GD Tips

Tips for Group Discussions

After going through demanding times to bell the CAT, the battlefield is all set for aspiring
managers to show their mettle in Group Discussion and Personal Interview to get into India 's
premier Business Schools.

Our endeavour at IMPACT is to try and make your ride through the journey of GD/PI as
comfortable as possible. We unravel the experience of our students during their GD/PI rounds
across institutes over the years through this section.

General Tips

 The GD topics may range from current affairs to very abstract ones. So read extensively
news articles related to current affairs, politics, and macroeconomic issues. The flavors of
the season last year were: Globalization, India - China , India emerging as an economic
power etc. Abstract topics were also aplenty during last year like "Do we really need
education to be successful".
 Content is definitely important in topics related to current affairs, while real life
illustrations of enterprises and/or living personalities, happenings will help you in
abstract topics.
 Even if you don't have any faint idea of the topic assigned to your group, don't panic.
Listen to others' points and try to get hold of the matter. Race your minds, build up the
points and present them beautifully.
 Don't try to enter the discussion more than 5-6 times in the entire course of GD.
Remember your entries should be based on strong points which should add value to the
discussion.  
 Allow others to speak, encourage people who are being cut down by others frequently to
participate and try to maintain a cordial and healthy environment for discussion.
 Remember your mission is not to prove your point but to help your group reach a
conclusion.
 It is not that important to always start the discussion. Don't be the first one to speak if
you are doubtful about the topic or you don't have a point strong enough that can make a
mark!!
 Try to use phrases/Contextual quotes that fit into the discussion and don't overdo it!!
 Relevant facts and figures are a huge plus but only if you are very sure about their
authenticity.
 Examples/ references to entities living or dead/ illustrations will add weight to your
points.
 Don't reiterate your points just because you don't have any more points to speak on.
 A new angle to the discussion will definitely help you only if you can substantiate and
sell it to the group.
Never feel overshadowed by people who try to dominate the group. Your composed mind will
help you come out

General Tips

 The GD topics may range from current affairs to very abstract ones. So read extensively
news articles related to current affairs, politics, and macroeconomic issues. The flavors of
the season last year were: Globalization, India - China , India emerging as an economic
power etc. Abstract topics were also aplenty during last year like "Do we really need
education to be successful".
 Content is definitely important in topics related to current affairs, while real life
illustrations of enterprises and/or living personalities, happenings will help you in
abstract topics.
 Even if you don't have any faint idea of the topic assigned to your group, don't panic.
Listen to others' points and try to get hold of the matter. Race your minds, build up the
points and present them beautifully.
 Don't try to enter the discussion more than 5-6 times in the entire course of GD.
Remember your entries should be based on strong points which should add value to the
discussion.  
 Allow others to speak, encourage people who are being cut down by others frequently to
participate and try to maintain a cordial and healthy environment for discussion.
 Remember your mission is not to prove your point but to help your group reach a
conclusion.
 It is not that important to always start the discussion. Don't be the first one to speak if
you are doubtful about the topic or you don't have a point strong enough that can make a
mark!!
 Try to use phrases/Contextual quotes that fit into the discussion and don't overdo it!!
 Relevant facts and figures are a huge plus but only if you are very sure about their
authenticity.
 Examples/ references to entities living or dead/ illustrations will add weight to your
points.
 Don't reiterate your points just because you don't have any more points to speak on.
 A new angle to the discussion will definitely help you only if you can substantiate and
sell it to the group.

Never feel overshadowed by people who try to dominate the group. Your composed mind will
help you come out with some good points. Let your point dominate the discussion and not
your voice!!

Want to win the show? Read on

Welcome to the corporate board room! Yes, this is the first point you should keep in your mind.
So make sure you are not aggressive, but you should definitely bank on one factor which all
panelists like in common: "assertiveness".

Being assertive will be simple for you from now, if you follow the following:

 Put across your point; explain it in a crispy manner and pack you point with an example.
 Put forth in your point only if you are sure that it will add value to the discussion and if
your point is able to give direction to the discussion, you will be well ahead of the pack.
 If someone interrupts your value packed point , courteously turn him down and continue
your point. Remember you should neither give in if you have a valid and important point
nor you should forget the word 'courtesy' while turning him down.
 Try saying something like: "Please let me conclude my point"
 Remember, you have to sell your point to the group in a peaceful manner. If you wish to
contradict any point put forth by other candidate, present your best self in doing so:
remember you have to make aides in the course of a discussion and not foes.
 Try saying something like: "I am afraid I don't second your point."
 Don't ever raise your voice, if the discussion is going peacefully. Be subtle in putting
across all your points, but make sure it gets across the board to the panelists. Even if,
unfortunately GD is moving towards a chaotic situation, remember you can hit gold if
you are able to bring back normalcy to the discussion: Remember, the objective of the
discussion is to reach to a conclusion amicably .

Dos and Don'ts!!

•  Address your point to the group, and never indulge in one to one discussion.

•  Never maintain an eye contact with the panelists during the course of discussion.

•  Don't ever argue with a person having contradictory views on a point for long.

•  Make sure that you have the right posture: sit with your backs straight, don't fold your legs etc.

•  Don't trespass the space of your neighbors by your hand movements while explaining your
point.

•  Never leave an open question to the group, without you answering it first.

Example:

You: "Before coming to a conclusion, let us discuss whether education is really important for
development?"
• Don't stop here after throwing question to the group, you bear the responsibility of answering it
first before it is open to discussion.

•  Don't show impatience or nervousness if you are not able to participate in the discussion for a
while. There will be a momentary silence and that is the juncture when you should definitely
come up with a good point.

•  Be a good listener: This will help you build up your points which are not redundant and
already discussed. Moreover, you would be in a much better position to give concluding touch to
the discussion for your group either voluntarily or if asked to do so by the panelists.

A well drafted conclusion that encompasses the entire discussion will be a huge plus !

Suggested Readings  

Newspapers 

Any English national daily (Times of India , Indian Express etc)

The Economic Times/ Business Standard

Weekly Magazines

India Today/ The Week etc

Business World 

 
 PI Tips
Tips for Personal Interview

Once the grilling GD is over, it's time to concentrate on the PI.

Basic Guidance for Personal Interview

Work-ex candidates

 Be very thorough with your work experience. You could be grilled on each and every
aspect of your work profile. Eg: your role/contribution in the organization, would you
like to go back to the same organization/sector and why.
 A very common question will be, "Why do you want to leave your job in a booming
sector (IT/ Manufacturing etc) "and do a MBA?
 Impact of the current year's financial budget on the sector in which you are/were
working.
 Be familiar with the current trends in the industry.
 Do brush upon your elementary subjects in your graduation discipline.

Freshers

 The questions posed to you will be based on your academics. Be thorough with the
fundamental concepts that you must have learned during the undergraduate course.
 Your extra curriculars will also matter a lot, i.e. activities you were a part of in your
school/college which were not in your academic curriculum.
 Why are you considering a management course instead of looking out for a job when the
industry has lots to offer to freshers?
 For engineers, final year project will bear due significance during the interview.

Possible PI questions

A common start to the interview could be - "Introduce yourself/ Why MBA/ Why X Institute ? ".

Introduce yourself

Start briefly about your family background, your education, your areas of interest and a few
positives about yourself. If asked any negative point, do stress something which you feel you
want to change, and do tell how you plan to change the same.

Answers like, "I am so much engrossed with work that I loose count of time "are clichés and
should be avoided. However, answers to the negative point should be careful, because, "I am not
honest, not punctual etc "are examples of suicidal answers.

Terminate your answer with your hobbies/ areas of interest etc.

Try to include and stress on those points in your introduction itself which, when asked in detail,
you would be at your best answering them!

Why MBA?

The reason to do your MBA is a very open ended question, and there is no single cut answer to
it. For example, an answer like, "I want to rise high, explore different avenues could backfire ",
with reply like - "Dr. APJ Kalam is a technical person. Does he know everything - finance,
marketing etc? ".

Be clear in your thoughts before facing an interview panel

You should be sure about your short term and long term objectives and if you can justify how a
post graduate degree in management can help you achieve your objectives, you are half way
through!

Why X Institute?

Probably you will be the best person to take on this question. You know the answer because of
the very fact that you are reading this!

 Facing the Panel

A good knowledge of current affairs is essential. You should be in a position to talk like an
aspiring manager who will be ready to take on to the business challenges rather than project
yourself as a pure techie guy/gal.

You could be asked questions like, "views on the proposed Vodafone, Reliance bid for
Hutchison Essar "etc. Or, simple ones like: "Views on Police reform in view of Noida Killings
etc ".

It is essential to have unbiased views on sensitive matters. Panelists can have contradictory views
and you understand what it means for you!

If you have any hobby, be very thorough with it. Else, just say that it's an area of interest, but do
prepare some thing. For example, if you say that your area of interest is cricket, you must be
thorough with the world cup 2007, in fact even the preceding world cups etc.

•  If asked about specialization you would like to go ahead with in your management
programme:

It's always safer to say that, "My interest is in Finance/ SCM/ Marketing, but I would be in a
better position to take a final decision after I undergo some courses on each of them during my
post graduation ".

Try to find out more if you are particularly inclined toward any specialization.
•  If you say that your role model is a well known personality like Lee Iacocca, Jack Welch,
Richard Branson, do read

the books they have written have good knowledge about them.

•  Avoid negative personalities as role models like Hitler etc. That could be suicidal.

•  During interviews, don't just focus on one interviewer. Rather, try to answer and have eye
contact with all the interviewers.

Finally, be positive, wear smart dress, and be confident. Don't stutter. If you don't know the
answer to a question, it is better to admit your ignorance rather than giving a stupid answer.
Remember that the person taking your interview is far more experienced, and can easily catch
hold of you if you are bluffing.

However, most of the interviewers are looking for a healthy interaction! So guys and gals gear
up for the big day!!