Some tips to cut the complexity of GD & Interview

Aakash passed out RTV in 1999. He is currently working as Sr. News Editor (Head, Guest Desk) in CNN-IBN. He did M. Phil on Comparative study of Prime time news (Special ref to Aaj Tak and NDTV 24X 7) & Pursuing Ph.D. on Comparative study of Indian News Channels (special ref. to NDTV 24X7, CNN-IBN and Times Now).

In our entrance exams we often get through written papers but most of us get rejected in Group Discussions (GD). GD’s are important as they help in pointing out who is a suitable student who has the potential to be an achiever and a leader in all walks of life.

We often fail in a Group Discussion as may be no one listened to us, the other participants were loud and more expressive and took away all the attention. Your idea was really nice but you failed to put it together in a structure or you felt that some participants didn’t let you speak.

Remember, our confidence is the most important thing and we must strongly believe in our points. If you initiate a GD you will win brownie points instantly, but I must caution you that you should initiate it only when you are sure about your knowledge otherwise it will create a bad impression. Whenever you speak, be clear and confident. Use words which are simple and catchy.



कलम नहीं, मोबाइल है ताकतः आकाश पर 27 मई, 2012 को प्रभात खबर में छपी कहानी.

One should never be to too aggressive even when people disagree with you as true art lies in putting your message across clearly in a polite manner. Other important factor is to maintain eye contact not only with the person who is conducting GD but with every team member who is present at that time.

This shows how involved you are in the present situation and also helps to establish your presence. Always speak sensibly as the secret is in saying the right and relevant thing in limited time. If you dig deep in the subject and pick too much of details then it can be a drawback as basic subject knowledge is sufficient.

Always remember that a good speaker is someone who allows other participants to speak. Counter the points as soon as you get a chance and also learn to be an effective listener. Pay attention to every speaker as this will help you gather much more information and your group involvement will be more powerful.

In case the discussion is going off the track, take initiatives to bring it back. Try to weave the discussion in such a way that the other participants get a sense of bringing some conclusion to the talks. This will get you plus points instantly. In the end, our positive attitude and open mind helps us break the ice. Always display positive body language and sit in correct posture. Do not dress too casually and be comfortable.

Always remember that we must develop knowledge on general awareness, current affairs and popular culture topics that are treading. Group discussion skills can never be learned from books but from our experience and exposure.

All the Best!!

Aakash