GDPI Pointers

These are extremely powerful and immediately implementable tips that
can improve your performance
rapidly. Read each with an open mind, digest, and implement. All the
best - Kar ke dikhayenge!

QUICK GD PI TIP # 36
Conviction is everything. An interviewer gets most impressed by it. A
GD moderator loves it. A WAT
checker swears by it. Conviction in what you truly believe in, what
you say, what you do. It does not
matter if your views match those of the examiner's. What matters is
how sure you are of what you
believe in, how politely you put forward the same with facts/figures,
and how it matches your overall
career objectives.
Work on your conviction. That's your biggest hope!


QUICK GD PI TIP # 35
WAT checks your most basic managerial ability to write consistently,
and articulately. It tries to
gauge if you can pen your thoughts as nicely as you 'speak them out'..
if you are as legible and
interesting to read as to hear.. and if you will be able to handle
managerial communication in your
career.

QUICK GD PI TIP # 34
You participate in a GD to project yourself, sell yourself and get
yourself selected. You do not
participate to pull others down by proving them wrong.
You participate in a GD to project yourself, sell yourself and get
yourself selected. You do not
participate to pull others down by proving them wrong.
You participate in a GD to project yourself, sell yourself and get
yourself selected. You do not
participate to pull others down by proving them wrong.
Enough said :)


QUICK GD PI TIP # 33
Do not get trapped in your own word-play. Using complex words /phrases
while answering, with an
aim to impress, can create verbal traps for you.
Hence, the eternally applicable KISS,S principle. Keep It Short and
Simple, Stupid. It is a great tool to
stay out of a lot of mess, not only in interviews, but everywhere!
This is not to say that you do not elaborate when needed; it is only a
reminder that you must stay
focussed and speak 'simply' as much as possible.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 32
An ideal resume for a 20-something fresher is of a magical size -
exactly 1 page. Not more, not less.
Resist all temptation to go beyond a page. And ensure that it fills up
one full page. Put your best,
structured foot forward. This rule hold for youngsters with 2 or 3
years of work experience, too.
Resumes of 2/3 pages look good only for senior professionals. Remember
that always.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 31
Do not get demoralised if the interviewers ask you a question or two
(or three!) on your deeply held
belief. They are not disbelieving you. Rather, they are cross-checking
how deeply you actually
believe in your "beliefs".

Many youngsters consider the act of getting questioned (on their
beliefs) as a proof of the
interviewers' rejection of their beliefs. It is not so. The
interviewer is merely following his dharma -
asking questions. You should follow yours - answering with a cheer and
confidence.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 30
Be consistent in what you say and project. It should be the same
throughout -- in your written
answers, SoPs, Application Forms, GDs, GEs, and Personal Interviews.
Your core beliefs cannot change from platform to platform. They have
to be clear in your head, and
firm in their position.
This consistency will bring a lot of confidence in your voice and demeanour.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 29
Q. What will happen if I fail (in) this personal interview?
This is a fear that actually drives people nuts. They sweat, tremble,
and scare themselves to death
fearing defeat.
Instead, realise the truth - The worst that an interviewer can do to
you is fail you. He can do nothing
worse than that. He cannot take away your life, your relationships,
your happiness, your destiny from
you.
Defeats are a part of life. Don't be scared. Even Lord Krishna had to
accept temporary defeat when
he left Mathura and shifted to Dwarka. You are a mere mortal. Take it
easy. Take the possibility of
"defeat" in your stride. There will be many more opportunities ahead.
This is not to say that you become a fatalist or a defeatist. Far from
it. This is to motivate you to
become a realistic optimist.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 28
Humour and Wit are potent, and dangerous weapons. Used with maturity,
they can bring a smile on
the interviewers' faces. Used carelessly, they can make you look like a fool.
If you are an absolute fresher, with challenged communication skills,
avoid being humorous, and
definitely avoid being witty. Some age, some more maturity, and better
communication skills will

gradually help you become more relaxed and witty - but that'll happen later.
However if humour arises naturally in an interview, let it. Good for you.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 27
Believe in yourself. Believe in yourself so firmly that when the ask
you what your life plan is, the
conviction with which you answer makes them wonder if they missed
something in their lives!
"You have to let it all go. Fear, Doubt, Disbelief. Free your mind." -
Morpheus to Neo in The Matrix.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 26
When offered tea, coffee, cigarette or biscuits in an interview, it is
best to thank and politely refuse.
At times, the offer is purely formal, and you are expected to say no.
If they insist, you may try a
polite no again, and if they really want you to have it, take it, take
a bite/sip, and gently keep it to
the side. STAY CONCENTRATED ON THE INTERVIEW.
So it is a good idea to go with a slightly full tummy! Hunger pangs
may make you pick 2 biscuits
instead of saying a polite no :)


QUICK GD PI TIP # 25
Patronising behaviour in a GD is a bad idea. Participate meaningfully,
listen when not speaking, and
avoid sarcastic smiles towards others. Be involved throughout.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 24
When you say something in a GD, be ready to be questioned upon it in
the personal interview also.
Thus, while making a very strong argument or a technical statement in
a GD, be ready to face it at a
greater depth in the interview.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 23
Never get into a one to one argument with anyone. It hurts you, the
other person, and the whole
group. Make your point to the whole group, not to any one person.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 22

In our race to be outstanding in a GD, the most obvious truths related
to the topics are often missed
out. Be careful to avoid any such pitfall. Think simply first.
For ex. in a topic like "Exports - the panacea for Indian economy", do
not miss out on the the
remaking of world economy post 2008 global meltdown, the most obvious truth.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 21
The surest way of getting rejected in an interview is through an utter
lack of the most precious
commodity : humility.
Lack of humility puts arrogance in your answers, stuffs your head with
airs about your achievements,
and confuses your vision and clarity. And interviewers really hate it!


QUICK GD PI TIP # 20
The first person to speak in a GD must do three things surely : 1.
Must start softly with a good wish
for everyone (a good morning, for example), 2. Must define the topic
most broadly and generally
rather than going into the specifics, and 3. Must create a positive
canvas for everyone else to feel
comfortable to participate in.
If the start is excellent, the flow will generally be very good. If
the start if faulty or technically
wrong, it can end in a disaster.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 19
If you are asked (by the moderator) to summarise a GD, then quickly
put forward 3 or 4 of the most
important perspectives that had emerged in the GD. Finish it off with
your viewpoint.
If you are asked to conclude a GD, then present your perspective on
the topic in 3 or 4 sentences
and conclude.
Never mix the two.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 18
When you face the interviewers, think of what they are thinking. What
they are expecting. What
they would love to see. The confidence, cheer, and intelligence they
would love to experience. And

quickly calibrate your answers to that level.
When you make an excuse that you could not realise what they wanted,
it is precisely that - an
excuse. Someone really serious about their career (their entire
future) cannot and will not make a silly
excuse like that. Simulate that in your mind multiple times.
And you are doing no favour to anyone but yourself. ATB.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 17
These is a better place than a GD to sit quiet and remain pensive - a
lakeside. If you are in a GD, you
better speak. You better speak for your future, for your selection,
for your own dignity. Staying quiet
may earn you laurels later on during crisis (for possessing equanimity
of mind!) but right now, right
here - you BETTER SPEAK UP and make yourself heard.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 16
If you do not understand the topic at all, then keep your mouth shut.
Let at least 2 or 3 people
speak up, and then assess who sounds most confident and articulate.
Pick up from there, and add
your points. Be alert in case you go wrong initially, and do
course-correction accordingly.
A classic example can be a topic like - "The Stockholm Syndrome"


QUICK GD PI TIP # 15
Confidence is the key. It is not necessary that the person asking the
questions knows the exact
answers to each one. So be confident, but don't bluff blindly.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 14
Be alert throughout the GD for your chance to speak. Get involved. See
others' body language and
reactions to gauge when the dip in decibel will arise, giving an entry
opportunity. Never lose heart, till
the last minute. One well made entry and well executed contribution is
worth ten useless ramblings.
:: Hope is the essence of success ::


QUICK GD PI TIP # 13
The interviewers love it when you have carefully read the top stories
of the immediate 10-15 dayspreceding the interview. It makes you look
updated, and serious. So that's one thing you should not
miss out on.
:: Tamso Maa Jyotirgamaya ::


QUICK GD PI TIP # 12
When you get aggressive with someone in your GD, remember the other
person can get back at you
with twice the force. Never under-estimate anyone. Never over-estimate
anyone. Be your natural
good self.
:: Sarve santu niramaya ::


QUICK GD PI TIP # 11
Wear whatever you feel comfortable with. And make sure whatever you
wear makes the interviewers
feel comfortable too.
:: Sarve bhavantu sukhinah ::


QUICK GD PI TIP # 10
Few of us can know everything. Even fewer can articulate everything
perfectly. So, it is obvious that
most of us have limitations of information and knowledge, and the
Interviewers know this. Perfection
is not expected, is not possible, and hence your confidence should
stem from your preparation alone,
not from what others seem to know.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 9
Avoid extreme stand on any topic. Middle of the road is a good
strategy, just in case you cannot hold
your ground on extreme stands.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 8
Unless I am Clint Eastwood or Margaret Thatcher, I should speak
English with an Indian accent. My
own accent. Whatever it is, howsoever stupid it may sound. I must
believe my accent is the best
accent.
QUICK GD PI TIP # 7

The other guy is as scared as I am. So why worry :)


QUICK GD PI TIP # 6
Genuine confidence comes from genuine preparation.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 5
A good quality certificate of achievement is worth a thousand words.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 4
In a GD, never form a small group with your immediate neighbour(s).
Talk to the whole group. It will
require better body language and eye-contact but that is the right way to do it.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 3
Never cast a sarcastic smile at anyone during a GD. It will bounce
back on you with full force. Be
involved when others speak - the least you should do is be neutral.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 2
Speaking too little in an interview may be a bad idea. Observe the
panel's body language and if you
feel they expected more - then speak more. Do not leave them hungry -
they expect to know as
much as possible about you.


QUICK GD PI TIP # 1
If you do not understand the GD topic, keep quiet till at least 2
people have spoken. Then pick up
from there and add your points. Never feel you have lost it because
the examiner doesn't know you
didn't know :)

Source - PT Education