Civil Services Mains 2020 Results: In or Out ? Way ahead, gratitude and Pain
The Civils Mains result has been declared. This thread is for sharing your grief , joy , mixed feelings - absolutely anything and everything.
Civils Mains:2017,2018,2020,2021,Forest Mains:2021.
I had this in my mind ever since I failed prelims in my first attempt last year. I feel, my score must've been pretty close to the cutoff but confidence since then is shattered and hasn't fully recovered yet. Everything began in November, started introspecting whether the risk I took to appear for the exam will ever payback. One contributing factor to this was two of my friends, who also had the first attempt got through prelims. I felt a bit lonely while preparing as now my preparation phase wasn't in sync with them. When they both got their interview call, I did feel confident that if they can, I can too.
Still, every other fortnight I can't get over. I'm still whining, which I shouldn't. I started looking up for backups, gave RBI exam without even reading up the syllabus and scored a pretty decent score. That did feel good but it wasn't for long. Now, I'm not looking up any backup option till the 2021 mains.
There are few things I need an answer for
- How difficult is it to get a decent backup option in 8-10months? I don't want to sit idle and waste half of my 20s preparing for just an exam. Can someone list government exam which have similar syllabus as that of CSE. Maths and reasoning isn't an issue.
- Having an interest in policymaking, is that a good option to look for? Any feedback regarding Young India fellowship? Also, I've few leads to QCI, if that can help.
- How do you handle the uncertainty about your future?
Little background about me relevant for this query - Graduated in 2020 with electronics engineering. I didn't sit for placements in my college for civils preparation.
2019 graduate here and will arrive at the mid-twenties juncture next year. Wasted 2 attempts out of sheer stupidity and went to give the exam withUPSC de ke dekhte hai kaisa paper aata haiattitude. Didn't even know you only get 6 attempts (yeah, I was THAT uninformed).
Skipped this year as I can't stand the uncertainty of UPSC I want to get a job first so focusing on state PSC and a few other exams and laying the ground work for 2022 attempt. Cleared a few prelims and waiting for mains after lockdown eases, so God willing, by this year end I have a job in hand and can prepare for UPSC peacefully.
Let me tell you, it's cutthroat competition out there for even clerical level jobs. And only a few state PSC exams align with UPSC. So my advice would be to focus on one thing at a time. With your branch you can easily land a private job if you want some financial stability and peace of mind and also a backup in case UPSC doesn't work out. Decide very carefully because as you said, these are our prime years. Good luck!
I had this in my mind ever since I failed prelims in my first attempt last year. I feel, my score must've been pretty close to the cutoff but confidence since then is shattered and hasn't fully recovered yet. Everything began in November, started introspecting whether the risk I took to appear for the exam will ever payback. One contributing factor to this was two of my friends, who also had the first attempt got through prelims. I felt a bit lonely while preparing as now my preparation phase wasn't in sync with them. When they both got their interview call, I did feel confident that if they can, I can too.
Still, every other fortnight I can't get over. I'm still whining, which I shouldn't. I started looking up for backups, gave RBI exam without even reading up the syllabus and scored a pretty decent score. That did feel good but it wasn't for long. Now, I'm not looking up any backup option till the 2021 mains.
There are few things I need an answer for
- How difficult is it to get a decent backup option in 8-10months? I don't want to sit idle and waste half of my 20s preparing for just an exam. Can someone list government exam which have similar syllabus as that of CSE. Maths and reasoning isn't an issue.
- Having an interest in policymaking, is that a good option to look for? Any feedback regarding Young India fellowship? Also, I've few leads to QCI, if that can help.
- How do you handle the uncertainty about your future?
Little background about me relevant for this query - Graduated in 2020 with electronics engineering. I didn't sit for placements in my college for civils preparation.
1. If you have a gap of over two years post graduation, depending on your academic credentials, you might find it moderately difficult to extremely difficult to find yourself a job. However, if you are willing to start small and lower your expectations initially, you might be less disappointed. You can always move up the ladder based on your work. While preparation does add a lot of value even in an unrelated field (I am experiencing this rn), the market does not see it that way. You have not been sitting idle. The knowledge, habits and discipline that you have cultivated will always help you. Yet, the recruiter will think that you have wasted two years and when you don’t contest that idea, he/she is even less likely to hire you.
About backup exams, I would advise you to not mindlessly give exams without preparing and accumulate failure. Choose the thing that you wouldn’t mind doing for the rest of your life. Only then does it become a backup option. You needn’t necessarily enjoy work always, but it should be something you don’t mind doing. “What are the exams I can clear” shouldn’t be the starting point. Focus on the job that you will get afterwards. This is purely personal. I, for one, wouldn’t even have wanted a few Group A services if that were my backup because I would’ve always been left wondering about what could have been, had I not left my corp job or prepared for IAS better. If it comes to a point where you cannot clear this exam (attempt wise or age wise or even if it’s a personal choice), you should be able to dust yourself off and truly move on with your life.
2. I have always been drawn to policy work. I believe a UPSC aspirant has a natural aptitude and interest towards it. If you are interested, I would advise you to do your research on various policy organisations, the work they do, their entry level requirements etc. Even here, I would advise you to short list and target a few policy organisations and prepare your application specifically for those organisations. Customise your application so that you get noticed. I have little knowledge about fellowships, so I can’t help you there.
3. The uncertainty about the future drove me nuts. I left my job and got into preparation because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I thought that only if you were outside your comfort zone could you truly grow. While I have grown both as a person and in terms of my knowledge, I do not subscribe to that idea anymore. Being secure about the future is one of primary preconditions for growth for many people. For some people, the insecurity of not having a secure job and stable income pushes them to work harder and achieve more. I was not one of those people. For me, the uncertainty tended to drown me in my own insecurities. It hampered my preparation a lot. The only solution is having a backup you don’t mind doing. If you have spent over two years preparing, depending on the kind of person you are, I would advise you to either use your insecurity as motivation or to give in to the insecurity and get a job. However, do make a reasoned assessment and not an emotional one.
Don’t get a job because you think you have wasted two years. Likewise, dont prepare without a job simply in line with the sunk cost fallacy. Think about all the factors at play including but not limited to:
a)the harsh truth about your value diminishing in the job market with more gap years,
b)the state of the economy,
c)your goals,
d)your mental health,
e)how your decisions affect the people you love,
f) your productivity when you prepare without a backup and the value addition/lack of value addition it causes.
Sorry about the long post, there is no right answer. Let your decision be rational and not emotional. Hope you make the right call for yourself! :)
I had this in my mind ever since I failed prelims in my first attempt last year. I feel, my score must've been pretty close to the cutoff but confidence since then is shattered and hasn't fully recovered yet. Everything began in November, started introspecting whether the risk I took to appear for the exam will ever payback. One contributing factor to this was two of my friends, who also had the first attempt got through prelims. I felt a bit lonely while preparing as now my preparation phase wasn't in sync with them. When they both got their interview call, I did feel confident that if they can, I can too.
Still, every other fortnight I can't get over. I'm still whining, which I shouldn't. I started looking up for backups, gave RBI exam without even reading up the syllabus and scored a pretty decent score. That did feel good but it wasn't for long. Now, I'm not looking up any backup option till the 2021 mains.
There are few things I need an answer for
- How difficult is it to get a decent backup option in 8-10months? I don't want to sit idle and waste half of my 20s preparing for just an exam. Can someone list government exam which have similar syllabus as that of CSE. Maths and reasoning isn't an issue.
- Having an interest in policymaking, is that a good option to look for? Any feedback regarding Young India fellowship? Also, I've few leads to QCI, if that can help.
- How do you handle the uncertainty about your future?
Little background about me relevant for this query - Graduated in 2020 with electronics engineering. I didn't sit for placements in my college for civils preparation.
1. If you have a gap of over two years post graduation, depending on your academic credentials, you might find it moderately difficult to extremely difficult to find yourself a job. However, if you are willing to start small and lower your expectations initially, you might be less disappointed. You can always move up the ladder based on your work. While preparation does add a lot of value even in an unrelated field (I am experiencing this rn), the market does not see it that way. You have not been sitting idle. The knowledge, habits and discipline that you have cultivated will always help you. Yet, the recruiter will think that you have wasted two years and when you don’t contest that idea, he/she is even less likely to hire you.
About backup exams, I would advise you to not mindlessly give exams without preparing and accumulate failure. Choose the thing that you wouldn’t mind doing for the rest of your life. Only then does it become a backup option. You needn’t necessarily enjoy work always, but it should be something you don’t mind doing. “What are the exams I can clear” shouldn’t be the starting point. Focus on the job that you will get afterwards. This is purely personal. I, for one, wouldn’t even have wanted a few Group A services if that were my backup because I would’ve always been left wondering about what could have been, had I not left my corp job or prepared for IAS better. If it comes to a point where you cannot clear this exam (attempt wise or age wise or even if it’s a personal choice), you should be able to dust yourself off and truly move on with your life.
2. I have always been drawn to policy work. I believe a UPSC aspirant has a natural aptitude and interest towards it. If you are interested, I would advise you to do your research on various policy organisations, the work they do, their entry level requirements etc. Even here, I would advise you to short list and target a few policy organisations and prepare your application specifically for those organisations. Customise your application so that you get noticed. I have little knowledge about fellowships, so I can’t help you there.
3. The uncertainty about the future drove me nuts. I left my job and got into preparation because I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I thought that only if you were outside your comfort zone could you truly grow. While I have grown both as a person and in terms of my knowledge, I do not subscribe to that idea anymore. Being secure about the future is one of primary preconditions for growth for many people. For some people, the insecurity of not having a secure job and stable income pushes them to work harder and achieve more. I was not one of those people. For me, the uncertainty tended to drown me in my own insecurities. It hampered my preparation a lot. The only solution is having a backup you don’t mind doing. If you have spent over two years preparing, depending on the kind of person you are, I would advise you to either use your insecurity as motivation or to give in to the insecurity and get a job. However, do make a reasoned assessment and not an emotional one.
Don’t get a job because you think you have wasted two years. Likewise, dont prepare without a job simply in line with the sunk cost fallacy. Think about all the factors at play including but not limited to:
a)the harsh truth about your value diminishing in the job market with more gap years,
b)the state of the economy,
c)your goals,
d)your mental health,
e)how your decisions affect the people you love,
f) your productivity when you prepare without a backup and the value addition/lack of value addition it causes.
Sorry about the long post, there is no right answer. Let your decision be rational and not emotional. Hope you make the right call for yourself! :)
1) I don't have much inclination to go back to the corporate sector, for the very same reasons I didn't sit for placements as I was quite clear I can't spend 40 years of my life in that sphere. IT, finance, core electronics and others didn't interest me enough to opt for them. Also, I prefer my life to be on auto-pilot after settling once in career prospects. There no issue in putting hard work into the job but I don't want to put that into switching roles between various companies. I can pull off 12hours/day work in any government job which demands it but I won't like to put that in applying for other company or making me stand out of my peers for promotion as in the case of the private sector. Making it clear that this doesn't mean I'm shying away from work but I looking for stability. That's all. You all free to make an assumption that this further aggravates the problem of inefficient government offices.
I've EPFO exam coming up, maybe that'll provide me much a sense of security and mental peace which I probably need right now. From there I'll try to pursue CSE with probably a year break.
2) I'll look for policy options through the alumni network, have seen many getting into that in past.
@Patootie thanks for writing such a long post, it did help to an extend.
One of the major reason for this thought spiral is due to the fact that my father retired in 2019 end. There is complete support from their side and not much of a financial issue. Still, I don't feel right living on my parent's money while they've retired from the service. Guilt keeps on building up, hurts everyone time you pay for something.
thepolicydreamer,
people scoring in 110's 120s in ethics, what are your sources. how do you write your answers? do you use a lot of examples? how do you tackle case studies? wats the structure of your answers likeContact Local52 and reach Point Pedro.
Local group toh suna tha ye local52 kya hai
You are questioning the old dogs.
musk,
@calvinhobbes besides other government jobs, one option you can consider is teaching in a JEE coaching institute for a short term, as I guess you mentioned somewhere you graduated from Pilani.There was my one senior who also opted out for placements but sometime later wanted to be financially independent. He was getting decent salary and had to put up like 4-6 hours daily so was also getting enough time to prepare.As you mentioned you don't want to move into corporate sector and recruitment in another government jobs really takes much time and effort. So if you are not averse to teaching, I found it to be a decent temporary choice during UPSC preparation.
Bhai Irodov solve nhi hoti thi. Kisi student ne usse doubt puchha toh 😀
Jai Shree Ram !
@calvinhobbes for me network marketing was the answer and it helps generate income not just now but it keeps on building....I had shared a post too regarding that https://forumias.com/post/detail/FINANCIAL-INDEPENDENCE-FOR-AN-ASPIRANT-1616967883
Feel free to ask about it...
Imomf,
Any update on when the interview schedule will be announced? What are the likely dates?
Bystanders predict PTs to be held anytime soon; since unlock has begun.
Insiders predict not before end of July.
Outsiders predict by the mid of July or thereabouts.
@Yo_Yo_Choti_Singh eternally predicts it will never happen #date_kabhi_nahi_aayegi #result_kabhi_nahi_aayega #yahi_sach_hai_humesha
The Heart says - Server banao; Call of Duty khelte hain.
@calvinhobbes for me network marketing was the answer and it helps generate income not just now but it keeps on building....I had shared a post too regarding that https://forumias.com/post/detail/FINANCIAL-INDEPENDENCE-FOR-AN-ASPIRANT-1616967883
Feel free to ask about it...
arre bhai yahan bhi hai aapki biradri wale
Jai Shree Ram !
TabsAndChords,
Just found it randomly on internet so felt like sharing.
This is the reply which Einstein got for his thesis paper(Special Relativity). This was after his 'miracle year' of 1905 in which he published 4 breathe taking papers.
Just to give you a brief background about the sheer brilliance of this paper(along with his General Relativity of 1915)he never got a noble prize for this. But till now more than 30 people have got noble prizes by using this work. It is one of the two pillars of modern physics. 
Learning:- Even the best of the best gets rejected. So just hold on to whatever you have, whoever you are, wherever you are.
Spectrum1,Just found it randomly on internet so felt like sharing.
This is the reply which Einstein got for his thesis paper(Special Relativity). This was after his 'miracle year' of 1905 in which he published 4 breathe taking papers.
Just to give you a brief background about the sheer brilliance of this paper(along with his General Relativity of 1915)he never got a noble prize for this. But till now more than 30 people have got noble prizes by using this work. It is one of the two pillars of modern physics.
Learning:- Even the best of the best gets rejected. So just hold on to whatever you have, whoever you are, wherever you are.
I have read about it when Einstein delivered it's speech about relativity(general theory) no one in the room could understand at that time what Einstein was saying
Aaah, UPSC style rejections in those years too.
THE_MECHANIC,
I appreciate the message but unfortunately, the letter is fake. :(Just found it randomly on internet so felt like sharing.
This is the reply which Einstein got for his thesis paper(Special Relativity). This was after his 'miracle year' of 1905 in which he published 4 breathe taking papers.
Just to give you a brief background about the sheer brilliance of this paper(along with his General Relativity of 1915)he never got a noble prize for this. But till now more than 30 people have got noble prizes by using this work. It is one of the two pillars of modern physics.
Learning:- Even the best of the best gets rejected. So just hold on to whatever you have, whoever you are, wherever you are.
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