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IIM B interview transcript from work experience to a trolley dilemma

Body

P1 - Did you have lunch?
Me - Not yet sir
P1 - You had so much time you should have (smiling)
P1 - We have so many good candidates with similar profiles to choose from. Tell me something about yourself which is not in your SOP and which is unique to you that tells us why we should select you. Also tell us why do you want to do an MBA in the first place?
Me - Gave prepared answer for both and told one unique thing about me
P1 - Tell me examples from your work experience where this unique aspect of yours helped you
Me - Gave example

P2 - You have been working in fraud analysis domain. Tell me howโ€™s that challenging
Me - Explained the challenges in domain as general
P2 - This is the pitch of your company. I want to listen to what challenges you personally faced. I know you have recently joined this new company but if you can give an example that will be good
Me - Gave an example
P2 - Okay, that is it from my side as of now

P3 - Which machine learning model do you use?
Me - XGBoost
P3 - How is this a good choice for your domain? Explain how it works to a newbie
Me - Explained decision trees and then XGBoost on notepad and pencil

P3 - There is a trolley on track on which 5 people are lying. You have a lever that you can pull to change the track to one where only one person is lying. What will you do?
Me - Do I have liberty to ask questions about who these guys are?
P3 - These are all just linemen who are repairing the track
Me - Thought a bit and then hesitantly said that Iโ€™ll push the lever
P3 - Why?
Me - Fumbled a bit but gave reason of 1 life vs 4 lives

P3 - The person is now standing on a bridge below which a track is passing. Trolley on track, 5 people lying on track. There is a fat person in front of you. If you push him he will fall on track and get killed but will stop the trolley from killing the other 5. Now what will you do?
Me - Thought a lot, gave same answer but added that I am feeling more uncomfortable doing that in this case as compared to previous one
P3 - Why? You are doing the same here
Me - Told about how here the involvement feels more direct
P3 and Me went little to and far on this

P2 - You told us about your technical aspect and experience; why do you want to leave it and do an MBA?
Me - Gave prepared answer
P2 - Okay, that is it, thanks

2 Replies

  • Ankan Das
    Ankan Das

    6 hours ago

    Switching editor theme...

    "P1โ€™s comment about having 'many good candidates with similar profiles' is the ultimate stress test. Itโ€™s basically an invitation to see if you blink. Saving this for my own prep that 'something not in your SOP' question always catches people off guard

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  • Shibil P M
    Shibil P M

    6 hours ago

    Switching editor theme...

    They want to see if your logical 'optimization' mindset holds up when things get messy and human. The 'fat man' variation is specifically designed to test the 'Doctrine of Double Effect.' Honestly, feeling uncomfortable was the most 'correct' answer you could have given it shows you aren't a robot

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