How I Converted My First Interview for SIP at IIM | Summer internship process in IIMs

Main ideas and lessons conveyed

SIP timing and importance

• In the 2-year MBA program, the Summer Internship Program (SIP) is mandatory and lasts about two months.
• The internship typically happens between April and May of the next year.
• Even though the internship is later, the placement/interview process begins within ~1–2 months after joining IIM—so students must start preparing early.
• If you don’t perform well, you may feel depressed even after the initial excitement of getting into IIM.

What SIP process typically looks like

SIP selection varies by company, but it often follows a multi-round pipeline, such as:

• CV shortlisting
• Interview / GD / Assessment (the order can differ by company)
• Multiple interviews/rounds, which may include:
  • Technical round (domain basics)
  • Interview round
  • Last round with CEO/founder or similar senior leadership (company-dependent)

How to prepare effectively (core preparation strategy)

Build an “all-rounder” CV for shortlisting

• Companies know you’ve just joined IIM, so your prior experience and evidence must look strong.
• If something is missing, compensate by adding:
  • Certifications
  • Live projects
  • Positions of Responsibility (POs)
  • Relevant work/experience (if available)
• Use power verbs in your CV bullet points
  • Prefer action/result framing like led, spearheaded, started, drove, etc. over vague phrasing like “worked on.”
• Keyword alignment matters:
  • CV shortlisting is often software-based (ATS-like), so include relevant keywords.
  • Don’t add fake or irrelevant keywords—interviewers will read your CV and may question inconsistencies.

Second phase: Assessment/GD and what to expect

• Some companies use assessment rounds (not something you can fully prepare for in advance).
• Assessments are generally logic + quantitative aptitude + general skills.
• Some rounds may include GD (group discussion).
  • You can’t “prepare overnight.”
  • Best approach:
    • Read newspapers daily and stay updated on current affairs
    • Use facts and figures to sound credible
  • GD can also be abstract/imaginative (e.g., hypothetical topics like “flying picks”).
  • The evaluator typically looks at:
    • How quickly you think on your feet
    • Communication and articulation
    • Whether you stay organized and maintain presence/posture

Final interview round: technical + company research

• Technical basics
  • If you claim interest in a domain (e.g., marketing), you should know the basics.
  • This applies across domains: finance, HR, marketing, operations, etc.
• Company research is crucial
  • Understand the company’s:
    • Financials
    • Latest developments (e.g., acquisitions, campaigns)
    • Product/service offerings
    • What’s been in the news about them
  • Attend relevant IIM guest/extra workshops seriously—interviewers may ask about them.
• Goal: be ready to explain what you learned and connect it to their domain.

Two “golden tips” emphasized at the end

• Tip 1: Don’t restrict yourself to only one domain immediately

  • In your first year, avoid locking into “marketing only” or “finance only.”
  • New interests can emerge through classes and exposure.
  • You can eliminate clearly unsuitable options, but keep room to explore.

• Tip 2: Keep expectations “low but moderate” given market conditions

  • Placements are difficult even at top IIMs due to weaker market conditions.
  • Don’t assume you’ll always receive top brands/packages/offers.
  • Stay realistic to avoid disappointment.

Personal context from the speaker

• The speaker, Amol Katiyar, shares:
  • He navigated SIP quickly after getting admission into IIM.
  • He interned at Omni Science Capital, a global equity investments firm.
  • His role was not finance-focused—he did digital marketing because of his marketing interest.
• He states he cannot share his stipend, but says most other details are shareable.

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Methodology / instructions (detailed checklist)

1) SIP preparation timeline mindset

• Remember:
  • The internship occurs in April–May, but
  • The process starts within 1–2 months after joining IIM
• Start preparing soon after admission/joining—don’t wait for interview season.

2) CV preparation for CV shortlisting (Phase 1)

• Make your CV an “all-rounder” by including:
  • Certifications
  • Live projects
  • POs / leadership roles
  • Relevant work/experience (if available)
• Use power verbs to describe impact/action (e.g., led, spearheaded, started, drove).
• Add ATS-relevant keywords:
  • Ensure keywords are relevant to the target profile/company.
  • Don’t “stuff” fake keywords—interviewers will read and probe.

3) Prepare for assessment/GD (Phase 2)

• For assessment rounds:
  • Focus on logic and quantitative aptitude
  • Expect general aptitude plus some company-related questions
  • Accept that you can’t fully pre-prepare
• For GD:
  • Read newspapers daily
  • Stay updated with current affairs
  • Be ready for abstract/hypothetical topics
  • Practice:
    • thinking quickly
    • communicating clearly
    • maintaining structured discussion and confident posture

4) Prepare for interviews (Final rounds)

• Technical readiness:
  • Strengthen domain basics for whichever role you claim interest in.
• Company research:
  • Study the company’s:
    • financials
    • latest acquisitions/campaigns/updates
    • product/service details
    • relevant news coverage
• Leverage IIM support:
  • Attend guest meet/workshops seriously
  • Be prepared to answer about workshop learning.

5) Domain selection strategy (Golden Tip 1)

• Don’t lock into only one domain immediately (marketing/finance/etc.).
• Explore multiple interests based on exposure and learning.
• You may remove 1–2 options if you’re sure, but avoid rigid single-domain targeting.

6) Mindset for outcomes (Golden Tip 2)

• Because placements are challenging:
  • keep expectations low but moderate
  • prepare for uncertainty and avoid assuming guaranteed “best brand/package”

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Speakers / sources featured

• Amol Katiyar — PG PGP II student (speaker); shares SIP experience and interview conversion tips.
• Omni Science Capital — employer/internship firm mentioned (global equity investments; speaker’s role: digital marketing).
• PhysicsWala / MBAWala — (course resources mentioned): MBA Pro batch, MBA One Night Patch, MBA Fast Track batch.