How to Enhance Your Interview Skills for CAT 2020: A Comprehensive Guide

Preparation and practice are key to excelling in the interviews for the CAT 2020, especially for aspirants aiming to join esteemed institutions like IIM A, B, and C. With just over 1.5 years remaining until the interviews, there are several strategies and approaches you can adopt to ensure you are well-prepared.

Interactive Engagement and Practice

The foundational skill of interacting with a wide range of people, such as professors, colleagues, and parents, is often overlooked by many candidates. However, personal connections and interactions vastly enhance your confidence and poise during interviews. If you feel uncomfortable or panicky during interviews, consider seeking advice from more experienced individuals. Additionally, joining classes that focus on interview skills, including preparation for likely questions, correct answers, and speaking and listening skills, can provide invaluable practice and guidance.

Key Areas of Focus for Personal Interviews

Content: Gather comprehensive information about your profile, including your work experience, hobbies, places you have stayed, and motivations for pursuing an MBA. It's crucial to be well-informed about current happenings and hold your own opinions on relevant topics. This preparation demonstrates to interviewers that you have done thorough research and are knowledgeable.

Clarity: Clarity in your thoughts is essential. Ensure you are clear about your motivations for pursuing an MBA, your opinions on important issues, and your reasons for choosing a specific IIM. Simply owning your thoughts and explaining them cohesively is more important than knowing every detail.

Confidence: Confidence naturally follows when you have a strong content base and are clear about your ideas. Enhance your communication skills by practicing what you believe in. Discussing specific examples or situations that highlight your strengths can build your confidence and prepare you to face business challenges proactively.

Mastering the Personal Interview (PI) Round

The Personal Interview (PI) is a critical component of the MBA selection process, usually conducted after the Group Discussions (GD) and Written Ability Test (WAT). A PI can be intimidating, but with the right preparation, you can navigate this process successfully.

Preparation for PI:

Be your genuine self, as experienced interviewers can easily spot false pretenses. Authenticity is key to a successful interview.

Thoroughly prepare for the interview to reduce anxiety and boost your confidence.

Answer questions honestly and promptly. Honesty is valued during the interview.

Reflect on your greatest strengths and prepare examples that exemplify these strengths.

Be ready for open-ended questions that allow you to lead the conversation. For instance, 'Tell me something about yourself' is a common open-ended question.

Etiquette in Personal Interview:

To excel in the PI round, it's important to adhere to certain etiquette tips:

Preparation: Interviewers often comment on a lack of preparation. Being well-prepared not only reflects your organizational skills but also your knowledge about the institute. This preparation also helps in formulating compelling answers about why you want to join a specific program at a particular IIM.

Cliched Answers: Avoid cliché answers by providing unique insights. Start with general information, but use your preparation to dive into specifics that showcase your individuality.

Staying on Point: Avoid filler words and unnecessary rambling. This helps you remain focused and demonstrates your professionalism. If you have a bit of silence, don’t fill it with random talk. Politely ask if the interviewer would like to know more specific details about you.

Conclusion

With focused practice and preparation, you can significantly improve your performance in the Personal Interview (PI) round of the CAT 2020. By honing your communication skills, showcasing clarity and confidence, you will be in a much better position to succeed in your journey toward an MBA from IIM A, B, or C. Remember, the goal is not just to pass the interview but to demonstrate your potential as a successful future MBA student.