By Jayant M.
PGP ABM 2007

I do not have an agricultural or allied qualification at undergraduate level. The interview call from IIMA ABM was a surprise for me. And thus, another myth and wrong-founded assumption was shot. IIM A ABM course is open to all who have the eagerness to serve the agribusiness sector, unlike a general perception that it is for agricultural graduates.

In retrospection, these words may come easily, but to tell you the truth I wasn’t so sure what I will be thrown upon, during the interview process. How would u kill the uncertainty and calm the nerves, clichéd yet true “by preparation”.

The 1st thing I focused was, to justify the big statements I made in the special form I had submitted for the ABM program application. This application form had asked about the RND of my interest i.e. Reason, Nature and Depth of my interest.

Primarily, two things were two aspects of my agricultural interest. I was a B. Pharm Student, where I had a brush up with the medicinal plants and I have rural roots (who doesn’t have: P). Anyways 1st things 1st, I went back to the form thoroughly and reread each word. It’s important because one thing that they don’t accept is a student bluffing all the way to glory. One should be very sure of what he is speaking. They would show the doors of Bollywood instead of Harvard Steps.

I made a checklist and brushed my knowledge and problems about my native. I belong to Purulia in West Bengal, which came out of oblivion only when some Latvians dropped 9 crates of arms into its heart. A barrage of Questions was very likely on my native because it is associated with a hot topic. So, I did a bit of googling, talked to my dad and a few relatives back there and got myself abreast with general information about the place. General is the most tricky word in dictionary because you never where to draw the line. I read about the geography, politics, history, etc. (You don’t take anything for granted).

Next step was information on agriculture. As I wasn’t an Agricultural graduate, I decided not to fiddle with the technicalities. Instead, I backed myself with reviewing my graduation courses. Then, I did indepth study on “medicinal plants”. Apart from it I went through general issues and facts that plague the Agricultural sectors. Thus, it included GDP, crops, employment guarantee scheme, and so on.

Rest of the preparation was common to other interviews i.e. my hobbies and some general interview Questions.

The D-Day didn’t bring any surprises for me. The GD process followed by an interview, where I again was the last man in . The GD topic was on a recent case of export of substandard spices (Nothing that a non agricultural student cannot talk about). The interview process had the depth of an ocean and heights of a mountain. Ok, not really… ha ha ha, but it just kept hopping from one topic to another. When I was asked questions on agriculture I frankly accepted that I don’t know and they accepted it (remember the magic words “don’t bluff ”.) My interview panel had a few of the most respected professors on campus and thankfully they soon drifted to general questions. Oh and I didn’t mention I was lucky not to be asked any mathematics (everyone else was), for which I hadn’t prepared. I filled this lacuna before my next interview for IIM Indore. The full story of the interview can be found here http://jaywalkeroeuvre.blogspot.com/2006/11/interview-with-vampire.html (It does make an interesting reading: P... and that’s my pathetic attempt to popularize my blog).

The Last words : This interview is not distinctly separate from any other interview the only thing you have to do is prove your intent, which in case is working for the agribusiness and justify your CV, that is analyzed thoroughly by the panel before you enter.