Common Mistakes in GD and PI

Read about the most common mistakes made by students during group discussions and personal interviews

Some students actually do not speak up during group discussions and personal interviews because they are too scared of committing a blunder. All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes, said Winston Churchill. Most of the world’s greatest discoveries including Columbus’ discovery of America were a result of a mistake. But what has this got to do with your performance in GD-PI? The moral of the story is that you should not be scared of making mistakes even during GD-PI.

That is what mistakes are for. They become a part of your experience. If you go on and on making the same mistakes without learning what it has to teach you then you better not speak at all. You will discover new ways only when you think through your mistakes and work on them. So if you are going for a GD or interview do speak up and make your share of mistakes. Because the next GD or PI you will be called for you will know what not to do. 

However, if possible, you should not even take the risk of messing up a single group discussion or personal interview. You cannot afford to do that in today’s highly competitive environment.

This article will acquaint you with the four common mistakes made by the applicants during GD and PI.

1. Emotional outbursts: There are countless examples of students getting carried away in the flow of a discussion on a topic close to their heart. They usually get emotional while discussing such topics and thus, tend to forget for a while that they are being evaluated. In GDs, the smart participants, in fact, use this weakness of others as a strategy to excel. They aggravate other members on purpose, once they find out what a person is particularly touchy about. Also, during personal interviews the panellists always pinch you where it hurts. They want to see if you can focus and control your emotions while working at something.  
2. Talking endlessly: There are cases where students enter the room determined to talk non-stop without considering what they are saying. Other candidates do not get a chance. Such students are under the impression that this is the sure-shot way to impress the panel. But they end up forming a negative impression upon the panellists and sometimes the rest of the group. Moreover, unless you make meaningful contributions to the discussion or the interview you are not going to get selected. It is easy for the panellists to know when you are speaking just for the sake of it. You cannot prioritise quantity over quality.
3. Insecurities: Make sure you are not out of the many students who get plagued with their own insecurities and consequently do not give themselves a fair shot. Students usually complain that the other participants were too good and they could not even think of competing with them. This causes them to withdraw into their shells throughout the interview. Have some faith in your capabilities and do not let such thoughts bog you down.
4. Language: So many students also participate in GD and PI without working on their language, accent, grammar and communication skills. Although they study hard for months at a stretch, not being able to talk properly makes it impossible for them to communicate the knowledge they have. This makes them look and feel stupid. Make sure to work on your language if you don’t want to feel sapped of your confidence all of a sudden.