A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT INTERVIEW.

With the score in Mains getting lower and lower each year, importance of Personality Test or simply Interview is also increasing. Though Interview carries less than 13% weightage in total marks, for many successful candidates interview score is more than 25% of total. So first thing first: Interview determines a lot in Civil Services Examination. Its possible to score good with proper direction and some smart work.

            In Personality test, they want to judge your personality, conduct, interpersonal skills. It is not about knowledge. So rather than just getting inputs, focus on your ways of expression. Interview preparation is a vast and subjective topic. You may get different kinds of advices. But choose only advices which suit you. Because finally, its about you.

            So let’s focus on some DOs and DON’Ts of Personality Test. 

DOs.

1.       Be confident.

Believe in yourself. You have to make the panel believe in you. For that you need to believe in you, and express that self-belief through your body language.

2.      Know yourself.

Get aware of your own pros and cons. Work on your communication skills. Choose the medium of communication which is convenient to you. Work on your body language.

3.      Work on your biodata.

Biodata i.e. your Detailed Application Form (DAF) is the most important thing for you. Explore each and every word written in it. Your name, name of parents, birthplace, name of college, previous job- a question can come from every word. Work on it. I would suggest a simple method. Take a file (preferably box file) and dedicate one page in it to each word in your biodata. E.g. I will have one page for Abhijit wherin I’ll write whatever I feel important about this word. Its meaning, famous people with same name, my views on it etc. One page I’ll dedicate to 10^th Jan, my birthdate add write information about it.

            Group discussion is definitely helpful but the group must be sensible and understanding. But group activities should be only supportive. Individual skills are more important in Interview.

4.       Visualize your interview.

Its easy if you have experience. For first timers take help of veterans to imagine how interview is conducted. Imagine that you enter Dhaulpur House, sit in waiting room, get a call in panel’s room, enter inside, smile, wish them etc. This will help to cope up with last minute anxiety.

5.      Have some knowledge about panel heads.

This does not mean study in details their areas of work. But it good to have certain things in mind like Rajni Razdan madam asks about National symbols or Manbir Singh sir is IFS officer. Once you know these things, you will avoid blunders like criticizing or denigrating Central Services before IMG Khan sir (Postal Services officer) or bluffing about Maharashtra before Alka Sirohi madam (knows Maharashtra really well). 
          I would go further to suggest download photos of the UPSC members and have a look, so that when you go inside the room, you find a sense of familiarity subconsciously. That may sound funny but it’s psychology.

6.      Prepare well for “deciding” questions.

There are some questions where you can’t afford to falter. These questions are:

a.      Introduce yourself.

b.      Why do you want to join Civil Service?

c.      Why do you want to leave your field?

d.   What are three major problems in front of India/ your state/ district?

e.      Why you selected this optional? 

Prepare well for these questions. Refine your answer through discussion. Why Civil Services answer must have a personal point, a point that comes from your experience. E.g. You have seen how Government functions in rural areas you come from. So you want to be a part of the system to get basics right.

7.      Keep a track of current affairs.

Keep reading newspaper till the day of interview. Look out for news related to biodata, especially regional news. Daily try to answer this question: What are three important news in today’s newspaper? It may be modified to one international, one national, one regional news. You can refer a magazine like CST to read issues uncovered in newspapers. Focus on important issues. You can use the file method suggested for biodata in preparing current affairs too, with one page dedicated to one current issue.

8.     Be perfect in Hobbies, Interests.

Your hobbies and interests define you. Focus on them. Try to be specific while answering. Read about historical aspects of that area. Think analytically and philosophically about it.

E.g. Que. How does cycling help you in career?

    Ans. Cycling teaches me to maintain balance while being in motion. This quality is essential in my future career. Besides cycling also is a good way to exercise and keep myself healthy.

9.    Prepare Optional, Graduation subject, previous job smartly.

For Optionals, be good in concepts. Take the syllabus and ask “What is” to each concept. E.g. What is Isostasy? What is New Public management? Focus on current issues.

Prepare graduation subject and previous job such that you can answer in lay man’s language. Focus on issues which are in news.

10.  Be ready for situation reaction questions.

Use common sense for these questions. In case you feel troubled by them, you can go back to CSAT Decision Making questions to practice.

11.   Give mock interviews as per your need.

You have to decide about how many mocks to give and where. For first timers, I would suggest minimum two. Just see that at least one mock is where you are not familiar with place or panel.

12.  Get help of family or friends.

They know a lot about you. Talk freely about your communication skills. Give one unlimited mock to close friends. They know your weak points and can expose them.

13.  Manage your travel and stay in Delhi proactively.

Booking tickets and managing accommodation in Delhi is the first thing to do. Don’t keep it for the eleventh hour.

14.  Be well dressed.

Gentlemen- Formal shirt, trousers. You have choice about tie and blazer. I feel you can go for blazer if you have habit. Otherwise no need. But I would say have a tie. They won’t deduct mark for not having tie but since almost everybody wears a tie you may find yourself as an odd man. This can hurt your performance. Be clean shaved or have a well kept beard. Ladies can wear Saree or formal Business suit. Ladies whom I know felt that Saree is the best choice.

         But keep a habit of wearing your interview dress before the actual day. You shouldn’t be wearing Saree or Tie for the first time during the actual interview. Also, dressing should be sober, not flashy.

15.   Be composed.

This is the most important part. Once you are inside the building, stop remembering or discussing anything. Be happy, hum a song, appreciate the wonderful building. Get introduced with other candidates bur don’t talk too much with them.

            When the attendant calls you for your turn and you need to wait at the door for 3-5 min., calm yourself. Ask the peon where the panel’s table is, instead of going in and then searching the panel.

            Wish with a smile as you enter inside. Sit only after panel tells you. Be polite while answering. Maintain eye contact. Even if some panelist behaves like he/she is ignoring you, be calm. Try to find one soothing face in the panel and look there in case things get tough. In short, have a good conversation with them.

            Sometimes they will throw up a challenge. In case you are giving interview in regional language, they might ask to converse in English. Just try it. Or they will ask you to draw a map of your state. All they want is to see with how much confidence you attempt it.

16.  Give a balanced answer.

Balanced answer does not mean a confused answer. It means that you need to put your opinion with reasons, and just recognize that there is other view too. Justify the things you say with logical reasons. If its possible, try to bring in a personal connection in the answer. E.g. Answering on agrarian crisis, I will start with the fact I come from a farming family in a district worst hit by agrarian crisis.

DON’Ts

1.       Don’t underestimate or overestimate yourself.

Be confident. Once in front of panel, everybody is the same. Don’t have an inferiority complex of being from rural area or regional medium or poor family. It is your plus point that you have earned an interview call despite such hardships.

          Similarly don't show off. Don't repeatedly boast about your achievements. Stay humble.

2.      Don’t get demoralized by one off mock interview.

It might happen that you will get some harsh comments after mocks. Don’t feel low. Just take them as lessons and try to improve.

3.      Don’t pay heed to pressure tactics by other candidates.

Candidates who appear before you in front of the panel may try to pressurize you either by telling how the rocked it to expect 225+ or by creating fear about the panel. Don’t fall prey to these tactics.

4.      Don’t give grandiose, larger than life, filmy answers.

“I’m born to change the face of the nation”, “Give me a chance and I will change the system and eliminate corruption within a year” Oh come on!! You are not there to impress a huge crowd and ask for votes. Be professional. Don’t boast. Don’t be pompous. Don’t deliver filmy, over the top dialogues. It’s not some foolish Roadies! The panelists are not impressed by your dramatics. They want sincere, well thought, balanced answers.

5.      Don’t argue.

In case your opinion differs with that of the panelist, try to put your point politely. Don’t get aggressive to defend it. Even if they persist to oppose your view, politely back out saying you will consider their point.

6.      Don’t bluff.

Honesty is the best policy. If you want to guess, ask them or at least tell that you are guessing. Integrity is very much appreciated. Don’t succumb under stress.

May be, you will not be able to answer first few questions. Don’t worry. Just politely and smilingly tell them that you don’t know or you can’t recall. Wait because they will ensure that you answer. They are there to hear you.

7.      Don’t take stress in last days.

Whatever Delhi Darshan, shopping, meeting friends you want to do, do it two days before interview or after it. Enjoy the day before with minimum reading. Don’t stress out in the last few days. Take care of your health in this period.

Friends, this is what I feel about Interview. You have to pick up whatever points you find relevant and work accordingly. To sum it up, prepare well, plan things in Delhi proactively, be calm in last few days and just have a good conversation with the panel. Don’t try to impress, just express yourself.

Good Luck!! :-)