Personalised Guidance for cracking Interviews and Group Discussions

For candidates who are preparing to appear in a job interview or going to participate in a Group Discussions could be provided personalised guidance by Wg Cdr Mathur on prior appointment. A handbook on Group Discussions could also be procured on contacting the blogger at the email address dinesh_mathur21@hotmail.com and on mobile no 09811281391.

Cracking Interviews and GDs

 Cracking Interviews

This interview and Group Discussion preparation guidelines provide comprehensive information on personal interviews and Group Discussions conducted for all kinds of jobs, MBA and other entrance tests.

Getting interviewed by an interviewer or a group of interviewers during an assessment test is both unusual and an unsettling experience. The very thought of getting interviewed and thus becoming a victim in the hands of interviewer(s) may put a person into a state of considerable discomfort, often accompanied by anxiety and animated suspense. Candidates complain that their throats go dry, voices choke and there is excessive sweating while they undergo an interview. This is precisely so, since one is not quite familiar with the course developments that he/she may encounter while facing a selection interview.

Significance of interview as part of a selection process 

• Even though interviews have been widely used to gather all kinds of information about a person for varied purposes, yet utilization of interviewing technique as an integral part of a selection process, has been clearly noteworthy.
• Selectors use interviews to gain crucial information about a candidate to assess his/her suitability to undergo a course of study or a job. An effective personal interview provides the much needed data about the personality and competence aspect of the candidate. 
• A candidate who has performed well in a written exam, is not necessarily the best person for a job and that is where a significant of interview emerges, i.e. in assessing a person's finer qualities.
• A written test mainly reveals a number of mental abilities of a person, but interviewing a candidate brings out various behavioral aspects. 
• Inputs gathered from personal interview complement and supplement the information that is obtained from other assessment tools/tests.
• Like vibrant music is the mainstay of a dance party, interviews have now become the mainstay of an effective screening/selection process.
• To bring in an element of stress during the interview, often synthetic situations are posed. Synthetic situations may relate to the contents of the proposed course of study, or to relate to the contents of the proposed course of study, or to routine situations.activities of the job profile of a manager.

Interview guidelines would include the following major aspects:

1. The concept of interview and types of interview
2. Significance of interview as a part of selection process
3. Twelve significant personality traits interviewers look for in a candidate
4. Criteria of selection in interviews
5. Essential preparation needed to face an interview
6. Facing an interview
7. Trends of interview methods of premier MBA institutes.
8. Tips on body language for a good performance in an interview
9. Do's and Don'ts of an interview
10. Ten smart tips for managing interview stress.
11. Corresponding with recruiters before appearing for an interview

Cracking Group Discussions

Group Discussions, as a psychological tool, are a measurement of individual personality traits and team skills. Experience has shown that during the past few years, Group Discussions are being effectively utilised as a mirror to reflect social, cultural, educational and psychological background of a candidate. Therefore, like interviews, Group Discussions are commonly used to assess several personality aspects of candidates during various entrance tests and as a part of selection process for various jobs, including those of Armed Forces. A number of premier management institutes such as Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), Xavier Labor Research Institute (XLRI), Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) and several others, conduct Group Discussions as a part of their multi-stage testing process. Besides, a number of prestigious business houses, MNCs, as well as Government and Private sector organizations also successfully use Group Discussion as an essential selection tool. Moreover, as an assessment tool, a Group Discussion has carved a niche for itself as a fast, reliable and valid assessment tool that clearly scores over other tools for psychological assessment. The strength of a Group Discussion lies in extracting, channelizing and merging diverse ideas to reach a more meaningful and rational decision.

Group Discussion guidelines would cover the following major aspects:

1. Assessing Criteria in a Group Discussion
2. Essential elements of a Group Discussion
3. Preparing for a Group Discussion
4. A dozen smart hints for excelling in a Group Discussion
5. Impact of non-verbal communication in Group Discussions
6. Conduct of Group Discussions in Services Selection Boards (SSBs)
7. Analysing Mock Group Discussions
8. Detailed discussions on significant current topics
9. Suggested topics for preparation and revision

About the blogger:

Wg Cdr Dinesh Mathur is a senior selector, trainer and author of three books titled "Manual of Interviewing Technique", "Eyes and Ears of the Indian Air Force" and "Towards Effective Participation in Group Discussions". He is a visiting faculty with a number of Management Institutes and contributes regularly for various management journals. He has conducted thousands of selection Interviews and Group Discussions for jobs and entrance tests. He worked as senior selector at two Air Force Selection Boards and also functioned as Chief Instructor of Interviewing Technique at Defence Institute of Psychological Research, Delhi. He is a recipient of Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) awarded by the President of India and Commendation by the Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force. He can be reached at dinesh_mathur21@hotmail.com. Mobile No: 09811281391