The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment projections show the addition of 8.3 million jobs by 2031. In this pool of jobs, many of them will have a written ability test (WAT), aptitude test (AT), group discussion (GD) and personal interview (PI) to select the right candidate.
Many candidates often fail to reach the PI and get their dream job, as most of them cannot clear the GD round. If you are struggling with the GD or preparing to take the GD, then this blog will help you understand the basics of group discussion and ace your next job.
Start your learning journey with advice from our counselor
What is a group discussion?
A GD is an evaluation method where a panel of selectors provides a topic to a group of candidates to debate within a given set of rules. Candidates in the group can vary from 5-15. The objective of a GD is to assess the candidates' communication skills, speech, personality and knowledge.
Importance of group discussion
There are valid reasons why Group Discussion has become one of the most invaluable tools for mass screening for jobs. A GD serves the following purpose:
- Selectors evaluate the candidates' communication skills by checking how well they convey their ideas and knowledge.
- Teamwork ability is a quality every employer looks for in prospective hires. Group Discussion helps evaluate whether the candidate can work as a team player.
- When a candidate puts their opinion in front of others in GD, selectors assess their body language, knowledge and confidence required for the job.
- A Group Discussion also evaluates leadership qualities. A good leader can listen to others and drive the given topic to a conclusion.
Types of Group Discussion Topics
Interviewers use a wide range of group discussion topics for screening. These four are the most popular:
Factual Topics
The factual topics are mostly related to a candidate's daily life. The topics can be broad or specific and range from current affairs to business. These topics help the interviewers understand the candidates’ awareness of their surroundings and how they process and analyze information.
Case Study-Based Topics
The selectors provide the group with a topic based on a real-life situation. Candidates must solve this hypothetical situation and later explain to the interviewer the strategies and assumptions they used. These topics are tricky, but they provide invaluable insights into a candidate's analytical and problem-solving skills.
Controversial Topics
Mostly argumentative, these topics determine the rational nature and temperament of the candidates. Interviewers check the candidates' ability to handle situations calmly without personally attacking anyone over debate.
Abstract Topics
Topics of abstract group discussion examples include ‘haste makes waste,’ ‘food is more important than ethics,’ ‘consistency is the key’, and the like. By using their creativity and lateral thinking, candidates must confidently steer the conversation toward its endpoint.
10 Practical Group Discussion Tips
These are the ten best group discussion tips candidates can use to polish their skills:
Prepare a Variety of Topics
A candidate must have a basic understanding of and prepare topics related to their educational and professional backgrounds. It is not practical to ask a candidate to know everything. Still, they must be aware of what’s trending in current affairs, the economy, international events, technology, and other fields.
Some trending topics include:
- Social media: a blessing or curse?
- Blockchain and cryptocurrency
- Budget for the year
- Effectiveness of virtual learning in the post-Covid era
- Does WFH help with more productivity?
Along with keeping track of trending topics, candidates must also brush up on their presentation skills to convey their viewpoints.
Lead the Conversation
Leading the conversation after hearing the interviewer's question can earn a candidate extra points. But a candidate must only take the lead if they have valuable statistics or information regarding the topic.
It is advisable to listen to the other candidates and follow their cues to speak with the correct responses. A candidate must select the proper time to put forth their opinions.
Be Polite
A GD includes the candidates, selectors and other participants. It is pretty natural that a candidate’s view may not align with others. In such cases, a candidate must respect others’ opinions and communicate without aggression.
Remember, a GD is not a battlefield, and a candidate who can stay calm and control their emotions is the one who reflects the most confidence. A candidate must wait for other participants to finish putting forth their ideas and pause for a moment before initiating.
Be Assertive
A candidate must be able to put forward their ideas in an assertive yet polite manner. Candidates must hone their skills to present their arguments with clarity and leave a positive impression on their interviewers.
To build confidence, candidates can participate in public speaking forums or mock discussions with friends. Using the right tone and the time of entry in GD are also essential factors a candidate must consider.
Practice Active Listening
One of the most critical skills in Group Discussion for demonstrating your knowledge is verbal ability. But candidates often forget to practice active listening, which is vital for understanding the topic given in the GD.
Active listening helps formulate a proper response and avoid repetition. It also shows that a candidate is actively participating and respectful of other participants' opinions.
Focus on Body Language
Along with verbal skills, a candidate must also focus on their non-verbal skills, like body language. A candidate’s body language reciprocates their confidence, leadership qualities and personality.
Interviewers monitor a candidate's body language from the moment they enter the room until the end of the GD. Candidates must dress professionally, never appear tense, keep calm and maintain a formal voice tone. You can watch YouTube tutorials to master this before sitting for a Group Discussion.
Avoid Deviation from the Topic
With so many candidates presenting their ideas, there will be times when the discussion will divert from the main topic. A candidate capable enough to bring the conversation back on track displays logical thinking and leadership qualities.
To achieve that, a candidate must be aware of current trends and deeply understand the subject. The interviewer will highly appreciate using concise language to deliver relevant points.
Be First to Summarize the Discussion
Summarizing the GD with an unbiased viewpoint shows that a candidate has active listening and speaking skills. A candidate must keep it short and relevant by presenting their own opinions and the ideas of other participants.
Using a neutral tone will show a candidate’s open-minded mentality. Summarizing the GD will reflect their critical thinking ability and problem-solving skills.
Work on Presentation Skills
Besides verbal and non-verbal skills, candidates must master their presentation skills, which requires a bit of both. A candidate must present the topic lucidly so that it makes sense to the panelists and the presentation stays relevant.
Maintain Eye Contact
A candidate should always maintain eye contact with all the members present in the room while speaking in a GD. Maintaining eye contact shows a candidate’s confidence and belief in their words.
Are you ready to take the next step in your career ?
Conclusion
With rising competition in the job market, GD is becoming extremely popular among companies to screen candidates. Focusing on the group discussion tips discussed here and practicing them will help candidates clear the GD round with ease.
Not only jobs, group discussion rounds are standard for admission to MBA courses. Check out the MBA courses Amity Online offers to kickstart a rewarding career in management. Be job ready with global education from eminent faculty, dedicated career support and mentorship from industry leaders.
