TL;DR - Took a few random directions but overall good (I think). Helps to maintain a smile and remain confident even when you say you do not know the answer.

Bengaluru, 7th March

Profile: 9/9/8 GEM, Chemical Engineer, 18 months of workex in US-based petrochem

Panel: Two professors, 1M 1F

F1: TMAY Me: (Gave my prepared answer, mentioned an interest in cricket and music at the end..)

M1: So you like cricket! What's the H2H between Ind and NZ in tournament finals? Me: India lost in 2002 CT to NZ, lost in the WTC final in 2021, things aren't looking good for Sunday's final.

M1: 2002? Me: Yes sir, that's the only ICC limited overs trophy NZ have won.

(I later realized that it wasn't 2002, but 2000 but issok?)

M1: Who are the cricketers to have hit 6 sixes in an over in all cricket? Me: Ravi Shastri, Yuvraj Singh, Kieron Pollard, and I think Gary Sobers has also done it.

M1: Is that all? Or are you missing someone? Me: I might be, but this is all I can remember right now.

M1: All right. Let's move on to something more interesting. How many refineries are there in India? Me: I'm sorry sir, I don't have a number in my mind. I know there's one in Jamnagar but I'm not sure if the number and location of other refineries.

M1: Okay. What's the difference between a manufacturing and a process industry? Me: Is it okay if I take a guess? (Nods) I think a manufacturing industry has a tangible end product. M1: Even refineries, a process industry, has a tangible end product in diesel petrol etc.. There's a striking difference between the two. Me: Right. (After thinking for a few seconds) I am not aware of any striking difference, sir. M1: Hmm. What's _____ coefficient? (I can't even remember the name) Me: I do not know that, sir. M1: What's Reynolds Number? Me: (Gave an okayish but not great answer) I know I'm close to the perfect answer but I'm not there yet, but that's all I can recollect. (Both smile)

F1: Do you like math? Me: I don't hate it. F1: Do you like history? (¿?) Me: No, I don't like it. F1: Okay those are interesting answers.. don't like it/don't hate it.. Me: I'd like to change my answer - I like math, ma'am.

M1: You have a pen and paper in front of you. What's the sum of cubes of all odd natural numbers from 1 to (2n-1)? Me: (I did remember the formulae and began to work it out. I must say I wasn't very quick but I got close to an answer and knew how to get there) M1: (Sensing I was taking time but wasn't clueless) How are you approaching this? Me: (Explained my approach) M1: Okay that's right. Now, what's the slope of a line joining two coordinates (2,4) and (4,8)? Me: 2 M1: Okay, right.

F1: You are into western classical music, right? Who composed the Hungarian Rhapsodies? Me: Johannes Brahms? F1: No Me: Rachmaninoff (I was confident, but later realized that the answer was Franz Liszt) F1: No, let's take it simpler maybe. Who composed the Moonlight Sonata? Me: Beethoven F1: Who's known for the Nocturnes? Me: Frederic Chopin F1: What's the difference between a symphony and a sonata? Me: (Gave the answer) F1: Right.

F1: (After a pause) What's the difference between descriptive and predictive analytics? Me: (Gave the answer)

F1: Okay. Let's do something different now. I'll give you a topic, you can think about it for 30 seconds and have to talk for a minute. Your topic is "Fossil Fuels in a Renewable Energy World" (M1 started a timer) Me: (This is a topic I love talking about, hence wasn't too hard for me. I began and I could see them nodding as I went through my points...) F1: (Interrupting before I could finish) That's good enough.

M1: Thanks, you can leave now. Me: Thank you ma'am, thank you sir. Have a great rest of the day!

Personal thoughts: Quite satisfied even though I fumbled and didn't know a bunch of answers. I think the mood of the interview helps greatly and both the panelists and myself had a smile almost the entire time. Have given my best, and that's all that matters :D

All the best, folks!