Some threads on Pagalguy are Worst.Please don’t laugh.
I was reading few of them couple of years back.
A girl said “I was not offered a toffee, I guess I won’t be getting into IIM-A for sure.”
And it followed by no of comments from other call-getters.
“I think, if you were offered a toffee, that’s sign of your Interview went well” someone said.
“My interview didn’t go that well but at the end, panel offered me Coffee” One said.
“IIM Interviews are never predictable. You never know what will happen.” Other person yelled.
Did you see what’s going on here ?
Most of these people are equating getting offered a toffee/tea/coffee has something to do with their Interview Performance.
Everyone discussed about Triviality. Nobody actually talked about what one could have done to actually improve their performance in next interview or the same interview.
Instead they started discussing about Toffee and Coffee.
But have you really given a serious thought about what interviewer really wants to hear/know ?
In fact, nobody bothered to do that. They found peace in whining, bitching, complaining and discussing minutia.
The problem is very common. When I had bad experiences in the past, I always blamed it on my Interviewer (it can be true in some cases but not all)
But I didn’t really take time to identify what they want to hear/know.
My focus was solely on me. Why I am the best.
I call it I I I syndrome.
Usually, when students prepare for the Interview/SOP they always use words like I think, I feel, I want.
Why it’s detrimental ?
Because nobody gives a damn about what you think and what you feel.
Everyone is selfish. If you don’t appeal to their self-interests, they could care less about what you think/feel.
If you just focus on YOU, you will not be remembered.
Focus on other person. Focus on what they want to hear. Focus on what other person is thinking. If you can use this empathy mapping, you will literally read your interviewer’s mind.
I developed a simple approach to answer any question using Empathy Mapping.
Here is what it’s not. This is not a gimmick or technique or some kind of loophole or hack or trick.
That’s why most of those who will read it won’t bother to apply it. Because then they have to work hard for it.
But for those who want to reap disproportionate rewards, this approach is very useful. Only thing is you have to implement this approach.
Here is Empathy Mapping model (See Diagram) There are total 6 parts in the diagram. (It’s widely used in getting Market Insights, I use this all the time)
1. What does he see?
a. What types of candidates are exposed to him daily?
b. What he sees in their SOPs/Application forms? Vague things, Stilted Language
2. What does he hear?
a. What other candidates say?—prepared answers, trite responses,
unclear goals, rambling, too vague
b. What really influences him and how? Specific examples, stories
& other interesting things, confidence, communication skills
3. What does he really think and feel?
a. Bored out of his skull
b. What is important to him? Placements, internships, quality of
students, selecting right candidate
c. What are his expectations? Clarity of goals, research about
institute
d. What are his emotions?
4. What does he say and do?
a. Surface level questions i.e. what’s your biggest weakness?
b. Question behind question (Question he is really asking)—what
he is not saying but wants to know
c. Why does he act irritated/pissed off at times?—tired/bored
because of the long & arduous process, students with vague answers
Pain
a. What if I select wrong candidate?
b. Wasting valuable time—in reviewing nonsense SOPs, listening
to pathetic responses
Gain
a. Chance to interview right candidate which is a good fit
b. Get entertained while having pleasant conversation with the
right candidate
If you use this approach in each and every interview you face and SOP you write you will see tremendous difference in the way communicate, the way you answer different questions.
And most importantly, instead of worrying about trivial things like “Toffee/Coffee” or “Whether I should wear a tie ?” You will worry about most important thing which is “Getting into Interviewer’s head and communicating what they want to hear”
(This girl is worrying more about wearing matching clothes, strange. Isn’t it ?)
If you want to learn 3 step formula to answer any Interview Question, learn it here
If you want to convert the Top B-schools without worrying about triviality, check out GD WAT PI Revolution