The Group Discussion, commonly referred to as GD, is a crucial elimination round in an interview process that candidates need to be a part of after clearing their aptitude test or the written exam.
A vital component in any screening process, GD involves the participation of a group of people who are asked to debate and discuss different aspects of a topic given by the interviewers.
Regardless of whether you are looking at getting into a top-notch college or applying for a job, the group discussion round is something that you will have to face in order to get one step closer to realizing your dream.
Although many candidates freeze at the thought of how they will present themselves in a group discussion, in reality, the group discussion round is not as dreaded as it seems if you master the tried and tested tricks that help crack GDs.
Master group discussions with these tips and accelerate your career. Check the video for easy to implement tricks.
In this article, we share with you some practical tips and strategies that will set you up for success in group discussions. But before we get into that, let's help you understand why the GD round is so essential.
The group discussion round is critical because it allows interviewers to analyze candidates on a variety of parameters, including their level of confidence, teamwork qualities, communication, leadership, analytical, and logical skills.
So, now that you know what GD is and why it is important from an interviewer's perspective check out the top eight tips for group discussion below that you should definitely apply in your next interview.
Experts advise that you research popular topics related to your field before taking part in a group discussion. While it is not possible to keep track of all topics under the sun, you should nevertheless have a clear understanding of matters that are closely linked to your educational or professional background.
Besides having fair knowledge of the core subjects in your domain, you must also be well-versed in some common group discussion topics that relate to today's social and economic environment, emerging technologies, or current affairs.
1) Role of Technology in Today's World
2) Impact of Social Media
3) Climate Change and Environmental Conservation
4) Leadership Styles
5) Remote Work
6) Ethical Dilemmas in Business
7) Gender Equality in the Workplace
8) Education System Reforms
9) Healthcare Reforms
10) Artificial Intelligence and Job Displacement
11) The impact of Coronavirus on the world economy
12) Mental Health Awareness in the Workplace
13) Diversity and Inclusion in Corporate Culture
Keep in mind that having basic knowledge about the subject of discussion is important, but what's even more important is how you convey your understanding of the subject to the interviewers and other members of the group discussion. Therefore, prior to appearing for your GD, make sure you work on your presentation skills.
The right time to initiate a conversation is paramount in a group discussion. Some people believe that speaking first helps grab the attention of the interviewer, but that is not always the case because it can backfire as well.
You can speak first if you have valuable information or statistics that are relevant to the topic, but otherwise, it is advisable to speak during intervals in between conversations.
If you are uncertain or confused about the subject of the discussion, listen to other participants, and then rephrase your response accordingly.
Next
My experience with Simplilearn has been great till now. They have good materials to start with, and a wide range of courses. I have signed up for two courses with Simplilearn over the past 6 months, Data Scientist and Agile and Scrum. My experience with both is good. One unique feature I liked about Simplilearn is that they give pre-requisites that you should complete, before a live class, so that you go there fully prepared. Secondly, there support staff is superb. I believe there are two teams, to cater to the Indian and US time zones. Simplilearn gives you the most methodical and easy way to up-skill yourself. Also, when you compare the data analytics courses across the market that offer web-based tutorials, Simplilearn, scores over the rest in my opinion. Great job, Simplilearn!
Fantastic courses, well-researched training material, and great trainers make Simplilearn a great platform to upskill. I recently completed my course. Ashok Nichani is the best trainer I have come across.
Next
Not sure what you’re looking for?
View all Related ProgramsDuring the course of a group discussion, be aware of what you say and how you say it. You will find many participants in a group discussion with views that differ from your own. You must respect their opinions and communicate your perspective assertively, not aggressively.
Remember, at no time should you get angry and yell. Controlling your emotions and staying calm will make you look more confident.
Below are some phrases you can use to express your opinion in a gracious manner.
If you do not agree with someone, you can say - "I respect your viewpoint, but I disagree. I hold a completely different opinion."
When you agree with someone, you can use the phrase - "I am in agreement with you; I also have the same point of view."
Other than the above two scenarios, you could be in situations where you partially disagree with someone. In such situations, say something like - "I agree with you to some extent, but I do not fully support your position."
If you need to intervene at some point, do so by saying - "I am sorry, I would like to interrupt you there".
To contribute to an ongoing discussion, you may say - "Apart from that, I wish to add ..."
The use of appropriate phrases, such as those mentioned above, illustrates your willingness to accept other viewpoints while you stand by yours.
Remember that the purpose of group discussions is to evaluate a candidate's personality, behavior, and interpersonal skills. Thus, it is important to remain positive and confident throughout the GD session.
What matters in a group discussion is how well you present your views and how convincing your arguments are to the interviewers and other group members. It is crucial to speak with absolute clarity, not only to get your point across but also to leave a positive impression through your speech.
To improve your vocal clarity, check out some simple exercises on YouTube that will enable you to deliver a clearer speech.
Another point to keep in mind is to not sit back after making your opening comment. Make an entry into the discussion whenever you think it is appropriate to do so, using the phrases in the previous section.
Listening skills are vital in a group discussion. Listening not just helps understand the topic of discussion, but it is also an indication of how respectful you are.
Listen carefully when others are speaking, and then frame your response. Also, nod your head and make brief eye contact with the speakers. This shows that you are actively taking part in the discussion.
All good speakers are great listeners, and to be successful in group discussions, you must likewise develop superb listening skills.
Body language is a form of non-verbal communication. It is gaining more and more prominence in recent times as it plays a critical role in defining an individual's personality, level of confidence, and leadership qualities.
Be aware that everything you do, from entering the room to the way you speak, sit, and react, will be monitored. So dress professionally, sit up straight, keep your cool, and never appear tense.
YouTube has many videos on body language. Watch some of these videos to perfect the art of manipulating your audience with body language.
To avoid straying from the topic, try to limit your attention to the content of your speech rather than its length. If the discussion drifts off-topic, make an effort to bring the discussion back on track. Attempting to keep the group on the subject will demonstrate your leadership skills to the interviewers.
Summarizing the whole group discussion and highlighting the most important points will enable you to capture the attention of the interviewers. Keep your summary relevant and short. In addition, make sure to present an impartial summary, not a biased one.
Many times participants in the Group Discussion present their ideas in an aggressive manner to create an impact on the group. What they don’t know is that shouting and being aggressive can get them negative points.
The last group discussion tip is to make multiple entries in your session. You can enter the discussion multiple times if you have a strong answer to other participant’s opinions. This will strengthen your viewpoint.
Next
My experience with Simplilearn has been great till now. They have good materials to start with, and a wide range of courses. I have signed up for two courses with Simplilearn over the past 6 months, Data Scientist and Agile and Scrum. My experience with both is good. One unique feature I liked about Simplilearn is that they give pre-requisites that you should complete, before a live class, so that you go there fully prepared. Secondly, there support staff is superb. I believe there are two teams, to cater to the Indian and US time zones. Simplilearn gives you the most methodical and easy way to up-skill yourself. Also, when you compare the data analytics courses across the market that offer web-based tutorials, Simplilearn, scores over the rest in my opinion. Great job, Simplilearn!
Fantastic courses, well-researched training material, and great trainers make Simplilearn a great platform to upskill. I recently completed my course. Ashok Nichani is the best trainer I have come across.
Next
Not sure what you’re looking for?
View all Related ProgramsGD is a collaborative discussion that involves a group of people. Participants play a role in these discussions. Your GD role can impact your chances of getting selected. Choose your role smartly.
Researching different topics for group discussions, improving your communication skills, and having mock GDs with your friends and family will increase your chances of being selected, but to seal the deal, consider getting yourself certified from an industry-recognized institution, such as Simplilearn.
The world's #1 online Bootcamp and certification course provider, Simplilearn, has introduced a SkillUp program that is helping thousands of people achieve their dreams. No matter what your stream is, with Simplilearn's SkillUp program, you can master today's most sought-after skills without paying a cent.
Employees from leading corporations, such as Bosch, PepsiCo, Inc., Citibank, Dell, Microsoft, Amazon, and VMware, have enrolled with Simplilearn for skill-based learning. Where are you? Enroll now to explore free resources that you can access anytime, anywhere.
You can use these lines to introduce yourself -
A successful group discussion is the one where participants are free to express their ideas and thoughts. Along with that, participants are also sensitive towards ideas proposed by other participants.
You can enhance your group discussion by improving some basic skills, that are -
From college admissions to C-suite job interviews, there is no escaping the group discussion (GD) round. It will accompany you at every stage of your career path as it remains one of the most efficient methods to tick boxes, such as confidence, teamwork abilities, leadership, empathy, and analytical skills, among others. So if you freeze at the thought of voicing your opinions out loud—especially in front of a group of unknown faces – check out these tips and tested methods to navigate a group discussion successfully.
Possessing quality knowledge in your domain and the ability to articulate that expertise are both equally important aspects of acing a group discussion. Delivering pre-learned knowledge demands a lot of practice in terms of speech presentation, using the right keywords, and being humble while countering conflicting perspectives.
It is also important to deliver knowledge with calm and composure. Recruiters are always on the lookout for candidates who can put their points across without getting aggressive. Try speaking this way if you disagree with someone:
“I’m sorry, but I don’t completely agree with you on this point.”
Or you could treat the opposing perspective as a different set of arguments:
“I respect your opinion on this, but here’s another viewpoint that I’d like to share.”
Controlling emotions while engaging in persuasion will only underscore your confidence and impress recruiters.
ALSO READ: How to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out?
Core subject knowledge is important. But often, the topics in a group discussion steer you away from your field of expertise to bring their applications into the foreground. So, let’s say, in a Machine Learning (ML) discussion, the topic could be the economic and sociological impact of self-driving cars. This would entail an understanding of self-driving cars in different contexts, such as ecology, politics, and culture, and linking it with technical knowledge about the subject.
When leading a discussion, delivering value with every sentence is of utmost importance. Remember, you are steering the group discussion in a definite direction. So either make sure you have enough material to talk about, or simply pass on the baton with a defining data point that bolsters your argument’s overall strength Also, you shouldn’t lead a discussion if you feel unsure how to phrase your thoughts; instead, allow others to take charge.
Active listening shows respect for opposing viewpoints and their owners. This is a crucial test for candidates because, in business environments, handling difficult conversations is a fundamental part of your business acumen. Moreover, listening carefully is a fundamental characteristic of a good speaker.
Body language is an umbrella term used for everything non-verbal, of which eye contact, as discussed below, is crucial. Quick tutorials on streaming websites talk about body language—for instance, how you dress for the group discussion, your choice of words while introducing yourself, your instantaneous reactions to opposing arguments, and how much you allow others to speak. Recruiters assess each of these aspects as the rounds progress.
This is a body language essential that indicates confidence and integrity in the speaker, apart from encouraging quality conversations. Always follow the 50/70 rule, which says you should make eye contact at least 50% of the time you are speaking to someone.
ALSO READ: Guide to Successfully Navigating a Career Change
Here’s a quick tip: if someone deviates from the topic, use that chance to interrupt them politely and bring the discussion back on track. To prevent yourself from doing the same, prepare some anchoring points, based on the subject(s) you are interviewed for, to fall back on in case of a slip-off.
The best speakers are the ones who are good with examples. Generic statements often confuse the audience by stunting the argument. For instance, there is a qualitative difference between “machine learning bias is an inherent problem of data science” and “the failure of COMPAS (Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions) proves the formidable challenges of machine learning in data collection bias”.
Summary makers tend to impress recruiters as they provide the essential quality of wrapping up scattered discussions and taking the lead in closing their argument smoothly—a crucial quality in business administration. But be careful to correctly recall every other argument discussed on the subject so that your summary sounds impartial.
These discussions focus on presenting a variety of facts against each other. Recruiters check a candidate’s skill in supporting their arguments with hard facts instead of using emotions as a means of persuasion.
Example of GD topic: The impact of national education policy: A boon or a curse?
Candidates argue about a real-life scenario in this type of group discussion. These GDs act as litmus tests for participants’ practical and critical thinking abilities.
Example of GD topic: Elon Musk’s Twitter buy is a disaster
This is the most common type of group discussion that allows candidates to share their thoughts, opinions, and subjective viewpoints on a topic, apart from facts.
Example of GD topic: Is polygamy really illegal in our society?
One of the most effective ways to judge a group’s imagination is to bring an abstract discussion to the table. In this environment, candidates are forced to approach the subject with originality.
Example of GD topic: Humans will stop promoting violence by 2050
ALSO READ: What are the Best Jobs for Introverts in 2023? Find Out Here
Some of the most relevant skills required to impress in a group discussion are as follows:
Empathy
Strong interpersonal communication skills
Proactivity
Leadership to boost confidence in others
Time management
Speech management
If you are opening the group discussion, follow these three tips while introducing yourself:
Be confident about yourself and the subjects you want to broach
Start the introduction with something exciting
Keep track of your time while introducing yourself
Here’s an example on how to get started:
Hello everybody,
My name is ______, and I would like to speak for the subject that this world favors men more than any other gender. But I’d also love to introduce myself in this context as I have a history of gender activism and have witnessed first-hand the gruesome statistics involved in familial violence….[then proceed to state your points]
Here are five strict no-nos in a group discussion:
Allowing emotions to get in the way of your argument
Overburdening your arguments with information
Focusing on how long you speak than what you say
Not paying attention to your body language
Suppressing voices and not encouraging others to speak
To conclude, practice speaking in front of the mirror and also set up mock group discussion rounds with your friends to hone your communication skills. And while you are at it, strengthen your knowledge base with the variety of industry-level courses offered by Emeritus, in association with globally renowned universities.
Write to us at content@emeritus.org