Hello guys, I have given approximately 6–7 interviews for IIMs in the past 2 months. I’ve come down to some very specific observations about them and how to ace them. Excuse my English, I’m going to write this a bit hastily.

First of all, unless you are from a mainstream engineering, BCom, BBA, or Economics background, you don’t necessarily need to rely on any coaching program. I myself enrolled in one, and that is how I came to this conclusion.

The panels conducting these interviews consist of professors. They travel from their respective colleges to different locations and are usually touring during this period. For each college, about 2,500 students are shortlisted, give or take a few hundred. Now, understand how these people operate.

These panelists’ main job is to teach. Placements, while an important part of an MBA in India, are not the sole integral part of it. The professors do care about placements, but more importantly, they care about whether they like you.

We can assume that there are several hurdles that block people- social anxiety, lack of a differentiating factor, inability to communicate effectively, and lack of confidence. In a span of 20 minutes, they can’t possibly know everything about you. They know that. The real skill is to market yourself. That doesn’t happen unless you believe in yourself first. The real game is internal anchoring and market positioning. You don’t need to measure yourself against others in the same way everyone else is doing. It will be easier for you to stand out if your USP is clearly distinct.

Lesson 1: Learn your USP. One mistake I made and I assume many others do too is becoming insecure about marks, grades, or percentile. You don’t need to compete where you are losing. You need to shift focus to something else. Often, we think there is a checklist of parameters we need to prove, but remember, you have already received the call. You now have 50% of the marks to earn in 20 minutes. How do you do that? Appeal to the people in front of you.

Lesson 2: No one will buy your story unless you do. No coaching can anchor you internally. They can provide resources, but not orientation. You have to be subtle like pull marketing, not push. Invite them in, make them curious, don’t aggressively shove your achievements.

Lesson 3: Understand what they are going through. They are interviewing people back-to-back it must get taxing, listening to similar stories repeatedly. Their minds are likely either filtering out candidates or identifying exceptional ones, while the rest fall into the middle. Don’t irritate them, and don’t act oversmart.

Lesson 4: Not knowing some GK might be acceptable, but not knowing who you are and what you’re doing is non-negotiable. Try to think from their point of view. They understand the limitations of a 20-minute interview. Even if GK is a weak point, what matters more is the person sitting in front of them. Are you a good fit for the institution? Do you have the potential to represent it well? Will you fit in and actually do well?

Lesson 5: Don’t complicate it. Really- just KISS it: Keep It Simple, Silly. When you are peaceful within, it reflects outside. Remember, the college needs you too.

Lesson 6: Be a little delusional. Thinking you are inferior will harm you, but believing you might be their star candidate can completely change the way you walk in and handle the interview. Half the game is not being desperate. Let the college want you.

This may not be perfectly accurate, but a similar analogy is a first date. When you are overly emotionally invested and feel like you have no options, you make mistakes and lose the person you like. But when you are secure, safe, and slightly detached, your game comes out naturally. It’s mental seduction. Treat the college and panel with respect, but stand out. Connect with them.

One thing a lot of people miss is clarity. Many just enter this game because they don't know what else to do. Their motivations are twisted. Clarity is one thing you can serve as your USP.