After a 45 minute train (BART) ride, I reached the Berkeley campus on a bright sunny day. Before getting on the train to Berkeley, I drove to the train station and was desperately looking for a parking space. With no luck inside the train station, I decided to try my luck in a shopping center parking lot across the street. The pesky security guard caught my attempt and told me he would have my car towed if I parked there. Oh man, I glanced at my watch and realized I didn't have the time to be f***ing around and needed to get to Berkeley on the very next train. Luckily, I found a quiet office parking nearby, parked my car there, and ran to the train station. Got in the train as it was just about to leave. Felt good that I was going to reach the campus on time.
Once I reached the campus, I realized I still had about 15 minutes left for the interview. I sat in the waiting area while enjoying a Business Week magazine. Finally, my interviewer appeared right on time and we introduced each other. The interview started with a 'walk me through your resume' question. The discussions then turned to, 'how would your supervisor describe you', 'how would your co-workers describe you' etc etc. I felt that I did do a good job for the most part. One keen observation I made though was that I didn't think she fully grasped the exact nature of my day to day work responsibilities. So, I am a little worried on that front. I am not sure if it is because I was deficient in my explanations or if it is because she didn't grasp them well.
One thing that I think did help was that I had visited the campus before for a class visit, and managed to sit with the professor during the dinner break and talk about success stories of patents. The first thing my interviewer asked me (as we were walking together to the interview room) was if I had previously seen the campus. When I responded 'yes' and added a tidbit that I had sat with the class professor for dinner, I think my portfolio was strengthened a bit in her eyes.
Towards the end of the interview, I posed a couple of questions of my own. Although, on second thought, some of my questions were rather dubious. Once the interview finished, she shook my hand and thanked me for coming. She walked me upstairs towards the main entrance to the building, and as I was about to leave, shook my hand again and wished me a good day (hopefully a sign of interest from her).
Now, the tedious waiting game begins.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Interviews and interviews
Why is this traditional Q&A session labeled an 'interview'? Is it because one is supposed to demonstrate his/her internal views in such sessions? If so, who is supposed to demonstrate this? The interviewee or the interviewer? Sometimes, it is interesting to reflect on how certain words transpired into existence.
Well, I had an interview with a Wharton adcom, where I was asked to share my internal views on myself. The session was very casual and I felt fairly comfortable from start to finish. The questions were in the form of: Why Wharton, why MBA, current career path, future career path etc. But I think the most valuable trait that is sought in an interview is your communication ability. This is an intangible that is not asked of directly, but is auto-demostrated as the dialogue progresses. I have always been able to speak in the form that either showcases my confidence, or hides my inconfidence. Not sure. But either one does the job.
Another interview is right on the horizon, with UC Berkeley Haas adcom. I plan to do some obligatory light preparation for this interview the night before and nothing more.
Well, I had an interview with a Wharton adcom, where I was asked to share my internal views on myself. The session was very casual and I felt fairly comfortable from start to finish. The questions were in the form of: Why Wharton, why MBA, current career path, future career path etc. But I think the most valuable trait that is sought in an interview is your communication ability. This is an intangible that is not asked of directly, but is auto-demostrated as the dialogue progresses. I have always been able to speak in the form that either showcases my confidence, or hides my inconfidence. Not sure. But either one does the job.
Another interview is right on the horizon, with UC Berkeley Haas adcom. I plan to do some obligatory light preparation for this interview the night before and nothing more.
Long time, no blog!!
I seriously didn't mean to leave this much of a gap between my jottings but life events in the past couple of months surely have been hectic.
An update on where I stand at the moment:
In the past couple of months, I have dusted off the following:
- Finished the GMAT with a score of 700
- Finished my MBA applications to Wharton, Haas, and Santa Clara
Firstly, the GMAT experience. I studied religiously for a few months and expected to score 700+. When the test screen popped up a score of 700, I felt neither sad nor happy. I knew that a score of 740-750 was well within my reach. But the exam day jitters got the better of me. Nonetheless, I am moving on with my 700. No retakes.
Secondly, the application front. Little did I know that writing essays was going to require this much effort. After all, what the essays ask for is your introspection of yourself, a person you know better than anyone else on the planet. So I thought. After delving into it, little did I realize that the adcoms do look at articulation techniques, succincticity, clear future goals etc etc. I came to realize that a decent GMAT score would not rescue a subpar effort on putting together the essays. With the essays revised again and again and again, up until the last moment of the application deadlines, I submitted them with confidence thinking that I gave my best effort. Now the waiting game starts.
An update on where I stand at the moment:
In the past couple of months, I have dusted off the following:
- Finished the GMAT with a score of 700
- Finished my MBA applications to Wharton, Haas, and Santa Clara
Firstly, the GMAT experience. I studied religiously for a few months and expected to score 700+. When the test screen popped up a score of 700, I felt neither sad nor happy. I knew that a score of 740-750 was well within my reach. But the exam day jitters got the better of me. Nonetheless, I am moving on with my 700. No retakes.
Secondly, the application front. Little did I know that writing essays was going to require this much effort. After all, what the essays ask for is your introspection of yourself, a person you know better than anyone else on the planet. So I thought. After delving into it, little did I realize that the adcoms do look at articulation techniques, succincticity, clear future goals etc etc. I came to realize that a decent GMAT score would not rescue a subpar effort on putting together the essays. With the essays revised again and again and again, up until the last moment of the application deadlines, I submitted them with confidence thinking that I gave my best effort. Now the waiting game starts.
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