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[Official ] Interview Preparation 2021 - Ask Questions, Debates and Doubts, Hobbies, Home State

LIVE Session onStrategic Mistakes and Handling Tricky Questions

LIVE Session for filling up DAF 2 | CSE 2020



Hello All,

So the last time I create a TG for Interview prep we saw some good discussions. However, the group has little archival value, by which I means discussions that happen are not archived on the Internet forever - which is something we need for Civils prep - or at least for the community.

This thread is created by ME circa 2021 to be "The Interview Group"

I am also working on a guide for Interview Preparation - which is kinda here


And a very interesting hobby discussion thread here


http://discuss.forumias.com/discussion/23379/hobbies-discussion-for-upsc-interview

324.1k views

593 comments

@Neyawn Thanks for the suggestions.
Have started writing answers to some expected ones in fact, and I'll try to track the progress.

One more suggestion please - How many mocks approximately do you mean by several?


4.7k views
@NOLEisGOAT Yes, right. May be the alone thing is the issue. Not even been very social since the preparation. Actually need to loosen up a bit by talking more and engaging in conversations. Hopefully, mocks may remove the remaining fears.


Neyawn,
4.7k views
How r people so confident of clearing mains?I know some people who r preparing full fledged for interview.I m also preparing little bits but whenever I try to extend those interview study hours anxiety catches up and I start looking back at mains questions and answers again
HarveySpectre,mahi2501and4 otherslike this
7.4k views
There are two approaches for taking mocks for a good preparation. 

However, there is only one way of accepting feedback if you want a good preparation.

And that is, do not take feedback from more than 1 - 2 places.

If you have heard Pujya P”s video on Vision, she says that in one interview I was told you need to make this change and in another they said the opposite. So she said in her last attempt she only took 2 mocks.

The two approaches is that

One, you take a maximum of 3 mocks and take the feedback and have a final one on one with any mentor you deem right.

Two, you take as many mocks as you like- like every week 2-3 mocks and note down the question and don’t act on the feedback. You note down the feedback but don’t take it unless more than 3-4 people have said the same thing.

You discuss those with a senior / mentor and freeze it . You treat mocks as a way to get question bank.

I am no knight. Do not call me Sir

ssver2,GaryVeeand4 otherslike this
5.7k views

SunnyParasharsaid

How r people so confident of clearing mains?I know some people who r preparing full fledged for interview.I m also preparing little bits but whenever I try to extend those interview study hours anxiety catches up and I start looking back at mains questions and answers again

Oh, don’t do that. Give the Interview Prep not more than 3-5 hours a day, unless you want to frustrate yourself .

I am no knight. Do not call me Sir

5.1k views

Neyawnsaid

SunnyParasharsaid

How r people so confident of clearing mains?I know some people who r preparing full fledged for interview.I m also preparing little bits but whenever I try to extend those interview study hours anxiety catches up and I start looking back at mains questions and answers again

Oh, don’t do that. Give the Interview Prep not more than 3-5 hours a day, unless you want to frustrate yourself .

Thanks a lot sir.Your words are the sole survival medicine in these days of anxiety

4.9k views


Hi@Arrokoth and@SkyWalk_19, could you also please mention some interview pointers which you think worked for you to get such great scores?

Neyawn,AzadHindFauzand2 otherslike this
4.6k views

Can anyone share a pdf of basic interview questions which are repeatedly asked by UPSC Board. 


Ex.

1. Why IAS / Civil services ? 

2. Tell me about yourself. 

3. What's your plan immediately after this interview...? 


4.2k views

SunnyParasharsaid

How r people so confident of clearing mains?I know some people who r preparing full fledged for interview.I m also preparing little bits but whenever I try to extend those interview study hours anxiety catches up and I start looking back at mains questions and answers again

@SunnyParasharwas it your first mains? :-)


4.2k views

K_H_Abhisheksaid


Hi@Arrokoth and@SkyWalk_19, could you also please mention some interview pointers which you think worked for you to get such great scores?

Hey, my understanding of my score and what made me get it is still a work in progress, sadly. I'm not entirely sure of how I ended up with it - but common factors seem to be confidence in demeanor, humility and clarity in responses, and answering thoughtfully wherever given an opportunity. If more things come to my mind, I'll add them here. All the best!

Neyawn,ssver2and9 otherslike this
6.2k views
I feel that i can not speak english fluently. Should I join any personality development or english speaking class. If yes, then which class is preferred? Also how much it will be beneficial for interview preparation?
3.5k views

I'm not able to find why " Bombay stock exchange is still starts with Bombay not Mumbai stock exchange " despite political demand.

For Bombay High court ...I can understand HC cnt succumbed to political demands..but BSE ?? Any Maharashtra or mumbai person can help if in case boards through this Q.

3.7k views
@Shunya The Nothingness legacy issue m8 b


3k views
@Agog yess..it may be one factor..it is Asia's oldest stock exchange


3.4k views
Please pardon me for my naivety as I have not given any UPSC interview to date, but I wanted to ask why we need to prepare for a non-technical interview? Few basics are okay but not more than that I feel. That too when UPSC clearly mentions that interview is not a test of General or Specialised knowledge of candidates. A cursory reading of the interview syllabus and guidelines by UPSC makes me think that rather than looking for the answers, the folks are looking for the way we approach the questions. 
For example- If I have to enter basketball as my hobby, why do I need to know the court measurements? In my school life, I was a district level player and neither I nor my teammates know the dimensions. On top of that, one of our buddies did the nationals camp and even then he did not know. So how does not knowing the dimensions or any other technical thing is bad? 

Panicmonster,
3k views
@SergioRamos even I haven't faced one. Who knows if they want you to know or not ? All we know is what the candidate coming out interprets and tells which may be totally erroneous.

Ultimately it is a game of perception in those few minutes. Why take the risk ? Best is to cover as much ground as possible. Be safe than sorry.


3.5k views
I belong to Kota Rajasthan. I have mentioned permanent address and birthplace as Kota and address for correspondence in DAF as Bareilly (as my father got recently transferred and i live here currently). My father again got transferred to some other place (Durg, Chattisgarh). I have stayed in Bareilly for only 3 months. Do I need to prepare about the address of correspondance? Is it shown in final DAF? 
3.1k views

SergioRamossaid

Please pardon me for my naivety as I have not given any UPSC interview to date, but I wanted to ask why we need to prepare for a non-technical interview? Few basics are okay but not more than that I feel. That too when UPSC clearly mentions that interview is not a test of General or Specialised knowledge of candidates. A cursory reading of the interview syllabus and guidelines by UPSC makes me think that rather than looking for the answers, the folks are looking for the way we approach the questions. 
For example- If I have to enter basketball as my hobby, why do I need to know the court measurements? In my school life, I was a district level player and neither I nor my teammates know the dimensions. On top of that, one of our buddies did the nationals camp and even then he did not know. So how does not knowing the dimensions or any other technical thing is bad? 

Based on my limited knowledge, I believe such questions are asked to test your presence of mind. Obviously they dont expect you to remember such measurements like the back of your hand, but rather to prompt your response.

2.8k views
@carborator , My 2 cents.
I was in a similar dilemma last year; Though I have a decent command on English writting, but lacked confidence in spoken English. However, quite contrary to the general perception (at least mine) , the UPSC interview board ( AK Bhonsle in my case) was immensely cordial and flexible in case of language medium. The chairman, in his introductory  remarks itself mentioned "feel free to use English/ hindi, nothing to worry".
I have heard similar comforting incidents from other boards too. Unless a member does not understand Hindi ( is from South India etc), I do not think it would be a big problem.

As for improving  spoken English ( to boost my own confidence), I tried group mocks, started conversing with friends/ siblings in English and practiced some must_know questions before mirror. I also recorded my own audio and listened:) These things worked fairly well for me. I'm not sure of any separate course, but I believe the cost- benefit ratio might not be too good. It also comes with a risk of shifting focus from actual interview prep to mere English prep. IMO, interview is not about your medium of communication but how clearly you convey, what you want to convey.  
So, choose wisely:) 


Neyawn,ssver2and1 otherslike this
3.3k views
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