Hey there, you!

Woah, you look like there’s a dark cloud over your head! What’re you so nervous about?

Group Discussion, again? I thought we prepped for that.

Ah, you’re nervous about how it’ll go? Well, don’t you worry child, we have a plan for you.

First things first, there are many kinds of group discussions and it all depends on the company. Let’s just list the very obvious ones we know so you won’t panic when it’s not the usual format.

I. The OG GD:

This is the first thing that comes to your mind when someone says group discussion. A group of nervous students mumbling and twitching their fingers, sitting across each other on a round table or a rectangle one (whatever the mood is that day), waiting to pull off their best Arnab Goswami. In a simple format GD, students are handed out a topic to discuss. The topic could be anything from your 4 years of engineerings to something that has been going around in the news. You will all be discussing a single topic and Lord knows how loud things can get in a snap of a finger. Remember to stay cool and be clear when you present your point. There is no need to point fingers or shout during the session. Pro-tip: The sense of a GD is to participate and engage with a group to discuss an issue. Take your time to form your point and speak it out clearly. Don’t waste time summarising other people’s statements.

II. The Chairman’s GD:

This is a more complicated one and is mostly practiced by top companies looking to fill up a few, but technical positions. This GD is meant to test your skills as a leader as well as a team member and how you communicate in both the roles. Each of you will be handed out caselets and given time to study them. You’ll be the moderator for your caselet and should review the discussion, give it a certain direction and summarise it. Your role will be that of a moderator and it is best that you don’t indulge in putting your point across, but rather be all-ears to the discussion and give everyone a fair chance. You will get a chance to be a team member and make your points when other members open their caselets for discussion. Make sure you participate and engage in the discussion then and don’t cut anyone off midway.

III. JAM

An abbreviation for Just A Minute, it is exactly what the name suggests. You’ll be handed out topics at the beginning of the session and will have a minute to speak about it. Use the time given to you to map out what you’re going to say. Pro tip: You’ve been given a minute to speak about a topic, so they aren’t looking for any in-depth data. Try to generally summarise all the information you have about the topic and don’t forget to mention any important points. There is no fix prep strategy for a JAM. Reading and knowing about the things around you will definitely help. Check out the previous placement tips article to know more about it.

IV. Elocution

This is quite similar to JAM. The only difference is that you’re given a topic on the spot with less than a minute to gather your thoughts. Don’t worry, the topics are mostly general (could be something that’s on the news or a general concept) and you’ll have to speak about the topic for a stipulated amount of time. The key is to relax, gather your thoughts as you speak and make eye contact with all of the speakers.

Note: Mass recruiters usually have a crowded group discussion. How do you make your mark then, you ask? Well, to start off, don’t jump at the very first opportunity. You will have over-enthusiastic people to do that already. Wait for the chance when your point makes the most sense. Use phrases like pardon me and excuse me to get the attention of the group and once you have turned some heads around, go in for the kill. Also, don’t just speak to summarise someone else’s point, this will not go well with the moderator who already has a lot to listen to. Another way to make a mark is that if you feel the discussion is going off track, take the initiative to point it out. This will show that you’re paying attention and are concerned about where the argument is leading.

Now that you know what to expect (more or less), take a chill pill. You can also watch this video for more information on the different types of GDs.
In the next part we will get to the dos and don'ts in a group discussion.

To read the Placement Tip II: How To Prep For Group Discussion, click here.

Watch this space for more information every week on placement tips and you can also check out more informative and fun articles in the community section.