Achievers share success secrets

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 21

While sharing tips to deal with the management entrance exams, the “achievers” who had cracked CAT and other such exams said the aspirants should know themselves and be honest to clear the interviews.

The interactive session was organised at coaching institute TIME here today.

Kavita Yadav, who made it to several management institutes and chose IIM-Lucknow, said: “If you don’t know everything about yourself, it becomes a drawback during the interview.” “Questions regarding anything which concerns you —education, career and life — are likely to be put up,” she said.

Jasnoor Singh, who also made it to one of the IIMs, said one of the tactics was to make a ‘life sketch’, and prepare for all possible questions about you.

Gurleen Singh, another achiever, said participating in extra-curricular activities during his college and schooldays proved to be an advantage during the interviews. “Participating in extra-curricular activities help you steer through the interview,” he said.

“Staying abreast of current affairs and reading newspapers is very important,” says Manika Gandhi, who made to one of the top-ranked management institutes, including the SIBM, Pune.

About clearing the group discussion, Manika said it was confidence backed up by knowledge of the current affairs that helped. “You need to interact with a lot of people, to get good at discussions,” she said. One of the tactics is also to interact with those in the group before the discussion begins to know the participants beforehand, she said.

Another suggestion that the achievers gave to the aspirants was that they should attempt the easiest questions first. “It is important to attempt the easiest questions first and then attempt the tougher ones,” said Kavita. “You have to have a clear strategy of how you are going to solve a problem. If not, then switch to the other question,” she said.

Ankit Sharma who made it to SP Jain, another top-ranked B-school, said: “You need to take mock tests without breaks, so that you build the stamina to sit through the long exam with focus and concentration.”

Gurpreet Singh, who succeeded to crack the CMAT, said taking a mock tests with guidance helped him, but keeping cool in the exam was important.