What do you mean by Interview?
An interview is a conversation where questions are asked and answers are given. In common parlance, the word "interview" refers to a one-on-one conversation with one person acting in the role of the interviewer and the other in the role of the interviewee. The interviewer asks questions, the interviewee responds, with participants taking turns talking.
Interviews can take place for -
Employment - Interviews for employment are called job interviews which describe a formal consultation for the purpose of evaluating the qualifications of the interviewee for a specific position. In a job interview the applicant is presented with a question and asked to answer.
Journalism & media - Reporters covering a story in journalism conduct interviews, which might be, over the phone or in person to gain information for subsequent publication. TV Reporters can do interviews in studios for television shows.
Psychology - Psychologists use a variety of interviewing methods and techniques to try to understand and help their patients. In a psychiatric interview, a psychiatrist or psychologist or nurse asks questions, with the patient answering them.
Research - In research - marketing or academic; interviews are used in a wide variety of ways - in which researchers try to understand how consumers think and the consumer perception towards different products & services.
Education - College representatives or alumni conduct college interviews with prospective students as a way of assessing a student's suitability while offering the student a chance for admission into college.
Three don'ts for Personal Interview
1. Don’t start with the phrase – Myself XYZ – this will put the panel off. Getting into details about siblings and cousins are a strict NO! Panelist want to know about you, not about your extended family.
2. Don’t cite – ‘making friends’ or ‘meeting new people’ – as a hobby; just say you are very sociable and can easily build & develop networks.
3. Don’t give excuses - Don't say things like, I studied this in my first year – as an excuse for not knowing more basic stuff related to their subject of study. The panel members studied it, probably 10-15 years back, they still remember about it.
What do you mean by Group Discussion?
A Group Discussion or GD, as it is popularly called, is a discussion involving a group of individuals who gather, mostly formally, to bring up ideas & solve problems. This is mostly done when an individual is seeking work or when an individual has found work, to solve issues or problems regarding work in the company.
Today, GD is extensively used along with interviews of the candidates, for the final selection. It plays a main role in selecting the best among the best; as GD further screens the candidates. It helps in choosing the socially suitable candidate among the academically superior achievers. It is one of the best tools to study the behavioural and attitudinal responses of the participants.
Tips to succeed in Group Discussion
1. Be a good listener. Develop the patience to listen attentively.
2. Acknowledge & practice that everyone has something valuable to say.
3. In a GD, you should articulate your point of view in a way that is easy for others to understand.
4. Structure your thoughts and present them logically.
5. Write essays on a variety of topics; is a good practice
6. Reading, is a good way to prepare for GD; particularly current affairs.
7. Seek opportunities to discuss these in groups.
8. Learn to respect others for what they are.
9. Learn to be open-minded and recognise the fact that people think differently about issues.
10. Train your mind to think analytically; as your points should have ‘meat’.
