Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

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Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Lucknow Placement Interview Questions

Updated 10 Jan 2025

57 interviews found

user image Srinath Nagarajan

posted on 19 Jan 2016

I applied via Walk-in

3 Interview Rounds

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Had a 1 minute intro prepared highlighting specific aspects about myself that I wanted to bring to his notice.
I explained that I was engaged in assigning Credit Ratings to Corporates under Basel II Regulations.
Because it was Bharti Airtel I had to give an answer tailored to what the approach would be for a Telecom company would be. While answering I was conscious of 2 things –One, that I have a clear structure to my answers and Two, tried to keep it as simple and jargon free as possible.

Round: Problem Statement
Experience: Preliminary questions -We all know Bharti Airtel and the services it offered quite well –So there was no need to ask preliminary questions. Also, since I wasn’t aware that I was doing a case I did not have the opportunity to ask preliminary questions.Structure: The Structure that I used was fairly simple –Increase in Revenues can in Existing markets or through expansion in new markets. I explored the existing markets first. Here increase in revenues could occur through increased market penetration, increased usage of basic services among current users or increased usage of Value added services among existing customers. He asked me a couple of questions on how these things can be done and I gave him some off the cuff answers. For the New markets, I suggested that the company could look at inorganic expansion through acquisitions or through establishment of Greenfield operations in new markets with high market potential.The entire case was more like an informal chat. There were a few follow up questions on some of the options I had generated. The case did not last very long –about 10 minutes at the max.
Tips: Know your Resume well. At no point in the interview should you ramble on. All answers must be natural (ie, must not appear rehearsed), brief, structured and to the point. Retaining composure through the interview is critical. Mistakes may happen during the interview,but it is important to pick youup and keep at it. People rarely have perfect interviews where everything has gone right and interviewers don’t expect it either.

Round: Problem Statement
Experience: Preliminaryquestions –
Since it was Tata Nano, lot of the background questions were not required. I clarified whether the problem was a lack of bookings that they received. He agreed.
Structure:
The Structure that I used was not the best but it did get me to the problem. I started off by saying the lack of bookings could be on account of 3 reasons –One, a lack ofawareness of the product among the target customers (Marketing problem), Two, Being aware of the product but not being able to place a booking (Distribution problem) or a Three, being aware of the product yet not interested in the product (I called this the product problem). He asked me to ignore the first 2 (he did not seem highly impressed) and explore the 3rdthe product problem.Here I again broke it upin to 2 further branches –Problems that the Car has by itself (Internal factors) and problems in the external environment mainly competition, etc. I deep delved in to the Internal factors. Of the internal problems I mentioned, he agreed that the negative publicity from the steering wheel catching fire was an issue and comfort factor was another issue. As and when he acknowledged a problem, I made a separate note of it. Eventually when he asked me to explore the external factors, I used these points to do a quick summary of the key takeaways up to that point In the external problem, I divided it into competition from other cars and two wheelers. I asked a few questions here trying to pick up a clue or 2 of how to proceed from there but he just refused to shell out any information. At this point he also took out his Blackberry and acted uncooperative. I went on to analyse for myself that given that the price of the next cheapest car was over a lakh higher than this car the issue lay more with the 2 wheelers. I went on to list factors why people would prefer 2 wheelers to a Tata Nano. Of the factors I listed, he acknowledged that the high running costs and availability of easy financing options seemed like the distinguishing factors. He said I seemed to havearrived at the problem,He now asked me to tell me how he could provide financing options for the Nano. This I felt was like a guess estimate problem. I said I would work backward to solve the problem. This is how I solved it –I said the average Nano target customer would earn Rs 10000 per month (he had given me that number in an earlier discussion, he liked the fact that I had noted it down and was using it again) I said, given the average savings rate of the country is at 35%-40% (this is from the RBI website I think). That meant a saving of about Rs 4,000 per month. No one would be comfortable giving up their entire saving, so if we considered 50% of this, the customer will be willing to pay an EMI of 2000 per month. The company would want to complete the financing within a period of 4 years cause after that the car may be worthless in case of repossession. So this meant roughly a down payment of 20,000 followed by 4 years of EMI of 2000 pm approximately (I took his approval on all of the numbers I used, so he was comfortable with this number). Summary: I began to summarize all my recommendations to that point but he stopped me saying that I didn't have to absolutely nail the case.
Tips: The most important thing to nail a consult interview is composure and confidence. With this in place, half the job is done. In all HR answers it is important to show genuineness. No answer must come across as fabricated.

Skills: Problem Solving Abilties, Case Analysis
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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user image Tejas Choudhari

posted on 19 Jan 2016

I applied via Walk-in

1 Interview Round

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: First, I confirmed whether he was talking about leather cricket ball. Thereafter, I started talking about where a cricket ball will be used and who will buy a cricket ball. At each juncture, I kept on checking with Mr. Sikka so as I’m not deviating from the solution. Then I told him that I would estimate sales of cricket balls for Mumbai and then extrapolate it to the whole country.I calculated number of matches played in one day by estimating number of grounds in Mumbai (having played on most of the grounds, it was easy for me). Then I separated one day matches and 20-20 matches as one day match requires 2 balls and 20-20 requires 4 balls(As two 20-20 matches are possible on a single pitch in one day).Also, considering that each ground hosts practice session 2 times a day and this will also contribute towards the sales. Then he stopped me and said fine. He did not go into depth of the guesstimate as it could have got complicated with other parts of the country to be considered for contribution towards the sales of cricket balls.
Tips: Please practice your cases as well as guesstimates. Also, know your CV in and out. Always connect with the interviewer.

Skills: Case Analysis
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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user image Karabi Mitra

posted on 18 Jan 2016

I applied via Walk-in

1 Interview Round

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Here we had to look at alternatives, such as cost of wearing glasses all your life, and the amount you would be spending, and discounting the amount you spend each year. I mentioned the cost of glasses, doctor visits, contacts, also laser surgery etc, to finally compute the price.
The second case which I got in the 3rd round, was also about a medical company which was facing a problem of falling profits. Here there were several problems, low productivity, and falling sales as well. Here the sales force was required to convince the doctors about its products, as they would then prescribe the medicines. Important thing here was whether they were targeting the right doctors who had a lot of patients, whether doctors were already loyal to some other company etc.
Tips: Practising a lot of cases not only with others, but also going through solutions on your own helps a lot. It is important to keep analyzing your mistakes rather than doing a lot of cases. HR answers are probably even more important than the case themselves, so it is important to prepare them well in advance.

Skills: Case Solving Ability, Case Analysis
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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user image Harshita Kesarwani

posted on 18 Jan 2016

I applied via Referral

1 Interview Round

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Case was on a joint replacement product. As mentioned, it was without pen and paper so focus was all the more important.Not being familiar with healthcare at all, I think what worked was taking time to understand the product and the market. Also, the case became more like a conversation which helped me solve the case well. The guesstimate was tricky to do only in the head but in the end he was looking only for the approach and not the actual market size figure.

Skills: Guesstimate Skills, Case Solving Ability
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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user image ANURADHA TYAGI

posted on 18 Jan 2016

I applied via Walk-in

2 Interview Rounds

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Bargaining power, occupancy ratios, original ticket costs for standalone routes-Range for Lufthansa is INR (15,000-30,000) & Range for United Airways is INR(35,000-45,000). My questions resulted in me getting details about the occupancy ratios of the two airlines, competitor airlines, routes travelled by both the airlines, preference of passengers etc. The right questions and numbers helped me clarify relevant points & discuss some economics concepts which the interviewer wanted to see.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: No clear-cut answer in this case. Was tested on general understanding and ability to tap as many levers as possible. I was not given any data or prior information and hence had to make assumptions and clarify my logic at each stage. Started with 3 scenarios-worst, expected & good. Went on to explain why demand in this industry would always grow & hence supply should be the focus. Delved into India’s dependence on imports, bureaucracy issues, treaties with other nations-India-Afghanistan pipeline, political scenario of OPEC countries & other oil rich nations like Iran, geologists & their ability to tap the right oil fields, Risk Analysis-Probability & Severity of finding oil in India (this point fetched me great review) & of course, not to forget the regulatory environment in India & Public-private players in the Industry.Some substantial arguments were discussed and I came up with some other parameters & a conclusion.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Again, case involved numbers and exploring several factors. I don’t remember the exact answer but the revenues came to approximately 5 crores annually, not too sure. In order to understand the case, I questioned about the revenue levers and what I think was the business model-different shows-main v/s others, footfall, income through business besides shows, peak season etc.
Tips: -Do not give up at any point in time during any case. Sometimes the case may not be your comfort area but you need to drive yourself till the end & that matters
-When numbers are thrown at you, keep your cool and work it out without being under any pressure. It’s better to get the right answer than mess up simple math
-Practice cases and be clear about HR answers. Nothing should precede the other, give equal importance to both

Skills: Case Solving Ability, Case Analysis, Problem Solving Abilties
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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user image Rajat Kashyap

posted on 31 Dec 2015

I applied via Campus Placement

1 Interview Round

Interview Questions

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: I believe that Pankaj was asking the same case from everyone. There are three wine manufacturer had three products of wine A,B AND C with 40%, 30% and 30% market share. A had three products.
Tips: According to me, the first interview is the most important for making to the second round. In case you screw your first interview, chances of making to the second round become very less. Try to connect with the interviewer and do not make any silly mistakes. A great performance is not compulsory but do not try to screw anything.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: The case was a very short one. He told me that I was a consultant for a hospital which is concerned with its lower revenue in cardiac operations. The number of doctors, facilities and charges were all same. The key was to identify the operation run time and activities that can be done outside the operation theatre.
Tips: Try to figure out everything that can affect a particular situation/scenario.
They might not be the things being looked by the interviewer, but it shows the breadth of your knowledge to him.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: The interviewer gave me details of two companies and asked me the difference in their valuation by two methods and the reason behind that. Then he asked to choose one company in which I would invest as an Industry player and as a PE investor. I was a bit intimidated in the beginning when he was giving me the financials for the two companies and tool some time to get back from the state of shock. The key aspect was identifying the difference in motives for an investor and an industry player. I was able to convey that to him He was okay with the case response and told me so. He helped at one point in identifying one of the differences in the valuations by two methods.
The second case was a logical puzzle which was asked to many. The puzzle was that I and my friend have lost their wallets. I had 1000 rs in the wallet and I am unaware about the amount in my friend's wallet. A person finds both and asks to bid for both the wallets. What maximum bid should I make?
I was able to solve the puzzle with a little help from him. He complemented me for the same.
Tips: Maintain your calm. There might be cases where you need to do a lot of calculations. Knowledge about financials definitely helps.

Skills:
Duration: 3
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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NA Interview Questions

user image Sachin Bhatia

posted on 31 Dec 2015

I applied via Campus Placement

1 Interview Round

Interview Questions

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Cement manufacturer has to set up a plant in south India. How should he proceed?

My Approach:
Check for the viability of the plant in terms of breakeven and profitability.
Other factors where threats of competitors, threats of suppliers and power of customers which will influence my pricing.
Tips: State your assumptions to the interviewer and don't superimpose your prior knowledge on the case. Treat every case as a new challenge and think structurally breaking down the cases into parts.

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: A movie theatre is running house full but still making losses. How to trim losses?
Approach: Profitability issue, so break down into Revenue and Cost.
Revenue: Factors like ticket prices, revenue from food stores etc was considered.
Cost: Salaries of the actors, cost of maintenance etc was important and we discussed for a while on how to reduce them.
Tips: Ask the interviewer in case of any doubt or in case you get stuck somewhere.
Prepare well for your case as well as PI part.

Skills:
Duration: 3
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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user image Sourav Roy

posted on 31 Dec 2015

I applied via Campus Placement

1 Interview Round

Interview Questions

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Case1: You are the owner of a theater. You have contracted a troop to perform two shows everyday. The show is a big success and has been running houseful for the last two months. However, you are still making losses. Investigate..
Case2: You are a security company and provide safe-boxes for bank to transfer the cash. You have three types of vehicles and rate of depreciation was given. Your other cost include security personnel. Ignore other cost. You have been operating in two cities. Same business from both, but making losses in one and profits in the other one. Investigate.
Tips: Knowledge of fin, specially MANAC I, is very important for Mckinsey even if they don't say so.

Skills:
Duration: 3
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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user image Priyam Agarwal

posted on 29 Dec 2015

I applied via Campus Placement

1 Interview Round

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Case 1: XYZ co. wants to introducE shampoo for rural market. It has come to you for consulting to test whether the product will be profitable and how to best launch the product, along with its marketing and promotion strategies.
To test the feasibility and profitability the market can be analyzed on the basis of the following factors:
- Substitutes: bathing soaps, present shampoo
-Consumer preferences: for the rural consumer price will be most important factor when considering a product for purchase.
-Competition: for this I asked question on the present market share of the company and the degree of competition in the market and then analyzed the same.

For the marketing and promotion strategies I suggest the following:
- The price should be in competition with the substitutes as the consumer is price sensitive.
-Retailer recommendation plays an important role in selling products in rural market.
-Introduce the product in small sachets as the rural consumer buys small packs as they don't have lot of money at their disposal.

Case2: IIML is currently at number 550 position in the world, what factors need to be emphasized on to bring it among the top 5 institutes.
The various factors to be improved on will be:
-Credentials of the faculty
-Courses offered
-Placements
-Qualification of students
-Infrastructure
These would be some of the factors. Then I evaluated how each of these would be an important factor in the evaluation criteria. After that how each of these could be improved upon.
Tips: A case might be given relating to an industry or a project which you have on your CV, so you should have basic knowledge about that. Solve the case in a structured manner. involve the interviewer and take his views. Your approach in solving the case is very important.

Skills:
Duration: 3
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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user image Aayush Killa

posted on 29 Dec 2015

I applied via Campus Placement

1 Interview Round

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: The market share of the tractor major 'A' was 25% last year and that of its nearest competitor 'B' was 20%. However, this year the market shares of both the players was 23%. The tractor major is concerned as the advantage of 5% has been wiped out in a year. What can be the possible reasons for such a drastic reduction in the market?
Tips: Do not make any unnecessary assumptions.

General Tips: Focus on structuring the case before you start solving it.
Skills:
Duration: 3
College Name: IIM Lucknow
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