Group Discussion (GD)

After meeting the grade criteria, I advanced to the first stage of the interview process, which was the Group Discussion round, conducted offline. Upon arriving at the destination, I found numerous candidates already present for the Group Discussion round. Slots were assigned to all candidates for their group discussions. As the slots were allocated, groups were formed, and the process began one after the other.

When it was my turn, I was assigned to the group second to the currently engaged in the discussion. Everyone seemed tense, engrossed in their phones. Feeling the pressure, I also started feeling stressed and began frantically searching for Group Discussion topics on Google. Before arriving at the destination, I hadn’t prepared or read up on any topics, which added to my stress.

Then, as my turn approached, the previous group finished their discussion. Everyone started asking them about the topic, but I couldn’t quite catch what one girl said to me regarding the topic name. Finally, it was my turn. Everyone placed their bags in the corner and brought their resumes with a passport-sized photo. We then took our seats arranged circularly. I sat in the second position from the starting chair.

Afterwards, the facilitator asked each of us for our names and then introduced herself. Following the introductions, she presented us with a topic.

Group Discussion Topic :

The Topic is “Does Deadline Kill Creativity?“

Now that we know the topic, we have 3 minutes to understand it and jot down some points. Everyone begins writing on their paper, but I start preparing on how to initiate the Group Discussion.

Here are some points to keep in mind during Group Discussion:

• Always try to initiate the group discussion.
• Don’t start directly on the topic.
• Begin with greetings and introduce yourself.
• Express gratitude to the interviewer for the opportunity to discuss the given topic.
• Start presenting your points on what you think about the topic.
• Avoid directly opposing anyone’s points; remember, this is a group discussion, not a debate.
• Maintain a smooth conversation flow.
• Lastly, try to present a concise conclusion in one line.

Here are some points you should not do in the group discussions:

• Please don’t raise your voice at someone while presenting your points.
• Don’t always interrupt others; allow them to complete their point.
• If someone disagrees with your points, don’t focus solely on proving them wrong.
• Don’t solely address the interviewer during the discussion; remember it’s a group discussion, not a one-on-one conversation.
• Avoid using phrases like “I disagree with you”; respect everyone’s perspectives.
• Don’t rely solely on generic points from the internet; strive to present realistic viewpoints on the topic

Here are some points about what others should do, as noted, which you should not do:

• They directly oppose other points.
• They continue presenting their points without allowing others to complete theirs.
• Sometimes they start debating without considering that it’s a group discussion.
• Without understanding or thinking about it, they start writing on paper as if it’s an exam.
• They don’t focus on the topic; instead, they start opposing each other.
• Some students don’t even contribute a single sentence.
• They raise their voice if someone disagrees with their points.
• They make excessively long conclusions.

Here is what I did during this Group Discussion :

• During the group discussion, I took the initiative to start by introducing myself and expressing gratitude to the interviewer for selecting this topic.
• I began by emphasizing that deadlines are necessary but do not necessarily stifle creativity.
• I mentioned that deadlines are important as they teach us time management skills, but they shouldn’t hinder our creativity because creativity is a personal choice regardless of the situation.
• I highlighted the importance of deadlines in successfully planning and executing tasks on time but stressed that creativity varies from person to person.
• To illustrate my point, I provided an example from college where deadlines for assignments and projects exist, but one can still approach them creatively by starting early and ensuring timely completion with creativity.
• I supported my arguments with several real-world examples.
• Finally, I concluded the discussion with a succinct one-liner.

Finally, after the end of the group discussion, I received appreciation from many. After some days, I received an email informing me that I had been selected to proceed to the next stage of the interview process.

Nowadays, candidates, especially freshers, often have to navigate through several stages of the interview process. The initial stage typically involves the screening of CVs or resumes, wherein organizations often set certain basic percentage or grade criteria that applicants must meet to progress to the next stages. After successfully passing the CV/resume screening process, candidates move on to further interview stages, which may include group discussions (GD), online tests covering aptitude or technical skills, and finally, the HR round. Let’s talk about the Group Discussion (GD) round. Many organizations use this round as an initial stage and as an elimination round.