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Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Final Countdown...

Dear All,
 
That marks the end of this year’s posts on IIMC Entrance Counselling.
 
The IIMC Alumni Association would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to all the alumni who took the trouble to write for the blog. For all those who contributed, we hope the process led you down memory lane.
 
For all those who so religiously follow the blog we wish all the best, and hope at least some of you return to write posts, just like the ones you read, next year. 
 
Of last batch’s toppers, 6 people from EJ, 5 from HJ, 6 from RTV, 7 from Ad-PR and 1 from OJ respectively who landed in the top 10, have contributed to this blog among others. For this we are grateful and proud.
 
IIMC is not just an institute it is an institution (pun intended), and this blog is a small effort by the IIMCAA to bring all its alumni together and bind them for their mutual love of our Alma Mater.
 
Finally we would like to congratulate all those who eventually clear the entrance, and hope that you will uphold the dignity of IIMC, and respect it’s 48 year old rich legacy. If we should be so crass as to offer you one advice we would say, "you will laugh, you will cry, but the friends you make at IIMC will last you a lifetime!"
 
So please make the most of this opportunity and have fun!
 
 
Thanks & Regards,
Team IIMCAA

You Are Your Favourite Search Result

Jaya Drona studied at IIMC, New Delhi in 2005-06. She was given The Hindu award for scoring the highest marks in English Journalism that term. Jaya personally doesn't attach a lot of importance to marks though, not anymore. She believes one lives only once and one should focus on having a good time and not on giving oneself a hard time. Since the day she started thinking this way, disappointment never got in her way. She started as a contributor for TOI, Kanpur, interned at Business Standard, New Delhi and went on to write for Delhi Times, TOI till the end of 2009 after which she moved to England where she currently lives. She works as a legal writer and dabbles in radio and looks forward to doing more of both in the future.
Picture this – do you remember this oft-enacted scene from our films? When an actor is shown to be writing something and he just can’t get it right. He ends up writing and rewriting, tearing sheet after sheet from a letter pad and then crumpling the same into a paper ball before tossing it around him and eventually we see him sitting in a pile of paper balls. But he does get it right after repeated attempts. This is the kind of picture you can paint of me, for today at least. I am sitting, not amidst paper balls, but amidst numerous word documents open on my computer while I am trying to figure out which is the best way to say what I want to say without it sounding boring, repetitive and useless. Such is the pressure of modern times. Everything that anybody needs is being dispensed everywhere, mostly free of charge and the target audience is spoilt for choice. If you need tips on how to crack an interview, all you need to do is type the same into Google and wait for less than a few seconds for your options to be served.

And what happens when you do see your search results on Google? You see that something that appeared amongst the first few search results was completely irrelevant, right next to it was something you didn’t need to know in the first place and on the following pages you find people repeating themselves and you don’t know what will you do if another search result tells you that the first question at any interview is ‘Tell me about yourself’.

However, when you keep browsing (because you are looking for something worth your while), you come across something that makes really good sense and you feel that this is it. After searching for so long, you have finally found something that you can put to good use.

If you have successfully imagined yourself searching for interview tips on Google, you can now replace yourself with an interviewer and the search results as the prospective candidates. Don’t get me wrong, I am not calling any prospective candidates out of tune, but this is only an example to demonstrate how one gets all kinds of search results and then the work of filtering out the best begins. You did it when you were searching and now the interviewers will do it too and you have to be the search result that they feel they need to hold on to. Simple.

So what should you do? Be the search result that was useful to you. What did you like about it? Was it straightforward, honest, clear, brief, said a lot in too few words? And also think of the search results you did not like – were they just too full of themselves, saying the same things over and over again, came across as braggarts, looked dicey, and were unhelpful?

And once you have mastered this, you will be prepared for your interview.

Also, turn the tables. In your head, become the interviewer and look at your search results one more time. Which is the one you will select? Will you look for a result that comes very close to how you are or are you eyeing another result? In this self-analysis, you will be able to rid your personality of some obvious flaws and a better you will shine through.

I know what some of you may be thinking right now – it is easier said than done. Well, in my case, it isn’t. Something I learnt at a lesson in school always holds me in good stead. The lesson said that it is easy to preach to twenty people but it is difficult to be one of those twenty. Since that day, I say things only to nineteen people because I am invariably the twentieth in all things I say.

So, let me do a self-analysis for you. If I had an interview in the next few days, this is going to be my checklist.
A. Am I prepared? Do I know the ABC of the organisation I am applying to?
B. Have I done a mock interview with myself, which includes questions like why I want to work/study here and have I said the answers out aloud because that way I know how everything sounds and more importantly how I sound and what my expressions are when I am saying them?
C. Do I know the answers to the questions I did not attempt in my written test or answered incorrectly?
D. Is my paperwork ready? Have I carefully documented all my previous work experience or internships and have I selected samples of my previous work?
E. Do I know why I want to pursue/study journalism?
F. Do I know why the organisation I am applying to tops my list and not other similar ones?
G. And lastly, do I know what I am wearing because it is important to look presentable. Not that your looking shabby makes any difference to your journalistic skills but we are never given a second chance with first impressions so play safe.

Suggestion: Talk to people around you, your parents, and friends about recent news developments and allow yourself to be a listener. When you listen, sometimes that is when you learn the most.

From my interview experiences, I can safely say that it is important to enjoy the conversation you are having with your interviewers. If you keep your apprehensions and inhibitions at bay, you may actually be able to achieve this. I remember I enjoyed my IIMC interview. When I say enjoy, I do not mean share a joke or narrate anecdotes to the panel. I mean enjoy the experience. If you are calm, you will bring out the best in you. One of my friends always said that one should go into an interview room thinking that the worst that could happen is that one may not be selected. If you make peace with the fact that you may either be selected or may not be, you will go into the interview room thinking there is nothing to lose and will give your best. Try it, it works.

Do well.

Broadcast ‘YOUR’ Thoughts, You Are Half Way Through

Smrithin Satishan of 2012-13 batch of RTV is currently employed as an Asst. Producer with Headlines Today in Delhi. Before being admitted to IIMC as a student he was a correspondent for three years with the prestigious Magna Publishing Company (Stardust, Society, Savvy, Health and Nutrition) in Mumbai and used to write on health, fitness, entertainment, lifestyle, food and travel. Smrithin is a Member of the Central Committee of
IIMC Alumni Association.
Round 2: The interview
So you have crossed that all important ‘laxman rekha’ of getting into Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.  Congratulations! You are amongst the privileged lot who managed to race past many hurdles, read competitors (more than 1000 plus) in the form of aspiring TV and radio journalists. But the job is half done since the ones (around 100) who got through level one are equally hungry like you. That one important hurdle remains, that of clearing the interview. So how do you impress those age old experienced panelists and grab that one seat out of the 49 seats available at the New Delhi branch.

Let me start by telling you a secret. Now that you have cleared the written test, interview is just a formality. Yes, you read it right! As they say ‘Well begun is half done’. But, hold on for a minute. Before you go all ballistic and start celebrating, this doesn’t mean your seat is assured. This simply means you are now at par with all those who got journalistic brains from across the country.  Clearing round one of the written test means you have reduced the competition by more than half and increased your chances of getting a seat. I know you are all impatient by now. So here it goes !

FAQs regarding the IIMC interview.

Duration: 
20-25 minutes each at the max. If they really like you, they wont mind spending more. It is entirely upto to you how you fare. I suggest you try to stay longer. That doesn’t mean you just stay mute like our PM and stare at the panel or go on blabbering like an Indian politician, say Digvijay Singh. Keep your answers crisp, short and sweet .

Type of Questions:
Why TV? Apart from that everything from Uttarakhand floods to Maoist attacks to the unrest in Istanbul to what Vidya Balan wore at Cannes is important. Its all about what made news in the past few weeks and whether you know something about it. When I say something I mean, something specific rather than vague answers. Please be clear about your strengths and weaknesses because it will be an added bonus. If its sports you should be very clear about it to the panellists right from the start. If you like politics say it and mean it too. What does UPA stand for? Which parties parted way with the NDA? Do you agree with Nitish Kumar’s view on Modi? Please try and give original answers because clarity of thought is what the interviewer is looking at. Newspapers and News magazines might help. Outlook, OPEN magazines and The HINDU newspaper for starters. You cannot end up killing a Suryanelli because the fact is she is alive and kicking. Now do you know who Suryanelli is? If you are not sure, say it frankly. For now, Google baba might help.

Your attire: 
Formals look good. I mean it!

The panelists/ interviewer:
Senior journalists from the industry including famous faces like Suhasini Haider and Nidhi Razdhan might be present to grill you and make your life difficult on that particular day. Even top personalities from DD and AIR might also be present.

Does prior work experience help?
It is a huge plus if you have seen the good and bad of the media world prior to coming to IIMC. I also want to point it out very clearly. In case you don’t make it please don’t be disappointed. There is always a second chance. But make sure you make it count by gaining media experience and give this a second shot. IIMC isn’t only be about jobs. It’s more than that, so do come back stronger the next time around. But you also have to be very sure why you left a particular stream to shift to this crazy medium. For e.g. lot many times people end up pursuing careers owing to family pressure only to realise it later. Such people are a regular at IIMC. If you are clear why, things are easy for you. And don’t forget to carry the details of prior work experience with you. The panellists would love to see it.

Last but not the least, the biggest tip:
Prepare your PTC (Piece to camera). Now, I won’t take time to explain what that means. In case you are unsure at this stage I guess you need to check the reasons why you cleared this entrance exam for TV. PTC or camera test basically tests your ability to face the camera. Since the first time is a nerve wrecking experience you might want to stand in front of the mirror and watch yourself speak a few lines about any story of the day before hand. It helps a lot to ease the pressure. You can record a few 40 second videos of your own with the help of digital cams and see the areas that need improvement. Language can be of your choice depending upon your strength. A story can be anything from Uttarakhand floods to Jiah Khan’s funeral.

THE LAST WORD: Stay calm, breathe deep and follow your dreams. IIMC is just the start of things to come. Enjoy the journey!


ALL THE BEST!

Ad-PR | Clinch The Deal at The GD-PI

Saumya Chawla is 6th topper of Ad-PR (2012-13). She is currently interning in Client Servicing (PR) with IPAN Hill+Knowlton Strategies on B2C technology clients.She was an Acquisitions Editor at Pearson before deciding that she just had to study Ad-PR. She's still figuring out PR and loves the craziness of it-especially getting random ideas during metro rides and excitedly calling her team about them..
Hey everyone! So you’ve aced the written exam and been shortlisted for the GD-PI round- give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back!

With an 85:15 distribution between written exam and GD-PI, you’ve already caught IIMC’s interest. Now, it’s time to clinch the deal.

First, let’s be clear- a group discussion is not about public speaking, so don’t worry that you have to wow a crowd. If you treat it like a conversation with friends -Ok, friends who you are debating with- you’ll definitely feel less nervous about it. This means you’ll make a super impression with:
• A relaxed yet alert and confident body language
• Quick response time to arguments in the discussion

In the IIMC Group Discussion round, you’ll get about a minute to collect your thoughts on the topic before you start. Use it wisely- carry a spare paper and pen, jot down keywords and logically move from one point to other.

Be pro-active and start the discussion- it shows your initiative, drive and leadership skills. If you are not the opening speaker, try to be among the first few to speak- it will help you shape the discussion the way you want.

With about five other speakers in the group, you’ll probably not get to speak a lot so grab your chance firmly. Take a stand in favour or against the topic and argue it out logically. Your fellow speakers respectfully listened to you, give them the same courtesy- don’t make it a shouting match. At the same time, don’t appear too silent. You are budding professionals in the communication business- show those skills. Take initiative and try to steer the discussion.  The idea is to appear well informed, so even if you can’t make a stunningly different point, don’t worry, and competently discuss it.

At the end, you’ll be asked to sum up the discussion in less than a minute. Remember, it’s not the time to make a new point- just logically summarize what everyone’s arguments were and what kind of consensus everyone did or did not reach. If you do have a new point, instead indicate that this is where the discussion was headed.

The topics for GD-PI are simply - what is going on around you. Be it politics, sports, business, social, economics- you need to read newspapers, listen to the news, discuss big issues, what’s happening and form a clear picture of your thoughts. Don’t worry, you won’t be asked to comment on the economic policy!

But they do want to know how you think, feel, analyze. The topic could also be creative- they might want you to just interpret it the way you want. So don’t feel scared, just match what you believe in with the topic and you are set.

Practicing with friends-it’s a great way to hone those debating skills.

The Personal Interview round is where the panel (consisting of faculty and professionals from the industry) will want to know you better. This is an industry built on ideas and passion. Your creativity and the way you think is what has helped you climb the first step, but how passionate you are about selling your ideas is what IIMC is looking at. It’s conducted like a free-flowing chat, so steadily and calmly answer everyone. In the PI, You are essentially, advertising yourself. You are a brand that you’ve lived with all your life.

So step 1- Get to know yourself better. If you have prior work experience, present it professionally through your CV. Know your CV-be able to connect your hobbies, your skills, your ideas to showcase how you are the perfect candidate.

Even if you don’t have work experience, you are not at a disadvantage if you can show your ideas, your beliefs, your creativity and how you fit in. Anything that you’ve learnt, read, seen, enjoyed can be brought into the conversation to make your point.

Step 2- Knowledge about the industry. We were asked questions like: What’s your favourite Ad and why? What do you think about using kids in Ads? What are the brands you like and why? What do you think PR is all about? Why do you want to do the course? Do you want to go in Advertising or PR? Why? What do you think about CSR?

I was also asked about my work-experience and why I wanted to take a study break? What was the difference between my organization and our rivals’ branding strategy?  So read up a bit about some key marketing words-Brand Equity is a fun and informative supplement with The Times of India- try reading that.

Making cue cards about yourself, organizing your skills and achievements and debating with your reflection in the mirror; asking people to take mock interviews with you are effective ways to practice.

Must haves: Carry all your documents, creative pieces and portfolios-they can be great conversation starters and bring the ball to your court.

Mantra for D day: Keep calm, be sorted and confident. You’ve worked hard to be here. Now don’t let anyone or anything get in the way of your dream.

All the best everyone and I hope that you become a part of IIMC.

Think, Analyse and Speak- Don't Overdo It

Sneha Bhattacharjee is a 2009-10 pass-out in English Journalism from Dhenkanal Campus. Born and brought up in Delhi, she completed her graduation in English Literature from Kirori Mal College, Delhi University. She is currently working as a Senior Copy Editor with The Times of India, Chennai. She is also General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Chapter of IIMC Alumni Association.
Congratulations to one and all for clearing the IIMC Entrance Examination this year. Now that you all have surpassed the first hurdle successfully. I am sure the next steps have already been planned and ready to be executed. Hence, I would not delve deep into anything but give you a glimpse of what all you need to keep in mind for the D-day!

1. From current affairs to the breaking news on the day of the interview, your questions can vary. Hence, do not forget to read the newspaper on the day of the interview to keep yourself update till the very end. You can be asked about the top headline in the newspaper and why do you think that made it to the top.

2. Give your answers with clarity and thought. Do not beat around the bush. Keep it simple, straight and to the point. The clearer you are in answering the better it is for the interviewers to understand you.

3. Make sure you know why you are interested in pursuing this career. A question which you shall have to answer innumerable times since your journey begins in IIMC- "Why do you want to Journalism?" Avoid cliches rather answer truly.

4. Do not be nervous. Be confident. I know it would be difficult to control the butterflies in your stomach however, if you stay calm and composed, it will help you in tackling all sorts of questions. Most importantly, give you an edge over others. Believe in yourself.

5. Definitely, you all will be well-prepared for the D-day but do not show the "I-know-it-all" attitude. It might seem an exhibition of your confidence-level but can backfire and result in over-confidence.

6. Keep a smile on your face as you enter the room despite the nervousness eating you. This will make you relaxed and help in answering.

These are just a few pointers that you need to remember while entering the interview room. There are many more that can be added to this list but that would then never end. Hence, just keep the faith within yourself alive. Take a deep breath and go for it!

Some important questions that may be asked- 
Q. Why do you want to do journalism?
Q. Tell us something about yourself.
Q. Why didn't you pursue a Masters in some other subject?
Q. Why should we select you?
Q. What kind of books do you like to read?
Q. Who is your role-model? Why?

All the best!

Don’t Forget to Breathe!

Nandita Singh is 9th topper of Advertising and Public Relations, 2012-13. She was placed on campus at the PR firm, 20:20 MSL and is currently working there for technology clients in the B2B sector. Though she was uncertain of her future when she first got into IIMC, she ended up among the top 10 in her class and is now spending her days unravelling the mysteries of PR. A foodie at heart, Nandita recommends venturing outside the IIMC campus to enjoy therapeutic meals at the canteen at Secular House, Hawkers in Vasant Kunj or some chicken paranthas at the dhaba outside IIFT, Qutab Institutional Area. When she’s not buried in a pile of work, you find her humming a diverse set of tunes or socializing.
Disclaimer: Views are based on personal experience and are things ASIDE from what everyone is telling you to do. Simply, I’m going to skip the Resume, experience, interests, passion, ambition etc. because you’ve got enough of that from my more knowledgeable classmates and seniors .

Ah! You’ve made it past that long subjective entrance exam and you’ve come through with flying colours. But this is only the beginning. Don’t relax now after having built up to this admission process for several months.

Let me begin with a common tip: YOU CANNOT STUDY FOR A GROUP DISCUSSION/ INTERVIEW. You may "learn" some intelligent sounding fun facts to impress the panel and it may even work. You might even cram some more. But that’s all you’ll manage. And you’ll have a side dish of stress to deal with. There’s no harm however, in updating yourself regularly in the week leading up to the GD/PI. Papers, the Internet... These tools were created to make up for all the reading up you didn’t do earlier. The one thing you should have is an opinion! On everything. Especially considering you’re applying for a course that nurtures and helps ascertain more concrete opinions in order to help strategize better. And honestly, though it’s not necessary that either the GD or PI will hold questions specific to Advertising or Public Relations, it’s good to know the definition of the course you are about to spend a whole year pursuing. (As precautionary measure, look up MORE than just the definition of Ad/PR).

Group Discussion: A room full of people you’ve never met, leave alone conversed with. One topic. For or against. 15 minutes on a clock. 2 minutes each to sum up. And a panel sitting across from you, judging whether you are proficient with: Content, Conversation, More content, Consideration, and Conviction.
If you’ve aced GDs before, stop reading immediately. You don’t need this. If you’re a fresh graduate, this is probably your first time. That’s not a bad thing. It was mine too. And so oblivious was I, to the supposed tension that surrounds a group discussion that I think I was the only one who stepped out of the room and DIDN’T want to cry. Honestly, it’s the time before the GD, right outside the room, where everyone’s queued up like they’re waiting to be punished, that tension grips you the most. So what do you do? Go prepared.

Condradicts the very first suggestion I made, doesn’t it? Well, I said you can’t prepare content for a GD, but you can go equipped with skill and tact. That’s what a GD is honestly about. Not only if you can perform, but if you can perform in a team, perform in a team you aren’t familiar with, perform under pressure and perform impromptu. So the key then is to balance the following:
Talk, talk sense, and talk with confidence. Silence goes unheard; nonsense, ignored; and overconfidence, admonished.
Let others speak. Now this is the most cliché mantra there is. But the point is being missed. Don’t just stop abruptly when someone else butts in. Multitask! While you’re busy collecting your thoughts, look around and notice the people who aren’t getting the opportunity to express themselves. Egg them on. Honestly, anyone who tries to hog the limelight will only put the panel off.
Speak in crisp sentences. Like a freshly toasted Paapad crisp. Long winding sentences, will either be rudely interjected, or will trail off into someone else’s more engaging comment.
DON’T look at the people evaluating you. In the midst of all the ‘Speak and let speak’ and ‘I must also sound intelligent’ we forget that we are being judged for having a discussion, not delivering monologues to the evaluating party.
If you’ve come this far and still remembered everything I’ve said, congratulations. I didn’t remember half of these things. So as consolation for suffering the verbal deluge, I offer you the star piece of advice. You will ALWAYS catch their attention if you speak up first and sum up last. Of course, all of the other things will factor in, but this is like that 11th mark you can score in a 10 mark paper.
- Practice! No matter how courageous, and confident you might be, you should try and be accustomed to the idea of discussing opinions in a group without losing track or your temper. Try a dinner table GD with your family/friends. Even more fun: try to do it without them knowing you’re trying to do it.

Essentially, remember this: You are being evaluated for the person you are with other people and whether you can hold your own without losing your cool. If you know who you are, they will too. A tad philosophical, but it worked for me. (I guess there’s a reason there’s so many of us to offer advice).

PERSONAL INTERVIEW: Really? You made it out of the GD with that one girl who kept stuttering her point right when you were getting to the peak of your sermon, AND that guy who was sitting just too close for comfort AND that member on the panel who seemed to be glaring only at you?

CONGRATULATIONS! You’re still alive and you have an INTERVIEW TO GIVE! Honestly, the process was such a blur for me, I don’t even remember if it was on the same day. I think it was. But the two processes are a world apart.

The GD still seems okay because we have this herd mentality that will let us feel less fear simply because there is company to share it. And then... *horror movie music from when the heroine goes to open the door late on a full moon night* the PERSONAL INTERVIEW!

Honest to God, even if there are some of you who think you’re here just to ‘take a shot’ or ‘see how it goes,’ the lead up to this particular event will make even you, lose your last nerve. But, the trick is to not let that state of mind come across. In fact, it is the most important for those of you who mean business when you say you want to get into Advertising/PR. Here, is where your knowledge will truly come in handy. And again, blurting out crammed bits of info will not suffice. You must sound like yourself. You must sound like you know what you talk about and you talk about what you know. My biggest motivation (and this was self deduced) was to know that no matter what happened inside that room, I had no reason to lie. Mind you, I had no alternate plan to take up in case I didn’t make it here. Walking in, I just knew that no matter what happened, I would not lie about something I didn’t know. I had no reason to. It takes a certain degree of decency, to accept your flaws gracefully. And that can go a long way in reflecting well on you. Lack of knowledge does not show lack of the will to learn. Make sure that they know that you are at least keen to learn and know more, if you aren’t already a walking-talking Encyclopaedia.

Now, let me make another disclaimer here: This may not necessarily work for everyone. Sometimes, interviewers are too busy scouting for what they want in a candidate, to be able to notice what else the person has to offer. But this is just my take on the whole GD/PI process. Luckily for me, some of that “updated knowledge” from the previous night AND the day of the interview, came in handy too. So while putting off your preparation till the last moment is a bad idea, ‘revising’ won’t harm you one bit.

Follow the ritual: Greet the panel (EACH PERSON), wait until you’re asked to be seated, look pleasant as opposed to flashing a toothy grin at the interviewers, and sit back. The interview begins. Answer questions as directly as possible. And when it’s all done, smile and say thank you, even if you thought it went horribly. Chances are they won’t catch onto how horrible you may have thought it was. Extra points for confidence! Once again, DON’T pretend to be someone you’re not. The interviewer has been playing this game for longer than you have. They cannot be duped.

And make sure you perform to the best of your ability, even if you don’t know why you landed up here. You did after all; take away the possibility of one other student, who may have wanted it more, to get through. Besides, there’s no greater disappointment than knowing you were capable of doing better.

All the best! Oh and, don’t forget to breathe. 
Inhale. Exhale. 
And repeat.

Just Chill

Rashmi Chouhan is a 2010 pass out from Dhenkanal Campus. Presently a Senior Copy Editor with The Times of India in Bhopal, she has worked with Deccan Chronicle too.
Rashmi is President of Madhya Pradesh Chapter of IIMC Alumni Association.
Dear aspirants,

GD/PI isn’t rocket science. Believe me! By the time you reach this stage, you would have already proven your knowledge, writing and linguistic skills. Now would be the time to show the right attitude. And this, I believe, in long run would mean a lot in your career.

For that matter, I chose to be honest when I gave my interview. It came in handy as it prevented me from extra effort to “cook” answers which otherwise would have put me in a tight spot.

With a panel of seven to eight academicians and top journalists ready to “grill” you during the interview, one thing you must be clear about is your reason to join the field. Chill if the panel tries to dissuade you, for journalism isn’t as ideal as most of you must be thinking. Nevertheless, you can always have your way.

Confidence does matter in such a situation. Face the panel with ease. It won’t matter if things go wrong. Speak up what YOU feel.

What comes next is your awareness about what’s happening around and day-to-day news. This, I am sure, won’t be an arduous task for you all.

Guys, do not forget to read at least four newspapers on the day of your interview.

(PS: Be ready for questions like “Why you want to join IIMC?” and “Why journalism?”)

All the best 

Saturday, June 22, 2013

A Word of Advice From The One Who Has Been There

Lavanya Singh is 8th Topper of 2012-13 batch of Advertising and Public Relations. She has interned at Dentsu Communications for three months and her tenure has been extended to continue with Dentsu as a Management Trainee. She love travelling, cooking, reading, public speaking and love animals. Lavanya was a Computer Engineer and worked with Tata Consultancy Services before she took the decision to pursue advertising as her career. 
I had no hopes that I will ever crack IIMC, however when I cleared my written exam, and when I absorbed the fact, the next hurdle was the scary GD/PI. Now I am not really good at group discussions, I hate raising my voice and cut someone talking. When the D day arrived and I found myself surrounded by other competitive aspiring candidates my nervousness was at its peak. We were divided into groups of 12 and sent to the deadly GD room, where our course director and other faculty members were waiting for us. After sitting we were given the topic ‘has IPL diluted the value of Indian Cricket’, after 3 minutes to ponder we started off, and I finally managed to grab a few occasions to speak.

The GD is easy if you know the topic, and to know the topic you must really read everything. I am not asking you to become a bookworm, but yes you must stay abreast with whatever is going around. Raising your voice and shouting is never a solution, you might think you have made a point by that, but eventually you end up losing marks. GD is like a discussion, if you see someone not getting a chance encourage him/her to speak, if you find anyone shouting just ask them to calm down, if you find someone’s point really impressive mention his/her name, the more you respect everyone’s voice the better your GD is, and yes with all this, you need to be tactful to find the chance to give voice to your thought/views and opinions (preferably with examples).

After the GD came the PI….

When my turn came for PI, I was pretty relaxed because I find it very easy to communicate one on one. When I entered the room my Course Director and two other faculty members  were already seated, I passed my certificates and CV, and they asked me about my previous qualifications, why I wanted to join IIMC, what difference IIMC might bring  to my life , I was asked  what I knew about social media, if I knew what pinstrip was, what latest books I read, how was I fit to be a part of advertising and in the end a quick test was given where I was ask to write a catchy line for an excerpt from a book, i.e. I had to condense that excerpt into my 1 line.

PI is relatively the easy part if you are really focused on what you want to be, I prefer to be honest than making fake statements because the people sitting in the room  see students like us every day and it takes them fraction of a second to catch where we are trying to be over smart, As already advised by others, you must read, stay aware of digital media, social media changes, carry a portfolio if you have one, and be honest, be genuine, and leave the rest to your luck.

All the best for your GD/PI, I really hope the best happens to you.

Confidence is The Key

Hi this is Krishna, pass out of EJ, 2010-11. Always wanted to be a journalist. So if you are not serious – please don’t occupy a seat of other deserving candidate who might not be as lucky as you. Currently working with Business Standard and based in Mumbai. Krishna is heading Membership Drive of IIMC Alumni Association in Maharashtra Chapter.
Congratulations to all those who have cleared first hurdle – the written examination. I would like to share my thought on PI (personal interview) section of journalism courses. I had cleared written exams of both courses (RTV & EJ) and appeared for both the interviews. However, I didn’t clear RTV interview and ultimately landed in EJ. As I told you in my article for written exam, I have an interesting interview experience to share. So here it is.

I will tell you account of my interviews. It will tell you do’s and don’ts of interviews. Hope this helps you.

Journalism interviews, I would call them as extension of written examinations so if you are here there are very bright chances that you’ll finally land up in IIMC provided you are able to impress the panel – even if you differ from the panel’s opinion.

First I would talk about why I couldn’t make it to RTV? The reason is simple – I didn’t sound confident enough like I was in EJ interview (both interviews were held back to back same day, EJ first). So don’t lose your confidence – it’s the key to crack any interview, not only IIMC.

So in RTV interview, I was asked few questions related to current affairs which I could easily answer and that shouldn’t be a problem for you too. However the most important part of RTV interview is piece to camera (P2C). You are asked to stand before camera and asked to give a P2C on any topic of your choice (probably panel might also give you a topic). As I said confidence is a key here. Face the camera confidently. Don’t murmur or blabber or falter on camera. You will lose marks right away. And again I’m repeating if you are confident, you will sail through.  So make up your mind on which topic are you going to give the P2C and start practicing the points but make sure that it doesn’t sound like you have learnt it by heart (ratta marna). However if the panel gives you a topic, you should be ready for that too. I wasn’t able to give a decent P2C and thus couldn’t make it to the final cut in RTV.

Now EJ – which I ultimately cleared. Again I was asked some questions related to current affairs and since I came from Maharashtra, I was invariably asked about Raj Thackeray which was a hot topic those days – in news for attacking north Indians in Maharashtra and in particularly in Mumbai.  I supported Raj Thackeray by saying his ways might be wrong but the issue which he has taken up is completely correct. Now before you start hating me for my answer, which also got the panel infuriated I justified my answer the solid reason.  I gave them a fact that Mumbai being a city which is surrounded by sea from three sides has only one side to grow and there are limitations for the city to accommodate more and more people which create problems for existing residents as well as people who newly migrate.

However panel didn’t seem convinced by my answer.  However I stood on my ground. They asked me now if you are in Delhi and if we ask all Maharashtrians to leave Delhi immediately, would you like it? And what would be your reaction then? I said, I definitely won’t like it but Delhi has land to grow therefore the problem is not so peculiar (however  on the hindsight – I feel same for the Delhi that there should be limit to which we should allow our cities to grow to ensure proper urban planning – however that is a different issue).

Further ahead I went on to say that the Constitution of India to which everyone is referring to and saying anyone in the county has the right to go and settle anywhere in the country has a sub clause in the same rule saying, however if the state feels that the migration is harming the people it can ban it (reasonable restriction is the right word as mentioned in the constitution however couldn’t remember it exactly in the interview room). The panel was more annoyed. One of the panelist said that “which constitution are you referring to, Raj Thackeray’s constitution?” this was his exact remark.  I said, “no, I’m referring to constitution of India.” So the member further said, we have all read constitution of India and we can tell you on with complete responsibility that there is no such thing written in the constitution.

However I stood my ground and didn’t relent.  After coming out of room, I thought I should cross check the facts though I was sure about it and if possible show them to panel. I called up a friend and asked him to check. Finally after being on call for about 30 minutes he was able to locate the exact line. It was a part of fundamental rights. I asked him to sms me the gist – I was happy that I wasn’t completely wrong. But I wasn't fully correct also. I went back to the interview room to find it locked. I gasped for my breath. Hopeless, that I had annoyed the panel came back to lobby to find one of the member standing in the lobby. I rushed to him and showed him a sms which friend had sent. He smiled and said it talks about reasonable restrictions and not ban. I said, yes I meant that.  I don’t know what impact it had but I was through.

AD-PR | Interview Uninterrupted

Manisha Dash has been a student of Ad-PR department and belongs to the batch of 2012-13. Presently an intern at IFFCO in the PR department, Manisha has been placed in Vizag Steel Plant through campus placement.
It’s been trending on Facebook. “So many do’s and don’t’s for the written exam on the IIMC Entrance Blog, and we didn’t follow it, yet got into IIMC!!” ( by my batch mates, of course and how true!!)

Boy o’ boy! Being Chilled out is the call of the hour, I guess! The written exam was a path dreaded and we drove across. Being prepared is never a bad option given any day. Doing this and that of course instills a sense of positivity. But let’s keep it healthy and let’s not allow anxiety to engulf everything retained so far. Again a few words of caution thrown in the air:

Your interviews are a tete-a-tete with your would be faculty. Go on and give yourself a chance to know yourself better. The interviewers' questions and remarks leave you mulling over the few moments spent in their company for a long time! So, let’s talk simple and sensible.

There would be some certain questions, like why ADPR and if Advertising then what aspect of advertising? Well, each and every one of us rightfully declares as being creative, inquisitive and so on and that is where we are caught off-handed. In due course we come to realise that creativity is just one subject in the course. The rest papers deal with media planning, advertising, public relations, et al. So, think of a logical reason and if you really want to go into creative or copy writing, go ahead and answer with conviction.

The interviewers are earthlings and give you ample chance to speak. Unlike the parliamentary sessions, even the Group Discussion is simple with everyone getting a chance to speak. In case you run short of points, chill, lay back, listen to others, reframe their points and add them to your views and lay forth your point without shouting at the top of your voice. A cool demeanour is always welcome.

The GD topics are very simple yet generalised like "Do Ads make a difference". Remember to give examples and co relate with some known incidents in GD as well as interview. And last but not the least, the key to confidence is in staying cool but not aloof.  I think i have given enough of free advice!

Now, run ahead and all the best!!

जवाब में मुस्कुराहट मिला दें, सहज रहें

हिन्दी पत्रकारिता विभाग, 2005-06 बैच के छात्र किशोर कौशल भारतीय पुलिस सेवा में झारखंड कैडर के अधिकारी हैं. आईआईएमसी से कैंपस प्लेसमेंट से समाचार एजेंसी वार्ता पहुंचे किशोर आईपीएस अधिकारी चुने जाने से पहले डैनिक्स अधिकारी भी रह चुके हैं.
साक्षात्कार के माध्यम से व्यक्ति को परखने का प्रयास किया जाता है कि कोई व्यक्ति किसी कार्य विशेष के लिए योग्य है या नही. इसलिए यह जानना जरूरी है कि हम जिस संस्थान में साक्षात्कार के लिए जा रहे हैं , उसकी हमसे क्या अपेक्षा है. भारतीय जनसंचार संस्थान पत्रकारिता और जनसंचार को समर्पित देश के सर्वश्रेष्ठ संस्थानों में से एक है और यहां अपेक्षा की जाती है कि हमारी अभिरुचि और क्षमता एक सक्षम पत्रकार बनने की हो. इसके लिए सबसे पहले यह आवश्यक है कि समसामयिकी पर पैनी नजर रखी जाये और विगत महीनों में जो महत्वपूर्ण राजनीतिक, सामाजिक, आर्थिक और सांस्कृतिक मुद्दे सुर्ख़ियों में रहे हैं, उनके बारे में न केवल तथ्यात्मक जानकारी पर पकड़ बनायी जाये बल्कि विवादस्पद विषयों पर अपने दृष्टिकोण को तार्किक रूप से सुसंगत बनाया जाये.

कुछ विषय ऐसे हैं जिनके बारे में घटनाक्रम के साथ-साथ उसकी पृष्ठभूमि जानना आवश्यक है. उदहारण के तौर पर अंतरराष्ट्रीय संबंध, नक्सलवाद, कश्मीर समस्या, उत्तर-पूर्व में उग्रवाद आदि. इसके अतिरिक्त कुछ बिंदु ऐसे हैं जो किसी भी साक्षात्कार के लिये सामान रूप से महत्वपूर्ण हैं. पर्सनल प्रोफाइल (नाम, अपने राज्य, शैक्षणिक पृष्ठभूमि, अभिरुचि आदि ) पर गहराई से विचार करें और खुद या मित्रों के समूह में चर्चा के द्वारा अधिकतम प्रश्न तैयार कर उनका उपयुक्त उत्तर ढूंढने का प्रयास करें. खासकर अपनी शैक्षणिक पृष्ठभूमि और पत्रकारिता में उसकी प्रासंगिकता के बारे में अपनी राय स्पष्ट करें. अपने राज्य की समस्याओं, उपलब्धियों और राजनितिक माहौल के बारे में यथासंभव जानकारी इकठ्ठा कर लें.

साक्षात्कार के दौरान कुछ बातों का विशेष ध्यान रखें. कुर्सी पर कमर सीधी कर बैठें, प्रश्न शांत भाव से सुनें और प्रश्न समाप्त होने के बाद स्थिरता से उसका जवाब दें. साक्षात्कार के दौरान साक्षात्कारकर्ता से नजरें मिलाकर बात करें और किसी सवाल का जवाब न आने पर विनम्रता के साथ यह स्वीकार करें कि जवाब आपको पता नही है. यह कहते समय शर्मिंदा होने की जरुरत नही है. क्योंकि कोई भी व्यक्ति सब कुछ जानने का दावा नही कर सकता है. जहां तक संभव हो साक्षात्कार के दौरान हल्की मुस्कराहट बनाएं रखें. विषम प्रश्न पूछे जाने पर भी सहजता बनाए रखें.

So Close I Can Taste It... Almost

Deepti Gahrotra is a serial procrastinator and professional imaginator. When is not out saving the world with her special powers of sarcasm, she works as the Communications Manager with a Delhi based NGO, Score foundation, or on her blog. She is currently a Member of the Central Committee of IIMC Alumni Association. For more questions about IIMC, feel free to connect with her on Twitter.
@DeeptiGahrotra | http://imjinxd.blogspot.in/

In a previous post in this blog, I shared some of my wisdom (just kidding I really don't have any) about the what's and how's of the entrance exams. For all of you who have cleared the written congratulations! For all of you who have cleared the ADPR written I'm impressed. I know who checked the papers and if you managed to clear it, rest assured you are the best of the best.

Having said that lets talk about GDPI. The written exam at IIMC carries 85% weightage in the overall scheme of things, so if you have made it so far the hard part is over. Having said that 15% marks dont really make THAT big  a difference over all. Why am I telling you this? Im trying to tell you relax! you have pretty much sealed your fate at IIMC and all the fretting in the world can't effect the outcome either ways now. So stop being nervous, you've done what you had to, so go in keeping in mind that you gave the written your best shot and this is your time to shine.

The GD is conducted alphabetically. Each GD group has around 8 people. You will get at least an hour before your GD (if you are lucky). So for god's sake please come early, try coming before time. Why? Let me explain, get to know the people who are likely to go into the GD with you and start talking to them. Observe what they have to say and what kind of people they are, in case they are outspoken be sure to make mental notes to sit farther down from them in the GD. These people tend to overpower the people on either sides of them. The GD topic can be current or abstract. More often it is current, so again I hate to say it, but please read a lot.

The GD is not about about being the loudest or the most obnoxious. Its about being the most valid. A good strategy is to try and start the conversation so that if nothing else at least you got the first word in. Then shut up and listen. Form a solid argument that is difficult to refute and just keep harping on it every chance you get. The trick is to bring in a point of view that nobody else thought of. If you keep talking during the whole GD, you will most likely make one good point (if you are lucky), a few ok ones and most "that makes no sense at all!" kind of points. Its important to listen to others. If you can make a point that refutes or weakens another persons argument. However DO NOT under any circumstances shout or lose your temper. Its a GD not the Parliament. You have to be cordial about it. That does not however mean be a pushover. Put at least one solid point across and if you manage to steal even 40 seconds of the total time to make a valid point you are through this round.

Then comes the PI. I wish I could be as systematic about this part. But there is no trick to the PI. Those 10 marks you have got to earn. I know of a very dear friend who actually had to dance for the PI. I on the other hand was asked some questions from the field. Its a different story that she topped the entrance and came either 7th or 11th... I don't quite remember. However last to last year quite a few people cried in the PI. The objective is not to scare you, but to remind you that you are applying to an ADPR course, grow a thicker hide! On the face of it each PI is different. Hence there are no words of wisdom that I can offer. Just be yourself and think before you answer. Mindful thinking is the key. So take a deep breath and just jump in. Remember IIMC is a magical place that you will love to call home for the next 9 months, for that however you have to first get in.

All the best to all the ADPR aspirants! Do us proud!!

A Group Discussion on The Interview !

Prithviraj Choudhury passed out of IIMC batch of 2006, from the RTV department. He won the scholarship for being the topper for the IIMC exams and subsequently went on to win the STAR TV Scholarship for the year 2006, before he passed out. By virtue of this, he joined STAR India Pvt. Ltd in 2006, first as a Promo Producer, but went on to establish himself as In-Charge of online product, content development and internet marketing in the STAR TV digital department. After spending almost 4.5 years in STAR, he moved on to be the Senior Manager in EROS International, one of India's foremost film distribution and production companies. His EROS work profile included rolling out online marketing campaigns for the some of the biggest Hindi films, as well as product lead on several key projects from Eros Digital group. Currently Prithviraj is associated with FOX STAR STUDIOS as Senior Manager.

Armed with a very keen interest in films, and totally abreast with the changing trends in media, specially in the film and TV space, Prithviraj is also has been dabbled extensively in stage- as actor, director and writer, during his graduation days in St Stephens College, Delhi and post graduation phase at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. One day, he plans to open his own restaurant serving exotic food from across the world, and write and direct his own film.

Prithviraj is Vice-President of Maharashtra Chapter of IIMC Alumni Association.
Its been a good 7 years since I appeared for my GD and interview for IIMC New Delhi for the Radio and TV journalism course

Things must have changed a fair bit now in terms of the structure and format of the course, the syllabus and possibly the question paper format. But to my mind, the basic tenets of having a successful GD and interview remains unchanged. For these depend  on the nature and behavior of the individuals, and the ability of each one to face up to the questioning and grilling that might come your way.

The GD, to me, has always been a way of thinning the 'grain from the chaff', a preview of your personality, in many cases. Its meant to see the following:

How good you are at communicating with others?

How do you behave and interact within the dynamics of a group ?

How open minded are you  to listen to the POV of others, no matter how drastically different your views might be.

Your listening skills are tested. Do you have the patience to listen to others?

How do you put forward your views? Do you fall in the easy temptation of clamouring and shouting to make your point heard? Or do you know how to be forthright and clear without being aggressive?

Your analytical skill and subject knowledge, and the range of your knowledge?

Finally your attitude and confidence in dealing with situations

The above may seem like duly shortened management  tenets, but a GD in IIMC can be tackled easily with just pure confidence and a logical line of thinking and opinion in the topic chosen.

We are pleased to share the poster of Prithvi’s first feature film LOVE SONGS released in 2008.
Firstly initiate the GD.  Try to be the first one to step in and lead the discussion with your POV on the topic. Of course this doesn’t imply you shoot of your mouth when you aren’t clear on the topic or know little about it. Remember measured silence is better than a loud noises signifying nothing!

Always  allow others to speak . It will be tempting to cut in and speak your mind, especially when you feel the other person is talking crap and your view point is infinitely better (and mostly you will always feel that!!). But be gracious and let your group member finish the point he/she is trying to make. Listen carefully and patiently, make your points. Remember it’s a GROUP discussion, not an individual platform to vent your points. And while making your points, be clear and concise. Don’t think that this is a verbal boxing ring, where raising your voice will make your point of view the accepted one , rather be logical and factual in your thinking and put your point across calmly and with dignity.

You also don’t need to get into too much detail on the subject. Just cover the main points of argument, and move on.  Time is limited and the GD is not the place to show off the reams of research work you have done.

Finally, be positive and be confident. No wishy-washy statements, no furtive glances, just be sure of yourself in the group.

Now for the interview process. Everyone knows that interviews is the surest way of finding out what your real worth is – how much do you know and how much you can get by pretending to know. I don’t need to get into the obvious about knowing your subject, current affairs etc. It’s a given. So just a few key pointers on how you should behave.

An interviewer, I have always felt, is the litmus test of your personality. They know you know the knowledge from the books, but now during your one-to-one interaction they want to see whether you are somebody who can walk the talk , get a real feel of what makes you. First things, be confident, and look directly into the eyes of the interviewers. Sifting eyes or looking down is a sign of uncertainty.

Be and appear enthusiastic. A good smile right at the start sets the tone for the interview. Answer questions clearly and to the point. There might be questions that you might not know the answer to. Its ok to admit and say : “Sorry, I am not entirely aware of this…” and move on. Again appearing overtly aggressive in pushing your point-of-view will get you nowhere. While its always good to say what you feel, don’t get drawn into an argument for argument’s sake.

There will be the standard question: why do you want to join IIMC? What is your long term goal? So don’t sound too rehearsed like a Miss India Pageant winner here. Be honest, be spontaneous and try not sound like a martyr who is about to change the world.

Dress well please. Yes, clothes make a difference. Creased shirts and wrinkled trousers, coffee stains or reeking of cigarette smoke will not get you anywhere. Dress smart, dress clean.

And now you are all set … All the best… Take it easy and breeze through!

Be Confident! Be the Best, Forget The rest!!

Deepika Sati, graduate and third topper in Amity university, student of Ad-PR (2012-2013), Always have been active in co-curricular activities. Campus placement in Red FM.
First and foremost I would to congratulate all of you who have cracked IIMC’s entrance test. Half the battle is already won but now gear up and prepare yourself for the GD-PI.  If you are in IIMC that means you are supposed to be aware of the latest happenings and general knowledge, so work on that. The topic of the Group discussion will be framed around this only.

Instead of giving you the basics of the group discussion I would give you key pointers that one should follow. Firstly, there is no such concept that the one who speaks maximum in the Group discussion is the winner (it is a discussion, not a race) , in fact you may get negative points from hindering other people to speak. Secondly, make valid points; do not deviate from the subject.  Have patience while others speak, you will get your chance.

After group discussion, comes interview. Make sure that you are dressed properly, however in my case I was in casuals, it happened by default but do not take chance. Jaishree Ma’am’s  personality is powerful and straight forward but don’t get nervous. For ADPR , you should be aware about brands, advertising agencies, their famous ad campaigns, the great personalities in the field of advertising etc etc. There is lot to know and time is less but try your best to focus on the mentioned things.

The most important factor to give an interview is to be honest. No matter what the result is, be brave and speak honestly. Don’t make bridges in air. The enthusiasm in your voice and the passion in your eyes will do the rest for you. This is the life time opportunity, don’t miss it and give your best shot.

Be Confident! 
Be the Best, Forget The rest!!

घर का अंगना हो जाय इंटरव्यू वाला कमरा, कुछ ऐसा रंग जमा दें

अविनाश कुमार चंचल हिन्दी पत्रकारिता विभाग के 2011-12 बैच के छात्र रहे हैं और आईआईएमसी एलुम्नाई एसोसिएशन की केंद्रीय समिति के सदस्य हैं. केंद्रीय समिति में आने से पहले एसोसिएशन के बिहार चैप्टर के संगठन सचिव रहे हैं. अविनाश ने एक साल हिन्दुस्तान अखबार के साथ खेल पत्रकारिता की है. फिलहाल ग्रीनपीस संस्था के साथ जल-जंगल के मुद्दे पर काम कर रहे हैं. कस्बा-कस्बा, शहर-शहर घूमते रहते हैं. कई वेबसाइट और पत्रिकाओं के लिए स्वतंत्र लेखन कर रहे हैं.
सबसे पहले आप सबको आईआईएमसी का पहला चरण पार करने पर बधाई. आप सब जब इस ब्लॉग को पढ़ रहे होंगे तो उनमें से कई अपने-अपने शहर भोपाल, पटना, लखनऊ, जयपुर से दिल्ली के लिए निकल गए होंगे या फिर टिकट कंफर्म करवा लिया होगा. मतलब आईआईएमसी कैम्पस में कदम रखने की उल्टी गिनती शुरू हो चुकी होगी.

पक्के तौर पर कह सकता हूं कि आप में से कई ऐसे होंगे जो लिखित परिक्षा देने के बाद से ही इंटरव्यू की तैयारी शुरू कर चुके होंगे और कई ऐसे जिन्होंने लिखित परीक्षा न निकलने का आकलन किया होगा और वो अभी कदम पार करने की खुशी ही सेलिब्रेट कर रहे होंगे.

लेकिन अब जबकि दिल्ली के लोगों के लिए दो दिन और बाहर वालों के पास तीन दिन बचे होंगे तो ये बात बेमानी होगी बताना कि कौन-कौन सा टॉपिक पढ़ा जाना चाहिए. फिर भी अगर आप उत्तराखंड की तबाही, मोदी-नीतीश मामला, रुपया का गिरता ग्राफ, तुर्की में प्रदर्शन जैसे मुद्दे को पढ़-जान लेते हैं तो संभावना है कि कुछ तुक्का भिड़ भी जाय.

चलिए इन गंभीर-समकालीन मुद्दों से अलग बात करते हैं इंटरव्यू के बने बनाए उस फॉर्मूले या कॉकटेल की जो हर जगह फिट बैठ जाती हैय. मसलन, आप जिस राज्य, जिले से हैं वहां की ऐतिहासिकता, समकालीन राजनीतिक हलचल (बिहार वाले खासकर अलर्ट रहें), आप जर्नलिज्म में क्यों आना चाहते हैं, आपने जिस सब्जेक्ट में अपने तीन साल देकर ग्रेजुएट हुए हों उसकी जानकारी, अगर लिखने-पढ़ने की रुचि है तो फिर साहित्य की चर्चा, कुछ पत्रकारों के नाम, कुछ एंकरों के नाम, कुछ साहित्यकारों के नाम, हाल के नोबल विजेताओं के नाम से लेकर आपसे आम आदमी पार्टी, नरेन्द्र मोदी का प्रधानमंत्री बनना और फिर अगले विधानसभा चुनाव-लोकसभा चुनाव के बारे में आपका आकलन पर सवाल पूछे जा सकते हैं.

ये तो हुई सवालों की बात. अब बारी होगी आपके बात करने की. आप अपनी खासियत, खामियां, उपलब्धि सब कुछ गिना सकते हैं और पूछा भी जा सकता है. अपने बारे में बोलने का सेगमेंट सबसे कठिन होगा. इसे जीतने के लिए आपके जवाब सही-गलत नहीं होंगे बल्कि आपमें एक बेहतर समझ, गंभीर चिंतन और पूरा आत्मविश्वास होना चाहिए. आत्मविश्वास एक शब्द मायने कई. बस, इंटरव्यू के कमरे में प्रवेश करते ही खुद को सरल बनाएं और वहां बैठे लोगों पर अपनी एक मुस्कान दे मारें. माने कि पूरा परिवार जैसा माहौल बना आएं. लगे कि आप अपने अंगना में पिताजी से मिलने आए दोस्त को अपने बारे में बता रहे हैं.

हां, ये डर निकालना होगा कि रिजल्ट क्या होगा. फोकस इस बात पर रहे कि भले एडमिशन हो न हो, वहां बैठे लोगों तक अपनी पूरी बात पहुंचाना ज्यादा महत्वपूर्ण सफलता है. एक टिप्स ये भी रख लीजिए- अगर आपको लगे कि आपका कोई मजबूत पक्ष है तो फिर देर न कीजिएगा इंटरव्यू को अपने उस पक्ष की ओर ले जाने में. बस, वहां पहुंच अपने ज्ञान की धाराएं खोल दीजिए लेकिन याद रहे सब कुछ संतुलित हो.

और अंत में, आप एक पत्रकार बनने आए हैं. चाहे एडमिशन हो न हो, इंटरव्यू अच्छा जाय न जाय लेकिन आपके भीतर के पत्रकार की संवेदनशीलता नहीं जानी चाहिए. जो भी कहें, जितना कहें अपने दिल से कहें और पूरी संवेदनशीलता के साथ अपनी बात रखें. जीत आपकी ही होगी.

Be Confident. That is All What Matters

Anupama Kunnikkal was a student of Advertising and Public Relations 2012-13 Batch .She has completed her internship with India Infomedia.
Clearing the entrance itself is a big relief, I must tell you. But you have to put some effort to cross the GD/PI stage too.

Along with some tips I am sharing my Group Discussion and Interview experience hoping that you all would get a clear picture.

Group Discussion – 
No one can predict the topic you would get for your group discussion. So be prepared. That is the best way to be confident inside the room. You should carry a pen and paper with you. You will be asked to note down the points after the topic is given. Don’t feel shy if you find it difficult to understand the meaning of the topic. It will not be a reason for them to deduct the points. Last year our group had the topic “Social media creates a flat world”. Topic was easy and we all could speak. Remember, if you are getting a lighter topic, chances are there for everyone to come up with more points. So you should focus more on the quality of your points which will come automatically to your mind if you have done a lot of reading and browsing. And no, don’t wait for anyone to clear all the doubts you have. Since everybody is trying to get in, you can expect the atmosphere of a fish market there. But you have to be polite, you should have a smile on your face, and yes you should make 3-4 valid points. That is fair enough. And don’t forget to note others’ points while they speak which will help you in the end if you are asked to summarize the Gd.

Interview – 
Interview would be nothing more than a normal talk. They will not try to put you under stress. They might offer you some cashew nuts, might ask you to sing (if you can), might ask you to speak in an alien language and lot more. Be confident. That is what matters the most.
The questions I faced last time were:
- Introduce yourself
- Why to communications from commerce?
- How do you see your future? Tell me what you are planning to do after you finish this course.
- Are you aware of any ad agencies in your city? If yes, mention them.
- Speak a few sentences in Hindi (if they get to know that you are not fluent in Hindi) and how do you think you will cope with the people and lifestyle here.
- Which are the leading newspapers in your state and which one do you prefer and why?

You see, you can never predict the questions. It depends completely on the panel you get. But it is always better if you sit and prepare so that you can face the interview with confidence.

Congratulations for all who have cleared the entrance test and wishing you good luck for the GD/PI.

Your Final Hurdle..!!

Puja Mishra is an alumna of English Journalism from Dhenkanal Campus of 2012-2013 batch. She graduated in Journalism & Mass Comm. from Shri Shikshayatan College (Calcutta University) and has interned at The Times of India, Jaipur & at Prabhat Khabar. She is one of the top 10 rankers of English Journalism (All six campuses) and has won many awards for academic excellence. A book worm Puja currently working as a Business Developer and Marketing executive at Unity Creations- a Total Media Solution. 
So now when you have crossed your first hurdle of clearing the written test, it’s time for the second one. Well to me GDPI was not an easy task. Just like you all, I was tensed and nervous too. But it all went fine with that one smile which I had carried throughout my interview and with the confidence that I had build up within myself.

Cracking your interview seems a hard task. At times you get grilled by the panel. But a positive attitude towards the situation and confidence can give you fruitful results. So now when you are going to fall in the same trap, just like I fell last year, here are some tips that would help you during your interview.

Firstly build up confidence. Unless you are sure about your goals, your agenda and have trust in your abilities, no one can help you. You must have a fresh mind and a “YES I CAN” attitude. A positive attitude will always help you to achieve great heights. So do have one!

Secondly, your interviewers will often come up with tricky questions. They might even ask you questions related to current affairs. So be prepared. Keep yourself updated about the current events and news. Remember you are stepping in the field of journalism where knowledge about current events is a must. Also remember not to fumble while speaking. Polish up your vocabulary and English. For this you can read a lot of newspapers or novels and watch English news channels.

Thirdly, questions like “Tell me about yourself” and “Why did you chose Journalism as your career” are common. Try to prepare a brief summary about such questions well in advance. Also when they ask you something don’t try to deviate from the topic. Answer what they have asked you to!

Many interviewers would try to confuse you during your interview and that they will be doing in order to test your patience and confidence. So don’t panic in such situations. Be confident with what you speak and stick to your answer. Don’t worry if your answer goes wrong. That’s a learning time too!

If your interviewer asks you something for which you have no answer, let them know that you don’t know. There’s no harm in saying a “No”, it’s better than acting smart. Remember they are smarter!

Try to maintain eye contact with the panel. Once you start looking at the walls it shows that you are unsure about the topic and nervous. Also speak in a volume audible to them. Don’t let that “Scared you” appear in your voice. Speak frankly!

A well dressed candidate makes a great impression on his/her interviewer. So try to dress up yourself in formals. That adds up to your performance. You must also have a positive body language. When you enter the room, you will find more than one interviewer in front of you. They all will keep an eye over your attitude, your way of speaking and your body language. Make sure you carry yourself perfectly!

And lastly, try to carry a smile always. I know it becomes hard to smile and laugh in such situations. But trust me this helps. It’s a positive sign and helps you hide your tensions.

Cracking IIMC GDPI is not actually very hard. All you need is to be confident and have faith in your abilities. Think as if you are conversing with few people. That will make it easier. So friends, drink some water, calm down, tighten up your shoe laces, enter the room and give your best…. A bright new career is waiting for you!!

My best wishes to you all..!! Keep smiling! 

Friday, June 21, 2013

Ad-PR: How to Crack Group Discussion & Interview

Ankur Ogra is an alumni of Ad-PR, 2005-06 batch. He was awarded the Achin Ganguly Memorial Scholarship for being the topper in the entrance examination. Ankur has worked in various advertising agencies like Dentsu, Ogilvy & Mather, Draft FCB Ulka, Percept. Presently working with JWT as Account Planning Director, Ankur has worked on various brands like American Express, Hutch/Vodafone, Tata Docomo, Hero Motocorp & Oswal among others. Ankur was also doing theatre during his days at the IIMC with Barry John and acted in some plays with him.
Congratulations students on cracking the entrance examination. You have crossed the first hurdle, now is the final lap that needs to be covered. The final lap includes the group discussion and Personal Interview.

In the group discussion, 4-5 candidates will be called in the interview room and a panel consisting of Industry veterans and professors (they would be around will be sitting in front of you. All of you will be given one topic to discuss and debate.

A few tips for the Group discussion – 
- Please take one side, either for or against. It doesn’t matter which side you take as long as you have a sound reasoning for your argument.
- Please don’t be aggressive or loud, just be clear in your thought process and present an argument that is different and relevant to the topic given. Don’t be too silent either as that would give the impression that you don’t have a point of view.
- Try to get the group to one common conclusion- this is critical, as it will show how maturely and objectively have you been able to discuss, debate and conclude a discussion.

Now for the interview-
You will be interviewed by a group of 4-5 jury members. They will be ex industry and professors in the panel. They would ask you questions about why you want to do the course, why advertising, where do you see yourself a few years down, what makes you creative, what are your accomplishments, something about the economy or society at large. Basically, it can be anything under the sun! So for students who are well aware and know are well read, they definitely will have an advantage.  The one tip that I can definitely give you is that do read up on all the current issues that are plaguing the country or society, you might be lucky if they ask you about it!

Don’t be nervous, please think before you speak and be dressed formally or semi-formally.

All the best!

Relax...Take A Deep Breath

Rayana Pandey, an alumna of English Journalism 2006-07 batch, coordinates Singapore Chapter of IIMC Alumni Associaton. An international business journalist with over six  years of diverse experience across both print and online, Rayana currently helms Marketing Magazine’s Singapore edition. She has been with the company for five years and has taken on multiple roles during this period. Having started her career at Business Standard, one of India’s leading business newspapers, Rayana moved to Singapore in 2008 to explore online journalism and hasn’t looked back since then. When not in her editor’s avatar, she can be found on stage honing her acting and public speaking skills or volunteering with a local social enterprise.
Congrats on winning half the battle, guys. And for the rest half, I’m very sure, you know the drill. Keep abreast with latest developments, both local as well as global; have a point of view, be prepared to defend it yet don’t come across as stubborn (or you may, if you are darn sure about what you are saying and able to convince the panel); dress well and put on a confident smile; relax, take a deep breath, believe in yourself etc etc. These are points that must have been drilled into you by now for IIMC’s interview.

So let me quickly summarise what PI for English Journalism is like. Picture this: a big room with, anywhere between 3 to 5 interviewers on one side and you on the other. Some staring at you without uttering a word while some, mainly one or two, active interrogators.

Don’t ignore/forget the former and don’t get intimidated by the latter. Talk to everyone and beware of that twiddling thumb or restless legs syndrome. Remember, you have been tested on your knowledge during the written exam already. PI is mainly to gauge your soft skills and personality (think Dabangg before you go into the room, that’s the sort of confidence you need).

Don’t worry if the PI time was too long or short by your standards/expectations. What’s important is that you enjoy the conversation while you are at it! And that’s all, before you realise your interview is over.

I took my IIMC entrance exam without a plan B. (yes, I did give a few other entrances but half-heartedly and never wanting to get into those courses, truly). So when my dad asked me what if IIMC didn’t happen? My answer was, I don’t know. In my heart, I felt that question was wrong, I don’t know why. And no, I’m usually not this decisive but this case was different. I guess this was one instance of my life when I was full of self-belief and conviction.

So my friends, you will find that conviction too, whether for IIMC or any other career path. And then there will be no looking back. Onwards and upwards!

Keep Calm and Speak!

Srishti Dugar is a pass out of Ad-PR, 2011-12 Batch. Currently she is working in the Brand Team of HCL Technologies.
Her hobbies include music, reading & tracking latest brand, journalistic & coffee trends.
Hello Everyone,

I would like to congratulate you all for clearing the first hurdle, now you are just a step away from getting admission into IIMC!! Believe me; studying in this college would be one of the many high points of your life. As you prepare for the next challenge in terms of GD –PI; I would like to share the preparation and experience that helped me to crack this stage.

Group Discussion:  During the Group Discussion, a topic will be provided to 8-9 candidates to “discuss” within 10-15 minutes under the supervision of the interviewers. The topics can range from current socio-political issues to bizarre one-liners. The trick to crack any GD is to consider it as a platform for “discussion” & not as a battle field where you can only win by subduing other person’s opinion.  Listening and assertive articulation of your opinion will help you sail even through the unknown topics.  Try not to cut other person while he/she is talking, politely put across your opinion, if you disagree with the concerned person’s point of view.  Apart from this, in terms of preparation, do cover the latest topics by reading editorials of The Hindu or magazines like The Caravan.  Make 10 brief conversational pointers about each topic and keep it as handy placards. This will help you formulate your conversations in a more coherent fashion during the GD.  If you have a little hesitation while speaking in front of a group,  try running some mock GDs with your friends.

Personal Interview: The last and the most important leg of the entire process! It is necessary that you
bring your personality (academic as well as social) in front of the interviewers.  They had a glimpse of you in the GD & now they want to understand who you are and what you believe in. Remember the points you spoke in your GD will pop up as questions in the interview. Questions can be around you, the current political issues, academics, brand campaigns or on your family. I remember, I was asked about the cream my grandmother used (Nivea, for that matter) and I was supposed to explain my emotional connect with that particular brand. So, it will be a free flow of back to back questions from all sides! The trick here is to “Keep calm and answer!”

Before I close one last advice – Enlist all your achievements and high points in your career in a resume format. Your interview can just revolve around that resume, which brings the ball to your court! Do carry certificates to valid these achievements.

All the very best and I hope you to become a part of this brilliant college!!

चक दे आईआईएमसीः ये दस मिनट जी लो यारों

आनंद दत्ता हिंदी पत्रकारिता 2012-13 बैच के सातवें टॉपर हैं. फोटोग्राफी के शौक़ीन आनंद कैंपस प्लेसमेंट से हिन्दुस्तान की नौकरी पा चुके हैं और फ़िलहाल पोस्टिंग का इन्तजार कर रहे हैं. आईआईएमसी एलुम्नाई एसोसिएशन की केंद्रीय समिति के सदस्य आनंद http://mangopeopleblog.blogspot.in/ पर बकैती भी काटते हैं.
भारतीय जनसंचार संस्थान का फाटक आपने खोल लिया है, क्लास रूम खोलना बाकी है . पांच से दस मिनट यदि आप स्वभाविक बने रहे तो ये काम भी मुमकिन समझो. क्योंकि साक्षात्कार में  इतना ही समय लगता है. वैसे तो साक्षात्कार में पूछे जाने वाले सवालों की कोई लिस्ट नही हो सकती, न ही शानदार टाइप अंदाजा लगाया जा सकता है. लेकिन  छोटी-मोटी जुर्रत तो की ही जा सकती है.

सबसे पहला ये कि आत्मविश्वास बनाये रखें. इसे बनाये रखने के लिए छोटी-छोटी कसरत करें. अपने जिले और राज्य के बारे में भौगोलिक, राजनैतिक और ऐतिहासिक जानकारी रख लें. केंद्रीय मंत्रिमंडल के प्रमुख मत्रियों को जान लें. हाल-फ़िलहाल के सामाजिक और राजनैतिक मुद्दों की जानकारी व उसके विषय में अपनी पुख्ता व स्पष्ट राय जरूर बना लें.

पत्रकारिता क्यों? इस सवाल का छोटा व स्पष्ट जवाब आप जरुर तैयार रखें. यदि आपने पहले भी पत्रकारिता की है तो अपने काम का चिट्ठा साथ में रख लें, लेकिन बिना अनुमति के उसे न पसार दें.

आपने जिस विषय के साथ स्नातक की पढ़ाई की है, उससे पूछे जाने वाले सवाल के आसार प्रबल हैं. उसके लिए आप पूरी तरह तैयार रहें. विज्ञान या वाणिज्य वालों से पूछ लिया जाता है कि पत्रकारिता तो कला के लोगों का मामला है, हिन्दी का मामला है. ऐसे सवालों के लिए तैयार रहें. पूछा तो ये भी जा सकता है कि आईआईएमसी ही क्यों.

कपड़ों को लेकर थोड़ी सावधानी जरूर बरतें. फॉर्मल पहन कर जाएं तो ज्यादा बेहतर रहेगा.

इतना सब होने के बाद भी आप घबरा रहे हैं, पता है मुझे. मेरे साथ भी ऐसा ही हुआ था. इसे दूर करने का बढ़िया उपाय ये है कि साक्षात्कार से एक घंटे पहले आईआईएमसी पहुंच जाएं और कैम्पस में टहलने का मजा लें. सौ फीसदी गारंटी,  कैम्पस अपना सा लगेगा और आप आत्मविश्वास से लबरेज हो जायेंगे.

याद रखें, आपका पहला जवाब अगले सवाल या पूरे साक्षात्कार की दिशा तय कर सकता है. और पहला सवाल ये है कि आप अपने बारे में बताइये. अब सवालों को लेकर दिमाग में ज्यादा रेल मत चलाइए.  दिमाग में ये सोंचे कि जो होगा देखा जायेगा, फिकर नॉट. सुबह कुछ अखबार पलटकर जाइएगा तो बढ़िया रहेगा.

याद रखें आप एक होनहार छात्र हैं, विद्वान नही. इसीलिए जिस सवाल के जवाब न मालूम हों, बेझिझक मना कर दें. आईआईएमसी भी देश- दुनिया को बेहतर पत्रकार देना चाहती है. इसीलिए आप बेहतर हैं तो आपका स्वागत है.