IT sector?
Me: Sir, I have heard about NASSCOM.
P1: Wonderful. Tell me its full form then.
Me: (dead inside but still putting on my brightest smile) I don’t recall, sir. I don’t know.
P1: Okay. What is the full form of IBM?
Me: BM stands for Business Machine. Not sure about the ‘I’. Innovative maybe.
P1: (smirks) Now, P2 will take over.
P2: (complete poker face) Hello, Arka, let me give you a case. Suppose there is this AC and refrigerator company looking to expand their markets to a poor country where the climate is cold and there are many power cuts. How will you market the products?
Me: (seeing this as an opportunity to salvage my interview and asking for half a minute to think). Sir, I think there are two fronts on which I would like to focus—the price of the products and the positioning.
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For the price part, I would not advertise the price as an absolute value but how they will save money as the consumers are likely to be value-conscious. So, I will say something like this: perhaps due to cold weather, there is a lot of wastage of fresh vegetables. A refrigerator will keep the items at an optimum temperature and hence stop wastage. Also, the devices should be designed to be battery-run so that power cuts won’t affect them. Also, if the parts are replaceable, that might improve the cost-efficiency of the devices over a longer period.
For the positioning, I won’t position my devices as ones used to make things or the environment cold. I would advertise them as products that maintain an optimum temperature level. Also, I would advertise my products on TV and in newspapers rather than on digital platforms because, being a poor country, I am not sure about digital penetration.
I might have told other points as they came to my mind.
P2: But do you think a battery can take the load when the refrigerator starts? Do you know how that works?
Me: No, sir, I don’t know that. But we have to give the company a competitive advantage, and I think we should try to do disruptive things and try and innovate.
P2: Okay, I am done!
P1: So, Mr. Das, do you know when was the Internet invented?
Me: I don’t know the date. But I know that it perhaps started off as a US military project and got commercialized later. In the 1980s, maybe.
P1: Okay. Who is the father of modern computing?
Me: I think it is Alan Turing.
P1: Really? Not Charles Babbage?
Me: Sir, I know it to be Turing.
P1: Oh! Tell me who invented PC?
Me: (recollecting scenes from ‘Jobs,’ the movie starring Ashton Kutcher) Sir, it was Steve Jobs.
P1: Was he alone?
Me: No sir, there was Steve Wozniak, too.
P1: Where are they now?
Me: They are dead maybe.
P1: Okay! Thank you! We are done. You may leave.
Me: (formalities)
Verdict: Converted, Both PGDM and PGDM-HRM.
This was one of the many MDI Gurgaon interview experiences. Hope this gives you an idea on how to tackle the interview questions and convert the same.
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