Axxela Advisory Services LLP Trainee Interview Questions and Answers

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Be confident. Know what you answering

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - * keep your basics strong and up to date.
* Speak with confidence.
* Communicate well.
* Its the best practice to say No to something which you don't know, rather than beating around the bush and answering nonsense.
* Dress well, because of the first impression factor.

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Unsure if Versant test is still there or not. Communication skills should be clear and crisp.

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Have your basic concepts intact, regarding HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Round: Test
Experience: Firstly, an online test was conducted (120 minutes duration) consisting of questions on Quantitative (30), Aptitude (30), Verbal (30) and Probability and Statistics (30). If you have prepared well, this won

Round: personal interview
Experience: To start with, we connected really well, while we were walking down the corridor to the interview room. Interviewerstarted off by asking “You all seem to have strong extra-curriculars” (I had done put classic music
performances in my resume) I mentioned that it is also a factor that is seen during admissions, and
that’s why the observation.
Interviewer: Take me through your resume.
I: Let me take you through the things that I did apart from the expected duties at each level/stage.
Interviewer: That’s great; go on
I: Went on to mention what initiatives I took at undergrad, work, ISB etc..
Interviewer: Your CGPA takes you to which percentile in your batch.
I: Top 20%
Interviewer: Do you think this is low? Why do you seem to have a comparatively lower CGPA?
I: (I had strong acads in undergrad) Answered appropriately on how I focused on lot of other things, ELP, PaEV etc..
Interviewer: That’s nice to hear. You also seem to have done an ELP on a FMCG product launch in India. Can you elaborate?
I: Explained everything in detail including the focus on distribution etc..
Interviewer: What is your view on the implementation of GST (Goods and services tax) in India? How do you think it might change the dynamics ofdistribution?
I: I do not have a lot of knowledge on this, but I can talk about the impact on FMCG goods. (Went on to describe how under the current structure double taxation happens and how that is limiting supply chain
optimization etc). Also mentioned that it might have an impact on businesses and consulting in supply chain.
Interviewer: That’s what I wanted to hear. Which other companies are you interviewing with?
I: Diamond
Interviewer: What if Diamond and Deloitte both make you an offer?
I: Answered appropriately. Mentioned that it is responsibility and work that I am looking for and hence my decision would be based on that.
Interviewer: What if Deloitte and McKinsey both give you an offer?
I: Answered appropriately.

The connect! We soon established a strong rapport and were conversing like colleagues. I also mentioned that I didn’t know a lot about GST etc, but still made a good attempt at deconstructing the problem. When asked to take through the resume, I went ahead to mention all initiatives and other responsibilities that I undertook at each level rather than a routine account of the work.

Tips: Read the body language of the interviewer. If he is relaxed, smiling etc, try to be in the same disposition.


Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: Laid out a small structure for the problem. There are primarily three ways in which the company can achieve the revenue growth:
1) Natural growth of the Industry
2) Organic Growth
3) In organic Growth – a) Acquire companies to expand product portfolio
b) Acquire companies to improve market power in existing segments
The interviewers were fine with the structure. Then I went ahead to discuss each of the points in slight detail.
Me: What is the expected growth of the branded cardio drugs (the market in which the company was operating) industry in the next five years?
Interviewers: Assume 8% per year.
Me: This means that if they are able to maintain their market share (value wise) over the next 5 years, their revenues will be approx = 5*(1.08)^5
Interviewer: I want you to show the calculations as well
Me: Sure, it will be approximately 1.4*5 = 7 bn + .15*5 = 7.75 bn
Interviewer: Ok. Can you please explain why you used such figures.
Me: Explained. So, the problem now seems to be divided into mainly two parts:
a) How to maintain/improve market share in current operating segments
b) How to achieve another 2.5 bn of revenue growth.
Let me first explore the inorganic growth opportunities for our client. Let us first try and understand market consolidation and cash position of our client. We will also try and evaluate any target that might …
Interviewer: (Interrupting in between) We are not interested in any acquisitions.
Me: Ok. That leaves us with organic growth opportunities. I would first want to explore what are the expansion opportunities in the existing market segments and then venture into new products/segments/geographies.
Interviewer: Can you prioritize your action right now; we are running out of time.
Me: Sure. My first action would be to explore if we can grow with our existing products segment itself. Moreover, with our client being a top 3 player, it might be easier to grow with existing products than explore new products.
Interviewer: Ok. So what do you suggest?
Me: I can think of three opportunities here:
a)Exercise market power to alter prices, if possible or
b) alter distribution channel to improve revenues that reach us or
c)cross-sell existing products to existing customers and increase value derived from a single customer.
Interviewer: Ok. That sounds fine. Now let us try to understand how we can expand into new geographies/new product segments.
Me: (Smiled! Realised that he was just trying to stress me out when he said that we don’t have much time) Ok. Can you share market size and growth by geography and segments information with me?
Interviewer: Gave a slide with lots of tables and charts (can’t recall, we were not allowed to carry notes outside)
Me: To frame my analysis, let me create a simple matrix. (Created the GE portfolio matrix). Went ahead to evaluate opportunities and suggested new segments.
Interviewer: Do you think it makes sense to introduce Generics?
Me: Given the existing market size of Generics and margins in the operating market segments it does not make much sense. However, to protect market share, the company should evaluate options of introducing fighter brands like generics.
Interview got over at this.

Did lots of quick calculations and did not get stressed out. Maintained my composure and adjusted speed when required.

I felt that sometimes my structure was too elaborate and tended to put off the interviewer.








Tips: Read the body language of the interviewer. Don’t get annoyed if interviewer interrupts in between. Before going into an elaborate discussion ask interviewer if he wants you to prioritize options before explaining each one of them in detail.


Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)

Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: I had met interviewer on the night before during the company dinner organized by Deloitte. That helped to start the conversation. First he asked me to briefly go through my resume. I also mentioned about things which were not mentioned in the resume. It really helped that I prepared in advance and listed down a few things which needed to be mentioned during the interview. Interviewer picked upfrom there and asked me why I chose Marketing and Finance specialization. He also asked some questions related to my past work experience. All in all nothing surprising then he asked me question which
I did not prepare for. He asked me what I think of issues related to formation of new states such as Telangana. I quickly gathered my thoughts and gave my rationale. Overall I was satisfied with my answer but in the hindsight I should have prepared for this question as this was one of the most talked about issues in the media. And when I thought interview was almost over interviewer asked me to solve a small guesstimate which was to calculate the number of shoes sold in Hyderabad in a year. I gave him couple of methods to approach the problem. He suggested using either one of them and coming up with the final number. I chose one of the methods and told him the final answers. All this while I have been talking with him about my assumptions and why I was solving problem in that particular way. Interviewer questioned one of my assumptions and helped me in making corrections. In the end, he
seemed to be satisfied with the approach and I was relieved that firstinterview of my day went fine.

I was prepared for most of the questions. All these were mentioned in the interview guides distributed by Consulting club and other alums.

I should have been more prepared about popular media issues.
Tips: Always attend networking events. I am sure everyone would say this but importance of such events can’t be emphasized enough. Practice PI questions by writing them; it worked for me at least. It helped me be clearer about the answer which is important when you are cross-questioned in the interview.


Round: Case Study Interview
Experience: I was asked to figure out how a European pharmaceutical company should go about launching beauty products. This company may launch new beauty products by making small changes in existing health products. New management wanted to double the revenue in 5 years. I was given a lot of matrices and charts, showing market sizes and growth rates of various markets such as North America, Europe and emerging markets. Based on data and other qualitative judgments, I suggested going to European markets. I used hybrid of multiple frameworks such as new product introduction, market entry etc. to come up with a framework for solving the case. After number crunching we reached to the conclusion that this new beauty product market won’t be sufficient for
the firm to double its revenue. Hence firm must increase market share inits existing pharmaceutical market. I used 2X2 matrix with new products, old products on Y axis and new customers, old customers on X axis. After probing, I realized that bottleneck in firm’s business was their business model. Firm used to buy patents from other small firms and use its manufacturing capabilities and extensive distribution network to sell the product. After number crunching I suggested the approach involving developing its own R&D capabilities and better incentivizing the distribution network. Also used share of voice*share of mind*share of
distribution framework to give my recommendations. At this stage interviewer asked me if I had solved the case before because I had touched upon all the aspects of the case I was pleased to see that case round went well and I came out relieved. Later one of the alums asked me to wait. He went inside and discussed with my interview panel. He came out in 10 mins and asked me if I had
other offers. I was damn pleased to hear that and got the sense that my interview went really well.

Framework which I came up with was exhaustive, kept communicating while solving the case. Even when I was stuck, I re-iterated my approach and showed the logical progression. Sometime, we get so involved in thinking especially when too much data is thrown at us that we do not communicate our approach. It is very important even to justify why you are asking any particular question. If you have shared your approach with the interviewer then it becomes easier. See the whole case interview as a mutual problem solving exercise where interviewer is also part of it.

Could have done calculation little faster. Small tricks of multiplications would have certainly helped.

Be flexible in using frameworks. Sometimes you may need to use multiple of them in the same case so one needs to internalize them. Importance of solving sufficient number of cases cannot be emphasized enough.




Skills:
College Name: Indian School Of Business (ISB)