Group discussions

[hiall]

Group discussions are being used as a tool to short list applicants (may b for a job, management course etc...). How far do u think is this kind of selection procedure relevant? Does it pull out the right candidates??

[Telugu Thalli]

GDs are a measure for communication skills and confidence. They are best to use as final test to elect candidates from a group of equally qualified people.

[hiall]

GDs are a measure for communication skills and confidence....u r abs right....this is the philosophy behind GDs........but do u think this happens in a GD ..... many a times ppl deviate from the topic......and shout just to impress the examiners!!...it just becomes a fish market.

[popesmokesdope]

No No you are all digressing form the main aspect of GD, whihc is not exactly a test for communication skill. A lot of Logical reasoning is checked out there.....not that you can just talk smooth shit for some time. besides you should be able to control the mob too (ppl mostly attending the GD start shouting from the word GO.....and are a ruthless lot). leader ship skills definitely....and how attentive and ur command over the subject. its very difficult for a person to be trained for a GD .....unless he is generally aware of the things around him....

[whoever]

i agree with TT.. its a means of selecting someone from equally qualified people. GDs would be a measure of communication skills and confidence. as for impressing (fooling) the examiners by deviating from the topic. its for the company to have people who can evaluate what they want.. quality with confidence.

[hardc0der]

I don\'t think group discussions evaluate the ability of a candidate except when he/she is applying for a job where leadership qualities are required. Most people who pass the group discussion phase are basically those who are good in oratory skills and in plain terms know how to talk their way out. I do not know what the selection criteria would be in other areas, but with respect to software jobs, I feel it is unfair for the HR department to include GDs for jobs such as developer, coder, etc. Here, GDs only bring out those who are more of potential leaders and less of programmers/coders. I have had this rotten experience of flunking GDs because of my relatively lousy oratory skills since I am an introvert. Most of my closest friends are excellent programmers and introverts too. If they were to apply in companies like Satyam, where GDs are a must, they wouldn\'t go beyond stage 2. There is this friend of mine who is one of the best developers I have seen - he\'s rewriting the Linux kernel and he\'s written a few modules for GIMP. And the people who used to go to him for help were people like Sahasrabuddhee(COmputer Science students would know who Sahasrabuddhee is). My friend would have a disadvantage if he applied for a software job in a company where they would insist on GDs since he is less of a leader. Well, where does that leave GDs? I guess chuck the GD selection phase into the trashcan if the job does not require you to hold a job that involves mostly coordinating, organizing and leadership, or else there will be many talented guys out on the road while you see the yakkity guys getting jobs because of their gift of gab!