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Group Discussions
A manager has to function in groups most of the time. The group discussion (GD) attempts to test this very ability.
A topic is announced and about five minutes given to organise your thoughts. The faculty conducting the GD just indicates its beginning and the end, and does not intervene. Thus, the participants are expected to steer the discussion to the best of their ability. One should not open the discussion unless there is a good point to make. Hogging airtime is a definite no-no. A myth that goes around during GD preparation is that the person who can speak forcefully about as many points as possible is the winner. While articulating your point well is necessary, listening to the other person and understanding his/her point of view is as important if not more.
There are some tactics which I found useful. Giving the audience a hint of what you are about to speak is a good idea. For example, “I would like to enumerate three points relevant to the issue” is better than just speaking out three points. This implicitly tells other participants to wait till the third point is over. Rephrasing the other person’s point of view would get you his/her acceptance, and give you a chance to put across your viewpoint. It is perfectly alright to build on someone else’s point. You need not wait for a brilliant idea to strike you before speaking. As the discussion progresses, you might score some brownie points by summarising the discussion till then.
The idea of a ‘group discussion’ is just what the name suggests -- a discussion within/by the group which is more of a brainstorming session than a monologue. So remember that you not only have to speak but listen as well!
Interview
The three ingredients of a good interview are: thoroughness with your field of specialisation, knowledge about things outside your own field, and presence of mind.
Be sure to be thorough with every point that you mentioned in your resume. You can definitely expect questions about your major project or work experience. Remember that the panel of interviewers is an expert in almost every field. Therefore do not bluff! If you are not aware of something it is acceptable to say so or ask for more information.
The interviewers are also looking for a well-rounded personality. Therefore, it would be helpful if you prepare on some hobby of yours. Also, knowledge about current affairs is important. Have some opinion which you can present on issues of national and international importance.
During the interview, you might feel cornered on some issues or topics you are not familiar with. Thinking aloud is a good strategy when you are not sure of the correct answer. It would communicate your thinking process and the interviewers might want to guide you to see if you can arrive at a solution. This is possible only if you keep calm. You might cruise along most interviews by keeping your cool, and using common sense!
Mohan Raj Gupta is a second-year student at IIM Ahmedabad. He has graduated from IIT Delhi in computer science and engineering, and has a placement offer from Lehman Brothers London. |
