Keep Calm and Speak!

Srishti Dugar is a pass out of Ad-PR, 2011-12 Batch. Currently she is working in the Brand Team of HCL Technologies.
Her hobbies include music, reading & tracking latest brand, journalistic & coffee trends.

Hello Everyone,

I would like to congratulate you all for clearing the first hurdle, now you are just a step away from getting admission into IIMC!! Believe me; studying in this college would be one of the many high points of your life. As you prepare for the next challenge in terms of GD –PI; I would like to share the preparation and experience that helped me to crack this stage.

Group Discussion:  During the Group Discussion, a topic will be provided to 8-9 candidates to “discuss” within 10-15 minutes under the supervision of the interviewers. The topics can range from current socio-political issues to bizarre one-liners. The trick to crack any GD is to consider it as a platform for “discussion” & not as a battle field where you can only win by subduing other person’s opinion.  Listening and assertive articulation of your opinion will help you sail even through the unknown topics.  Try not to cut other person while he/she is talking, politely put across your opinion, if you disagree with the concerned person’s point of view.  Apart from this, in terms of preparation, do cover the latest topics by reading editorials of The Hindu or magazines like The Caravan.  Make 10 brief conversational pointers about each topic and keep it as handy placards. This will help you formulate your conversations in a more coherent fashion during the GD.  If you have a little hesitation while speaking in front of a group,  try running some mock GDs with your friends.

Personal Interview: The last and the most important leg of the entire process! It is necessary that you
bring your personality (academic as well as social) in front of the interviewers.  They had a glimpse of you in the GD & now they want to understand who you are and what you believe in. Remember the points you spoke in your GD will pop up as questions in the interview. Questions can be around you, the current political issues, academics, brand campaigns or on your family. I remember, I was asked about the cream my grandmother used (Nivea, for that matter) and I was supposed to explain my emotional connect with that particular brand. So, it will be a free flow of back to back questions from all sides! The trick here is to “Keep calm and answer!”

Before I close one last advice – Enlist all your achievements and high points in your career in a resume format. Your interview can just revolve around that resume, which brings the ball to your court! Do carry certificates to valid these achievements.

All the very best and I hope you to become a part of this brilliant college!!