Social enterprise

With three back to back written papers it was time for interviews at the Tata Institute of social sciences (Tiss). The candidates for all the courses were supposed to directly go to their respective interviews in the new campus. Please make sure if you are appearing for PIT & PI do have something to eat before you are up for them. It felt like a long walk to the new campus as I had a headache due to acidity (no food). I reached the school of labour and management. On the 3^rd floor the interviews were on, for Social Entrepreneurship. I submitted my DAF (detailed application form) as soon as I reached, and I was next (owing to the fewer number of candidates, present then).

1^st PI Social Entrepreneurship

(Three panellists- two men, one woman) 1^st man, 2^nd man, woman. The interview lasted for around 20 min.

1^st man: Oh Mr. Rohittt. Please have a sit. So Rohit you are from Nagpur and you are a Mechanical engineer?

Me: yes sir.

1^st man: So how is the placement scenario in your city?

Me: Sir very bad!

2^nd man: why so?

Me: Sir there is a major flaw in the university.

1^st man: can you please explain what this flaw is?

Me: Sir….. (I narrated the story)

2^nd man: (kept nodding and that kept me going)

1^st man: ok. So I see that you have appeared of CAT and CMAT. What are your scores in these exams?

Me: Sir my CAT %tile is__ and my CMAT all India rank was__.

1^st man: So are you hopeful to get into an MBA college?

Me: (I laughed) Sir the day I appeared for my CAT exam I was sure I have ruined it. I had two months of time to think and finally I came to a decision that I am not going to do an MBA.

1^st man: What are you saying? Haven’t you read about the recent pay hikes given to most MBA’s today?

2^nd man: (still nodding)

Me: Sir, It may be true, but only for the top-notch MBA colleges. Moreover if I am to opt for a MBA from any mediocre college the return on investment is terrible.

2years education + 3years working= breakeven. Also, the recent changes in my views about MBA taught me “it’s like you are buying a job”.

(Everyone laughed.)

Woman: So you are going to sell the job?

Me: May be Ma’am.

1^st man: so why social entrepreneurship? What is so social about you?

Me: from last one and a half-year I am associated with Shield Foundation. We have been working on projects like…… in which ….we…..(So on)

Woman: tell us about your venture.

1^st man: (interrupted) Tell me who will (which part of the community) be benefited by your venture.

Me: Sir my venture is for the rural area. In this….. (I explained him my whole Idea).

1^st man: So have you have personally gone through your survey or you have heard it form some one?

Me: No sir. It is my research. I just got these facts verified from one of my cousins who presently lives in a village.

1^st man: so that means you have heard it from somewhere.

Me: No Sir, I just told you I got this thing verified!

1^st man: ok that’s all. Thank you.

Woman: Rohit, We are not offering any placements to you, and there will be no hostel accommodation for you in the 1^st year.

Me: Ma’am that’s fine with me.

Woman: ok, thank you.

My joy knew no bounds then when I stepped out of the Interview room. I thought this was a clear offer made to me, but Alas! Almost all the candidates were told the same thing at the end.

So in the end I couldn’t say how my interview was.

I will upload my Disaster management and Social work in rural development interview experiences in my following posts.