How Harry Potter Helped A Young Professional Crack India's Toughest IIM Interviews

Rohan Jain, a 26-year-old marketing professional from Delhi, found a unique mentor in the pages of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Growing up in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Jain discovered more than just a fantasy world; he found a toolkit for life that would later crack open the doors to some of India’s most prestigious institutions.

What to know? As a youngster, Jain was not just reading; he was embarking on a journey that honed his communication skills beyond any school lesson. Harry Potter became his companion during school bus rides and a conversation starter in life-defining moments.

When Jain’s family moved to Delhi in his ninth grade, he faced several pivotal admission interviews. Here, his affinity for Harry Potter played a critical role. Jain recounts how mentioning the series during interviews for the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) eased tensions and turned the tables in his favour.

At IIM-Ahmedabad, Jain’s enthusiasm for Harry Potter charmed the panellists, leading to a lighthearted discussion about his potential crush on Emma Watson. In IIM-Bangalore, when the interview seemed to falter, his favourite book, Harry Potter, came to the rescue, reshaping the conversation.

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His IIM-Calcutta interview echoed this pattern, with Jain skillfully connecting Hogwarts’ lessons to business management and marketing concepts.

Apparating into IIM: Jain, now an IIM-A alumnus, credits Hogwarts for playing a significant role in his academic success. But the influence of Harry Potter extends into his professional life too. On platforms like LinkedIn and Quora, he shares insights peppered with references to the magical series.

For Jain, Harry Potter is more than a book; it’s a beacon guiding his choices and decisions. Above his workspace, a Dumbledore quote reminds him, “It is not our abilities that show who we truly are, it is our choices.”

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