Transcript of
Nikhil’s Interview at NITIE
There
were 5 panelists/ interviewers, they were:
Panelist
no.1:
A lady at extreme left who was an expert on new economy issues viz.
GSM/CDMA,
outsourcing etc.
Panelist
no.2:
Prof at NITIE (may be a Mechanical Engineer)
Panelist
no.3:
Another Prof at NITIE (again may be a Mechanical Engineer)
Panelist
no.4:
An expert of TQM (Quality)
Panelist
no.5:
Director NITIE (Mr. Unnikrishnan)
(I
have referred to candidate as C and Panelists 1-5 as P1-P5)
Candidate
enters……………..
P3:
Had your breakfast?
C:
Yes sir.
P3:
In the morning it is better we are also upright and you are also upright. In
the evening we will also be drooping and you also.
P3:
Do you have good communication skills.
C:
Yes sir, I can say this because one of my articles was published in the Indian
Express.
P3:
so you are good at written communication.
C:
No sir, I’ve also been participating in various elocution………
P3:
Ok fine. So Nikhil, we see that you have done your training in VLSI RAMs and
(stressing) CNC machines!
C:
Yes sir.
P3:
So you must know about classification of CNC machines, their working etc….
C:
Yes Sir.
P3:
Right, then ‘educate’ us on that?
C:
Sir, CNC machines are in layman’s term automated machines. Automation can be of
two types (1) Microcontroller/PLC controlled or (2) PC Controlled. The PC is a slower
device and it may not give the same quality of control as a PLC. But on the
other hand PC is a much better interface for the workers. So nowadays the trend
is to have the machines controlled by microcontroller/PLC which is further
controlled by a PC based interface.
P5:
Ok, so what will be operational difference between a Machine between a machine
controlled by only PC interface and by a PLC?
C:
Sir, the precision in case of the PC controlled machine will be
hampered as compared to the PLC controlled machine. But it will be
difficult to handle the PLC controlled machine.
P4:
Where will be a PC controlled and PLC controlled machine be used – give
examples?
C:
Sir, it will be used where mass production is required.
P4:
Well, both will be used in mass production but what about specific application
of PC based machine as compared to PLC based machine.
C:
Sir, wherever products being mass produced may need to be changed frequently we
will use PC controlled machine.
P3:
If products are changed will that be mass production?
C:
Sir, the basic product being produced will be the same only some customization
or fine tuning may be required – in this case a PC controlled machine will be
used.
P3:
You said that the PC is a slower device so the speed of production will be hampered,
how come precision comes into the picture.
C:
Sir, consider that a metal plate is being cut. When the cutting tool reaches
the point where it should stop, it will send signals to the PC and the PC will
respond. The time lag between these two actions will cause the tool to
overshoot. Thus there will be loss of precision.
P3:
No, the tool is a digital device why will it overshoot?
C:
Sir you are correct that the tool is usually digital but the physical tool is
analog, it must be coupled with the microcontroller or PLC to make it digital.
P3:
No if you say that the PLC is slow then only speed of production should hampered
no precison should be affected.
C:
But sir…….
P5:
(intervening addressing P3) No its okay, he’s correct there will be less
chucking for PLC.
P4:
Okay so this was your training, you know about it because you have done it.
What else do you know about the business-world?
C:
(looks confused)
P4:
You read?
C:
Yes
P4:
What?
C:
I’ve read Alvin Toffler’s……..
P4:
Do you read Newspapers?
C:
Yes sir.
P4:
So you must be reading the business columns.
C:
Yes Sir.
P4:
So what are the current issues nowadays- Except budget?
C:
Sir, the standoff between GSM and CDMA mobile companies and its repercussions…….
The
whole panel turns towards the lady (P1) at the mention of GSM-CDMA…….
P4:
What do you think can be the solution to the present standoff?
C:
Sir, either the license……..
P3:
(pointing to P1) Answer her not any of us.
C:
Madam, the government should either start a licensing scheme for WLL companies
or abolish the license for GSM companies. Some changes in the tariff plans may
also help. Just recently TRAI ordered that all players whether GSM/WLL will
have to pay interconnect charges…….. (Time delay) Also the facility of roaming
for WLL may be abolished because this is the only major difference between the two
services.
P1:
(looking satisfied) Ok, what should I as a customer opt for –GSM OR CDMA?
C:
Madam, it depends on your requirement – if you move across different circles
very frequently then you must go for GSM. But if your movement is limited to
one or two circles then WLL is a better service as it offers better bandwidth;
you can transmit and receive text as well as pictures on it.
P1:
(again looking satisfied) What do you think is good
for
C:
I feel madam that with a large rural population
P3:
Now tell me what job would you like to go into after MBA?
C:
Sir I would like to go into an industry….
P3:
What Job?
C:
Sir I would like to be in Electronics design and development.
P1:
Then why don’t you go for an M.Tech. why an MBA?
C:
Madam I want to be an entrepreneur so an MBA will give me a chance to get acquainted
with all other aspects of business.
P3:
So as an entrepreneur what will be your starting budget – 1 crore, 10 crore?
C:
Sir, I would like to start small.
P3:
So why do you want to join NITIE, there are institutes for SSI development,; we target the middle and upper level of management.
C:
Sir I may start small but finally go big, more so sir I’ve not decided whether
to ……………..
P3:
So you’ve not decided whether to join NITIE or not
The
whole panel takes a friendly laugh, the candidate carries a smile and lets the moment
pass….
P3:
(to the rest of the panel) That’s it I think
P5:
You mentioned about some paper of yours being published.
C:
Yes Sir one of my articles was published in the Indian Express.
P5:
Just tell us what it was about.
C:
Sir, about educational system….
P3:
Okay, so not related to your course……(finally nodding
to P3)
P3:
Okay, this is the last question. This is not a part of your interview. We are asking
it to everyone. We are considering you for PGDIM, but if you don’t qualify do you
want to be considered for the PGDSEM (Environ mgmt course)
C:
No, sir.
P3:
Why?
C:
(starting to answer)
P3:
(laughing) Ok, leave it doesn’t matter, you may leave.
Candidate
leaves…………………