What is Group Discussion?

Participation in a systematic way on a particular topic.. ..not a wrestling match to score points

What is Group discussion?

• A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that it desires in its members.

Why GD?Companies conduct group discussion after the written test

so as to check on your – Interactive skills How good you are at communicating with other people. How you behave, participate and contribute in a group. How much importance do you give to the group

objective as well as your own. How well do you listen to viewpoints of others How open-minded are you in accepting views contrary

to your own. The aspects which make up a GD are verbal

communication, non-verbal behavior, conformation to norms, decision-making ability and cooperation.

What does the GD test you in?

• Body language• Communication skills• Self confidence• Team skills• Listening ability• Ability to present your views logically• Time management

Important points to remember

• Build your knowledge base.• Analyse issues from various angles. • Maintain a positive attitude. • Stay motivated and excited about the

upcoming challenge. • Stay focused and competitive. • See things from the other person's viewpoint

and respect it even if you strongly disagree.

Types of GD

– 1. Factual Topics E.g. The education policy of any country, Tourism, State of the aged in the nation.

– 2. Controversial Topics – E.g. Reservations should be removed, Women

make better managers – 3. Abstract Topics – Abstract topics are about intangible things.

• Case-based GD – The case study tries to simulate a real-life

situation.

What actually happens in a GD?

• Initiation / Introduction• Body of the group discussion• Summarisation / Conclusion

Initiation Techniques

• Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.

• Initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand.

• Do not stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures.

How to make a good first impression?

• Quotes• Definition• Question• Shock statement• Facts, figures and statistics• Short story• General statement

Quotes

• Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.• If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board

be abolished?, you could start with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet‘.

• For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wal-mart) Walton's famous saying, 'There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'

Definition

• Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic.

• For example, if the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers, magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'?

Question

• Asking a question is an impactful way of starting a GD.

• It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies asking a question, and answering it yourself.

• For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'

Shock statement • Initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best

way to grab immediate attention and put forth your point.

• If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. Which calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work together'.'

Facts, figures and statistics

• If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to quote them accurately.

• Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level figures need to be correct and accurate.

• For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).

• But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no approximations).

• Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage.

Short story

• Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything.

• This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-colored balloon will go as high in the sky as a green-colored balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the color of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.'

General statement

• Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.

• For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?, you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities one needs to be a a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities with those that Mrs Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.'

Summarisation Techniques

• Most GD’s do not really have conclusions.• Keep the following points in mind while summarising a

discussion:– Avoid raising new points.– Avoid stating only your viewpoint.– Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.– Keep it brief and concise.– It must incorporate all the important points that came out

during the GD.– If the examiner asks you to summarise a GD, it means the GD

has come to an end. Do not add anything once the GD has been summarised.

My chance to speak• How do I take my chance to speak: – Trying to interrupt others while speaking would only

harm your chances. – Maintain an eye-contact with the speaker. This

would show your listening skills – Would help you gauge from his eye-movement and

pitch of voice that he is about to close his inputs. – You can quickly take it from there. – Try and link your inputs with what he has spoken

whether you are adding to or opposing his arguments.

GD Mistakes

• Emotional outburst – ANGER

• Quality Vs Quantity – MAXIMUM TALK

• Egotism Showing off (SELFISHNESS) – FAKE FIGURES / INFORMATION

• Get noticed - But for the right reasons – WANT TO BE THE FIRST

• Managing one's insecurities – NERVOUSNESS

Successful Interviewing Skills

Surviving and Excelling in a Behavioral Based Interview

First Impressions Count …

• Do You Make The Best Impression You Can?– On-Time– Dress– Physical Contact– Eye Contact– Smile– Fidgeting

Characteristics of aSuccessful Interview

–Preparation

–Presentation

–Content

Preparation

– Research the Job and company– Review the Job Requirements– Know your Resume– Know Where You Are Going– Be Prepared to Give Behavioral Based

Examples– Anticipate Questions– Be Prepared to Sell Yourself!

Preparation

– Visualize Yourself In the Interview– Know this:• There is no question you cannot answer• You are well suited to the position• You will be an asset to the department

– Bring:• Extra copies of resume• Paper and pen• A list of potential questions• Breath mints

Interview Presentation

– Be Prepared and Responsive For Questions– Take Time to Organize Your Thoughts– Make Effective Eye Contact and Smile– Express Confidence in Your Abilities– Consider Each Interview An Adventure!– Be Attentive to Body Language• No gum• Watch those pens

Don’t criticize your previous employer

– Shut the Door to Personal Trouble

– Don’t Slam Organization

Interview Content

– Listen Carefully to the Question– Understand Behavioral Based Interviewing– Rehearse Your Answers– Sell Yourself!– Silence is Golden, Know When to Stop

Answering– Tie Your Background to the Position– Focus on Your Accomplishments– Turn Weaknesses Into Strengths

Behavioral Based Questions– Can You Tell Me About A Time…– Think Specific– Don’t Say “Usually, Always, Or Never”– Say “I”– Be Prepared to Answer the Negative Question– Was The Result Positive? Measurable?– Don’t Forget To Smile– Be Concise

Sample Questions

– Tell Me About A Time…• You Persuaded Someone To Do Something• You Solved a Small Problem Before It Turned Into

Something Large• You Interacted With Someone And Wished You’d

Interacted Differently• You Worked Well in a Team• You Worked in a Team Where Not Everyone Was

Putting Forth The Same Amount Of Effort

Technical Skills Are Important

– Attention To Detail

– Computer Skills

– Analytical Skills

– Technical Skills Specific to Your Degree

Soft Skills Are JustAs Important

–Adaptability– Teamwork– Initiative – Innovation– Integrity

Interview Follow-Up

– Common Interview Mistakes• Coming Unprepared• Not Smiling or Showing Enthusiasm• Negativity

– The Thank You Note– References

Most Frequently Asked Questions

• Tell me something about yourself• Why have you selected to join us?• Where do you want to be in 5 years?• Describe your ideal career?• Why do you want to work here?• Why are you leaving your current job?• What salary do you expect?• Why should we take you?