Navigating the SIOM Interview Experience: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you preparing for the SIOM (Indian Statistical Institute) interview after performing well in the SNAP (SNAP National Retail Entrance) exam? If so, you are not alone. The journey from the exam to the interview round is a detailed one, with multiple stages and a significant amount of preparation required. This article aims to provide a detailed overview of my experience during the SIOM interview process.

The Pre-Interview Process

Preparation begins well before the actual interview day. Participants are divided into groups and added to a WhatsApp group managed by the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) from SIOM. This group serves as the main communication channel for all updates. A checklist of documents is provided to participants, which includes:

10th Marksheet 12th Marksheet College Marksheets Print out of Call Letter Govt Id Proof Salary Slip (if applicable)

It is essential to ensure that all these documents are ready and accessible, as they will be needed during the various stages of the interview process.

The Interview Day

The interview day typically starts with a morning meeting at a designated time. For my interview round, which was scheduled for 11:30 am, I was required to join a meeting at 10 am. This allows ample time for introductions and the initial checks.

Document Verification (DV)

The first stage involves document verification. This is a straightforward process where participants are required to present their documents online. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I did not have my physical documents, which required me to send them via email. I was then connected to the document verification meeting as directed by the SPOC.

Group Discussion (GD)

After document verification, participants are moved to a Group Discussion (GD) room. The topic for the GD was “Equality.” Participants were given 20 minutes in total to form their thoughts, discuss, and conclude. Everyone was given a chance to speak, ensuring a thorough and comprehensive discussion.

Essay Writing

The next stage involved essay writing. The topic, “Have you ever cooked? If yes, what,” was simple and straightforward. Participants were given 10 minutes to write their essays. This exercise tests not only writing skills but also the ability to communicate effectively and in a structured manner.

Interview

Once the essay writing is complete, participants move on to the individual interview room. My interview began with an introduction, followed by a series of questions about my choices, experience, and understanding of the field of operations management.

Key Questions Asked:

Why SIOM? Why not choose MBA after a college internship? What is your job role? What is Asset Management? What software are you using in your current company? Do you know anything about Warehouse Management and Logistics? How is your profile helpful to Operations? Where does Kathak belong? How many Classical Dance forms exist?

Each of these questions is designed to gauge the candidate's readiness and understanding of the field, as well as their adaptability and knowledge.

Results and Follow-Up

After the interview, a significant delay in results is common, as was the case for me. There was a delay of 2-3 days, and when I checked my result, it indicated a position of 252 on the waiting list. When the results were taken off the site due to an error, my position shifted further to 280.

Despite my performance and preparation, the result was not what I expected. I was disheartened to see that I was not selected even after securing a 96th percentile in the SNAP exam.

Verdict

Despite the disappointment, it is important to remember that the journey and the preparation are valuable in themselves. For those who were successful, it is a validation of their hard work and preparation.

Thank you for reading, and I hope this guide helps you in your upcoming SIOM interviews.