SIOM GE PI WAT / GDPI Experience

SIOM Selection Process Feedback

Written Ability Test (WAT):

• Average Duration: 20 minutes
• Topic: Write about aspects mentioned in your resume that you are not proud of.
• Feedback: The candidate is required to reflect on and write about elements in their resume that may not be a source of pride. This test evaluates self-awareness, honesty, and the ability to communicate about personal growth areas.

Case Study Discussion:

• Average Duration: 15 minutes
• Number of Participants: 10
• Case Topic: Analyzing the decreasing trend in the youth voter turnout in India.
• Feedback: This segment assesses the candidate’s problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and the ability to discuss and provide insights into a real-world scenario related to voting patterns.

Personal Interview:

• Average Duration: 10-15 minutes
• Number of Panelists: 3
• Excerpts from Interview 1:
• Introduce yourself.
• Preferred domain in MBA.
• Define a market and marketing.
• Why you?
• Hobbies.
• Capital of Punjab.
• Opinions on student politics.
• Preferred genres of reading.
• Job profile details.
• Learning from work experience.
• Why MBA.
• Other MBA calls received.
• Excerpts from Interview 2:
• Introduce yourself in 30 seconds.
• Father’s profession.
• Why MBA.
• Hobbies.
• Academic questions.
• Why SIOM.
• Rating other MBA calls.
• GDP definition.
• Role as president of the college committee.
• Candidate’s questions.
• Feedback: The personal interview delves into various aspects such as the candidate’s background, motivations for pursuing an MBA, academic knowledge, and leadership experiences. The multiple panelists allow for a well-rounded evaluation.

Overall Observations:

• The selection process is comprehensive, covering written communication skills, analytical thinking, and personal interviews.
• Candidates are assessed on their ability to reflect on personal areas of improvement and handle real-world scenarios.
• The personal interview covers a wide range of topics, including academics, professional experiences, and current affairs.

Tips for Candidates:

• Be prepared to discuss both strengths and areas for improvement from your resume.
• Stay updated on current affairs, especially related to social and political issues.
• Develop a clear understanding of your motivations for pursuing an MBA and why you are interested in SIOM specifically.
• Practice articulating your thoughts concisely and confidently during the interview.

SIOM Nashik Selection Process Feedback

Written Ability Test (WAT):

• Duration: 10 minutes
• Topics:
• Cross-cultural environment.
• Feedback: Candidates are evaluated on their ability to express thoughts coherently and concisely within a limited time frame. The given topic, “Cross-cultural environment,” suggests an assessment of the candidate’s awareness and communication skills in diverse contexts.

Group Exercise:

• Duration: 20 minutes
• Number of Participants: 8
• Case Study: A case study is provided, and questions related to the case must be solved collaboratively in a group.
• Feedback: This segment assesses teamwork, problem-solving, and communication skills. Candidates are expected to actively participate in the group discussion and collectively arrive at solutions for the case study questions.

Personal Interview – Interview 1:

• Candidate Profile: Fresher, B. Tech
• Questions:
• Introduce yourself.
• Why pursue an MBA?
• Why choose Operations?
• Reason for leaving the job.
• Why prefer SIOM?
• Other MBA options considered.
• SAP experience.
• Hobbies.
• Dimensions of a table tennis table.
• Difference between efficiency and effectiveness.
• Feedback: The personal interview covers a range of topics, exploring the candidate’s background, motivations, and knowledge. Questions about SAP experience, hobbies, and the difference between efficiency and effectiveness gauge the candidate’s practical skills and understanding.

Overall Observations:

• The selection process at SIOM Nashik includes a written ability test, group exercise, and personal interview, providing a comprehensive evaluation.
• Candidates are assessed not only on their academic and professional background but also on their ability to work in a team and express thoughts in writing.
• The interview delves into both the candidate’s technical skills (SAP experience) and non-technical aspects (hobbies, difference between efficiency and effectiveness).

Tips for Candidates:

• Practice expressing thoughts clearly and concisely in a written format for the WAT.
• Develop teamwork and problem-solving skills for the group exercise.
• Prepare for questions related to your background, motivations for pursuing an MBA, and specific interests in Operations.
• Be ready to discuss any practical experiences, such as working on SAP.
• Stay updated on general knowledge and be prepared for questions beyond academic and professional aspects, such as hobbies and sports dimensions.

SIOM Nashik Selection Process Feedback

Case Discussion:

• Case 1: Business Card Design
• Scenario: Design of a small company’s business card, focusing on optimal space utilization.
• Case 2: CSR Activities
• Scenario: A company deciding its CSR activities, with options and related data provided. Candidates, as Board members, discuss where to allocate resources.
• Feedback: The case discussions evaluate candidates on their analytical thinking, decision-making, and ability to collaborate in a group setting. The first case assesses creativity and design considerations, while the second evaluates strategic thinking and social responsibility awareness.

Written Ability Test (WAT):

• Duration: 15 minutes
• Word Limit: 1 page (A4 size)
• Topic 1: If salary is not a factor and living expenses are covered, describe what you would do for a living and how you would spend your time.
• Topic 2: Describe an opportunity in your life that you let go. Do you regret it?
• Feedback: The WAT assesses candidates’ written communication skills, creativity, and introspection. The topics provide insights into the candidates’ values, aspirations, and decision-making.

Personal Interview – Interview 1:

• Candidate Profile: B.Tech
• Questions:
• Introduce yourself.
• Why pursue an MBA? Why Operations and not IT?
• Explanation of operational interdependencies.
• Long-term career goals.
• Extra-curricular activities.
• Other MBA calls received.
• Any questions for the interviewers?
• Feedback: The interview covers a wide range of topics, including career choices, domain-specific knowledge (operations), and personal interests. The interviewers explore the candidate’s motivation, background, and goals.

Personal Interview – Interview 2:

• Candidate Profile: B.Tech (IT), 2 years of work experience in TCS
• Questions:
• Tell us about yourself.
• Why pursue an MBA?
• Details about work profile.
• Differences between 1G, 2G, and 3G.
• Spectral efficiency explanation.
• Clients and work process in current job.
• Recent book read and a brief summary.
• Hobbies.
• Feedback: The interview delves into the candidate’s work experience, technical knowledge, and personal interests. Questions about technologies (1G, 2G, 3G) and spectral efficiency assess the candidate’s understanding of the telecom industry.

Overall Observations:

• The selection process at SIOM Nashik includes case discussions, a written ability test, and personal interviews, providing a comprehensive evaluation.
• Candidates are assessed on problem-solving skills, creativity, written communication, and domain-specific knowledge.
• Personal interviews explore candidates’ backgrounds, motivations for pursuing an MBA, and their suitability for the chosen domain.

Tips for Candidates:

• Develop problem-solving skills for case discussions.
• Practice concise and effective written communication for WAT.
• Be prepared to discuss personal experiences, values, and decision-making.
• For technical roles, brush up on domain-specific knowledge and recent industry trends.
• Have thoughtful questions ready for the interviewers.

SIOM Nashik Selection Process Feedback

Group/Case Discussion:

• Duration: 20 minutes
• Number of Participants: 6
• Case 1: Resolving conflicts between different departments in an organization. Suggest solutions.
• Case 2: Is I-Quality a cost to a company? Discuss.
• Feedback: This segment assesses candidates’ teamwork, communication, and analytical skills. The first case evaluates conflict resolution abilities, while the second delves into the understanding of quality as a cost and its impact on a company.

Written Ability Test (WAT):

• Duration: 10-15 minutes
• Topic 1: After getting the MBA degree in Operations Management, what will you do with it on personal, organizational, and societal fronts?
• Topic 2: At SIOM, the risks taken by its students are not taken anywhere else. Identify those risks and how you plan to manage them.
• Feedback: The WAT evaluates candidates’ written communication, critical thinking, and articulation of ideas. It explores their vision and strategic thinking in the context of operations management.

Personal Interview – Interview 1:

• Candidate Profile: Work Experience of 18 months
• Questions:
• Background and job role.
• Maintaining reliability in the job.
• Role in Listen in LLF (assumed to be a team or project).
• Recent challenges faced and documentation.
• Interest in Operations Management and family background.
• Learning from being part of the volleyball team.
• Why specialization in Operations?
• Why an MBA?
• Biggest achievements.
• Any questions for the interviewers?
• Feedback: The interview covers a range of topics, including work experience, achievements, and motivations for pursuing an MBA. The interviewer assesses the candidate’s ability to connect experiences with future aspirations.

Personal Interview – Interview 2:

• Candidate Profile: B.Tech (Mechanical), Work Experience of 2 years
• Questions:
• Meaning of the candidate’s name and profile overview.
• Why SIOM and why an MBA over certifications.
• Understanding of Operations.
• Work experience and choice of switching from mechanical to IT.
• Perspective on Infosys (previous employer) and reasons for leaving.
• Mechanical background relevance in IT.
• Technical questions on Otto Cycle, NORM VI, 2-stroke, and 4-stroke engines.
• Short-term goals, failures, and challenges faced in college projects.
• Feedback: The interview explores the candidate’s name, career choices, technical knowledge, and reasons for pursuing an MBA. The questions delve into the candidate’s understanding of Operations and technical background.

Overall Observations:

• The SIOM Nashik selection process includes a group/case discussion, written ability test, and personal interview, providing a holistic evaluation.
• Group discussion assesses collaborative problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Written ability test evaluates candidates’ vision and strategic thinking in the context of operations management.
• Personal interviews explore candidates’ backgrounds, achievements, motivations, and domain-specific knowledge.

Tips for Candidates:

• Develop teamwork and analytical skills for group discussions.
• Practice articulating thoughts in writing for the written ability test.
• Be prepared to discuss your background, achievements, and motivations in the personal interview.
• For technical roles, brush up on domain-specific knowledge and experiences.
• Have thoughtful questions ready for the interviewers to demonstrate your interest and engagement.

SIOM Nashik Personal Interview Feedback

Interview 1:

• Candidate Profile: Graduate
• Duration: 15 minutes
• Number of Panelists: 2
• Questions:
• Introduction and background.
• Why pursue MBA in Operations at SIOM?
• Why SIOM specifically?
• Narrate a situation where you faced failure and how you overcame it.
• Favorite subject in Engineering and detailed questions on Production Planning and Control (PPC).
• Topics studied in PPC and explanation of Just-In-Time (JIT).
• Feedback: The interview focuses on understanding the candidate’s motivations for choosing Operations at SIOM, exploring academic background, and testing knowledge in the chosen field. Behavioral questions assess the candidate’s ability to handle challenges and failures.

Interview 2:

• Candidate Profile: B.E. (CSE)
• Duration: 15 minutes
• Number of Panelists: 2
• Questions:
• Introduction.
• Inquiry about the current Covid situation in Chandigarh, famous personalities affected, and their recovery status.
• Explanation of the candidate’s society name (residential address).
• Name famous gardens in Chandigarh and the inspiration behind one of them.
• Technical questions on LSTM, deep learning vs. machine learning, cloud computing, data privacy law in India, parts of CPU, time complexity calculation, Teraflops, image generator in computer vision.
• Non-technical question about setting up a liquor business in Chandigarh.
• Query about the current Vice President of the US.
• Feedback: This interview covers a wide range of topics, including current affairs, technical knowledge, and general awareness. The questions assess the candidate’s understanding of technology, governance, and ability to connect with real-world scenarios.

Overall Observations:

• Both interviews aim to evaluate the candidate’s suitability for the MBA program, focusing on motivations, background, and domain-specific knowledge.
• Interview 1 emphasizes academic and operational aspects, testing the candidate’s familiarity with the chosen field.
• Interview 2 includes a mix of current affairs, technical questions, and general awareness, assessing a broader set of skills.

Tips for Candidates:

• Be well-versed in the motivations for pursuing an MBA, especially in Operations.
• Brush up on academic subjects related to the chosen field.
• Stay updated on current affairs, especially those relevant to your hometown.
• Practice explaining technical concepts concisely.
• Be prepared to connect technical knowledge with real-world applications.