GD Preparation

While selection tools and techniques like tests, interviews etc. provide good data about an individual, they fall short in providing real life data of how an individual would be performing in a real life situation especially a group situation. Team work being an integral part of the BPO work profile, it is important to ascertain group and inter-personal qualities of an individual. Group discussion is a useful tool to ascertain these qualities and many organizations use GDs as a selection tool along with Personal Interviews, aptitude tests etc. A GD is an activity where

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Groups of 8-10 candidates are formed into a leaderless group, and are given a specific situation to analyse and discuss within a given time limit, which may vary between twenty minutes and forty-five minutes, or
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They may be given a case study and asked to come out with a solution for a problem
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They may be given a topic and are asked to discuss the same

1. Preparing for a Group Discussion: While GD reflects the inherent qualities of an individual, appearing for it unprepared may not augur well for you. These tips would help you prepare for GDs:

Reading: This is the first and the most crucial step in preparation. This is a never ending process and the more you read, the better you are in your thoughts. While you may read anything to everything, you must ensure that you are in good touch with current affairs, the debates and hot topics of discussion and also with the latest in the IT and ITES industry. Chances are the topics would be around these. Read both for the thoughts as well as for data. Also read multiple view points on the same topic and then create your point of view with rationale. Also create answers for counter arguments for your point of view. The electronic media also will be of good use here.

Mocks: Create an informal GD group and meet regularly to discuss and exchange feedback. This is the best way to prepare. This would give you a good idea about your thoughts and how well can you convince. Remember, it is important that you are able to express your thoughts well. The better you perform in these mocks the better would be you chances to perform on the final day. Also try to interact and participate in other GD groups. This will develop in you a skill to discuss with unknown people as well.

2. During the Group Discussion:

What do the panelists assess:Some of the qualities assessed in a GD are:

Leadership Skills - Ability to take leadership roles and be able to lead, inspire and carry the team along to help them achieve the group's objectives.

Communication Skills - Candidates will be assessed in terms of clarity of thought, expression and aptness of language. One key aspect is listening. It indicates a willingness to accommodate others views.

Interpersonal Skills - People skills are an important aspect of any job. They are reflected in the ability to interact with other members of the group in a brief situation. Emotional maturity and balance promotes good interpersonal relationships. The person has to be more people centric and less self-centered.

Persuasive Skills - The ability to analyze and persuade others to see the problem from multiple perspectives.

GD is a test of your ability to think, your analytical capabilities and your ability to make your point in a team-based environment.

These are some of the sub-skills that also get assessed with the skills mentioned above:

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Clarity of thought
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Group working skills (especially during a group task of case study discussion)
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Conflict handling
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Listening and probing skills
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Knowledge about the subject and individual point of view
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Ability to create a consensus
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Openess and flexibility towards new ideas
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Data based approach to decision making

While, it is not possible to reflect all these qualities in a short time, you would do well if you are able to show a couple or more qualities and avoid giving negative evidence on others.

Punjab to copy Bihar model for rural IIT aspirants

(IANS) Impressed with the success of Bihar's 'Super 30' programme for rural students, the Punjab government is set to replicate the model here to facilitate its marginalised and underprivileged students to crack the entrance test of India's prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Wednesday gave an in-principle approval to the vice-chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, to open a center to prepare rural students for admissions to IITs from the academic session 2010-11.

Badal has directed the planning secretary to make a budgetary allocation of Rs.139.17 lakh for the proposed centre in the state's annual plan.

'This is a step towards the holistic development of rural students. We are following the pattern of Bihar where a non-government organisation (NGO) run by some professionals imparted coaching to bright students from downtrodden sections,' said A.S. Brar, vice-chancellor of GNDU, here Wednesday.

'Their group is called 'Super 30' and they are providing free coaching, food and accommodation to the students. All the 30 students of the 2009 batch were able to get admission into an IIT. Thus, there is an immediate need to replicate this successful model in our state,' said Brar.

The Punjab government will open this centre at Khalsa College Public School in Amritsar and Brar will be the chairperson of this centre.

'Initially, the programme will be run for 50 students selected through a state-level entrance test. Students studying in rural schools and whose families' annual income is less than Rs.2 lakh will be eligible for it,' said Brar.

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something else now..

What is it with men and alcohol?Or smoke for that matter?
they never seem to have enough of it..
they dnt like being nagged about it!
they are practically ready to ruin everything else..just for the love of these completely despicable habits!
dnt get me wrong..
i am not a nun in anyway..but i think ppl who cannot do things in moderation are unhealthy..
and moderate is NOT a relative term!


all right..
another question..triggered by a recent blockbuster..
do long distance relationships work?
whenever i ask this question..i get the same answer..."they do if u want them to"
i think..they do..
any takers??


just one last thing..
what makes people stray in relationships?
the lack of love?
the lack of understanding?
lack of commitment?
distance?

or is it better understanding,more love,a stronger compatibility that results in a new,stronger bond??
so strong that it makes a person come out of the comfort zone of an older,longer relationship?



like i said..i've been taking myself too seriously..

waiting for answers/comments/criticism...

It doesn't matter..

After following and reading some blogs ardently,i've come to one conclusion...people write as and when they have to..whenever they want to..say things however they like..a writeup may or may not have a 'subject'. all that matters is a well written article..

so..i thought i'll push my luck..and write about nothing and everything..just about anything!

i think i've been taking life too seriously..thinking too much lately..puzzling myself unduly..

i realised,for the umpteenth time,in the last few weeks..how important friends are to me!
and how important I am to them!
trust me,feeling the latter makes life much much easier..
my two very close set of friends have turned out to be the biggest assets i have!
you can be a complete schmuck and still be honest about it..cos well..they would hear it all and still smile and still be with you!
it's amazing to see how the bond becomes stronger once you are no longer on ' daily meeting' terms with them!