This Is Going to Be Very Interesting: Let’s Do a
Mock Interview
What is a mock interview?
It’s basically the best way to practice for an actual
interview.
I always tell people — whenever you have an interview coming up, whether it’s
for freshers or experienced candidates, whether it’s online
or offline — you can memorize answers, you can speak from your
experience, but nothing comes close to a mock interview.
A mock interview involves that you recreate an interview
environment. You ask a close friend, sibling, or someone you trust to act
as the interviewer, while you act as the candidate.
Even though both of you know it’s not a real interview, you’ll still feel nervous,
hesitant, and even a little scared — just like in a real
interview.
But the more you do it, the better you get. Because it’s on
demand — you can do it anytime, anywhere, and with anyone — it helps you
perform better when the real pressure comes.
The questions and answers will be in English, but I’ll also
explain the thought process behind each.
I’ll be the interviewer and the interviewee, but you can do
this exercise with anyone — your friend, your sibling — anyone who’s willing to
play the role.
The Research Phase — The Foundation of Every Interview
Before any interview begins, there’s something called the research
phase.
In this phase, you need to know everything about three things:
The Role – Whether it’s sales, marketing, finance, or HR, find out how that role functions in the company.
I’ll show you how all three of these aspects come together
during the interview.
The Mock Interview Begins
Interviewer: Good morning, SAM! How are you? Welcome!
Candidate: Good morning! I’m doing great. It’s wonderful to
meet you this morning.
The first impression matters. Start with confidence, brevity,
and a smile.
Address them properly, greet them warmly, and express excitement. That’s enough
— no long monologues about how this is your dream job.
Just remember these three things:
- A
proper greeting (Good morning / Good evening)
- Genuine
excitement
- A
smile
That’s all you need for a perfect start.
Question 1: Tell Me About Yourself
“Absolutely! I’d love to tell you about myself. So, I never
really planned to be here. I was actually training to become a scientist — a space
scientist, in fact. I went to the US for my PhD, but after two years, I
realized it wasn’t for me. I came back to India, worked briefly in a corporate
role, and then decided to pursue an MBA. Many people told me that would be a
great pivot, and here I am today. Over the last five years, I’ve experienced a
wonderful mix of academic life, corporate exposure, and now formal business
education. And I’m excited about where this journey will take me next.”
👉 What did I do here?
I didn’t repeat my résumé. They’ve already read that.
Instead, I shared something beyond the résumé — a story, a transition, a reason
that shows authenticity and excitement.
An interviewer doesn’t want to fall in love with your story
— they want to assess your fit for the role.
So, focus on what makes you interesting in that context.
Question 2: Why Do You Want to Work Here?
“I have just about one year of work experience, so
technically I’m still a fresher. During my MBA, I realized businesses have so
many aspects — sales, marketing, finance, IT, HR — and I wasn’t sure which one
fits me best.
What consulting offers me is the opportunity to work with brilliant
minds, get exposure to real business challenges, and constantly learn by
changing projects every few months. That variety excites me.
And why specifically 80Kani? Because with 75 years of
experience and a strong partner network, I know this company has a deep
reservoir of knowledge. I’d love to learn from people like you who’ve been here
for more than 12 years and stand on the shoulders of giants while becoming a
strong consultant myself.”
👉 Notice how the answer
shows:
- Honesty
(I’m a fresher)
- Curiosity
(I want to learn)
- Research
(75 years of legacy, experienced mentors)
That’s what makes it strong.
Question 3: What’s One Core Value of Our Company That Attracts You?
“That’s an interesting question. I recently read an article
by Vikas Koshal in the Harvard Business Review, where he mentioned that one of
the core values of 80Kani is the ability to take risks.
I love that because I consider myself a risk taker. Dropping
out of my PhD and restarting my life at 24 was a huge risk — but it taught me
resilience. And I think that aligns perfectly with your company’s philosophy of
challenging the status quo.”
👉 Again, this comes from
research. I knew who the India Head was, read his article, and connected it to
my own story.
Question 4: Can You Share a Failure and How You Recovered?
“I think my biggest failure was dropping out of my PhD. I
went to the US on a full scholarship, was doing well, and yet decided to quit.
It felt like a huge setback — for me, my parents, and everyone who believed in
me.
It took me a year to recover and realize that if I wasn’t
happy doing something, I could never be the best at it. The biggest lesson I
learned was: You can never excel at something you don’t love.”
👉 Here I took a real-life
failure and turned it into a lesson.
It showed honesty, self-awareness, and growth — exactly what interviewers want.
Question 5: Describe a Challenge You Faced at Work
“This happened during my time at NIS Sparta, where I was
working on a training project for a major FMCG client. I created a short
movie-based training module using PowerPoint, which became very popular.
Soon, everyone started asking me to make similar modules —
and the workload became overwhelming. I felt frustrated and complained to my
manager that it was unfair.
She told me something powerful:
‘Good people pay a higher price for being good than bad people pay for being
bad.’
That day, I realized that being good at something naturally
attracts more responsibility — and instead of complaining, I should feel proud
that people trust me with work. That perspective changed everything for me.”
👉 This answer transforms
a challenge into a learning experience — showing maturity, gratitude, and
growth.
Question 6: Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
“To be honest, five years ago, I thought I’d be at NASA as a
space scientist. Today I’m sitting here for a consulting interview. So, I don’t
know exactly where I’ll be in five years — but I hope I’ll be an example of
someone who didn’t give up, someone who changed their path meaningfully, and
became a guide or mentor for others who feel lost or stuck.
Of course, professionally, I want to keep learning and
growing wherever I am.”
👉 This answer is honest
yet optimistic.
It doesn’t sound arrogant or aimless — it shows maturity and self-reflection.
Question 7: What’s Your Weakness?
“One weakness I’m working on is that I tend to go too deep
into details before making a decision. I keep thinking that more data or more
discussion will lead to a better decision. I’ve realized that sometimes making
a timely decision is more important than making a perfect one.
I’m learning to trust my instincts and make quicker calls.”
👉 This shows self-awareness
and willingness to improve — it’s a weakness that also carries a hidden
strength.
Question 8: Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
“Yes, I have two:
What’s one mistake that would disappoint you the most, given your impression of me so far?”
Final Thoughts
This was a mock interview — not a technical or coding round,
but a behavioral interview.
Here’s what you should always aim to reflect in your answers:
- Confidence
– You know what you’re saying.
- Clarity
– You understand what you’re saying.
- Conviction
– You believe in what you’re saying.
- Research
– You’ve done your homework on the company, the role, and the interviewer.
When these four come together — you can ace any interview.
And the only way to master them is through mock interviews — as many as you
can.
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