What are the secrets to cracking the GD and PI at top Indian B-schools?

It is every MBA aspirant's dream, to one day throw the tasseled black hat in the air, smiling proudly. But for this dream to become a reality, one must first live buried under books. To taste success, one must start preparing months in advance. Grit, passion and quick thinking become your weapon. Once you have achieved a good score, the next task is cracking the GD and PI.

But, acing the exam is just one part of the process, cracking the Group Discussion(GD) and a Personal Interview(PI) are the vital next. Clearing these three hurdles can get you through the gates of your desired B-School. The key to acing the exam is primarily hard work and dedication but, cracking the GD and PI can be tricky.

With the CAT exam you are tackling a beast you have studied and know every move of. Whereas, GD and PI are built of a DNA that you are still trying to map. Here is a microscope that will help you trace, with precision its bends and curves.

A Group Discussion topic can range from general knowledge to an agenda of current National/International relevance. You must be prepared for anything that is thrown at you. The main objective of GD is to check for communication skills, thought process, how well you can guide a conversation and whether you command attention in a room full of people.

Personal Interview also checks for the same attributes but from a different perspective. Earlier you were in a room full of your peers, but for the interview you will share the room with seasoned professionals.

All the preparation in the world can sometimes not get you across the finish line and it has nothing to do with your lack of preparation. Smart work not hard work will get you across the finish line. Read on to find out the tips and tricks for successfully cracking GD and PI.

First up is the Group Discussion

• Grab attention of the evaluators and ensure that you are able to hold it through the session. This can be achieved by analysing the discussion and bringing up  points that haven't yet been discussed. All the while controlling the flow of the conversation.

• The topic given for discussion might not be your forte or you may not have enough knowledge about it. Stay attentive and don't let the lack of knowledge reflect in your body language.

• Listening skills are key here and will help you formulate valuable and noteworthy statements through the discussion. Listen to what the other group members have to say and formulate a response accordingly, one which will impact the conversation and earn you some positive feedback from the evaluators.

• It is not only necessary to get your point across but convincing your peers and even the evaluators is of prime importance here. One needs to have a way with words that doesn't sound authoritative, rather pleasant and respectful.

• While you're being respectful, remember to acknowledge and appreciate all group members for their insight and opinions.

• Maintain eye contact throughout the discussion and avoid interrupting any candidate as it puts you under bad light.

Next up is the Personal Interview

• The answers to regular questions such as career path, life goals, work experience(if any), and why do you want to join this institute among others should be on your fingertips.

• The phrase 'honesty is the best policy' will be the best plan of action one can take. It will serve you well to be honest and forthcoming regarding anything that comes up in the interview.

• Get your story right. To prepare for the interview, jot down your story in sequence. Have supporting stories in order.

• Have a reason to back every action that you have engaged in through your life. It could be as simple as, why did you join the drama club of your college to why do you want to do an MBA and if you don't get through what is your plan B. Ensure that your stories once stacked atop each other, make a solid structure.

• The panel can ask the students any question. It is essential that the candidate try and steer the conversation towards their strengths. This will help them garner positive feedback and additional points in their favour.

• When facing adversity, it is important to not let it show on your face. Remaining calm and maintaining your composure can help avoid wrong answers and a bad interview in the process.

• When filling out your resume, ensure you know every detail regarding it and subsequently what can come from it. Interviewers can formulate questions from what they see in your resume. So brush up on it when preparing for the interview.

The above points will help the candidate get past these tough tests of cracking the GD and PI put forth to them and combined with their hard work, is a combination to success!