Interview Part-4 and Group Discussion: From Birbal

Everybody was in the prayer room doing ‘namaz’. After the ‘namaz’, there was going to be a meeting. The Emperor called for thisone to set a system for selection of junior ministers. So, he was expected at any time. Birbal, Raja Thodarmal and Raja Mansingh were there a few minutes before the prayer. One by one, other ministers: Rahim Khan, Fakir Aziao, and Mulla-do-piazo entered the room from the prayer room. Meanwhile the guard announced Akbar’s entry into the hall.

Everybody stood up in reverence and shared their ‘salaams’ with the Emperor. Akbar politely returned them and requested all of them to be seated.

He started “My dear ministers, we are here to devise a method to select junior ministers; may be we need 4 to 8 people. But we have received forty recommendations from our courtiers. Filtering them and selecting the best eight are the problems in front of us. I invite your ideas.” He looked at Khan who was his defense adviser.

Khan told “I feel that all ministers  should know all the arts of fight and have knowledge of commanding the army. So I recommend a field test.”

Akbar nodded “That is a good suggestion from you, Khan.”

Raja Thodarmal appreciated the idea “It is definitely necessary. If we find out otherwise suitable young men of enthusiasm and wisdom, we can train them even without this test.”

“Do you think we need not test them in warfare?” Akbar questioned.

“That is why I told the words ‘otherwise suitable’…Maharaj.” Thodarmal respectfully replied.

“We can conduct interviews for all of them.” This was Raja Mansingh.

Birbal interfered “Interview is not enough.”

“Then what is enough? Come out. However I tell you that Mansing’s idea is perfect. Though our questions may not be sufficient to understand the complete personality of the person, sure it will throw at least some light on who is he and whether he will be contributing his might to our beloved kingdom.” Rahim Khan opined.

“I think I am misunderstood. I am not against interview. I too, like you, feel that interview should be complimented with discussion among candidates. We will give a problem. Let them discuss, argue, analyze and decide. We will observe them and select the best ones” Birbal insisted.

Fakir questioned immediately “This is really a crazy idea. Youngsters do not have the patience to discuss but they have a tendency to convert the discussion in to a quarrel and wordy duel. It may end up in pandemonium.”

 Mulla Piyaza supported it with a big nod and told” Maharaj, we will have interview and nothing more.”

Akbar observed everything with a smile “Ha! Stop here! Though I am for usual interview, I would like to hear more about group discussion. Really a funny idea! Birbal, why should not you explain further?”

Birbal began “Yes! Thank you Sha-in-Sha let me tell about interview. In interviews we can surely get a glimpse of his personality: his education, character, hobbies. But if one presents that he has organizing skills and colorfully builds a story about how he conducted a festival in his town, we do not know whether it is true. Then  we have two choices. One, believe him and select or do not believe him and reject. Our decision is completely subjective.”

“Okay! Okay! We know all these things. What we want to understand is how GD is different from Interview?” Akbar pushed Birbal for a quick reply.

 “Yes, Maharaj let me talk about group discussion. Here our presence is silent, discreet and indirect. Candidates are encouraged to discuss and come out with solutions. Because of our absence, they openly try to compete with each other which is really wrong. We will select the one who gives arguments reasonably substantiated by evidences and explanations; who appreciates others’right arguments; who accepts and corrects himself when he is shown he is wrong; who accommodates and encourages others to talk; actually it is a group exercise.There can be different opinions. But all should be discussed and presented well. It brings out the leadership qualities, team work and, communication skills. We can decline the people who are aggressive, egoistic; who don’t have patience to be part of team.”

“Well done, Birbal, I accept your suggestion. This is a very new approach. Any objection?” Raja Mansingh declared.

Akbar “Really I enjoyed our discussion. Here you all gave your suggestions; opposed each other; substantiated your points; some of you see the right things and accepted opponents' views. Above all a patience and tolerance to others opinions are accepted qualities of our group. I am very happy, my respected ministers. Now, Listen to my decision: we will have a practical test, interview which is followed by group discussion. Further if anybody fails in practical warfare test he can be selected and trained. We part here, Bye.”

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Let us compare the meeting in previous post.

Akbar’s meeting:   Punctual

                              Leadership accommodating

                              Appreciative

                              Encourages discussion

                              Guides when needed

                              Decision making almost collective.

Interview   is about our aptitude (skills, education, hobbies, extracurricular activities etc)                   attitude (character, behavior etc.)

GD:

       Here they look for team behavior, leadership skills and communication skills.

       Don’ts:   No quarrel; No aggression; need not be louder and Egoistic.

       Dos:       Be understanding; appreciative; be accommodating; Strong arguments   

                     properly supported by evidence, explanation etc

                           

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