Panels decide in 30 seconds. The rest is confirmation.
Kahneman's research on first impressions shows that humans form judgments in seconds and spend the remaining time confirming them. Your "Tell me about yourself" answer doesn't just introduce you — it sets the lens through which everything else is evaluated. A strong opener creates a "halo effect"; a weak one creates a "horns effect" that's hard to reverse.
Based on: Kahneman's System 1 + Halo Effect
Why IIM Panels Ask This
Surface Reason
To break the ice and let you settle in
What They're Really Evaluating
To see what you choose to lead with when given complete freedom. Your choices reveal your priorities, self-awareness, and communication ability.
Cognitive Bias at Play
Primacy effect — first information carries disproportionate weight in overall judgment.
The The HOOK Framework(HOOK)
H - Headline
One sentence that captures your essence. Not your name and degree — your identity. "I'm an engineer who accidentally became a storyteller."
Psychology: Made to Stick's "Unexpected" principle — break the pattern to earn attention
O - Origin story
2-3 sentences on how you got here. The journey, not the resume.
Psychology: Narrative transportation — stories are remembered 22x better than facts
O - Outcomes
One concrete achievement with numbers. Proof that you deliver.
Psychology: Credibility through specificity
K - Kick to them
End by connecting to them or inviting a question. "...which is why I'm here, wanting to understand the business side."
Psychology: Reciprocity + dialogue creation
How Different Schools Probe This
IIM Ahmedabad
They'll interrupt your intro to test composure. Don't expect to finish uninterrupted.
Cultural context: IIMA values quick thinking over polished delivery.
Expect follow-up: "(Interrupting mid-sentence) "You said you led a team. How many people? What was the conflict?""
IIM Bangalore
They listen for entrepreneurial signals. If you've built anything, lead with it.
Cultural context: IIMB's Bangalore DNA means they're excited by builders.
Expect follow-up: ""You built that tool. How many users? Did you try to monetize it?""
XLRI
They listen for values and empathy. Pure achievement focus may feel cold.
Cultural context: XLRI's Jesuit foundation values character alongside competence.
Expect follow-up: ""You mentioned leading a team. How did you handle the weakest performer?""
Generic vs. Ideal Answer
Generic Answer
"Hi, I'm Amit Sharma. I completed my B.Tech in Computer Science from NIT Trichy in 2020. Currently I'm working as a Software Engineer at Infosys for the last 3 years. My hobbies include reading books and playing cricket. I'm from Lucknow, UP. I want to do MBA to transition into management roles."
Why It Fails:
- •Reads like a resume — no story, no personality
- •Name + degree + company is information they already have
- •Hobbies feel tacked on, not integrated
- •"Want to transition to management" is vague and passive
- •No hook to make them curious or remember you
Ideal Answer
"I'm the engineer who kept asking "but why would customers want this?" — which annoyed my team but eventually got me moved to product. Three years ago, I joined Infosys as a backend developer. But I spent my evenings talking to the sales team, trying to understand why we were building features no one used. That curiosity led me to propose a customer feedback loop that we piloted in my team. Six months later, it became company standard — we reduced feature waste by 40%. That's when I realized: I don't just want to build products. I want to build products people actually need. I'm here because I've hit the limit of what I can learn about customers from engineering. I need the frameworks to understand markets, not just users."
Why It Works:
- •Opens with a hook that's memorable and specific
- •Shows initiative beyond job description
- •Quantifies impact (40% reduction)
- •Demonstrates the gap that MBA will fill
- •Ends with clear intent, not vague aspiration
When Things Go Wrong
Scenario: Panel interrupts 10 seconds in with a challenging question.
Recovery: Stop immediately. Answer their question. Don't try to "get back to" your intro. The interview has begun — flow with it.
Why this works: Interruptions are tests. Insisting on completing your intro shows rigidity, not preparation.
Scenario: You blank and forget your prepared intro.
Recovery: Say: "Let me tell you the one thing that matters about me..." and share ONE specific story or achievement. Quality over completeness.
Why this works: Under pressure, cognitive load increases. Simplify to one strong point rather than attempting full recall.
Scenario: Panel looks bored 30 seconds in.
Recovery: Cut to your strongest point: "But the most relevant thing is..." and share your best achievement.
Why this works: Attention is a gift. If you're losing it, skip ahead to what earns it back.
Common Mistakes
Starting with name and hometown
Why it happens: It feels polite and expected. But panels have your name — they need your story.
How to avoid: Start with a hook or your professional identity. Name can come later.
Listing all achievements chronologically
Why it happens: Candidates want to be comprehensive. But it's boring and forgettable.
How to avoid: Pick ONE story that captures your essence. Depth beats breadth.
Speaking for more than 90 seconds
Why it happens: Nervousness and desire to cover everything.
How to avoid: Time yourself. If it's over 90 seconds, cut ruthlessly.
Pro Tips
- 1
Your intro should make them want to ask the next question. End with a hook, not a conclusion.
- 2
Practice 3 versions: 30 seconds (if interrupted), 60 seconds (standard), 90 seconds (if given time).
- 3
Record yourself and watch without sound. Is your body language confident or nervous?
- 4
The best intros don't sound rehearsed even though they are. Practice until it feels natural.
- 5
Test it on someone who doesn't know you. Ask them: "What do you remember?" That's your real intro.
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