Cracking that Selection Process- Your Dos and Donts (ICICI Fellows Program)

Okay… I have been receiving quite a few queries from aspirants for the ICICI Fellows program through various channels inquiring me on how they should prepare for the psychometric tests, the assessment day or what are the “right responses” to questions in a telephonic or personal interview etc. Some of them even mentioned that my earlier blog post have inspired and motivated them into applying for the program…. So let me clear some of the doubts… and let me try and do it in my own incorrigible way…

Firstly, my earlier blog post wasn’t intended to inspire or motivate aspirants… I am glad it did do it though (atleast that’s what you all claimed on your emails and messages ;) ).. I had meant the post as a satire- exploring the lighter and more humane/humorous side of the fellowship program- to tell you all that there is a fun experience to be had; even when you are working on “serious” projects which can bring “serious” changes to people’s lives…. So thank you for appreciating the post- I hope you would be able to connect with it better once you decide to join the program…. J

Now getting back to why I started writing this note… What I am made to understand- the selection process will be divided into 4 parts from now on… 1) an online written application 2) a telephonic interview 3) a psychometric test 4) an assessment day with GD/PI and Group activities….

The results for the first stage is already out and all who have cleared are now either going through the telephonic interview or having done with it awaiting the psycho test and assessment day… so the questions on what to do in these 2 rounds?

Telephonic interview: Not sure if this is elimination round (will try and check it up for you all), but then two of the queries which you will most likely be asked in this phase is “What do you know about the ICICI Fellows program?” and “Why do you want to join the program?”….

Now the responses will obviously have to be according to your own areas of interest and your own understanding and aspirations…. There is no right and wrong reason why you would want to join the program, you need to be honest about it…. Just steer clear of responses like “I want to join the program because I really want to be an ICICI Fellow”, or “I want to be associated with the ICICI Brand” or “I don’t really have a plan in life, hence this program will help me figure it out”… none of these responses are categoric enough to explain your thought process, or your commitment to the community you will work / share your life with. It doesn’t really reflect your openness to go through the experiential learning phase which this program is all about…

Being an ICICI Fellow will mean different things to different people- make sure you have your list ready on what it means for you … if you haven’t got one already sit down with a pen and a paper- think with a logical mind and jot down your aspirations and how you think these 15 months can help you achieve them or atleast get you started… make sure you don’t start thinking about “sacrifices” and “glory”- they are by products, not the product in itself…

Also remember- this program doesn’t provide a job with the bank at the end of the 15 months…neither does it assure you a job post completion anywhere else… at best I am hopeful you wouldn’t want a job at the end of the 15months anyways… So steer clear of those responses and ideas if you have had them in your mind…

Psychometric Test: A new introduction to this year’s assessment format is the psychometric test; doing away with the aptitude test which we had gone through. I hope most of you know what a psychometric test is all about… if not, time to ask Google… I did check quite a few website and think this one gives you a bit balanced view of a psycho test (check link)…. Mostly psycho tests are designed to check the way an individual reacts to various scenarios and how he perceives himself and how people perceive him… this is a key component of the leadership program- you need to be able to take a lead in a situation- leaders don’t sit back and claptrap- they take the first step. This test is for the panel to check your ability to handle situations, be a team player and act as a leader…

Ways to score on a Psychometric test: You will hear a lot of criticisms about psycho test- many say that it is quite easy to cheat in such tests. To some extent it is true- yes there are ways to cheat in psycho tests. But I know of foolproof ones as well… most of the advanced versions of psycho tests are actually designed to ensure you don’t cheat… so you will have similar questions asked to you in different manners with similar multiple choices as your most “probable” response to a situation. Through this the psycho test actually checks if you are faking or whether you actually are being genuine… So my recommendation:

1)     DO NOT FAKE and DO NOT TRY TO CHEAT… THE COPS WILL INEVITABLY CATCH YOU J

2)      Try and click the answer which comes to your mind first and instinctively. Do not try and overanalyze a question trying to guess what is the best answer (to be liked by all)… instead be honest and try and click the one which YOU are more likely to do… this way you will pass the trap of those trick repeat questions. reading one question 2-3 times will apart from wasting your time, will also make you run the risk of over analyzing the questions, in which case being honest with your answer may not be possible (though it may be purely unintentional from your side).

Assessment Day Tips: Assessment day is likely to consist of Role Plays, Activities to check your team player (and leadership) abilities, Group Discussions and Personal Interview. Again the most important thing to do during the Assessment Day…. Please BE YOURSELF… you may want to be like a certain Gandhi or a Obama or a Shah Rukh Khan... but on this day most importantly play the role that you play in your normal life…….. And try and brush away those instincts of picking up fights like our Bollywood Khan’s … If you have certain opinion about something- EXPRESS… remember, there is no right or wrong opinion- its only how people perceive it or rather how YOU MAKE people perceive it. The trick in Group activities is to play and support each other- No Blaming if someone goes wrong… just point the mistake and encourage the person to rectify- picking up fights or wanting to bash up those who make a mess should happen outside the interview hall…. Or better be totally avoided :)…

For GD again plenty of websites to check on Google… I don’t want to elongate more here… Just make sure you HAVE an opinion and do not be afraid to VOICE it…infact being heard and being acknowledged is the greatest virtue in GDs… AGAIN- DO NOT SCREAM AND SHOUT LIKE MTV ROADIES- those guys will probably never make it to this fellowship anyways… and stick to your opinion if you have the conviction- flip-flopping should better be left to the spokespersons of our political parties…

Personal Interview- Be prepared- you might be  asked some very personal and awkward questions… be honest in your responses- again- DO NOT FAKE- even if you are the next Aamir Khan… you wouldn’t do yourself any justice. You may get into the program faking, you will hardly benefit from the program once you are in it… also as advised earlier, be very very clear on why you would want to join the program… incoherence for this one may be a cardinal sin….

Lastly, I wanted to end stating that I sincerely believe that there is a leader in each and every single one of us…. There is a confident speaker, a dreamer and a achiever in all of us… some of us realize it…. Some are just too lazy… remember you aren’t gonna compete with the others in the assessment hall… the only competition on that day will be between the best and worst of you… and whichever side wins decides your chances….

I personally believe that the development sector is in no need of hypocrites and people who join it for the reasons of false sentiments and splendor they find in poverty and their enormous sacrifice to join the sector instead of taking up more “lucrative” opportunity… if you feel that way then do yourself and your country a favor… stay away from this program…

So all the best to you all… nothing to worry about…. As long as you are being honest and being yourself.. I guess your chances are brights… if you are the nervous and introvert sort- Dont worry, work up your confidence and be clear with your thought process... that always helps....

 PS: All the opinions expressed above are my own personal opinion... and is not necessarily that of the program. I have expressed the opinion based on my own personal experiences in various interviews and through being part of the program.. So all the best to you all...