Group Discussions with Interview questions

Interview Questions

1. Group Discussions By Madhushree Placement Executive NITTE Meenakshi Institute of Technology

2. What you will learn today What is a GD and how it is conducted. Broad classification of common GD topics. Considerations and guidelines for participation in a GD. Common pits fall that can be avoided. Mock practice sessions. 2

3. What is GD? A Group Discussion (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.  It is used as one of the best tools to select prospective candidates based on social behavior in groups. 3

4. What happens in a GD round? It is an informal discussion in which candidates with similar academic qualifications or related educational backgrounds, discuss a topic . In a group discussion, each participant is free to speak his/her views. A successful discussion involves both  listening  and speaking 4

5. GD Evaluation Sheet (Sample) 5 Date: ____________ __ __________ Group : ________ __ _______________ Topic : ________________________________________________________ Evaluator : ____________________________________________________ PARAMETER Weightage Cand 1 Cand 2 Content Subject knowledge 30 Creativity and originality 5 Voice Tone and pitch 5 Body language Posture, Eye Contact 10 Analytical Ability 5 Ability to conclude 5 Initiative 5 Leadership 10 Group Behaviour 15 Enthusiasm 5 Listening 5 <10 20 30 40 50 60 70+ WORST VERY BAD BAD NEUTRAL GOOD VERY GOOD EXCELLENT Rating

6. Why is it important? In every company, employees communicate with  ’ N ’ number of people from various walks of life. So the heart of the matter is to find out – who can make a mark in a group with his/her ability to communicate . It is critical to present your point of view in a logical manner and to portray good listening and communication skills within a group for better chances. 6

7. 1. General : related to facts, latest news and current affairs. The purpose is to find out how aware you are of the surrounding. Example: Should yoga be made compulsory in schools? Is India ready to go 100% cashless? 7 GDs fall under 4 categories

8. 2. Controversial : These topics are argumentative in nature and its purpose is to provoke you. The moderator / interviewer wants to assess how mature you are to keep your temper in check. Example: Is beef ban logical? Women make better managers Fresher’s are better than laterals 8

9. 3. Abstract : These are meant to check your lateral thinking and creativity Example: End justifies the means. Make hay while the sun shines. 4. Case-study based : These use cases are short description of a problem and the team together is required to come up with a solution. Example: A company fired an employee and as a result other employees went on strike. So the question is why do you think the company fired the employee and what can they do to end the strike? 9

10. C ore objectives of a Group D iscussion   To assess whether you are a good fit for a company To assess whether you are a team player To assess your communication skills To evaluate your subject knowledge To assess if you are comfortable to voice your opinion on a particular topic or subject To assess the spontaneity of your thoughts To gauge your diction, gestures and expressions 10

11. Before going for GD one has to consider a few points . Be up-to-date on the latest information such as news and trending topics in the market. Make a habit of reading newspapers, books and magazines so that information is ready at hand when needed. The simple way to remember the content for a longer period is to watch videos for 2-3 times. 11

12. 4. Later on, select a topic and speak to yourself in front of the mirror. (Make a self-assessment ). 5. Even be aware of different topics such as sports, political news, technology news, economics and market-related news. 12

13. Best time to speak in a group discussion. If you have an argument to make, start as soon as you can. Don’t wait. Don’t miss an opportunity due to hesitation in a GD round. D o not make it obvious . Will also look at some scenarios in detail. 13

14. I want to initiate the discussion If you are a dynamic person by nature and you feel confident about your knowledge on the topic (provided by the moderator), then don’t waste time. Initiate the discussion! Make your opening statements. 14

15. I wanted to speak first, but someone else already did If you feel your opinion differs from that of the group’s initiator, react by opposing his/her move mildly . Always jot down facts and figures to support your argument Put forth new ideas and give the group discussion a fresh dimension . 15

16. I had a great idea but someone else got to it first This is your chance to hook onto others’ ideas. Thank them for bringing the point into the picture and support their idea with substantial facts and/or data points .   Also shows contribution (how much importance do you give to the group objective as well as your own) 16

17. I don’t have any points to make Do not be a bystander.  If you have no clue about the GD topic on the table, keep noting important points presented by fellow participants.  Remember, summarizing at the end of a GD leaves a great impression on the moderator.  So you haven’t lost the battle yet! 17

18. Pros vs Cons Pair up with the person next to you For a given topic take 2 minutes to come up point under Pros and Cons. (Each person has to come up with points for both sides of the argument). After 2 mins Person to the left expresses the Pros while person to the right counters with Cons. After 1 min switch roles and person on the left takes up Cons while the person on the right switches to Pros. 18 ACTIVITY

19. Common Mistakes that must be avoided in a GD round 1. Deviating from the subject: Focus on your points alone and do not let other candidates push you out off topic . Be poised and stay calm if they try to agitate you . If the discussion steers off course, wait for the candidate to complete and bring it back to the topic of discussion. 19

20. 2 . Losing neutrality and making personal attacks: Maintain your calm and keep your debate down to earth. This is just an interview round , not a war . 3. Focusing on quantity rather than quality : As discussed previously, gather your thoughts and give them a structure mentally before speaking. 20

21. 4. Dominating too much: Do not sound bossy and snub everyone with snide remarks or too many points . This will only fetch negative marks . 5. Quoting too many facts and figures: Mentioning quotations and facts is a good way of scoring points. But don’t go overboard with them. Maintain a balance while you speak. 21

22. 6. Analyzing a topic poorly or starting in a haste: Listen carefully, think and then speak. Speak first only if you are confident about the topic. Don’t be in a hurry to start first. You may end up speaking rubbish. 7. Staying tight-lipped: This is an interactive round to check your communication skills within a group. So , speak up to add value to the GD round. 22

23. GD Topics Commercialization of medical services. Income disparity due to modern technology. Winning is what matters, whatever be the cost . Educated Indians lack national commitment. Net neutrality. Road to success : hard work or smart work? Flexi-timings vs. fixed timings at work . Compulsory attendance in professional courses. Examination - H as it killed education? 23

24. MOCK GD session 1. Each group would have 10 students from a section. This group would be chosen at random. 2. O ne student would act as a moderator for each group. 3 . The moderator would announce the topic of discussion and can ask any student to start the discussion. 4 . Moderator would have to go last and give concluding remarks for the GD round. 24 ACTIVITY

25. 5. Each student would get 2 minutes for putting his argument. He can use it in multiple turns and final half minute for concluding remarks . 6 . If a student exceeds his time limit it would be graded negatively. 7 . The topics for discussion and the evaluation criterion are given below . Students as coordinator for MOCK sessions will help them understand the parameters which needs to be focused 25 ACTIVITY

26. Reference Links https:// www.managementstudyhq.com/characteristics-and-purpose-of-group-discussion.html https://www.ssim.ac.in/blog/how-to-prepare-for-group-discussion / https:// q4interview.com/dos-and-dont-in-a-group-discussion.php https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BguYUJ7cWrs 26