1. How to Succeed In
Group Discussion
&
Personal Interview

2. 2
 Purpose of a GD
 Prerequisites
 Mock GD
 Do's and Don’ts of GD & PI
 Interview facing techniques
 GD Topics – CAT 2008

3.  Team player
 Reasoning ability
 Listening
 Leadership
 Flexibility
 Assertiveness
 Initiative
 Creativity/out of box thinking

4.  Knowledge
 Listening skills
 Presentation skills
 Initiation
 Body language
 Communication skills
 Cooperation

5.  Most important prerequisite
 Exhibit that you are well read and
versatile
 Knowledge arms you to speak
with authority
 Speak to the point

6.  One mouth two years (2000 year
old saying)
 Most undervalued and least
understood aspect of discussion.
 Good listening increases continuity
and contributes to engaging
discussions
 Hear what is not being said – Peter
Drucker

7.  Essential for positive impact of your knowledge
 Should be informal
 Proper beginning and logical conclusion
 Do not display your over enthusiasm and go
overboard

8.  Speakers who initiate are usually
selected, only if…
 they have knowledge and command
over the topic
 Define the subject before you state
your opinion

9.  Transmits signals about your frame of mind
 Maintain eye contact with person who
is speaking
 Smile while airing your views
 Establish eye contact with all participants
 Tone of voice should match the intensity with which
you are speaking

10.  Two way process
 Seek not only to be understood,
but also to understand
 Be a good listener
 Keep an open mind
 Effective communication
implies timely as well as manner
of interaction

11.  Healthy conflicts are fine
 Right to disagree, but you should not be
disagreeable
 Build rapport
 Respect other’s viewpoint
 Be helpful, accommodative and
encouraging

12. Let us have a
Group
Discussion

13.  Cinema – A true reflection of society
 Gandhi
 All is well
 Reality shows – Anything but reality!!
 Winning is what matters, whatever may be the cost

14.  Initiate if you are familiar with the topic
 Intervene if discussion is turning to
be hostile
 Back your points with facts and figures
 Listen to others
 Be natural, and maintain your composure
 Be participative and reciprocative
 Say ‘Thank you’ before ending
 Say what you feel without going in
“favour” or “Against” it
14

15.  Be loud and aggressive
 Speak first if you are unfamiliar with topic
 Go overboard with enthusiasm if you are
familiar with the topic
 Exhibit your emotions
 Stop abruptly and change your opinions
 Get nervous if previous speakers have presented their
points in a better way
15

16. How to face an
interview

17. Key is to
Project & Present
Oneself

18.  Domain knowledge
 Articulation
 Enthusiasm
 Energy level
 Prior knowledge of job requirements
 Problem solving skills
 Leadership qualities
 Ambition & Motivation
 Personal appearance

19.  Your strengths and needs for improvement
 Peer level feedback
 Family/Teachers’ feedback
 Research the organization
 Newspapers / magazines
 Google
 Friends, seniors
 Research the job

20.  Dress appropriately
No loud colours
Interview, not catwalk
No perfumes
Nails neatly clipped
Shoes shined
 Carry necessary documents, logically flagged in a
folder
 Be PUNCTUAL
 Watch others ahead of you:
 How much time each is taking, on an average?

21.  If you are not ushered in, knock first
 “Good morning/afternoon”
 Avoid, “Sir” or “Madam,” (in private sector)
 Do not bend forward when you greet
 Greet the interviewer(s) with a firm handshake, if
preffered
 Do not sit down till asked to do so

22.  Let the interviewer finish his question. Do not anticipate it.
If you have not heard the question or understood it, request
him/her to repeat it
 Give honest, straightforward AND polite answers
 Think for a moment or two before you start answering
 Speak softly, clearly. Be audible
 Speak to the point. Do not digress or show off
 If you do not know the answer, say, “Sorry, I don’t know”.
Do not guess or bluff

23.  Do not argue with the interviewers. Express your
disagreement only if asked to do so
 If you have any questions or need any clarifications, ask
after the interview
 Submit your documents after you are asked to do so.
 Finally, thank the interviewers for their time
 If there is no doorman closer, gently close the door when
you leave

24.  Describe yourself: your skills and competencies
 What are your weaknesses?
 Your hobbies, extra curricular activities?
 Sound positive. Not cynical or philosophical
 Be confident, not cocky
 Sleep well the night before
 Only facts and truth in your Resume’
(not more than 1 page)

25.  Do not cross your arms or legs
 Stand or sit relaxed: take some space
 Keep your elbows off the table
 Lean forward to listen, but lean only a little
 Nod occasionally, and only occasionally
 Sit straight
 Do not touch your face, clean your specs, etc
 Healthy attitude

26.  He who knows how to be poor knows everything
 Habit and routine have an unbelievable power to waste and destroy
 A fool can ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in
seven years
 You have to break a few eggs to make an omellette
 When all you have is a hammer everything looks like a nail
 If you want peace, prepare for war
 Patience is a bitter plant but it bears sweet fruit
 Cursing the weather is bad farming
 It is better to be born lucky than rich
 Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from
poor judgement
 If you are not a part of the solution, you are part of the problem
 Rules are made to be broken

27. Our greatest glory is
not in never falling, but
in rising every time we
fall.
- Confucious