Of GD's & PI's

One bad experience ( and the first ) had kept my opinions fixated against group discussions & personal interviews. Now I realise how important and fun it can be.

8 to 10 complete strangers ( most of the time ) asked to discuss any topic under the sun, be it as abstract as "Life is a chair" to an economic weighted perspective like "Should there be an Exit tax?" do bring out eclectic and highly valued inputs to the issue. Thinking out of the box is the main funda here. Taking all possibilities into consideration and quickly shelling them out to the participants in the most comprehensive manner is the trick of the game. I've been a part of a handful of GD's now, and with every one I'm finding the familiarity increasing, the flexibility widening and the thought process more logical since the pressure to perform is reduced with more experience.
Haha, there's bound to be confusion and greed involved. It's there every time isn't it ? You can sense it in a few individuals the minute they sit down and start scouting for potential pushovers in the group. And it's fair, it IS every man for himself. That's when "knowing someone in the group" plays a key role. Yes, form an alliance and negotiate all the "baddies", thereby increasing both partners' chances of stepping forth into the next round with safety.

PI's.. well I just had a mock interview today. It was quite gruelling. I wasn't pleased with my performance one bit, but the panel said I did decent. All about twisting sentences to suit your needs, and saying just enough to avoid them catching you on any words too. Answer to the point. Stay calm. The panel's there to stress you out. So don't be. Relax & smile.