FORESIGHT(2025) | Placement at BlueStone | Biswa Ranjan Barik
1) Brief introduction and description of offered role
Hello, myself Biswa Ranjan Barik, I just graduated from the Industrial and Systems Engineering dual degree course at IIT Kharagpur. I was offered the role of Management Trainee at BlueStone in the Supply Chain domain. The role involves driving operational efficiency and gaining hands-on experience in production planning, quality control, maintenance, and continuous improvement in factory operations. Post-training, one can be assigned roles such as Manager — Quality and Process Excellence, Manager — Production, or Manager — Projects and Maintenance depending on performance.
2) How did you get into BlueStone? What was the selection procedure?
The selection process consisted of CV submission, an aptitude test, group discussion, and two rounds of interviews, each eliminative. The group discussion was conducted in panels of 10 students, focusing on supply chain cases and root cause analysis. Interviews had panels of two people each. The aptitude test included multiple timed sections covering logical reasoning, data interpretation, mathematical reasoning, and verbal reasoning.
3) How to prepare for them?
For the CV, clearly explain internships and projects — especially those involving factory or manufacturing lines and supply chain. Positions of responsibility (PORs) and extracurricular activities help, and case competitions are a definite plus.
For aptitude, practice regularly to improve both accuracy and speed. I used the CAT quant section and focused on logical and verbal reasoning as well.
For GD, practice supply chain and manufacturing case studies, RCA (root cause analysis), and profitability cases. Knowing supply chain terms and doing cases from consulting prep books will help.
For interviews, go deep into each CV point, prepare supply chain case studies, and solve puzzles (I used Brainstellar — easy to medium levels are sufficient). Be ready for tricky HR questions and go through the company website before the interview.
4) When did you start preparing for this role and according to you what is the ideal time for aspirants to begin their preparation?
I prepared my resume during the summer vacation so that I could get it reviewed multiple times before the actual CV portal opened. Since the company test starts in October, ideally, one should begin aptitude prep in September, or mid-August if you’re less confident. I started case prep in August and continued till the end of November — especially as I was also targeting consulting roles. If you’re only targeting this role, 1–2 weeks of case prep is sufficient.
HR prep can be done a week before the interview. I went through basic supply chain concepts (from Sunil Chopra’s book) in the last week. I practiced puzzles regularly from mid-October — around 3–4 per day.
Get Student Welfare Group, IIT Kharagpur’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
5) What difficulties did you face while preparing for this Company/Profile? How did you overcome them?
As it was BlueStone’s first time visiting IIT Kharagpur, we were clueless about the process. This can happen with any new company, so it’s good to talk to friends from other IITs or reach out to alumni/employees via LinkedIn for guidance.
I prepared broadly — covering topics like production planning and quality control — even though these weren’t asked directly. This helped me use those insights during the interview and impress the panel.
I struggled with tricky HR questions at first, so I created several on my own and practiced them with seniors. I also did 7–8 mock interviews with seniors and friends preparing for similar profiles to build confidence.
6) Are there any specific requirements such as department, CGPA, or other criteria for this position? Additionally, do certain Positions of Responsibility (PORs) or Extracurricular Activities (ECAs) enhance one’s chances of securing this job?
Last year, BlueStone allowed applications from specific departments: Chemical, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical, and Metallurgy. There was no CGPA cutoff. While not mandatory, having PORs and extracurricular activities helps. Experience in factory lines or manufacturing environments is also a strong advantage.
7) According to you, who should ideally apply for this job?
This role is ideal for candidates interested in manufacturing, supply chain, and production roles. Those looking to explore a management career in a factory setup can also consider this opportunity.
8) What are some of the major points you think would be valid to mention in the CV while targeting this profile?
When targeting this role, clearly highlight internships or projects involving factory lines, manufacturing, or supply chain operations, as these add significant value. Positions of responsibility (PORs) and extracurricular activities strengthen your profile but aren’t mandatory. Case competition experience is a plus.
9) Lastly, what advice would you like to give to the students aiming to grab CDC placements this year?
Start your preparation well in advance since there are multiple areas to cover, and once the test begins, time becomes limited. Form a study group with peers targeting similar profiles — this speeds up preparation and keeps motivation high. It’s normal to face self-doubt and stress; stay focused, manage stress, and seek guidance from seniors and friends.
Don’t get disheartened by rejections — believe in the process and keep improving. Most importantly, take care of your health because falling sick during crucial times can undermine all your efforts.
Treat placements as just another process. Opportunities exist both inside and outside CDC, so stay confident and focused — you will land a good offer.
