About Your Self
1. ur name and native just like
iam vijay kumar reddy from kurnool, andhra pradesh.
2. ur educational qualification
if u r fresher then said only MCA and BSc computer.
for experience tell bsc computer and inter.
i recently completed my mca in jbict with aggregate of 72%.
i done my graduation on computers in sri sankara's degree college in knl with aggregate of 74%
3.Ur objective as per ur resume
My objective is to achieve excellence in my career as s/w professional and seeking an opportunity to prove my skill and ability to the industry and be responsible for the organisation and progress of development.
this is my objective dont tell this, tell as per ur resume.kkkkk
4. family
my father is Mr. Rambopal reddy, he is a farmer.
my mother is home maker.
just said these words only no need to tell more about ur family..
if they ask about ur family then said all the think about ur family including brother details.
5. About ur strength and weeknesss
My strength are confident and i am very fast learner
for more strength search in goolgle as strength kkkkkkkkk...........
My weekness is my handwriting..
when i am studying high school my handwriting is looks bad. for that i practiced very well and i succeed in (MCA or Bsc). now my handwriting is looking good.
if i had any weekness i will work on that and i definitely succeed to convert it into the my strength.
or one more weeknees is there that is type writing kk.....
Note: dont said ur weekness in SD k........ if they ask about ur weekness then only said that k
6. Hobbies
its enough
iam vijay kumar reddy from kurnool, andhra pradesh.
2. ur educational qualification
if u r fresher then said only MCA and BSc computer.
for experience tell bsc computer and inter.
i recently completed my mca in jbict with aggregate of 72%.
i done my graduation on computers in sri sankara's degree college in knl with aggregate of 74%
3.Ur objective as per ur resume
My objective is to achieve excellence in my career as s/w professional and seeking an opportunity to prove my skill and ability to the industry and be responsible for the organisation and progress of development.
this is my objective dont tell this, tell as per ur resume.kkkkk
4. family
my father is Mr. Rambopal reddy, he is a farmer.
my mother is home maker.
just said these words only no need to tell more about ur family..
if they ask about ur family then said all the think about ur family including brother details.
5. About ur strength and weeknesss
My strength are confident and i am very fast learner
for more strength search in goolgle as strength kkkkkkkkk...........
My weekness is my handwriting..
when i am studying high school my handwriting is looks bad. for that i practiced very well and i succeed in (MCA or Bsc). now my handwriting is looking good.
if i had any weekness i will work on that and i definitely succeed to convert it into the my strength.
or one more weeknees is there that is type writing kk.....
Note: dont said ur weekness in SD k........ if they ask about ur weekness then only said that k
6. Hobbies
its enough
Group Discussion
1. Initiation Techniques
2. Body of the group discussion
3. Summarization/ Conclusion
Initiation Techniques
· Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.
When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity to speak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow candidates.
If you can make a favourable first impression with your content and communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you sail through the discussion.
But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures, the damage might be irreparable.
If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, it gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of starting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an initiator!
When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand.
When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity to speak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow candidates.
If you can make a favourable first impression with your content and communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you sail through the discussion.
But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures, the damage might be irreparable.
If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, it gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of starting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an initiator!
When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand.
Body of the group discussion
· Different techniques to initiate a GD and make a good first impression:
i. Quotes
ii. Definition
iii. Question
iv. Shock statement
v. Facts, figures and statistics
vi. Short story
vii. General statement
i. Quotes
Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.
If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board be abolished?, you could start with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet'.
For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wall-mart) Walton's famous saying, 'There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'
ii. Definition
Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic.
For example, if the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers, magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'?
For a topic like The Malthusian Economic Prophecy is no longer relevant, you could start by explaining the definition of the Malthusian Economic Prophecy.
iii. Question
Asking a question is an impact way of starting a GD.
It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies asking a question, and answering it yourself.
Any question that might hamper the flow of a GD or insult a participant or play devil's advocate must be discouraged.
Questions that promote a flow of ideas are always appreciated.
For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'
iv. Shock statement
Initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best way to grab immediate attention and put forth your point.
If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. Which calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work together'.'
v. Facts, figures and statistics
If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to quote them accurately.
Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level figures need to be correct and accurate.
For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).
But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no approximations).
Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage.
For a GD topic like, China, a Rising Tiger, you could start with, 'In 1983, when China was still in its initial stages of reform and opening up, China's real use of Foreign Direct Investment only stood at $636 million. China actually utilized $60 billion of FID in 2004, which is almost 100 times that of its 1983 statistics."
vi. Short story
Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything.
This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-colored balloon will go as high in the sky as a green-colored balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the color of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.'
vii. General statement
Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.
For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?, you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities one needs to be a a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities with those that Mrs. Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.'
i. Quotes
ii. Definition
iii. Question
iv. Shock statement
v. Facts, figures and statistics
vi. Short story
vii. General statement
i. Quotes
Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.
If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board be abolished?, you could start with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet'.
For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wall-mart) Walton's famous saying, 'There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'
ii. Definition
Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic.
For example, if the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers, magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'?
For a topic like The Malthusian Economic Prophecy is no longer relevant, you could start by explaining the definition of the Malthusian Economic Prophecy.
iii. Question
Asking a question is an impact way of starting a GD.
It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies asking a question, and answering it yourself.
Any question that might hamper the flow of a GD or insult a participant or play devil's advocate must be discouraged.
Questions that promote a flow of ideas are always appreciated.
For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'
iv. Shock statement
Initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best way to grab immediate attention and put forth your point.
If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. Which calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work together'.'
v. Facts, figures and statistics
If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to quote them accurately.
Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level figures need to be correct and accurate.
For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).
But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no approximations).
Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage.
For a GD topic like, China, a Rising Tiger, you could start with, 'In 1983, when China was still in its initial stages of reform and opening up, China's real use of Foreign Direct Investment only stood at $636 million. China actually utilized $60 billion of FID in 2004, which is almost 100 times that of its 1983 statistics."
vi. Short story
Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything.
This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-colored balloon will go as high in the sky as a green-colored balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the color of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.'
vii. General statement
Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.
For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?, you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities one needs to be a a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities with those that Mrs. Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.'
Summarization/ Conclusion
· Most GD do not really have conclusions. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favor or against the topic.
· But every GD is summarized. You can summaries what the group has discussed in the GD in a nutshell.
Keep the following points in mind while summarizing a discussion:
Keep the following points in mind while summarizing a discussion:
1. Avoid raising new points.
2. Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
3. Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
4. Keep it brief and concise.
5. It must incorporate all the important points that came out during the GD.
6. If the examiner asks you to summaries a GD, it means the GD has come to an end.
7. Do not add anything once the GD has been summarized.
| Posted By: Ranjith Kumar |
SATYAM PATTERN, GD & INTERVIEW - MAR 2006
Hi
i am very happy 2 tell that i am placed in satyam.
i am very happy 2 tell that i am placed in satyam.
thanks to this grp 4 helping me.
here is the pattern.
1st aptitude : very simple.RS AGGARWAL will do.
topics r time&dist,time&work,averages,mixtures,probability,
encoding&decoding,ages problems.
2nd GD topics:
Satyam GD Probables:
----------------------
1. US war on iraq-justified or not.
2. Role of UN in peacekeeping.
3. Position of Women in India compared to other nations.
4. Environment MAnagement.
5. Is China better than India in software.
6. Should SONIA gandhi be made the PM
7. BPOs in INDIA
8. Govt contribution to IT
9. will punch lines rule the Advt
10. premaritial sex
11. is china a threat to indian industry
12. india or west , which is the land of opportunities
13. water resources should be nationalised
14."BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY"
15. Effect of cinema on Youth
16. Education in India compared to Foreign nations
17. Is it necessary to ban COCOCOLA in India.
18. What is the effect of movies on youth.(is it good or bad)
19. Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad?
20."UN's peace activities" and "America's war on Iraq".
21."Environment-Whose Responsibility".
22.Is China a threat to the Indian software industry.
23.Role of UN in Peace keeping
24.War on Iraq
25.About hockey being the primary game in India.
26.Can america occupy iraq
27.Cricket shud be banned or not.
28.IS CHINA A THREAT TO INDIA
29.Present state of Indian Cricket team.
30.Love marriage/Arranged marriage.
31.Advantages of Co-education.
----------------------
1. US war on iraq-justified or not.
2. Role of UN in peacekeeping.
3. Position of Women in India compared to other nations.
4. Environment MAnagement.
5. Is China better than India in software.
6. Should SONIA gandhi be made the PM
7. BPOs in INDIA
8. Govt contribution to IT
9. will punch lines rule the Advt
10. premaritial sex
11. is china a threat to indian industry
12. india or west , which is the land of opportunities
13. water resources should be nationalised
14."BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY"
15. Effect of cinema on Youth
16. Education in India compared to Foreign nations
17. Is it necessary to ban COCOCOLA in India.
18. What is the effect of movies on youth.(is it good or bad)
19. Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad?
20."UN's peace activities" and "America's war on Iraq".
21."Environment-Whose Responsibility".
22.Is China a threat to the Indian software industry.
23.Role of UN in Peace keeping
24.War on Iraq
25.About hockey being the primary game in India.
26.Can america occupy iraq
27.Cricket shud be banned or not.
28.IS CHINA A THREAT TO INDIA
29.Present state of Indian Cricket team.
30.Love marriage/Arranged marriage.
31.Advantages of Co-education.
Hot Topics:
-----------
1.How to deal with international terrorism.
2.Should we pursue our policy of dialogue with Pakistan?
3.Is peace and non-violence outdated concepts?
-----------
1.How to deal with international terrorism.
2.Should we pursue our policy of dialogue with Pakistan?
3.Is peace and non-violence outdated concepts?
3rd interview:
technical is very simple.C C++,ORACLE,JAVA only basics & ur project.
hr wud b very easy,Q's like tell about urself, why do u want 2 join satyam,
r u ready 2 relocate.
|
Engineering GD Topics
· Is China a threat to the Indian software industry.
· Role of UN in peacekeeping.
· Position of Women in India compared to other nations.
· Environment Management.
· Is China better than India in software.
· Govt contribution to IT
· is china a threat to Indian industry
· India or west , which is the land of opportunities
· water resources should be nationalised
· "BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY"
· Effect of cinema on Youth
· Education in India compared to Foreign nations
· What is the effect of movies on youth. is it good or bad)
· Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad.
· "UN's peace activities" and "America's war on Iraq".
· "Environment-Whose Responsibility".
· US war on iraq-justified or not.
· Role of UN in Peace keeping
· War on Iraq
· About Hockey being the primary game in India.
· Can America occupy Iraq
· IS CHINA A THREAT TO INDIA
· Present state of Indian Cricket team
· Advantages of Co-education.
· How to deal with international terrorism.
· Should we pursue our policy of dialogue with Pakistan?
· Is peace and non-violence outdated concepts?
· A Unipolar World spells disaster for underdeveloped countries like India.
· Is Globalization Really Necessary?
· What shall we do about our ever-increasing Population?
· Corruption is the price we pay for Democracy.
· Foreign Television Channels are destroying our culture.
· What India needs is a Dictatorship.
· With media publishing and telecasting trivia, censorship is the need of the hour.
· Kaun Banega Krorepati is less about knowledge but more about money and personality.
· Beauty contests degrade womanhood
· The rise of regional blocs threatens independent nations like India
· Six billion and one bronze!
· Is dependence on computers a good thing?
· Should the public sector be privatised?
· China and India are similar nations with contrasting ways
· Is India a Soft Nation?
· Value based politics is the need of the hour
· Religion should not be mixed with politics
· How to deal with high oil prices
· Our cricketers are not to blame for match fixing
· Why cant we be world players in industry as we are in software?
· Multinational corporations: Are they devils in disguise?
· Should there be limits on artistic freedom (the controversy on Fire).
· Should there be private universities?
· Does banning fashion shows and New Year parties save our culture?
· Public sector is more a hindrance than help to promote socialism.
· Economic betterment of the poorer nations is as important as disarmament to ensure lasting world peace.
· From public sector to privatization as in the U.K., is the right answer for India's instant economic breakthrough.
· The doctrine of "limited nuclear war" is an ill-convinced, ill- logical, irrational and extremely dangerous concept.
· Some simple but effective electoral reforms will enable us to retain the present parliamentary system and ensure the preservation of democracy in India.
· Nuclear war cannot be won and should not be fought.
· Private enterprise and not public sector will contribute to faster and higher economic growth in India
· Inflation is inevitable in our developing country.
· The policy of reservation is a legacy of the British and it has done more harm than good.
· For a marketing post graduate, without prior work experience working in a big marketing firm is a disadvantage when compared with working in a small firm. Discuss.
· Consumerism is destroying the social fabric of Indian culture
· Free market is a prerequisite for growth.
· Cricket as a national obsession is a detriment to other sports.
· To develop India has to empower women.
· .Formulate the government's health policy to control the spread of AIDS.
· Advertising is a waste of resources.
· Privatization will lead to less corruption.
· State is the biggest violator of human rights.
· There can never be a classless society.
· Beauty pageants are a marketing gimmick.
· Voting rights to illiterates in India is illogical because it is widely misused.
· Joint family is a blessing in disguise
· Higher education should be made possible only for those who can pay for it.
· Women cannot successfully combine both career and home
· Women are good managers.
· Executive should be allowed to form unions.
· Effect of liberalization on poverty.
· Indians perform better as individuals rather than in groups.
· Business and ethics go hand in hand, or do they?
· Developing countries should spend more on development than on defense.
· Political parties have outlived their utility.
· Is Swadeshi relevant for India today?
· Money is required to earn more money.
· Foreign trade is necessary for any country to survive
· Presidential Vs Parliamentary form of government of India.
· Technology: The Ism' Of The New Millennium?
· Religion And Politics Should Not Mix
· TRIPS Controversy And The Patent Act Amendment
· Should India Sign The CTBT
· State Interventions In Market Kind Or Mixed Economy
· Science Is A Boon Or Bane
· Is Swapping Terrorists For Hostages An Encouragement For Plane- Hijackers?
· Nice Guys Finish Last
· All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy
· Individual Freedom And Civil Society
· Conventionalism And Modernity: The Ever going Debate
· Should There Be A Restriction On Permissiveness Being propagated by The MTV Culture And Foreign Media?
· Marxism And Its Future All Over The World
· The Growing Menace Of Casteism And Regionalism
· Presidential Form Of Government Is Needed In India
· Bullet For Bullet: Is It The Right Policy?
· Capitation Fees Should Be Abolished
· Brain-Drain Has To Be Stopped
· Business And Ethics Can't / Don't Go Together
· Are women As good as Men Or Inferior?
· Nothing Succeeds Like Success
· The Malthusian Economic Prophecy Is No Longer Relevant
· Secessionism In The North-East: Who's To Blame?
· Should India Break Diplomatic Ties With Pakistan?
· Age and Youth: Experience And Young Talent
· East Is East & West Is Where All The Action Is': Mark Twain
· Freedom Of _Expression And The State Authority.
GD Mistakes
Here's a list of the most common mistakes made at group discussions:
Emotional outburst
Rashmi was offended when one of the male participants in a group discussion made a statement on women generally being submissive while explaining his point of view. When Rashmi finally got an opportunity to speak, instead of focussing on the topic, she vented her anger by accusing the other candidate for being a male chauvinist and went on to defend women in general.
What Rashmi essentially did was to
• Deviate from the subject
• Treat the discussion as a forum to air her own views.
• Lose objectivity and make personal attacks.
Her behaviour would have been perceived as immature and demotivating to the rest of the team.
Quality Vs Quantity
Gautam believed that the more he talked, the more likely he was to get through the GD. So, he interrupted other people at every opportunity. He did this so often that the other candidates got together to prevent him from participating in the rest of the discussion.
• Assessment is not only on your communication skills but also on your ability to be a team player.
• Evaluation is based on quality, and not on quantity. Your contribution must be relevant.
• The mantra is "Contributing meaningfully to the team's success." Domination is frowned upon.
Egotism Showing off
Krishna was happy to have got a group discussion topic he had prepared for. So, he took pains to project his vast knowledge of the topic. Every other sentence of his contained statistical data - "20% of companies; 24.27% of parliamentarians felt that; I recently read in a Jupiter Report that..." and so on so forth. Soon, the rest of the team either laughed at him or ignored his attempts to enlighten them as they perceived that he was cooking up the data.
• Exercise restraint in anything. You will end up being frowned upon if you attempt showing-off your knowledge.
• Facts and figures need not validate all your statements.
• Its your analysis and interpretation that are equally important - not just facts and figures.
• You might be appreciated for your in-depth knowledge. But you will fail miserably in your people skills.
Such a behavior indicates how self-centered you are and highlights your inability to work in an atmosphere where different opinions are expressed.
Get noticed - But for the right reasons
Srikumar knew that everyone would compete to initiate the discussion. So as soon as the topic - "Discuss the negative effects of India joining the WTO" - was read out, he began talking. In his anxiety to be the first to start speaking, he did not hear the word "negative" in the topic. He began discussing the ways in which the country had benefited by joining WTO, only to be stopped by the evaluator, who then corrected his mistake.
• False starts are extremely expensive. They cost you your admission. It is very important to listen and understand the topic before you air your opinions.
• Spending a little time analyzing the topic may provide you with insights which others may not have thought about. Use a pen and paper to jot down your ideas.
• Listen! It gives you the time to conceptualize and present the information in a better manner.
Some mistakes are irreparable. Starting off the group discussion with a mistake is one such mistake, unless you have a great sense of humor.
Managing one's insecurities
Sumati was very nervous. She thought that some of the other candidates were exceptionally good. Thanks to her insecurity, she contributed little to the discussion. Even when she was asked to comment on a particular point, she preferred to remain silent.
• Your personality is also being evaluated. Your verbal and non verbal cues are being read.
• Remember, you are the participant in the GD; not the evaluator. So, rather than evaluating others and your performance, participate in the discussion.
• Your confidence level is being evaluated. Decent communication skills with good confidence is a must to crack the GDs.
Focus on your strengths and do not spend too much time thinking about how others are superior or inferior to you. It is easy to pick up these cues from your body language.
Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.
Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.
Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.
If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.
A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.
A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.
Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.
Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.
Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.
Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.
How to Face GD
A group discussion consists of:
- Communication Skills
- Knowledge and ideas regarding a given subject
- Capability to co-ordinate and lead
- Exchange of thoughts
- Addressing the group as a whole
- Thorough preparations
Communication Skills
The first aspect is one's power of expression. In a group discussion, a candidate has to talk effectively so that he is able to convince others. For convincing, one has to speak forcefully and at the same time create an impact by his knowledge of the subject. A candidate who is successful in holding the attention of the audience creates a positive impact.
It is necessary that you should be precise and clear. As a rule evaluators do not look for the wordage produced. Your knowledge on a given subject, your precision and clarity of thought are the things that are evaluated. Irrelevant talks lead you nowhere. You should speak as much as necessary, neither more nor less. Group discussions are not debating stages.
Ability to listen is also what evaluators judge. They look for your ability to react on what other participants say. Hence, it is necessary that you listen carefully to others and then react or proceed to add some more points. Your behavior in the group is also put to test to judge whether you are a loner or can work in a group.
You should be able to convey your thoughts satisfactorily and convincingly before a group of people. Confidence and level headedness in doing so is necessary. These add value to your presentation. In case you are not good at it, you might gain by joining an institute that offers specialized courses in public speaking. For instance, British Council Division's English Language Teaching Centre offers a wide range of courses like conversation skills, business communication skills, business writing, negotiation skills and presentation skills. Mostly people attend these courses to improve their communication skills. Students here are involved in activities which use communication skills and teachers provide inputs, monitor and facilitate the classes. The course at the Centre makes you confident enough to speak before people without any nervousness.
Knowledge and Ideas Regarding a Given SubjectKnowledge of the subject under discussion and clarity of ideas are important. Knowledge comes from consistent reading on various topics ranging from science and technology to politics. In-depth knowledge makes one confident and enthusiastic and this in turn, makes one sound convincing and confident.
Leadership and Coordinating CapabilitiesThe basic aim of a group discussion is to judge a candidate's leadership qualities. The examiner withdraws and becomes a silent spectator once the discussion starts. A candidate should display tactfulness, skill, understanding and knowledge on varied topics, enterprise, forcefulness and other leadership qualities to motivate and influence other candidates who may be almost equally competent.
Exchange of ThoughtsA group discussion is an exchange of thoughts and ideas among members of a group. These discussions are held for selecting personnel in organisations where there is a high level of competition. The number of participants in a group can vary between 8 and 15. Mostly a topic or a situation is given to group members who have to discuss it within 10 to 20 minutes.
The purpose is to get an idea about candidates in a short time and make assessments about their skills, which normally cannot be evaluated in an interview. These skills may be team membership, leadership skills, listening and articulation skills.
A note is made of your contributions to the discussion, comprehension of the main idea, the rapport you strike, patience, assertion, accommodation, amenability, etc. Body language and eye contact too are important points which are to be considered. .
Addressing the Group as a WholeIn a group discussion it is not necessary to address anyone by name. Even otherwise you may not know everyone's names. It better to address the group as a whole.
Address the person farthest from you. If he can hear you everyone else too can. Needless to add, as for the interview, attend the group discussion in formal dress. The language used should also be formal, not the language used in normal conversations. For instance, words and phrases like "yar", "chalta hai", "CP", "I dunno", etc. are out. This is not to say you should use a high sounding, pedantic language. Avoiding both, just use formal, plain and simple language. Hinglish, (mixture of Hindi and English) should be discarded.
Confidence and coolness while presenting your viewpoint are of help. See that you do not keep repeating a point. Do not use more words than necessary. Do not be superfluous. Try to be specific. Do not exaggerate.
Thorough PreparationStart making preparations for interview and group discussions right away, without waiting till the eleventh hour, this is, if and when called for them. Then the time left may not be adequate. It is important to concentrate on subject knowledge and general awareness. Hence, the prime need for thorough preparation. Remember, the competition is very tough. Only 460 candidates make it to the final list from 2.75 lakh civil service aspirants each year.
It may so happen that you are called for interviews and group discussions from three or four organizations but are not selected by any. The reason obviously lies in your not being well-prepared.
In a group discussion you may be given a topic and asked to express your views on it. Or in a case study GD, students have to read a case study and suggest ways of tackling the problem. For this you should have a good general knowledge, need to be abreast with current affairs, should regularly read newspapers and magazines. Your group behaviour and communication skills are on test, i.e. how you convince the others and how clearly you are able to express your points of view. You should be articulate, generate ideas, not sound boring, should allow others to speak, and adopt a stand on a given subject. During the course of the GD this stand can even be changed, giving the impression that you are open to accommodate others' viewpoints.
Additional marks may be given for starting or concluding the discussion.
Points to Remember
· Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.
· Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.
· Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.
· If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.
· A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.
· A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.
· Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.
· Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.
· Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.
· Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.