How Can You Master Public Speaking, Interviews, and Group Discussions?
For BBA and MBA students, success isn’t just about what you know; it’s about how well you can communicate it. This guide covers three essential skills: Public Speaking, conducting Interviews, and navigating Group Discussions.
🎙️ 1. Public Speaking
Public speaking is the skill of effectively addressing an audience. This can be in front of a small group of people you know or a large crowd of strangers. Unlike a casual talk, public speaking is purposeful—it’s meant to inform, influence, celebrate, or entertain.
Why Good Public Speaking Skills Matter
Demonstrates Knowledge: You can only show the true worth of your knowledge when you can articulate your thoughts clearly.
Demonstrates Confidence: Preparing and delivering a speech builds and shows your confidence. This is what will make you stand out in a job interview or when asking for a promotion.
Helps You Lead Better: As you climb the career ladder, you will need to lead more people. Public speaking is a key leadership skill.
How to Improve Your Public Speaking
Prepare with Practice: Once your speech has a logical flow, with examples and stories, the real preparation begins. Practice is the key. Practice alone or in front of others until you can speak fluidly and comfortably.
Accentuate Your Strengths: Don’t just imitate other popular speakers. Be yourself. Identify your own strengths—maybe you have a good sense of humor, are a great storyteller, or can explain complex ideas simply. Use your unique strength to keep the audience engaged.
Be Open to Feedback: Even if the audience can’t speak, you can get feedback from their nonverbal cues (body language, facial expressions). Use this feedback to improve your skills.
🤝 2. The Interview (From the Manager’s Perspective)
As future BBA/MBA leaders, you won’t just be in interviews—you’ll be conducting them. This section covers the professional skills needed to hire the right person.
Preparing for the Interview
Set Aside Enough Time: Conduct the interview in an appropriate, quiet location without interruptions (email, phones). This shows respect to the applicant.
Read the Resume First: Study the resume before the meeting. Use the interview time to dig deeper, not to ask, “What have you done?”
Write a Good Job Description: Know exactly what you’re looking for. Make a list of “must-haves” (required skills) and “nice-to-haves” (skills you can train later).
Know the Intangibles: A resume can’t show “soft skills.” Ask yourself: what behaviors do I want? Do I need a team player? A point-of-sale wizard who is a bad team player might not be the right fit.
Write Specific Questions: Prepare 10-12 consistent questions to ask every candidate. This allows you to fairly compare their answers later.
Conducting the Interview
Introduce Yourself: Greet the candidate courteously to help them feel at ease. Tell them about yourself and the company.
Set the Stage: Explain what to expect for the next 30-60 minutes. Your behavior sets the tone. Be professional—not too casual, but not so serious that you make the candidate nervous.
Review the Job: Explain the position’s core duties and responsibilities in detail.
Start with Generalized Questions: Begin with broad questions about their background and interest in the position.
Review the Resume: Ask about specific jobs on their resume. Ask about accomplishments, pressures, and any gaps in employment (there may be a simple explanation).
Ask Consistent Questions: Use the specific questions you prepared earlier.
Vary Your Questions: Use open-ended questions (e.g., “What was the most difficult challenge of your last job?”).
Give Candidates a Chance to Ask Questions: Follow the 80/20 rule—you should do 80% of the listening and 20% of the talking. A candidate’s questions can show you how prepared and interested they are.
Provide a Timeline: Always tell the candidate when they can expect to hear back from you.
🗣️ 3. Group Discussion (GD)
A Group Discussion (GD) is a method used by B-schools and companies to test a candidate’s skills. Typically, a group of 8-12 candidates is given a topic to discuss for 12-15 minutes.
The purpose is to test your communication skills, topic knowledge, thought process, and leadership qualities.
The DOs: How to Succeed in a GD
DO have Rich Content: Good subject knowledge is the most important thing. Read newspapers and magazines to stay aware of current affairs.
DO Be a Leader: If you have good points, try to start the discussion. If not, listen to others first and then enter by agreeing or disagreeing with a relevant point.
DO Be Relevant: Stick to the point. Don’t just repeat what others are saying. Add value.
DO Be a Good Listener: You can’t add value if you don’t listen. Acknowledge other speakers by nodding. This also shows you are an active participant.
DO Use Good Communication Skills: You need a good vocabulary and command of the language. Practice in a group of friends.
DO Watch Your Body Gestures: Your body language says a lot. Sit straight, be attentive, and make eye contact. Avoid nervous movements like knocking a pen on the table.
The DON’Ts: Mistakes to Avoid
DON’T Be Aggressive: Be firm, but don’t shout or bully. Do not prevent others from speaking.
DON’T Crisscross Your Ideas: Don’t contradict yourself. Stick to a logical stand.
DON’T Be Part of the “Fish Market”: When everyone is shouting, it’s a “fish market.” It’s better to stay quiet for a moment and then make your point clearly when the noise level drops.
DON’T Give Up: Try to make multiple entries. Listen to others, form new ideas, and re-enter the discussion to add more points.
10 Common Roles in a Group Discussion
Be aware of the role you are playing. Aim to be a Facilitator, Analyst, or Bridge-Creator.
Beginner: Starts the GD, but may not have deep knowledge.
Facilitator: Leads the discussion and keeps it on track.
Seeker of Information: Asks questions to get more facts.
Disseminator of Information: Shares facts and data.
Seeker of Opinion: Asks other participants for their views.
Giver of Opinion: Quickly gives their opinion on others’ views.
Analyst: Clarifies and analyzes ideas discussed.
Community Supporter: Supports everyone’s ideas but has none of their own.
Reliever: Makes the discussion less tense, sometimes by broadening the perspective.
Bridge-Creator: Finds common ground between different opinions and helps create harmony.
Summary Maker: Concludes the GD by summarizing all important points.