Dos and Don’ts for Group Discussion (GD) (Sponsored)

Getting an admission in a B-School of your choice has never been easy.  Getting a high percentile which is a cut above most candidates is a milestone and there are many more to be achieved, as there is more to the ‘post CAT phase’ process than one could imagine. The selection process in the B-School will include written/creativity test, GD PI Group Discussion  and personal interview. These test the mettle in you. It’s time to be self-aware about your strengths and weaknesses.  It is time to accomplish another rung of a hurdle race and cross the finish line.

A Group Discussion is the first step to student screening. The parameters for GD’s broadly include interpersonal skills, presentation, and ability to articulate and set the tone for the discussion. Group Discussion is a process through which your oratory, communication skills, problem-solving attitude and ability to work in a team of opposable minds will be tested and you will come across a host of varied personalities in your group circle. Your objective here is to make yourself heard with a top-of-the-line perspective or bring to table factual data or insight that is significant/ relevant to the topic.

Let’s browse through some key Do’s and Don’ts that will help you stand out as a winner.

Do’s

• Knowledge matters: Having a long-term discipline for reading pays back. You have been reading extensively and know current affairs – local, national and international in connection to India, during your preparation for CAT continue the habit of reading newspapers, online news or a monthly business magazine. Follow trending topics such as news-making sectors like Information Technology, FinTech; anyone world events like Nuclear Security Summit in context to India and national agenda programs like Swaccha Bharat Abhiyan, GST and demonetization and sports. Reading various articles will help you understand the gravity or impact of national and international events.  Any factual data you highlight matters in a Group Discussion.
• Listening is important. Once the topic is being announced in the Group Discussion, listen carefully and understand it. Be alert and vigilant. Listen to others, let them speak and then speak when it’s your turn to express out your views. This also shows that you are vigilant and are an active participant in the discussion
• What you say and how you speak matters:  How you articulate your talk points with the right tone will maintain the liveliness of a discussion.  It is important to substantiate your talk points with factual data or an event. Avoiding jargon and maintaining simple language is important in verbal communication.
• Right timing: Voicing your thoughts is important. However, knowing when to speak is also important.  Being the first one to speak well matters – in that case, you could be a first or the last one to speak. Enter a discussion to build on the valid points.  The broad structure to any discussion includes – opening remarks; elaborating the pros and cons of the key points and summarizing the key takeaways. Remember the average time for Group Discussion is 15 minutes.
• Interpersonal skills: You will interact with individuals who could have expertise in finance, human resource or marketing.  They could be personalities who are dominant, mild or jumpy. You need to be yourself, humble and outspoken. You also need to be clear when expressing your thoughts.
• Grooming: Make sure you dress up formally in ironed clothes. Your formal attire and neat hairstyle reflect the seriousness you carry at work and studies.

Dont’s

• Understanding:  Do not speak before you have taken the time to understand the topic. If you have done your homework and are apprised with current affairs then you have a fair degree of understanding the topic of discussion. It is better to be the next person to speak than be the first go-getter making an invalid statement.
• Don’t be verbose: Try to be simple, clear and impactful in what you say. You could contribute a thought that adds value or make a point with a question that takes the discussion to a different level.
• Do not deviate from the given topic: Being objective is a hygiene factor in any discussion. There may be an instance when someone may hit a sidetrack of the discussion. In that case, gently bring back the focus of the discussion. Be careful not to demoralize anyone in your course of the discussion. Being assertive is an attribute of a team player that will help you in this discussion and in the future as well.

Contributed by Prof. Dr Uday Salunkhe, Group Director, WeSchool

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APPLICATION OPEN: For 2 Year Full – Time, Recognised by AICTE Post Graduate Diploma Program 2019 -2021

Eight Programs Two Campuses One Application @ WeSchool 

Last Day for Submitting Application on JANUARY 26, 2019

Eligibility: Graduates with minimum 50% in Degree exam from a recognised University. Submit any one test score: CAT (2018) / XAT (2019) / ATMA (Dec 2018 & Feb 2019) / CMAT (2019) / MH-CET (2019) / GMAT (Jan 2016 onwards), on the online application.

Important Dates:

For program information, selection process and updates on placements, click here

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