Tips to crack an interview @ Great Lakes Institute of Management

I've been getting a lot of calls for this topic. So here goes.

Tips that I think you need to crack the interview @ Great Lakes Institute of Management.

First, be yourself. Interviewers have the experience to see right through you. Don't try to be someone you are not. If you are from a remote region of the country and you did your under-graduation in the UK, you cannot say "I have been raised in the UK". That is just stupid.

The reason I put this as Point #1 is because it is that important. You must have come across the phrase, "a person takes less than 10 seconds to judge you." Its famous for a reason. You do not want to mess it up with your accent training sessions from the office you have worked with earlier.

Second, don't beat around the bush. Interviewers HATE and I mean HATE it people beat around the bush to answer a question. If you are unsure about the answer, say that you are unsure about what you are going to say. If do not know the answer, just say that you do not know the answer and move on. (It worked for me).

On speaking with the professor who interviewed me. He said that he appreciated the fact that I was honest so he gave me a few brownie points for it. However, do not say it more than once. You better be prepared with data. And by data I mean HARD FACTS.

Third, aim for the moon but don't come across like you're arrogant. You are a dreamer, a leader and you will make it in life. You know it and that is a fantastic thing. However, do not come across like you have a billion options which undermines the purpose of your PGPM. Humility is key. Heavy headed people come across and arrogant not assertive. So be mindful when you speak.

Remember, you are not on the other side of the table. If you were, would you take a student like you? Answer that over and over to yourself. And when you reach a "yes" after consulting with your peers, you're ready.

Fourth, be prepared. Always come across as you want it. People who do not prepare enough about the course or college or alumni or anything related to Great Lakes come across as uninterested. You do not want that.

How is this course going to make you who you want to be? Make sure you record your answer to know where you stand. You will be shocked, trust me.

I'm the fifth one from the left

Fifth, know what you want. Not only do you need to know what you want as your short term and long term goals but also know what specialization you want and why? A clear thought process is what I think is necessary. If the interviewer prompts you for other options, tell that you are open to considering other options after getting more details about them and whether it helps you achieve your eventual goal (Atleast speak like you know it)

Sixth, learn to answer the most important question. "Why... ?". You will not believe the number of people who choke with this question. More often than not, interviewers will not ask you this directly, it will be implied. You need to "be in the conversation" to know when that happens. And when it does, be sure to "imply" that you got what they're asking while answering the question.

Its obvious that you need to know why. If you answer is going to stop at "Better job prospects / Return on investment" and their likes. Make sure you go to the nearest Shawarma roll joint and buy yourself seventeen rolls to "feed your sorrows" because those are the worst possible answers you come up with. (There are worse, I'm just trying to be dramatic)

Seventh, take some time off before you answer. I call it the DEAL MAKER. I do not speak for any other college when I say this but at Great Lakes, professors want thinkers. Not some nerd who has been getting straight A's right from school or got a 99 percentile in CAT or XAT. So pause, think, gather information from the interviewer to answer their question, only then answer. If you were the champ of Bournvita Quiz contest in school where you knew the answer before the complete question was told, good luck. This is for those who are normal.

The approach to the answer is as important as the answer itself. And sometimes, even more important than the answer. If you can come across as a thinker and an innovator with your answers, you by default are malleable, which is what Great Lakes looks for in students as they want to learn newer ways.

Eighth, don't get too worked up. Its not worth it. Why? because if you are worked up, all you are going to do apart from perspiring like you were in the "sauna" with a suit is stammer, choke and most importantly, come across as anything but confident.

Take a deep breath. Have a sip of water when you get stuck. And tell your brain that you can do this. You shall pass. (Drama is back)

And Finally, never prepare on the day before the interview (Works for me). Last minute preparation is a BIG NO. While it works for some, it doesn't for many. I always stop my preparation atleast a day before the interview because I want to get my rest or cool off before I face the music.

What do I do? I usually catch a movie or go out for dinner the night before. I would suggest you not to drink because it's very unlikely that you will stop when you need to and end up having a hangover in the interview room. Not sure if you want to look wasted. Save the party for the day of the interview where your emotions about the interview would be the actual truth. haha.

Hope this helps. All the best!

Cheers!
-Yogesh Babu
(www.fb.com/yogesh87)