1.
Tell me about yourself:
My name is Rohan Chaturvedi. I am final year UG student in the department of
Industrial and Systems Engineering in IIT Kharagpur. I am from Bhopal, MP. I
live in a joint family which has inculcated in me the qualities of working together
and the power of collaboration. I have done my schooling from Sharda Vidya
Mandir in Bhopal and graduated in 2013 with 92.4% in CBSE boards. I took a
drop to prepare for Joint Entrance Examination and secured an All India Rank of
2632 in IIT-JEE 2014 and joined this institution. I have done a project in
collaboration with University of Halifax, Canada and that has resulted in a
research paper submitted in IJPE and is currently under review. I have spent my
summers in Taiwan, as a fully funded research intern at NCTU. My project was
about cost optimization in cold supply chains. Not only was it an amazing
learning experience in terms of academics but it also exposed me to various
other situations like language barrier, different food and an entirely different
culture from India. Thus, from the very beginning I made it a point to make the
most out of this and came up with good solutions. Moreover, I have cultured my
interests in music by learning Tabla for more than 9 years. Being a kid, it was
difficult to sometimes leave a cricket match, leave a good movie flashing at 5 pm,
going to a nearby birthday party, but I stuck to the routine and never left my
perseverance and dedication to learning this art, and completed my 6-year
diploma from a University in Gwalior. I have also played inter-school Basketball
CBSE clusters which is equivalent to a state competition in 2009. When I see
back, I find myself fortunate to have put in those efforts which are now rewarding
me with results and good memories. This has taught me that the efforts are
needed in any work with devotion and perseverance, for the consequence to
thrive ahead positively.
2. Do you consider yourself successful?
Yes, I consider myself successful. As I have mentioned, with the efforts of my
teacher and my parents I learned Tabla and have won many competitions at
school and district level. I worked hard to get an AIR of 2632 among the other 1.5
lakh applicants in JEE 2014 and enter this premier institute. I have also been on
a fully funded foreign internship to Taiwan. One of my projects have resulted in a
journal paper which is currently under review in IJPE. All these achievements are
a result of constant hard work and dedication that I show towards any task I take
up.
3. What do co-workers say about you?
Well this is a difficult one. But I would like to mention a comment of my friend and
co-intern at Taiwan Mr. Javier Chung who appreciated my time management
skills and said that I am a natural when it comes to learning new things.
4. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
In terms of academics, I worked on 2 research projects which improved my
coding and analytical skills. Till now, I have coded more than 5 algorithms in
MATLAB out of which GA, VNS, AIS, PSO are to name a few. One of my
projects was a remote project by a renowned Canadian university which has
certainly improved my time management skills.
43. Why your cgpa is less than 8 even after doing so many department related
projects?
5. Are you applying for other jobs?
Yes sir, since this is going to be my first experience so I am just looking for a
good work, culture, and company, and thus XYZ Company is a good choice.
6. Why do you want to work for this organization?
Sir, I have always dreamt of a job where people are united not just by work but
are rather motivated by what they are doing in the company and being happy
with the work culture and values, without compromising the quality of work. The
trust which your company (specify name) puts in employees for any project is
one of the reasons I have an inclination towards working for your company.
20. Tell me about your dream job.
Sir, I have always dreamt of a job where people are united not just by work but
are rather motivated and inspired by the what they contribute towards the society
by the work they are doing and are being happy with the work culture and values.
A place where there is an adaptive environment and I can grow both personally
and professionally, where people are trusted with the projects given to them.
22. What are you looking for in a job? (same as q-20)
Sir, I have always dreamt of a job where people are united not only by the work
but are rather motivated and inspired by the what they contribute towards the
society and are being happy with the work culture and values, where there is an
adaptive environment and I can grow both personally and professionally, where
people are trusted with the projects given to them.
7. Do you know anyone who works for us?
Not exactly, a couple of my seniors from IIT Kharagpur named… who recently
joined the company an year ago.
8. What kind of salary do you need?
That’s a tough question, can you please tell me a range for this position. (12L-
15L), sounds good to me sir. (no answer) – well, depends on the type of work I
will be doing. For example – if I get a position for analyst then a range of 12-15L
is fine.
9. Are you a team player?
Yes, I am a team player. In fact, I want to quote some examples for this: During
my 1st and 2nd year I worked with a team KART formula SAE team of IIT
Kharagpur, which designs and manufactures formula prototype race cars. We
worked on the designs, competition presentations and were given the individual
deadlines for a work. This made me learn about the role every entity plays in a
team, it made me realized that every individual is as important as other, and all
inputs however insignificant they may seem contribute towards the success of
any job.
10. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
I would like it to be a long time. As long as we both feel that I am doing a good
job.
11. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?
It totally depends upon the situation at that time- both from company’s
perspective and the individual’s perspective. When it comes to the organization
versus the individual who has created an unpleasant situation then I will ensure
that necessary actions are taken to avoid any such occurrences in future.
12. What is your philosophy / work ethics towards work?
That, the works should be completed well before the deadline without any delay
even if it requires devoting an extra bit of a time, and also without compromising
the quality of work and the values of the organisation. Apart from this – to
respect the colleagues, juniors, and seniors and the values and principles of the
company is another thing which I consider important.
13. If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
Retiring-means that I will not work in future but I am someone who likes to work
so I would like to stick with the work and take the money as well.
14. Have you ever been asked to leave a position?
No Sir as of now I have never been asked to leave a position.
16. Why should we hire you?
Sir, I am a person who loves to learn with patience and likes to work with passion
and dedication, and I believe in working within deadlines without compromising
the quality of work. Citing the general habits, I am a person who always respects
and believe in people that are knowledgeable, have good values and principles,
and are optimally pragmatic. I understand the responsibility that would be
entrusted in me as a part of this job role and I firmly assure that I will not stop
improving myself. I would never back off from any challenge and am ready to put
in my heart and soul into this role.
17. Tell me about a suggestion you have made?
Quoting a work-related scenario, I was told to solve a mathematical problem with
an algorithm called PSO. I first solved it using PSO and in addition to it, I made a
Suggestion of solving the same problem with a hybrid algorithm of VNS and
PSO. We compared the two results and the hybrid demonstrated improved
efficiency, computational time and optimal value.
18. What irritates you about co-workers?
Speaking of that Sir, I am usually great with people and connect with them on a
professional as well as personal level. I understand that no human is perfect and
I tend to overlook humanly faults as long as they do not affect the quality of work
we do. If I would have to name a quality, I think it could be punctuality. Putting up
with a deadline is a team work and tardiness of one person could hinder the
entire project.
19. What is your greatest strength?
Well, my nature to remain positive, ability to prioritize, work and learn with
dedication and perseverance, and punctuality with deadlines are my strengths
which I feel are all equally important part of my personality.
20. What is your greatest weakness?
Sometimes I believe that my perseverance is seen as a weakness as I stick to
the work even if it does not promise good gains or returns in the future.
How do you plan to remedy that?
Sir, from my previous experiences I have learned to prioritize projects according
to their feasibility and thus I no longer stick with the projects promising smaller
returns.
21. How would you value yourself in financial terms?
22. Describe a situation where you successfully sold your ideas.
21. Why do you think you would do well at this job?
Well, my nature to remain positive, ability to prioritize many things at a single
time, work and learn with dedication and perseverance, and punctuality with
deadlines gives me an edge to work better. Any project always requires
innovation, right efforts and punctuality in completion and I do realize these
factors seriously. Quoting an example, I have done a research work with a
professor in University of Halifax, Canada, in collaboration, and have completed
the work before the deadlines given to me. I have included novel approaches to
solve the problem. I implemented newer constraints to make the mathematical
model more robust. I think, to have these abilities, and to know how to use them
logically and properly, will make me do better at work.
38. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?
I understand that, but I am a quick learner and a hard worker, which I think will
positively compensate for this. For example, initially, the tasks given to me for
sponsorship were unknown but I learned and managed to get a sponsorship
worth greater than 80,000. I learned the analytical and research skills needed to
write and publish an article and with my hard-work, I have written 2 journal
papers as of now and have submitted it to IJPE.
24. What is more important to you: the money or the work?
Money is always important, but the work is most important. I think there exist a
positive correlation between the level of work and amount of money rewarded for
it and I do believe in this.
25. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
My supervisor appreciated that I worked in a structured and in an articulated
manner and in right time, which helped me in finding the final answer or the
conclusion more righty, efficiently and quickly.
26. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor.
Well, I remember him motivating me and giving me good advices to do a good
job and and not more than that.
27. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
I have been a part of 2 projects, one of which was associated with the university
of Halifax, Canada, along with my sports and music activities at a time and I still
completed all my assignments and work in right time without compromising the
quality of work, making me a good time manager and managing the work under
pressure..
28. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?
Yes, I feel that my skills go along with the one needed for this profile including
good problem solving, being innovative, good communication, coding, …. Acc.
To job. More importantly, the values which are core to your company, also go
along with mine.
29. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
Well, Sir personally speaking -Challenge, Achievement, and recognition are
some key factors which motivates me to do good at work.
30. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?
Well, this totally depends on the situation at that time. If there is a need to give
more importance to my family or my relatives then I would prefer them,
otherwise, if there is more emergency at work then I would devote my time even
if it demands working overnight and at weekends.
32. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
Yes, I would put the interests of my organization before my own.
33. Describe your management style.
Well, it depends on the situation at that time. What kind of trade-offs I have to do,
whether there is a trade-off between money and time, whether there is a deadline
to complete the work, or it is necessary to first prioritize. It will totally depend on
the situation. For example, I managed my time by prioritizing the projects,
academics, and online courses, and working according to the deadline.
34. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
I remember that I learned coordination and teamwork from a certain mistake that
I once I worked too far without caring about my colleagues and that made me
realize the role that a team effort plays. This was regarding a competition called
global solutions in the field of supply chain.
35. Do you have any blind spots?
I don’t remember any.
36. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
I would look for good problem-solving skills, ability to think innovative
approaches, good communication skills, having good values and principles.
37. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
Sir, I don’t think that way, rather I find myself rightly qualified for this position.
39. What qualities do you look for in a boss?
I would like if my boss is knowledgeable, experienced, have a good sense of
humor, is fair and loyal to co-worker and subordinates, and respects other
suggestion.
40. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?
I like the field of doing analysis and related research and thus would prefer to be
an analyst in the supply chain, operations, or business.
42. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.
43. Tell me about your biggest failure.
I have considered that - not clearing my IIT-JEE examination in my first attempt
to be my biggest failure. Being one of the highest scorers during my school life
and to realize to have not cleared JEE in my first attempt took me a while for this
to settle. I got an AIR of 9000, but the very same day of the results I knew that I
can perform way much better than what I got today and I already had such an
inspiring example in my pocket of my brother who took a drop and literally
boosted his own rank from 7500 to 548. I saw him studying with great efforts and
hard work and in the right direction. That inspired me and I cleared the exam with
2600 figure finally.
44. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
Sir, I am driven towards the work I am good at, and I want to work somewhere
where I’ll have opportunities to develop my skills, take on interesting projects,
and work with people I can really learn from. Some of the most innovative
thinkers (name them) in the industry work here and that’s why I have a strong
inclination in building a career here.
45. I think you will leave the company after an year or so, because you have a
good research experience. Please comment.
46. Even after taking such core projects, which certainly shows that you have
interest in your department, then why is your CGPA less than 8?
I understand that, but our curriculum is not restricted to the courses of our
department and the one I have pursued in my research projects i.e. supply chain
and operations research. We have to take certain courses which require rote
learning and I am a person who is driven by logics and mathematics in studies
and I believe that I have a strong grasp on the fundamental concepts of our
courses.
45. I think you will leave the company after an year or so, because you have a
good research experience. Please comment.
I understand that Sir, but I have pursued these projects in order to get an in-
depth understanding of the concepts behind a particular theory and to improve
my problem solving and coding skills. Moreover, I have to experience the real life
applications of the concepts I have learned, and thus I have a strong inclination
towards working in a company like XYZ.
Pre-Interview Tips:
- Identify the company name and the profile name you are sitting for.
- Study a bit about the company’s work and recent developments.
- Prepare 2 questions to be asked to interviewer.
- Review your CV.
- Identify the brackets - () information in this doc; names of great people
inside the company …
1. Tell me about yourself:
2. Do you consider yourself successful?
3. What do co-workers say about you?
4. What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?
5. Are you applying for other jobs?
6. Why do you want to work for this organization?
20. Tell me about your dream job.
22. What are you looking for in a job? (same as q-20)
7. Do you know anyone who works for us?
8. What kind of salary do you need?
9. Do you think that the amount of salary we are giving is quite low in comparison to
other company, but you still want to join our company?
9. Are you a team player?
10. How long would you expect to work for us if hired?
11. Have you ever had to fire anyone? How did you feel about that?
12. What is your philosophy / work ethics towards work?
13. If you had enough money to retire right now, would you?
14. Have you ever been asked to leave a position?
16. Why should we hire you?
17. Tell me about a suggestion you have made?
18. What irritates you about co-workers?
19. What is your greatest strength?
21. Why do you think you would do well at this job?
38. How do you propose to compensate for your lack of experience?
24. What is more important to you: the money or the work?
25. What would your previous supervisor say your strongest point is?
26. Tell me about a problem you had with a supervisor.
27. Tell me about your ability to work under pressure.
28. Do your skills match this job or another job more closely?
29. What motivates you to do your best on the job?
30. Are you willing to work overtime? Nights? Weekends?
32. Are you willing to put the interests of the organization ahead of your own?
33. Describe your management style.
34. What have you learned from mistakes on the job?
35. Do you have any blind spots?
36. If you were hiring a person for this job, what would you look for?
37. Do you think you are overqualified for this position?
39. What qualities do you look for in a boss?
40. What position do you prefer on a team working on a project?
42. Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.
43. Tell me about your biggest failure.
44. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
45. I think you will leave the company after an year or so, because you have a good
research experience. Please comment.
