CRACKING THE CIVIL SERVICES INTERVIEW: TRICKS AND TRAPS by SANTOSH K MISRA, IAS

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Note: Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2016 Result is out!

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The IAS Interview

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UPSC prospectus mentions that a board of competent and unbiased observers will assess the candidate’s

• mental alertness
• critical powers of assimilation
• clear and logical exposition
• balance of judgment and a sense of proposition
• variety of depth of interest
• ability for social cohesion ( inter-personal relationship skills) and leadership
• humane attitude and due sensitivity towards people’s suffering.

Interview preparation does not require one to stuff oneself with facts; ability to analyze and to critically examine an issue is what actually counts.

Facts you may not know and there is no harm in saying so to the Board but you must be able to think laterally and analyze all dimensions of the topic under consideration.

Speak honestly, truthfully and with modesty.

Understand the questions before answering them. Do not hesitate in seeking any clarifications about the question if you have any doubts. Many a time your answer gets misinterpreted, do clarify it.

Framing your own questions and answering them (especially recording them on to a tape and listening to them) is a very useful technique.

It is extremely helpful in making correct choice of words while answering a question.

Dare-to-Bare: Given the extremely short time (25-30 minutes) in which your personality is assessed, it is your responsibility to bring out your very best in front of the boasting.

The risk in baring yourself in front of the board is that you will also be exhibiting your weakness. So do it in a well-planned way.

[spoiler title=”Preparing for the process:“]

1. know yourself
2. Game of elimination
3. Ability to communicate is the key: Verbal and Non verbal
4. Say what you want to say and not what you don’t want to say: Choose the right words.
5. Direction of Interview: More often than not decided by you
6. Sell yourself: Why you, why not the others?
7. Know the organization you want to join
8. Clarity of aim: Why US
9. Brief and to the point answer are better
10. It’s OK to be nervous
11. If in doubt seek clarification before answering a question

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[spoiler title=”A delicate balance of traits:“]

1. Self-confidence without any shade of arrogance or cockiness
2. Warm personality without being excessive
3. Smiling and pleasant without overdoing it
4. Sincerity which reflects keenness and desire to learn
5. Conviction and firm stand without being argumentative
6. Willingness to admit mistakes without making a mess

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[spoiler title=”Avoid absolutely:“]

1.  Arrogance
2. Bad body language
3. Casual Attitude
4. Any obnoxious loud distractions: Gaudy of Jangling Jewellery, Outlandish watches, Cell phones or any alarms set on your watch which may accidentally go off.
5. Picking up arguments with any board member
6. Trying to score an ideological point
7. Becoming cynical and critical of the Government
8. Criticizing individuals, organizations or institutions condemning them when you are not fully aw are of the facts
9. Excessive hand movement or body Movement
10. Fidgeting and Leg-shaking
11. Extreme viewpoints
12. Making any sweeping statements

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[spoiler title=”Must Do:“]

1. Dress for success: Formal Dressing

Men       :  Full Sleeve Shirt, Formal Trousers, Black leather shoes. Tie if you wish.

Women : Sari (avoid Garish ones, preferably a light color one),minimal jewelry, light makeup if necessary.
Well-groomed hairstyle.
Clean, trimmed fingernails, No nail polish, Minimal cologne or perfume.
Empty pockets-no bulges or tinkling coins
No rings other than wedding ring.

2. Positive attitude and faith in the system: No CYNICS wanted in IAS
3. Openness to ideas
4. Pleasant personality
5. Sit upright, do not slouch
6. Remain thoroughly professional throughout the interview: Keep your cool no matter what
7. Utmost regard for the board and No bias against them: No matter what you have heard
8. Ability to analyse situations in all its entirety
9. Moderate views are essential
10. Even if you know the answer, pause to formulate your reply rather than blurting it out immediately. Remember you are not on a rapid fire round of a quiz show.
11. Be honest, Smartly Honest: put a positive spin on the truth.

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[spoiler title=”Practice Non Verbal Communication also:“]

1. Eye Contact – Very Important! If you look away while listening, it shows lack of interest and a short attention span. If you fail to maintain eye contact while speaking, at a minimum it shows lack of confidence in what you are saying and at worst may send the subtle message that you are lying. Do not just assume you have good eye contact. Ask. Watch. Then practice. Ask others if you ever lack proper eye contact. If they respond that they did notice, ask if it was during speaking or listening. Some people maintain excellent eye contact while listening but lose eye contact when speaking. Or vice versa. Next, watch yourself on videotape. Informally (that is, you were not aware you were being taped), this will provide even stronger evidence. Then sit down with a friend and practice until you are comfortable maintaining sincere, continuous eye contact.
2. Facial Expressions – It continually amazes me how many people are totally unaware of the sullen, confused, or even mildly hysterical expression plastered on their faces during the entire course of the interview! Take a good, long, hard look at yourself in the mirror. Look at yourself as others would. Then modify your facial expressions-first eliminate any negative overall characteristics that might exist, then add a simple feature that nearly every interviewee forgets to include – a smile! Not some artificial grin, but a true and genuine smile that tells me you are a happy person and delighted to be attending the interview today. You do not need to keep the smiles plastered on for the full interview, but remember to keep coming back to it. Think about it – who would YOU rather spend thirty minutes with?
3. Posture – Posture sends out a signal of your confidence and power potential. Stand erect, walk erect, and most of all, sit erect. Height is not what’s important. Posture is. When standing, stand up H straight. When you are seated, make sure you sit at the front edge of the chair, leaning slightly forward, moving within an overall range of no more than 10 degrees back or 20 degrees forward, intent on the subject at hand.
4. Gestures – Gestures should be very limited during the interview. So please don’t use artificial gestures to try to heighten the importance of the issue at hand. It will merely come off as theatrical. When you do use gestures, make sure they are natural and meaningful.

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[spoiler title=”Common Traps to Avoid:“]

1. The Pause Trap: Know to stop when your answer is over. Never try to fill the silence.
2. The Stress Trap: Maintain you cool and stay composed. Do not get provoked.
3. The “Heads I win and Tails You Loose” questions: Interviewers frequently ask candidates, “What are your weaknesses?” Some of you may feel the urge to highlight a weakness like “I’m a perfectionist,” and give it a positive spin. Interviewers are not impressed, because they’ve probably heard the same answer a hundred times. If you are asked this question, highlight a skill that you wish to improve upon and describe what you are doing to enhance your skill in this area. Interviewers don’t care what your weaknesses are. They want to see how you handle the question and what your answer indicates about you. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: “I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful.” “So much workload and no time for family isn’t it an injustice to your family?” “I’m fully committed to performing mv job well. My career is important to me, and I have a strong support system at home.”

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[spoiler title=”Finally Remember:“]

1. IAS exam is not the end of life if you could not succeed, but it would be a great beginning if you can (succeed).
2. After your best shot have faith in God. But do start preparing for the next round.
3. Be patient and maintain your pace. This examination is all about tenacity and perseverance. Don’t lose heart and work hard. Your efforts are bound to succeed.

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[spoiler title=”What to do when disaster Strikes:“]

1. You made a statement which to your horror you are made to realize to be absolutely incorrect: Plain simple honesty can only save you. Admit the error or mistake you have committed and leave it at that.
2. The chairman leaves in the middle of the interview.

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[spoiler title=”Advice from others:“]

[_spoiler title=”Amit Negi, IA Topper 1999 (2nd Rank)“]

 For Interview, from a group of friends who have offered the same Optionals. Remember, Interview is of a personality test. The Board will check certain traits in your personalty such as your honesty and integrity, your mental alertness, your acumen, your response to some situations,your view on varied topics and also your knowledge base. So. for the Interview read as many newspapers and as many magazines as possible. Discuss with your friends. Take mock-interviews. Try to find loop-holes in your arguments and plug them Form your views on various subjects in a very logical and rational manner supported by data whenever necessary. Do not get nervous whenever necessary. Do not get nervous before the Interviews. Improve your communications skills by giving mock-interviews.

These will also open you up. Ask your friends to grill you, so that you can face pressure from Board easily Always pause a bit before answering even if you know the answer. Do not give a hasty reply. Answer in an orderly and logical fashion and always look into the eyes of the interviewer while answering. Be polite and courteous. Don’t be too much argumentative. Be consistent in your views, i.e. just don’t change your views because of the fact that the Board is differing with you. Remember that they are only testing you and often even try to provoke you. Give balanced answers and avoid taking extremes.

Self -confidence-Your self-confidence can make the whole difference. If you don’t believe in yourself and your capacity to achieve then no matter how hard you try. You will end up in failure. So your self confidence should be at a very high level. I don’t intend to say that you should become over-confident, but a good self- esteem matter. So to pep your confidence level say it yourself everyday in front of the mirror that you can do it and you will do it. You should be in the surroundings of the people who could constantly motivate you and inspire you. Keep a group of close friends with you who are us determined to make it to the Civil Services as you are. This will make sure that if you are facing some problems in any subject then you can approach some one. Also while talking and discussing with them you’ll be exposed to different views. This will also ensure that you can vent out your frustration by talking to some one. Besides, good friends are always a source of inspiration and motivation.

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[_spoiler title=”Deepak Tayal, IAS Topper 1993 (3rd Rank) “]

For the knowledge-based questions, the presentation of the answer becomes more important. One should not make himself appear as having crammed by presented in a conversational manner. There is no need to panic for the Interview and even “I don’t know. Sir “should be said with confidence and cheerfulness. One is not expected to know everything under the sun. Finally, whatever the stage might be, one has to have faith and confidence in himself. An individual should be the best judge, of what he thinks as the best way to prepare. He should not follow the crowd if it doesn’t suit his instinct. Once that happens, he is bound to success and excel.

The Kothari Committee of the UPSC has listed the qualities that should be rated in the interview as, “clarity of expression, grasp of narrative and argument, reasoning ability, appreciation of different points of view, awareness and concern for socio-economic problems, ranges and depth of interests and personal attributes relevant to interaction with people.”
The board necessarily sets about its task with great tact; for, it recognizes that the personality of an individual is most elusive. Hence, they employ subtle ways to arrive at a fair assessment. It is an urbane and relaxed way of encouraging the candidate’s self-expression in terms of his attitudes and aptitudes. The technique followed is not that of strict cross-examination but that of a natural, but well focused and purposive conversation so as to reveal the mental qualities of the candidate in an otherwise helpful environment

However, the candidate should avoid using slang and conversational cliches; repeating and rephrasing questions; and disagreeing radically in opinion with any of the board members.

Suggestion: “You can say no. a no with a smile is always better than a bad answer or an argument.

The areas normally covered by the board during the interview, include:

• Every detail in the application including the meaning of your name or surname form.
• Today’s issue of interest, primarily national.
• Good knowledge of one’s own geographic region (state and district).

‘Whenever required, you may have to bring into focus the knowledge of your own specialized field of study while talking on current problems. Also be prepared for probing question on your main papers: momentous developments of today; and lively panoramic grasp of the optional subjects. “Every young person has a dream. You too may have a dream. Stand by your dreams and power them with knowledge and performance. Let you dreams never die. Learn to focus you potential through which can translate your dreams into reality.

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