Crucial Mistakes to Avoid in CAT GD & PI Rounds for IIM Admissions

Is IIM your dream? Do you have doubts regarding your ability to face a group discussion and interview? Not much to worry IF you start your preparation early! In this article, we’ll discuss things you must not do during GD & PI rounds. GDPI full form is Group Discussion and Personal Interview.

It is natural to feel nervous if you have not had the experience of answering questions of an expert panel in a language that is not your mother tongue and when your dream career depends on it but in this article, we’ll discuss what can potentially go wrong in CAT GDPI and what are some not to do things in GDPI for MBA admissions. Read ahead to know the things you should not do in GD and PI.

This Story also Contains

1. Things You Must Not Do During GD & PI Round
2. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Group Discussion (GD)
3. Common Mistakes to Avoid in Personal Interview (PI)
4. Conclusion

Things You Must Not Do During GD & PI Round

GDPI round is an important part of post-CAT preparation. Here are some things you must not do during GD & PI Round:

• Be overconfident

• Be disrespectful

• Dominate discussion

• Lack confidence

• Be dishonest

• Lack professionalism

Importance of GD & PI Rounds

Before we discuss the things to avoid during your GD-PI, we need to see why this round is important. After the CAT results are declared, IIMs begin the selection process for their post-graduation programs. Your CAT score will determine whether you move on to the Group Discussion and Personal Interview rounds.

Once you get the required score in the CAT exam, you are called for either GD or WAT. The WAT is a brief essay writing competition. Then the candidate moves on to the PI round. The final selection will be based on the composite scores of candidates in all rounds. Your academic records are also taken into consideration. Co-curricular & Extra-curricular Activities also play a role.

CAT GD/PI plays a very important role in the final selection process. It is crucial as the GD/PI round is given significant weightage in the final tally. The GD and the PI have an overarching theme. Basically, your personality and the way you handle yourself in a challenging situation is discussed because these show what kind of leader you can prove to be if you get the perfect grooming as in an IIM. The pattern of judging this may be different. The GD does this in a group setting whereas a PI tests this one-on-one. Your presence of mind is put to the test. As of now IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Indore, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Kozhikode have GD/PI rounds.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Group Discussion (GD)

As part of what not to do during GD/ PI, we’ll first talk about the common mistakes to avoid in a group discussion.

Lack of Preparation

• Lack of preparation spells doom. If you do not have knowledge of the topics on which you may be asked to speak, any other thing is of no value. No perfection of body language or aura of confidence can save you if you lack knowledge.

• Even communication skills are of little use if you are lacking in content.

• For this the more you read, the better it is. You need to have diversified knowledge.

• Do thorough research on the topics that can be asked.

• The GD topics are mostly from current affairs and the recent happenings in India and abroad. Get into the habit of reading the newspaper daily.

• Simply knowing about the latest events around the world is not enough. Read multiple views on a particular topic and then form your own opinion about it.

• Discuss important topics and current affairs with friends and mentors in order to understand different points of view, practise arguments and counter arguments and get feedback.

• Prepare arguments to defend your opinion regarding the important topics which may be asked in the GD.

• For example, if you are asked to discuss India’s trade relations with China, you are not expected to give just statistics in abundance. On the other hand, form a well-researched opinion on it, whether you are in favour of it or against it, and give those arguments along with statistics and data to support your stand. Remember, do not base your arguments on public sentiments. You can mention how such a paradoxical dynamic is not unique to India. Across the globe, nations often do trade with adversaries for political, economic, and even military reasons. Europe, for instance, continues to import natural gas from Russia amid the Russia-Ukraine war and the EU has been Russia's largest trading partner with Russia playing a significant role in the European energy sector.

• The purpose of the GD is not to judge your mugging up power but your decision-making skills and analytical reasoning regarding things in general.

• Not practising articulation and communication well would create problems for you. One reason for poor articulation is that your thoughts are vague or poorly defined but another major reason is that you have difficulty in spoken English. You need to work on your English communication without which, however good your arguments are, they will stay good just in your head. You need to translate them into words. Your knowledge can’t help you if you can’t express what you think, in words. Communication skills are important to convey your thoughts clearly and effectively.

• Create answers for counter-arguments. Think of different ways your argument can be refuted. Be prepared with what your response can be.

• Use IIMs’ question banks to prepare effectively.

• Determine your strengths and weaknesses and how to answer questions related to them.

• You may be asked about your extra-curricular activities, if any.

• It is important to know something about your hobby. Do not mention any such hobby or interest that you do not know anything about. If you mention any hobby such as gardening or football, be ready to be able to answer questions related to them.

• Conduct GDs with your friends. Get the help of mentors. Also, get your friends, family or mentors to ask you grilling questions on the trending topics or the things generally asked, as in an interview. Join a study group with friends to discuss current affairs and business topics. Conduct regular mock GD sessions.

• Do a proper study of all the trending topics. Prepare all the trending topics in detail by reading as much as you can on them. Think of arguments and counter-arguments.

• Here are some important trending topics for CAT GD/PI -

Overconfidence

• Overconfidence is always a negative thing, therefore a part of the things to avoid during your GD-PI. It will harm your performance.

• Being overconfident, you will be so preoccupied with your own thoughts and arguments that you may not listen to and understand the arguments of others. And a poor listener can never be a good speaker.

• Overconfidence may reflect in your body language. And in a group discussion, the panel also takes into account your body language while making the decision regarding selection. Overconfidence will have detrimental effects.

• If you appear excessively overconfident, you appear to be arrogant. And, nobody would want to select an arrogant person.

Dominating the Discussion

• Look for pauses in others’ speeches to intervene when required.

• Everything is about balance. You have to appear assertive but without overshadowing others and showing a consideration for different points of view. The interview is basically to judge your leadership qualities and these are the essential qualities of a good leader. Do not be aggressive.

• Just for the sake of dominating the discussion, do not start speaking on a topic if you do not have adequate knowledge. Take time and consider the topic. Recall information, organise your views, listen to others, and make your initial point. After your body language, this will be your main first impression and probably the only time you get a chance to speak. You can’t spoil it.

• Do not try to monopolise the discussion. Deliberately not allowing others to speak will create a wrong impression.

• Also be open to adapting your stance based on what others say.

Disrespectful Behaviour

• Body language plays an important role in a GD.

• Pointing a finger at others while speaking, thumping on the table to make a point, leaning back, knocking the chair, twiddling thumbs and twitching are some body signs that leave a bad impression of you. Do not do any of these at any point.

• Your body language should show your confidence, not aggressiveness. You need to be assertive, not aggressive.

• Giving arguments and arguing are two different things. Do not start arguing.

• Your voice should be loud and clear to grab the attention of everyone but it doesn’t mean you have to shout. Don’t turn the GD into a fish market.

• Do not raise your voice too much. It is considered confrontational. Just be loud enough to be heard. Moderating your tone is essential for creating a balanced and respectful atmosphere.

• Do not interrupt or take away another person’s chance to speak. Cutting in is disrespectful and will surely be noted by the moderators/panellists.

• Do not express any opinion in such a way that it shows you are scornful of the other viewpoint. For instance, it would be very rude if while disagreeing or expressing a different opinion you say -

• “It is foolish to think this way.”

• “It is totally wrong.”

• “It’s obviously not true.”

• Instead, you may say –

• “I’m sorry but I disagree with you.”

• “I understand your point but I see it differently.”

• And if you agree with the view of the other speaker but wish to raise a point of your own, you may say, “Adding to that/Adding to your point…”

• Using slang or inappropriate language is a complete no as it is not tolerated in any formal setting.

• Dressing unprofessionally will be a sign of disrespectful behaviour.

Lack of Constructive Contribution

• Things you should not do in GD and PI definitely include remaining silent. Everything is about maintaining the balance. You are not supposed to interrupt anybody but you also have to find the perfect opportunity for yourself to speak.

• In a group discussion, 10-15 students are given a topic to discuss. Though the number of students may vary. A moderator is present who, without participating, observes every student and makes notes for evaluation. 2-5 minutes are given to the students to prepare the topic. Generally, a discussion goes on for 15 minutes, however, it may go on for much longer than that. The GD can be ended either abruptly with a signal from the moderator or any student may be asked to present a summary.

• It usually happens that the students who have spoken little or nothing are asked to present the summary. This is your last chance if you have not been able to speak. If you are asked to make the summary, mention the good points made in the discussion and do not add any points of your side that were not discussed. Do not see this as an opportunity to present your own ideas.

• To be able to present the summary you need to be alert throughout the discussion and keep all the points in mind. The summary must be objective. Personal opinions must be avoided at this point.

• Don’t be under the illusion that even if you are not able to grab an opportunity to speak, you will perform well in the summary. You may not even be asked to do so. It is not always that the discussion is summarised. Besides, there may be other students who may be asked to provide a summary.

• If you have not been able to speak during the GD, you are simply out of the race.

Also read:

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Personal Interview (PI)

Poor Communication Skills

• Communication skills are the cornerstone if you are headed for GDPI. You need to practise communication skills very well.

• Work on speaking properly, pronouncing your words correctly, and changing the tone of your voice.

• Remember, you are not supposed to speak with a British or American accent. Pronunciation and accent are two different things. Pronunciation is the right sound of a word and accent shows which country, area or social class a person comes from. If you have not spent your life living in a foreign country, it is not natural for you to speak with that accent so if you do so, you will appear to be speaking with a fake accent, thus it will reflect negatively.

• Stuttering and fumbling will have a negative impact because both these things show lack of confidence. Here are some tips to overcome them –

• Speak slowly. We tend to make more mistakes, fumble and stutter when we talk fast. Besides, out of nervousness, we often talk fast and sometimes we talk fast when we wish to get the interview over with quickly and that’s when we fumble more.

• Practise speaking slowly daily. Also, practise taking little pauses while speaking that look natural. If you get into the habit of speaking slowly, your pauses may go unnoticed or appear as your natural style of talking.

• Reading aloud at a slow pace also helps in keeping fumbling under check to some extent.

• Try taking deep breaths just before you enter the room where you are to be interviewed. Remember, do not start doing any such breathing exercise once you are in the presence of the interview panel.

• If you naturally have the habit of stammering, try yoga. Yoga can help by reducing stress and anxiety, increasing muscle coordination and control, and reducing physiological stress on the muscles used for speaking. And this again, is not to be done in the presence of the interview panel – of course!
  
  

Lack of Confidence

• Your lack of confidence may be evident from a number of things.

• Gestures like fidgeting, jittery leg movements or your sitting posture and eye contact tell a lot about what’s going on in your mind. These are all signs of nervousness. Lack of confidence is sure to create a negative impression.

• Nervousness not only creates a bad impression but also adversely affects your performance. You tend to underestimate the talent that you generally possess.

• But confidence does not come in isolation. You need to work diligently on your interview preparation. Only then can you hope to improve your performance with time.

• Nervousness and anxiety in an interview is natural. But you have to make an effort not to show it. Stay positive.

• In short, they are looking for future leaders who can handle challenging situations. If you do not exude confidence, your chances are slim.

• Ask someone to conduct a mock interview with you, role-playing as the interviewer.

• Record your practice sessions to assess your delivery, clarity, and body language. This will help you ease your nerves.

Being Dishonest

• You may be tempted to exaggerate your achievements and qualities in the interview but remember, it has its own risks.

• If you are caught lying or giving any false information, you stand a strong chance of being disqualified from the PI.

• If you exaggerate your achievements, it is possible that the panel sees through you and starts grilling you even more.

• Not to mention, telling a blatant lie in an interview, if caught, will turn fatal for your hopes of getting selected.

• Besides, you can never be confident if you are lying in your interview.

• Answering questions truthfully has its own importance. If you do not know the answer to a certain question, do not try to fool the panel with a play of words. It is better to simply admit, “Sorry sir, I don’t know.”

Inadequate Preparation

• Things you must not do during GD & PI rounds definitely include inadequate preparation.

• You need to know your own resume inside-out as many questions can be formed on its basis.

• Not being able to answer something accurately may lead the interviewers to believe that you have lied on your resume.

• If you have mentioned some achievements on your resume, you can be asked to elaborate on them which you should be able to do without hesitation.

• Questions may be asked on the subjects that you have studied or your educational institutions. Remember, you may also be asked about the history of the institute or why you preferred it.

• If you have any drop year, be ready to explain the reason for it.

• If you switched to a different field/area of interest, prepare an answer for it.

• You may be asked about your family, city, etc.

• Know the history of the IIMs and why you wish to join one, including your future plans and goals.

• Be well prepared with the current happenings around the world and the numerous evergreen topics like brain drain, inflation, unemployment, women empowerment, wage disparity on the basis of gender, etc.

• If you have any work experience, you can be asked about it. Remember, you should not badmouth a past employer.

• Be ready with the answer for “Why MBA?”.

• Last but not the least, you should know the meaning and significance of your own name.

Lack of Professionalism

• If we discuss “what are some not to do things” in GD/PI for MBA admissions, lack of professionalism will definitely be on the list. It is essential that you present yourself in a polished and professional manner.

• In no way should you be late to your interview. To be safe, leave early, making room for any unforeseen delays on the way.

• Dress appropriately for the interview. You need to follow a proper formal dress code. Do not wear very bright, flashy clothes. Wear sombre colours.

• Be well groomed and wear nicely polished shoes.

• If girls wear any jewellery, keep it minimal and simple.

• Makeup, if any, should be very light and decent.

• If girls go for ethnic wear like salwar-kurta with dupatta, they are expected to pin up the dupatta properly. If you have to keep settling it, this shows your lack of professionalism. It may also be considered a sign of nervousness if you are continuously fidgeting with it. Besides, it also distracts you.

• It goes without saying that you shouldn’t use slang in your interview. It is totally unprofessional. It is basic etiquette not to use slang language in a formal setting as slang words and expressions are very informal. Some examples of common slang or expressions that are too informal, and therefore should be avoided, are as follows, along with their appropriate alternatives –

• Avoid using fillers. Filler words allow speakers time to pause and consider what to say next. Often, speakers develop habits of using the same filler words when they need to organise their thoughts like “I think, you know, like.” Reducing the use of distracting language, like using filler words, can also add confidence and clarity to your spoken communications. Using filler words frequently, especially in a professional setting, can inhibit your ability to communicate clearly as the interview panel may be distracted by your intermittent use of fillers. The presence of lots of filler words can suggest that you might be nervous. The more you work on your spoken English with practice, the less you will feel the need to use fillers.

Conclusion

After discussing “what are some not to do things in GD/PI for MBA admissions”, we can say that if you cherish the dream to have a successful career through MBA, and are very close to that dream as you have got a GDPI call from such a prestigious institute, this is your opportunity. You have what it takes to get a ticket to an IIM, you just need the last push. Keep in mind these things to avoid during your GD-PI and give it your best shot! Good luck!