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From Engineer to Marketer: Practice Interview which Changed Everything

  • May 22, 2025
  • Practice Interview

In this candid, real-life conversation between mentor Siddhartha Banerjee and an MBA student, we bring you a powerful mock interview session that uncovers how to craft better responses, handle domain-switch questions, and show relevance even when experience seems unrelated.

If you’ve ever Googled “mock interviews online” or asked someone to “review your answers before interviews,” this is for you. It also integrates essential insights for mock interview preparation, practice interview sessions, and Google mock interview-style rigor.

A Short Mock Interview Begins

Siddhartha Banerjee: Good afternoon. This short call is mainly to understand how your placement process has gone so far, and if you’ve faced any common questions that you’d like to polish, we can work on those.

Student: Yes sir, thank you. So one of the most common questions I get is — since I’m from an engineering background — “Why did you shift to MBA Marketing?” That’s something I get asked a lot. And since I’m in the Marketing cohort, another one is, “Why specifically Marketing?” Also, I have two years of work experience before my MBA.

Digging Into the Profile

Siddhartha: Alright. What was your engineering specialization?

Student: I did Computer Science from Amity University and then worked at Paytm for 2 years as a QA tester.

Siddhartha: Okay. That’s good to know. Two years isn’t a long time, so don’t worry too much about the domain switch. Let’s focus on how you currently answer that “Why Marketing?” question.

Student: Sure. I usually say that since I have an engineering background, I understand how a product works and how it’s built. But I never knew how that product benefits the company in terms of revenue, branding, or customer experience. So I wanted to understand how marketing campaigns affect consumer perception, brand value, and customer acquisition.

The Recruiter's Lens for Career Switch

Siddhartha: That’s a solid motivation-driven answer. But from a recruiter’s perspective, they also want to know if you’re good at marketing—not just interested in it. For interviewers, it’s less about your reason and more about testing your comfort and confidence with your decision.

So, your answer needs to include signals of competence: marketing projects, competitions, leadership roles. Not just “I’m curious about it,” but “I’ve done things that show I can succeed in this space.”

So just be honest. A classic answer that works well is:
“After graduation, I realized that in today’s competitive world, to grow in the corporate ladder, higher education is necessary. I considered both technical and managerial options. Based on my experience handling stakeholders, managing teams, and solving problems, I found myself gravitating towards business management—especially marketing.”
Then back that up with examples. With a structured mock interview preparation you will get clarity and confidence.

But I Don’t Have Marketing Experience…

Student: I also get asked if I have any sales or marketing experience. I don’t want to just say “no.” Is there a way I can frame an answer that still creates interest?

Siddhartha: Absolutely. It depends on what’s on your resume. For example:

  • Did you lead any teams?

  • Did you do stakeholder management?

  • Were you part of any clubs or fests where you got sponsorships?

If yes, you can say:

“While I haven’t had formal marketing experience, I did lead sponsorship efforts for XYZ fest where I approached 10+ companies and secured ₹1.5 lakh in funding. That felt like sales—and I loved the challenge. That experience made me curious about marketing and convinced me I could be good at it.”

That turns a “no” into a value-driven story. Do some mock interviews to practice this.

Picking Up on Keywords and Case Cues

Siddhartha: Also, in Job Descriptions, companies often mention specific skills they’re looking for—problem-solving, data analysis, stakeholder management. When you hear those keywords, try to build your answers around them. Talk about situations where you’ve used those skills—even if it was in a campus project or club activity. That’s where structured online interview practice makes a difference: you learn to listen and respond strategically.

How to Frame “Tell Me About Yourself”

Student: One more thing—how should I structure my “Introduce yourself” answer? I worry it’s either too long or too generic.

Siddhartha: Aim for 90 seconds max. Here’s a breakdown:

  1. Education + Foundation
     “I graduated in Computer Science from Amity University with consistent academic performance…”

  2. Work Experience
     “Worked at Paytm as a QA tester for 2 years. Was recognized for identifying critical bugs during pre-launch phase of a major product…”

  3. MBA + Campus Involvement
     “Currently pursuing MBA in Marketing at TAPMI, and am part of the Marketing Club. I recently led an on-campus event with 300+ attendees…”

  4. Achievements + Edge
     “Also secured 2nd place in a case competition judged by industry professionals…”

  5. Personal touch
     “In my free time, I enjoy reading about consumer psychology and host a podcast on digital trends…”

That gives the interviewer a full, 360-degree view of who you are.

In a practice interview, we go through this answer repeatedly until it sounds authentic—not memorized.

Mention Specific Features and Awards

Student: So can I also talk about features I worked on at Paytm?

Siddhartha: Yes, especially if those features were high impact or if you received any recognition. Awards or special mentions should go into your intro.

You want the interviewer thinking:
 “Okay, this person is thoughtful, has real experience, and can deliver results.”

Takeaways

Siddhartha: That’s it for now. Just remember, interviews aren’t about perfection—they’re about clarity, relevance, and confidence. And the best way to get there? Mock interview practice.

We don’t get better by thinking about answers. We get better by saying them out loud, testing them, refining them.

Student: Thank you so much! This was incredibly helpful.

Siddhartha: You’re welcome. Best wishes—and we’ll hear something really good from you soon!

Why You Need Mock Interviews (Yes, Even If You Think You’re Ready)

Most candidates underestimate how critical mock interviews online are. They’re not just for rehearsing answers. They help you:

  • Spot weak spots in your pitch

  • Reduce rambling or nervousness

  • Build strategic fluency for tough questions

  • Learn to structure and highlight strengths

  • Gain feedback on what really works in interviews

Whether you’re prepping for B-school placements or aiming for a Google mock interview, the process is the same: test, refine, repeat.

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