How to Crack GD PI for Hotel Management Admissions

Getting into a hotel management college in India is based on different selection rounds. Some students are unaware of the after-hotel management entrance exam selection process. So, after candidates appear for the entrance exam and are qualified for the same they are required to crack the GD-PI for hotel management admissions in some colleges of the country. The mode of Group Discussion and Personal Interview depends on the college, which means it can be online or offline. However, in some of the popular entrance exams such as NCHMCT JEE the GD-PI rounds are not a requirement, so many candidates overshadow preparing for it. But, the ones intending to get into other HM colleges such as IHM Aurangabad and more have to sit for these admission rounds. Body language to the knowledge of the field will help students crack this selection process to get into hotel management colleges. Check out the some of tips and tricks and more to excel in the GD PI round.

Also Read:Hotel Management Admission In India 2024

Hotel Management Personal Interview Round

A personal Interview or PI round of hotel management admissions is an important step in the selection process of hotel management colleges in India. The PI round of hotel management admissions is a formal event in which a candidate faces a panel of interviewers who ask certain questions to the candidate.

The panel mainly judges a candidate's communication skill, character, clarity of thought, the reason behind career selection, knowledge, etc. In a personal interview, other aspects of a candidate's personality are also judged by the panel. These include body language, cleanliness, grooming, etc.

Also Read: List of Best Hotel Management Courses

Popular Questions Asked in Hotel Management Interviews

There is no set list of questions for hotel management admissions in the PI round. It is said to vary based on the candidate's information and the interviewer's assessment. The interviewer tries to analyse the candidate's personality and point of view through inquiry.

That being stated, there are a few common interview questions for hotel management. A candidate may do better in the interview if they have prepared responses to these highly anticipated questions in advance. These are a few commonly asked questions along with suggested responses below:

Also Read: How to Choose the Best Hotel Management Colleges After 12th

Apart from these, an interviewer may also ask questions related to your course to test your technical skills and knowledge of the hotel management industry.

• What are the skills required for a hotel manager?
• What are the different sectors of the hotel industry?
• How are hotels classified? etc.

The interview usually ends with the interviewer asking 'Is there anything that you would like to ask us?' We have covered how to answer this question in detail in our article about 5 Tricky Questions Asked in MBA Interviews.

Hotel Management Personal Interview Tips

The goal of the panel in the personal interview is to determine if the candidate is a strong fit for the hotel management program. Check out some of the well-researched tips to crack the personal interview admission round: 

• Provide genuine responses: During a question, an interviewer is said to discover if a candidate is lying. Lying during an interview is the worst thing that can happen. So, try to give genuine and honest answers. 
• Maintaining an optimistic attitude: Keeping an optimistic attitude throughout the interview will lead to contribute in gaining the interview panel's interest.
• Be formal: Approaching the interview formally is suggested. Students must carry a professional appearance and make sure their speech is clear and courteous.
• Keep up with news and current events: General awareness-related questions are highly expected to be asked by interviewers. So, students are encouraged to be aware of the news and current events. 
• Say no to not-sure answers: It is preferable to apologize and admit unfamiliarity to a question than to try to get out of a situation by lying. However, this is only applicable to knowledge-based queries.
• Present your learnings more than weaknesses: If students are asked about their learnings, they must focus on their learnings and improvement process rather than their weaknesses or failures.

Also Read: Skills Required for a Successful Career in Hotel Management

Hotel Management Group Discussion Round

In the Group Discussion (GD) round, a candidate is grouped with several other candidates. The group is then given a topic to discuss while a panel observes the discussion. The group may also be asked to conclude, if possible. Usually, no other rule is specified for a GD.

The GD round is a test of the confidence, leadership and communication skills of a candidate and how they compare to the other candidates. The GD round also tests how a candidate performs in a team, their way of dealing with opposing opinions, their ability to make their point heard and understood, listening skills etc.

Hotel Management Group Discussion Topics

The majority of Hotel Management GD themes are either current events or topics about the Hotel Management sector. This is one more reason it's advised that candidates who plan to appear in the GD/PI round keep up with current events and news trends. Find some of the ground discussion topics below:

• Indian Cuisine vs Global Cuisine
• Impact of the service sector on the economy.
• Challenges and opportunities in the hotel management industry.
• Terrorism
• Is technology good or bad for society?

Also Read:Hotel Management vs Culinary Arts

Hotel Management Group Discussion Tips

When applying to hotel management courses, students may have to appear for a group discussion round. Refer to some of the tips to excel in the GD round below: 

• Be polite: As the ground discussion round includes discussing with other candidates, it is advised to treat your teammates with courtesy and politeness, regardless of how the discussion turns out to be.
• Speak loudly and clearly: Ensure that everyone in the group and the interview panel can hear you well and clearly. 
• Never engage in a verbal argument or dispute: Candidates are advised to choose to remain silent or to gently ask their group members to settle down so that the conversation can go on without interruption.
• Get to the Point: Ten to fifteen individuals are waiting to speak at a GD. So, it is advised to not beat around the bush and allow others to speak. 
• Don't be critical: Never ignore or criticise a candidate's argument. Instead, it is suggested that candidates their express viewpoints, even if it is opposing.

Here are some related articles in which we have explored GD preparation strategies and tips in detail.

Remember that GD and PI both involve the use of skills that can be trained. Prepare and practice your answers for the interview but do not try to cram. It is better to make pointers and use natural language.

Talking while looking in a mirror and discussing in groups of friends are also great strategies to improve communication and build confidence. If you have any doubts, ask our experts on the CollegeDekho QnA Zone.

For help with admissions to hotel management colleges in India, fill our Common Application Form (CAF) or call our toll-free student helpline number 1800-572-9877.