The Interview

Well, I am not going to post a End-term review of the placement process as I won't have much to say. Bottom line, the placecom of IIM-Bangalore rocks and they got all of us placed in four and a half days in very difficult times.

I am posting my interview experience in Citi where I finally am going for my summer internship. We reached the MDC(the place where all of it takes place) at 8 am and me and my good friend Tauseef were the first ones to be called by the trackers (something we had never expected :P).

I had no idea which company I had been called in for. Since its all a dynamic process, you are sent to the place where you have a shortlist and the interview panel is free. To my surprise, I was waiting there for interviews in three companies. First, I attended a group discussion by a firm the status of which was irrelevant after my next interview.

A night before, I had looked at the options available and decided that the Markets division (which includes trading and all) of any bank would be the best option for me. That would be either Citi, HSBC or ICICI. I was very glad that I had been shortlisted for the Markets division of Citi. I was probably the 3rd or 4th person to interview. The placecom arranges for company write-ups outside for the students so that they know at least the bare minimum about the firm they interview for.

Then I heard the voice on the Walkie-Talkie - "Abhijit Raja is clear to be sent into Citi - CMK". I saw the HR waiting outside the room for me. I recognized him from the Pre-placement talk that had taken place about a month back.

He was extra nice to me outside, which made me realize that they planned to screw me inside.
He started talking in hindi as we were going inside.
There was a 3rd guy in there who was supposed to be a senior guy from the markets division. I would refer to himas MS(markets Senior)
HR : To Raja saab, kaisa chal raha hai?
Me : Bas badhiya
HR : To Banaras me padhe ho aap. Pehalwan ki lassi to pee hi hogi.
Me : Haan, wo to hamari favourite jagah thi.
HR : Aur wahan ki aur koi mithai?
Me : Haan, laung lata kasie bhoolein.
HR to MS (start conversing with each other) : Aapko pata haiye pehalwaan ka naam kasie pada........... blah blah (they talk for 30 seconds)

(By this time I see a sheet of paper consisting the names of the shortlisted people on the table - I realize that there are only 8 people and I have to grab this opportunity)

MS : Ok now, we'll start the cliched way, Tell me about yourself.
Me (whatever I had prepared) : Blah Blah....... good in acads, good at sports, leadership........ done well in my work........ good analytical skills, good academic performance in Quantitative and Financial Accounting.
(MS was looking intently for a point to pick on)

MS : So, you had good grades in Financialaccounting. So, what ratios would you look into before investing in a company
Me : The Return on Equity, Return on Investment., P/E Ratios
MS : For the liqudity, what ratios would you use?
Me : The Quick Ratio and the Cash Flow statements.
MS : No, No...... there is something else. I thought you were supposed to be good in Financial accounting
(With this statement I realized that this was supposed to be a stress interview, so I decided I'll smile at them even if they slap me)
Me : Yes sir, I think I am good but I know as much as has been taught to me. I am not able to recollect any other ratio as of now.

HR : OK, your form mentions you did your summer internship in National Highways in your engineering days.
Me : Yes Sir.
MS : So tell me now, how many kilometers of highways are under construction which are under NHAI and what is the percentage of completion.
Me : Sir, the major projects of NAHI currently are the Golden Quadrilateral and the North-South and East-West Corridors.
MS : Don't give me verbose answers, you told me that you have good analytical skills. Give me figures.
Me : Sir according to me the Golden Quadrilateral project is about 8000 km in length and the North-South and East-West corridors together about 6000 kms and last time I checked, it had been about 70% complete.
MS (Not convinced): OK, do you know what all machines are used in highway construction and what part of the total project cost do they form.
Me : (Listed down the machines) Sir, I was not allowed to go into the financial information of the project as I was an engineering summer intern. But my guess would be not more than 10% as most of the machines and equipment are leased.
(moving on to the next one)
HR : I've heard that you have blogged on some issues that have been published on CNN-IBN site. Can you tell me more about it.
Me (not expecting this question) : Yes, I have four blogs there. One on caste reservation, one on the state of infrastructure in Bangalore (and as always happens in interviews, I forgot the other two) and ...... and........ Sorry, I can't remember the other two.
HR : Doesn't matter. Tell me about what are your views on the caste reservation issue.
Me : I think that I dont support it in the current state but I am more in favour of a model that takes into account various factors including economic factors, place of origin etc. This was one of the models suggested by Dr. Yogendra yadav.
HR : (with a wicked smile) Oh Dr. Yogendra Yadav. You know his main work is to predict elections and he was wrong in 5 of the last 6. You form your opinions based on the work of such incompetant people.
Me : I don't think his failure in predicting elections is in any way related to his model which I feel is much better than what is currently present.
HR : What research did you do before writing that article. Do you know about the Sachar commission, do you know the full recommendations of the Mandal commission???
Me : Sorry sir, I dont know them in great detail but this was an opinion and I still stand by what I wrote that there are many ways that can be better then the current form of implementing the reservations.

HR/MS : So why do you want to join Citi
Me : Blah blah - Big company, opportunities...........
The group has an Indian CEO which shows the meritocratic nature of the group and shows that anyone can rise to the top. Even in the PPT last month, it was told that the first step to rectify a mistake is to admit it and Citi was one of the first firms to admit the mistake in the global crisis which I feel is a very big thing.

HR : So Abhijit, thank you and from the next time take the opinion of poeple who are good and not who fail 5 out of 6 times
Me : Sure sir (giving a very wide smile)

Then I was waiting anxiously as all other people went in and came out with the same level of hatred for the HR guy. As all the interviews were over, one of the Placecom members called me to the Placement room. As soon as I reached there, he told me that Citi wants to make an offer to me and asked me whether I would accept it.
My simple answer : "OBVIOUSLY"

Then, I went with him to the HR guy, wehre he was standing smiling at me.
HR : So Raja saab, milte hai aapse summer me. Thoda kha peekar aao yaar, itne patle ho, khhon kaise chhosenge tumhara.
Me : Aap pehalwaan ki lassi ka intezaam kara do, sehat apne aap ban jayegi

Then he signed the sheet and I heard the most sweetest sound: "Abhijit Raja is out of the placement process."

Although it was a relief for me, I knew that my friends need my support as they had done for me up to that point. The icing on the cake was that another of my friends had got through into Citi Consumer. The only thing I wish for now is for Citi to survive till and go there for summers and confirm its doomed status :P