Dos and Don’ts
Dos and Don’ts for Group Discussion
- Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to say.
- Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject.
- Don’t start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject.
- Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or agree with someone else’s point and then move onto express your views.
- Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.
- Your body language says a lot about you – your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say.
- Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your points across clearly and fluently.
- Be assertive not dominating; maintain eye contact with all the group members. Try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis.
- Put points firmly and always try to get others support too.
- Most important don’t wait for your turn to speak when discussion is on. Interrupt politely if you want to put forward your points
- Don’t lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to. The key is to stay objective: Don’t take the discussion personally.
- Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: `I strongly object’ or `I disagree’. Instead try phrases like: `I would like to share my views on…’ or `One difference between your point and mine…’ or “I beg to differ with you”
- If you find that the discussion is going off-track then never lose an opportunity to bring it back to stream this is the best point to score max.
- Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to say “let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say,” or “Raghu, let us hear your views” – Essentially be subtle), and listen to their views. Be receptive to others’ opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive.
- If you have a group of like-minded friends, you can have a mock group discussion where you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback.
Best scoring points are:
1. Initiation of discussion.
2. Always keeping/trying to keep discussion on track.
3. Conclusion on time.
4. Your capability to keep yourself cool and listen as well as putting your points.
Be a Leader: .
GD basically means searching your team player, leadership, communication capability.
Apart from the above points, the panel will also judge team members for their alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and creativity.
Interviews
An interview is a discussion between you and an employer to find out if you can do the job. It’s your chance to make a good impression. However, there are certain rules you should follow in interviews
- Dress smartly, look bright and attentive, and speak clearly and confidently. Don’t forget that in the first few minutes only 7% of the interviewer’s opinion of you is formed by what you say – the rest is judged on how you look, act and sound.
- Turn off your mobile phone: treat the interviewers with respect and give them your undivided attention.
- Prepare answers for the main questions – for example, why do you want the job, what are your strengths and weaknesses, what are the main tasks in this job? Make about three or four points in each answer.
- Before going to an Interview get the Job description through Training and Placement Office or through their Website. This helps you to relate your skills and background to the position throughout the interview
- Clarify questions. Be sure you answered the questions the employer really asked.
- Conduct yourself professionally. Be aware of what your body language is saying. Smile, make eye contact, don’t slouch and maintain composure.
- Anticipate tough questions. Prepare in advance so you can turn apparent weaknesses into strengths.
- Listen. This is probably the most important ability of all. Concentrate on the employer’s words, and also on the tone and body language, this helps you to understand and how a hiring authority thinks.
- Don’t answer vague questions. Rather than answering questions in vague get the employer to be more specific and then respond.
- Never interrupt the employer don’t not lie and don’t argue.
- Don’t make answers too long nor answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no.” Answer the questions in short whenever possible.
- After you have finished your questions, you will probably hear a comment similar to, “Well, if you don’t have anything else, that should be all for today. Thanks for coming.” This is an opportune time to make a strong close by summarizing your qualifications and expressing your interest in the position.
- If you feel that the interview went well and you would like to take the next step, express your interest to the hiring authority.
- Do not be discouraged if no definite offer is made or specific salary discussed. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with the office first, or interview other applicants, before making a decision.
- Make sure you have clarified / answered the following two questions during the interview. “Why are you interested in the company?” and “What can you offer to the company?”
- Express thanks for the interviewer’s time and consideration.