Saint-Gobain Management Trainee Interview Questions and Answers

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: I was a bit nervous in ITC GD which resulted in my loud voice and dominating nature. The case was one of the typical cases of ITC which I missed during preparation; as a matter of fact they haven’t changed it since 3 or 4 years. It did not go that good but I was sure if 4 people would be selected from my group then I would be in. But by that time I was ready for HUL’s GD. It was a fresh new case which I forgot by the way (:P). The group was big (12 students) and I gave some good ideas (I think so). The key is “never give up on quality, safety and ethics”.
Well HUL is famous for taking only one or two guys, on top of that, rumor was that it would take only chemical guys, so I didn't had much hope with HUL, on the other hand, I was 100% sure to get through ITC (my profile and everything just matched with ITC and my friends also boosted me for the same). But I don’t know what was in my fate, at around 10:00 PM, the results of ITC’s GD came, and I was not shortlisted, all my hopes were shattered and everything turned into fume. They took only two students from my group and I was completely hopeless as I wasn't preparing for BCG, screwed up Diamond and ITC was gone. Only chance was in HUL (about which I was not sure) and Opera. I still remember that time, my wing mates helped me through that situation and boosted me a hell lot and soon I saw a ray of hope. 20 minutes later, HUL’s result came out and I was shortlisted for the interview. I decided to prepare as much as I could for HUL and revised all my stuffs all the night. I had 4 interviews next day but I didn't sleep even after going through 2 GD’s and 1 aptitude test. Finally the day came. I couldn't sleep last night.

Round: Interview
Experience: My first one was scheduled with Opera. I was taking it very lightly. The guy was from USA. I did my intern in Canada, so we did a little bit chit chat about that and we had a very nice conversation. He seemed happy with my attitude. He gave me a business case on Casino and after his some help, I finally solved the case and came up with the answer he was seeking. The next interview was with BCG. The bad thing about BCG interviews is that they don’t let you go anywhere else till their process is finished. So instead of going there, I first gave Diamond’s interview and then HUL.Since you would have read a lot about Diamond and BCG interview, so let me come straight to HUL. The first interview was taken by a factory manager. First question was based on pump, he asked about types of pump, NPSH and other relevant things. Then couple of more questions related to thermodynamics. He asked about refrigeration cycle, LMTD, cooling tower, brayton cycle and some more questions. It lasted about 15-20 minutes. I did pretty well and asked about his experience at HUL. It went good and I was sure to get shortlisted for the next round.
After that I was called for second round which was a telephonic interview taken by General Manager of the company Yogesh and there was one more guy whose name I don’t remember. He again asked the questions on pumps, use of pump in our daily life, NPSH, its determination, laws of thermodynamics, perpetual machin, use of second law in our daily life, principle of airplanes, Bernoulli theorem, what happens when you open the door of refrigerator, a heat transfer calculation (I don’t remember exactly) and some more questions in thermodynamics. Finally he asked some questions from my form. He was not satisfied with the answer I gave in one of the questions and he asked me to cite another example. He asked about my strategy on successful conduction of one of my events (Gearloose) and what made it best. Finally there were some formal questions like if I was ready to be posted anywhere and all.

General Tips: I think I answered all the questions very confidently and to the point and elaborated where required. I was very much confident about pumps and cited as many examples as I could. I think this was the best part of my interview. Initially I was a bit nervous but then I contemplated and decided to take proper time to answer each question. I think I satisfied him with every question he asked and that’s why I got selected in the company of which I used to dream since my 3rd year.

Last but not the least, I would like to say that you should know yourself and your shortcomings thoroughly and then do your best to overcome them. This is the single most time when you should devote yourself completely in the preparation (just like JEE time) if you want to get selected in your dream company. As in my case, though I did have good academic background and positions of responsibilities but I used to stammer and was not fluent in English. So I had to work a lot in these two areas in order to do decent in the interviews. I practiced in front of mirror and gave as many mock interviews as I could and that finally gave me result. Remember, nothing is impossible if you want to achieve that. You have to just work very very hard for that.
College Name: IIT KANPUR

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: It is done based on an online application form, which has questions on basic details, internships, projects and a few HR questions. Each of these questions had a character limit, hence had to be filled carefully, such that you can convey maximum in the least words.

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: The group is presented with a case study which you get. 15 min to go through. The solutions were already presented and the group has to discuss merits and demerits of the strategies and evolve a consensus.

Round: Interview
Experience: The first interview is technical based on the projects done and questions on the chosen area of interest.

Round: Interview
Experience: The second interview is HR with standard questions like greatest achievement, social work and objective in life.

General Tips: Be thorough with your resume and a very good application.
Sound technical knowledge of the projects and selected area of interest is a must.
PoRs and extra-curricular will be an advantage.
General knowledge should be brushed up.
The short listing for GD is based on the validity of the points presented, the ability to project ideas clearly and convincingly, confidence and the thought process and approach to the problem presented.
Skill Tips: Preparation of core subjects is very important.
College Name: IIT MADRAS

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: This is the most important part of the placement procedure. All your shortlists are based on how well you can portray what you’ve done in insti and before. Start writing your resume as soon as possible, the first deadline is typically somewhere in October and a resume generally needs 8-10 revisions.
Tips: 1. Start every line with an action verb.
2. Keep the no. of words to a minimum.
3. Remove all the unnecessary words you can. Nobody likes reading stories.
4. Each point should show impact. More than what you’ve done, you should tell them how differently you’ve done it and how it made a difference to the organization and team you worked for. (Common misconception is that impact is only in terms of numbers, this is not the case). I agree this can get very difficult but this is what differentiates and ordinary resume from an extra-ordinary one. So think!
5. Finally, keep the technical part as simple and coherent as possible. Remember an HR is going to be reading your resume.
6. Exaggeration is fine. Say you increased the number of events from 3 to 6. It is okay to write that you brought about a 100% increase in the number of events. But at the same time NEVER write anything in your resume which you cannot explain or substantiate with examples. This gives a very bad impression to the company.

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: This is a normal round with a given topic.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: This is a must round in every company.
Tips: An excellent way of preparing this is writing everything down as experiences. Begin from your school days and think about any activity you’ve been part of or anything you’ve mentioned in your resume. Write down three points about what you did as part of the team or project and three points about what you learnt from it. This really helps. Especially the writing down part, since you can’t remember everything you thought about. This becomes a ready reference just a day or two before your interviews. Do not make the mistake of not preparing enough for HR.
This is as important as any other preparation you have to do for placements. And WRITE stuff down!"

Round: Other Interview
Experience: This was a phone interview. Two people on a conference with me. One guy was asking me only core questions randomly from all subjects ranging from IC engines to fluid mechanics. The other guy was asking me about my previous internship and about how my work affected the factory. They also asked me to give examples from personal life, where I exhibited leadership skills etc. This interview went on for about 45 minutes.

College Name: IIT Madras

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: It was a tricky problem. I gave five minutes to thinking that what I would have done if I would have had been there and kind of broke down the problem using the consultancy approach I had studied. I focussed over the maximum profitability of company on production and quality and tried to compromise a little bit on Human resources.
As I opened and concluded the discussion myself with major inputs, it went pretty well for me
Tips: - Be practical in approach
- Dont just give points for the sake of talking - it goes in negative side
- HUL focusses a lot on GD - more than interviews - as the problems are real life cases - so be really prepared (if you didn't have any supply chain experience - sit with someone who had it earlier and discuss problems as mentioned)

Round: HR Interview
Experience: - Hobbies were asked
- I enjoyed every minute of it
Tips: - Keep calm
-Be who you are!!

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: Grilled me on every basics of mechanical engineering
Tips: Keep your basics strong!

General Tips: Again, Be yourself! Be prepared well and dont just rush everywhere with the herd! please! 
Do analyse every company and realise your future goals - does it match with your company?
Belive me, you don't need money and fat packages now, you just need to work for your dreams!
I was lucky that i got the work with a good package - but anybody can make money - there are very few who really realise their passion! you will get what you deserve - No less no more! :)
Skill Tips: HUL demands really good leadership skill experience. Mechanical Engineering books helped :p ( I didn't study for it , though this was my first priority - p&g intern helped).
Be prepared about their vision - try to incline them with yours! It impresses them like anything - worked for me at least!
Skills: Technical , Leadership, Teamwork
College Name: IIT BOMBAY
Motivation: Its sustainability causes! check out their investment on sustainaibility designing of future retail! Mindphack!
It has the biggest CSR investment and its pay is high too, money with your dreams - who doesnt need that, huh!? :D
Funny Moments: Interviewer 1 : So, on which brand were you exactly working at p&g?
Me: Sir I guess I am not allowed to say that provided I have signed a confidentiality agreement with p&g
Interviewer 1 : They are not hiring anyone this time, it doesn't matter now, right? 
Me : Sir, lets take a condition replacing p&g with HUL and vice versa in this condition - would you have liked me leaking your data? It wouldn't have mattered me even then :D
Interviewer 1 : -_-
Interviewer 2 : Haha :D :D

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: Resume submission was around 20th September
Tips: Be prepared before 20th November

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Most of the questions were about internship and projects. There were direct questions on favourite courses. One page form will be given to fill personal details
Tips: You should be thorough with the points in your resume . Attached justified proofs. One page resume should be there.

College Name: IIT MADRAS
Motivation: The company needed a socially good person who had a ability to learn new things

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: The company expects all aspirants to fill out a form provided by them. This contains questions that ask aspirants to mention the Tech­ oriented Projects done and scholarships/ awards won. HR questions include questions like Events that influenced the candidate the most.
Tips: ​Put co­curricular achievements that showcase leadership. Highlight all Tech related activities. Be completely confident about the projects that are on the resume. Highlight internship details that are related to the activities of HUL. An FMCG internship adds brownie points.

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: 1­2 days before interview the GD is conducted. The attendees of GD will include BTechs, Mtechs, PhDs of Chemical and Mechanical engineering. Candidates are expected to go in formals. Topics of GD include situation based topics like factory’s case study.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: First stage: Usually lasts 30 minutes. This interview is majorly Technical. The candidate is asked to specify a topic of interest on which further questions will be asked. Extensive and intrusive questions about the internship done will also be asked.
Tips: Do not choose topics that you are not entirely thorough with. Also,even if the interviewer asks about the previous company's personal details, beyond a stage, do not divulge. They wouldn’t want you doing the same with their company.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Lasts for around 45 mins to 1 hours. It is usually telephonic. Standard HR questions will be asked.The company expects the students to have great capability of handling human relationships as they will be working with factory workers on a day to day basis.
Tips: ​prepare for a focussed set of companies. Aiming efforts at multiple companies will prove hazardous. Have a clear priority sorted out.

General Tips: Do not panic. Good companies come after day 5 also.Keep your calm and focus your efforts and thoughts.
Skills: analytical skills
College Name: IIT MADRAS

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: Eight people sat for Group Discussion, it had situation topics (Eg: What would you do if XXXXX happened??), behavioral Group Discussion.
Tips: Very clear communication with reasonable content will be helpful. Volunteer to summarize Group Discussion, actuallymy summary was good and that helped me make a good impression in Group Discussion.

Round: 2 round of Interview
Experience: Almost both the rounds were similar, but second round was in depth. Different people were interviewing the second time. No core questions were asked, question's like tell me about yourself, If you have to start a factory where would you like to do so, were asked.
Tips: By reading the material shared by Mounika. I didn'tread anything extra.

College Name: IIT MADRAS