GROUP DISCUSSION AND
PERSONAL INTERVIEW
MODULE 7
What is a group
discussion?
• Group discussion (GD) is a
comprehensive technique to
judge the suitability of an
individual and his
appropriateness for admission,
scholarship, job, etc.
• GD assesses the overall
personality – thoughts, feelings
and behaviour - of an
individual in a group.
Group discussion is a
communication process that
Group involves the exchange of ideas,
information, and opinions
Discussio among a group of people. It is a
powerful tool for problem-
n (GD) solving, decision-making, and
Definition generating new ideas. –
Stephen P. Robbins, author
of “Organizational
Behavior”
Objective • Group discussions are
conducted to serve various
s of purposes.
Group • It is a two-way communication
process through which
Discussio recruiters get to assess the soft
skills of candidates, while the
n (GD) candidates can gain clarity
about their own thoughts,
opinions and views.
• To collect data
• To breed fresh ideas and take inputs from a
The following particular group
are some of
the • To perceive the common ideas of people on a
particular topic
objectives of
a group discu • To identify the solution of a specific problem or issue
ssion
activity: • To select a candidate for hiring in a company
• To select candidate for admission in an educational
institute
• To arrive at a consensus regarding a common
concern
• A group discussion
delineates how a
candidate participates,
Types of behaves and contributes
in a group.
Group • There are three main
Discussio types of GDs:
1. Topic-based GDs
n (GDs)
2. Case-based GDs
3. Article-based GDs
These are based on certain practical topics, such as
the harmful effects of plastics on the environment or
the need of college degree for entrepreneurship. These
GDs can be further classified into:
Topic- 1. Factual GDs: These are informative GDs that
require comprehensive knowledge about a subject. For
example, the economic growth of India since
based independence.
GDs 2. Controversial GDs: These GDs are based on
controversial topics, which test the ability of a
candidate to handle a situation, control anger, display
patience and think critically. For example, arranged
marriage vs. love marriage.
3. Abstract GDs: These GDs are based on certain
conceptual topics that are used to evaluate a
candidate’s creative thinking and analytical ability. For
example, challenges before humanity.
• In these GDs, a case study is
presented to group members to
read and analyse in a given period.
Case- • Candidates need to discuss the
case study among themselves and
based reach on a com- mon consensus to
solve the given situation.
GDs • This helps to evaluate their
problem solving, analytical ability,
critical thinking and creative
thinking skills.
Candidates are presented
with an article on any field,
such as politics, sports, or
Article- technology, and asked to
based discuss the given situation.
GDs
Prerequis There are some essential requirements
for gaining success in a group discussion.
The following are some important
ites of requirements to be fulfilled by a
candidate in order to ensure a successful
Group GD:
1. Prior knowledge
Discussio 2. Active listening
n (GD) 3. Effective communication
4. Appropriate body language
• A GD is a method used by
organisations to analyse the
Steps of skills of candidates and decide
whether their personality traits
Effective are desirable for the job or not.
Group • While facing a GD, the following
steps should be performed:
Discussio • Initiate
n • Lead
• Summarise
• Some Do’s to be kept in mind during a GD are:
• Be a good listener by being patient.
• Acknowledge everyone else and what they say.
Do’s of • Articulate views in a way that is comprehensible to others.
Group • Structure your thoughts and present them logically.
Discussio • Read newspapers, current affairs, essays and articles to develop thought
structuring.
n • Respect others for what they are.
• Be open-minded and acknowledge the fact that people think differently
about issues.
• Train your mind for analytical thinking by taking all aspects into
consideration.
• Some Don’ts to be aware of while pursuing a GD are:
• Avoid irrelevant talk.
• Avoid interrupting others while they are talking. If you need to
cut short a speaker, then do so politely and with due apology.
Don’ts of • Avoid dominating the conversation. Ask others to contribute.
Group Acknowledge their viewpoints.
Discussio • Avoid getting into an argument. Try to express clearly in a
healthy manner.
n
• Do not show lack of interest and negative attitude.
• Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
• Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
Organising a Group Discussion
• A Group Discussion generally involves a group of 8-10
participants who are evaluated by a selection panel.
GDs are used to evaluate whether a candidate is a
perfect fit for an organisation or not.
• A facilitator has to take care of all the nitty-gritties of
organising a GD.
In order to conduct a successful GD, the following
aspects need to be taken into consideration:
• Objective of conducting a GD
• Venue setup
• Time
• Pre-instructions for participants
• Defined parameters for selection
• Role of assessor/evaluator
• Clear communication of results post GD
Group Discussion Evaluation Criteria
• Each group discussion exercise is assessed by one or more
individuals who are trained to observe and assess
behavioural traits relevant for a specific job.
The four main behavioural traits assessed through a group
discussion are shown in Figure
• Let us discuss these behavioural traits in detail.
• Communication skills
• Analytical and interpretative skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Persuasive skills