Manoj Kumar Behera is visibly excited. He’s got an interview call from every Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the country, barring the one in Bangalore. But he is tense, too. “It is not about the number of calls from the IIMs but the performance there that will finally matter. The stakes are high and the competition is tough,” he says.

Behera is likely to calm down by February-end. By then he should have completed the last stages of the selection process. Thousands of students who have cleared their Common Admission Test (CAT) and have their interview letters are busy preparing for the “final frontier”.

Now that the written tests are over, it is time to concentrate on the group discussion (GD) and personal interview (PI) rounds for CAT and other management exams. To make it to the final list, you have to equip yourself for the battle ahead.

At a recent workshop in Calcutta, organised by a coaching institute, students who had received interview letters from the IIMs were getting ready for the final contest. “As a fresher I thought I was at a disadvantage. But now I realise that my chances are as bright as those of experienced candidates,” says Yogesh Patil.

“Remember, if they have called you for the interview, it means you have lived up to the standards of IIMs. Now, the onus is on you to show that you indeed deserve an admission to that institute,” says Rahul Reddy, director of TIME, Calcutta, a training institute for B-school aspirants and an IIM Calcutta alumnus.

One thing that students should know is that their chances of making it to the IIMs increase once they have cleared the written tests. According to experts, IIM Ahmedabad will finally choose one out of every three students it interviews, and IIM Kozhikode will choose one out of eight. At the same time, candidates should be aware that the two-stage process of GD and PI is the final hurdle and if they falter here they are back to square one.

Group discussion

A GD is usually between 20 and 30 minutes long. Topics of discussion can vary from institute to institute. IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Indore provide case studies as topics. For example, students may be asked to discuss the problems a person may encounter while running a teashop in an overcrowded lane — and then come up with a solution. Some topics may have moral and ethical dimensions too. For example, the discussion may focus on a top executive who breaks company rules. Candidates may be asked to determine what his punishment should be even if he had broken the rules inadvertently.

The last lap

Topics could also be general in nature — dealing with issues such as the stock market crash, SEZs, the Indo-US nuclear deal and so on. Or candidates may be asked to discuss abstract issues such as the sky is blue or perhaps red. “Whatever the topic, the institutes assess you on your ability to think critically and analyse the topic well. Your group dynamics matter too. You should be able to carry the group along with you at all times,” says K.S. Baskar, director, Ascent Education, Chennai and a former IIM Calcutta alumnus. Reddy warns candidates against taking sides in a GD. “Remember, it is not a debate. It is not about taking sides but about building a consensus,” he stresses.

“Know how to make your points and support them. Be assertive but not aggressive,” says Subhabrata Chakraborty, a student of IIM Calcutta. Also, contrary to popular belief, starting a discussion doesn’t necessarily get you brownie points. “You need to show that you understand the topic. For instance, if you know about the recent turmoil in the stock markets and not know a thing about the sub-prime crisis in the US, you are in trouble,” says Sajal Mitra, a CAT trainer, TIME, Calcutta.

Pay close attention to discussions that are aired on television, read newspapers and form your points on each prospective topic. The candidates should also take care that they do not get personal during a GD. In some IIMs (Bangalore, for instance), candidates are asked to keep a short write-up ready on the topic before or after the GD. “This is an opportunity for those who think they can’t put forth their viewpoints effectively,” says Reddy. Here again, candidates should make sure that they are concise and to the point.

Personal interviews

This is the toughest part. The element of uncertainty regarding questions from the panel is always a worry. They scan your interpersonal skills, take a close look at your academic record and grill you to see if you have the promise to come out of the rigours of the IIM programme.

“You should be thorough with the basics of your subjects at the graduation level, and if you happen to work, about the field of your work and the company or the industry you are in,” says Reddy.

“You should be thorough with what you describe as your strength areas,” says Chakraborty.

Many candidates falter even while talking about their career path, which according to experts is an obvious question. “Doing an MBA can be the path, but is there a goal in mind? Candidates should be ready with their answer,” says Baskar of Ascent Education.

Of course there will be tricky questions or a deliberate attempt to put pressure on you. “In such situations, what matters is your reaction. Remember, your selection does not hinge on answering these questions correctly,” says Reddy.

And remember, in case you are unable to get through to any one of the IIMs, there are more than 100 top institutes in the country which also need CAT scores for their admission process. So don’t worry — the battle has many arenas.