IIFT: My First GD/PI and First Screw-up

[ Disclaimer : This Post may not make sense to a casual reader. But if you are one of those MBA aspirants prowling for some info. on the GD/PI process, go ahead, u will find enough. ]

My IIFT GD/PI, the first one of this season took place in hyderabad. Started off well with a good Essay and a decent GD but ended up flat on my face with a shoddy performance in PI.

Let me recount the events leading to the tragedy..

Reached the venue on time. Punctuality has never been my virtue, but my new Snooze Alarm did make up for that. There were 12 people in my batch. Half of them freshers and the others with workex. Everyone looked cool.

We were seated in form of a circle. A very good arrangement for GD.

After fiddling for a few moments, the essay topic was announced. "Is Cricket losing its popularity in India?". Hmm...good one. I think everyone agreed on this issue. Launched into the topic stating the reasons behind the losing popularity. Completed it well in time before the paper was snatched.

Then started the GD. "Should dress code be implemented in schools and colleges".Two minutes for each one expressing his/her views and 36 mins for open discussion, with each person moderating for 3 mins. I was the first person and talked about dress code reducing class distinctions, inspiring pride and encouraging a feeling of oneness. And then others continued. There was a consensus on implementing dress code in schools. But there was a divide on whether the favour should be extended to colleges. Somehow in the middle of the discussion, the group digressed and started discussing more interesting things like the 'Western Influence on Indian Youth". Overall, a well-organized GD.

Then started the Personal Interviews. Again I was the first person to go in. The panel has 3 men. One of them was seriously going through my essays. One person looked very relaxed and highly disinterested. The third person took most of my interview. It started of with the most cliched Interview Openers: Tell us about Yourself ?. Boring Question...But I droned on for a few mins.

Then went on to Why MBA? Another routine question. But while delivering my mugged up routine answer, something new happened. The Incorrigible Idiot that I was, I left my cell phone ON and the music started all of a sudden. Gosh..I knew I blew it up. The person meticulously going through my essays till then looked up with what-the-hell-is-that expression. With a thoroughly embarrassed expression, I apologised and switched it OFF. I dunno how much impact this has on the panel, but then onwards the questions were even less intent and the panel looked very disinterested.

After a few Questions Comparing IIMB and XLRI with IIFT, the person going through my essays looked up and asked if I were interested in travelling around. Hitherto he has not been looking at me barring the curious glance when my cell rang. He asked me to explain the significance of charminar. STUMPED.. It really was a bolt from the blue. I said that I had no idea. He asked about Golconda Fort. I said that I did not visit. At this point, the panel suddenly became very vibrant and started Quizzing me( Screwing me) with questions on Hyderabad and Nawabs. And finally ended the torture with a Question on Budha's Statue in Hussain Sagar. Well, I dunno it either and that was the final nail in my coffin.

I came out of the interview room, totally disgusted with myself. There is little hope on IIFT now. Better prepare well for the other interviews.And I am not going to carry my damn cell phone to an interview again.

P.S : On my return flight from delhi to hyderabad, two days after the interview, I had browsed through the InFlight Magazine of SpiceJet. Alas, there it was, a special edition on Hyderabad Nawabs and the archeological structures built by them. And then it striked to me : The panel has flown from delhi to Hyderbad for the Interviews. And unfortunately, they used SpiceJet...