[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
@AureliusM I started playing after 2017 (after college internship). So, No I am not a rated player. I play online on chess.com, lichess.org etc.! I am rated around 1550 in chess.com & around 1900 in lichess.org.
I miss the time of your life when you can actually keep doing that. Like nearly two decades ago, I was a topcoder with a under 100 and at one time under 10 rank.
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
ssver2,
The thing with my hobbies is that they are mostly things that I do on and off. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.
For example, I've been playing the ukulele the past 8 months now and got reasonably good at it. (Guess who learned the Godfather theme music and Bella Ciao in fingerstyle this past week) Yet, my theoretical knowledge of music is nil. It's an instrument I learned using the internet entirely. Also, I genuinely love a certain genre of music and I take my Spotify very seriously. However, my interest and knowledge is limited to that alone. If they ask me about Kishore Kumar songs or famous musicians from my State from eons ago, I would know only to the extent I've prepared.
Similarly, I've honestly been cycling in recent times. My heart and my brain knows it to be true, but my waistline does not. AND I know nothing about cycling in general. I can only balance a cycle.
Coming to reading books, it's a habit I picked up in the past three years. I wouldn't say I'm a voracious reader, but I read books which pique my interest. A lot of books do, and they're generally non fiction books. So, my knowledge is limited to a casual reading of the same.
I write both prose and poetry, but I mostly dont publish them because I feel it's art and art is always personal. It's weird, I know, but it is what it is.
I also binge watch movies and TV series.
Everything takes a back seat when the cricket is on.
Basically, I'm like Dee Dee from Dexter who goes " Ooo, what does this button do?" when I see something that captures my interest. I don't lose that interest ever, but since there is only so much time every day, I cant give each interest the time it deserves.
If that is the case, would they be hobbies or just interests?
I think my best bet would beto try and learn the basics the best I can,and just be honest and authentic about the fact that my knowledge is rather shallow about each of these interests of mine, if I dont know the answer? I wouldn't look like a blithering idiot, would I?
Thoughts?
Aaaaaaaaaaarrghhhhh. Overthinking would be my primary hobby if it were enjoyable. I definitely do it regularly.
The thing with my hobbies is that they are mostly things that I do on and off. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.
For example, I've been playing the ukulele the past 8 months now and got reasonably good at it. (Guess who learned the Godfather theme music and Bella Ciao in fingerstyle this past week) Yet, my theoretical knowledge of music is nil. It's an instrument I learned using the internet entirely. Also, I genuinely love a certain genre of music and I take my Spotify very seriously. However, my interest and knowledge is limited to that alone. If they ask me about Kishore Kumar songs or famous musicians from my State from eons ago, I would know only to the extent I've prepared.
Similarly, I've honestly been cycling in recent times. My heart and my brain knows it to be true, but my waistline does not. AND I know nothing about cycling in general. I can only balance a cycle.
Coming to reading books, it's a habit I picked up in the past three years. I wouldn't say I'm a voracious reader, but I read books which pique my interest. A lot of books do, and they're generally non fiction books. So, my knowledge is limited to a casual reading of the same.
I write both prose and poetry, but I mostly dont publish them because I feel it's art and art is always personal. It's weird, I know, but it is what it is.
I also binge watch movies and TV series.
Basically, I'm like Dee Dee from Dexter who goes " Ooo, what does this button do?" when I see something that captures my interest. I don't lose that interest ever, but since there is only so much time every day, I cant give each interest the time it deserves.
If that is the case, would they be hobbies or just interests?
I think my best bet would beto try and learn the basics the best I can,and just be honest and authentic about the fact that my knowledge is rather shallow about each of these interests of mine, if I dont know the answer? I wouldn't look like a blithering idiot, would I?
Thoughts?
Aaaaaaaaaaarrghhhhh. Overthinking would be my primary hobby if it were enjoyable. I definitely do it regularly.
“Define Google” defines hobby as “ an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.”
You can put upto two of them and prepare them well.
The problem is really of generation gap you see. If you were born in the 60s, you had less things to do, and very little information on pursuing a hobby. So you had less hobbies and pursued them over a relatively long period of time.
In “our” generation, thanks to Internet you can nearly pursue any hobby including earth watching from space without a long term commitment to it or being tied to the same hobby. So that creates some discrepancy in how we timing vs how the hoard things.
Last to last year, I met a candidate who had put reading Ramayan and Mahabharata in hobby section. When I asked him why he had put it, he said you ask any question in this.
He was fairly good, but the board may not be so kind, as these are strong areas of several people in the board.
besides among the youth the MAhabharat and Ramayan thing has picked up thanks to reading Devdutta Patnaik. Some people have quoted this in hobby by just reading Jaya.
The candidate managed to get IRS that year ( as far as I remember )
This year when I saw him, I asked him, you have not filled the same things again no?
He laughed and said No sir.
He also managed a fairly good 26 rank this year.So sometimes it is a good idea to play safe.
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
IAS>IPS>IRS>IFS
Optional: PSIR
What could be the best way to defend this preference?
There is nothing wrong that choice. No one asks questions on that these days.
I am no knight. Do not call me Sir|Philosophy behind ForumIAS
The thing with my hobbies is that they are mostly things that I do on and off. A little bit of this and a little bit of that.
For example, I've been playing the ukulele the past 8 months now and got reasonably good at it. (Guess who learned the Godfather theme music and Bella Ciao in fingerstyle this past week) Yet, my theoretical knowledge of music is nil. It's an instrument I learned using the internet entirely. Also, I genuinely love a certain genre of music and I take my Spotify very seriously. However, my interest and knowledge is limited to that alone. If they ask me about Kishore Kumar songs or famous musicians from my State from eons ago, I would know only to the extent I've prepared.
Similarly, I've honestly been cycling in recent times. My heart and my brain knows it to be true, but my waistline does not. AND I know nothing about cycling in general. I can only balance a cycle.
Coming to reading books, it's a habit I picked up in the past three years. I wouldn't say I'm a voracious reader, but I read books which pique my interest. A lot of books do, and they're generally non fiction books. So, my knowledge is limited to a casual reading of the same.
I write both prose and poetry, but I mostly dont publish them because I feel it's art and art is always personal. It's weird, I know, but it is what it is.
I also binge watch movies and TV series.
Basically, I'm like Dee Dee from Dexter who goes " Ooo, what does this button do?" when I see something that captures my interest. I don't lose that interest ever, but since there is only so much time every day, I cant give each interest the time it deserves.
If that is the case, would they be hobbies or just interests?
I think my best bet would beto try and learn the basics the best I can,and just be honest and authentic about the fact that my knowledge is rather shallow about each of these interests of mine, if I dont know the answer? I wouldn't look like a blithering idiot, would I?
Thoughts?
Aaaaaaaaaaarrghhhhh. Overthinking would be my primary hobby if it were enjoyable. I definitely do it regularly.
“Define Google” defines hobby as “ an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.”
You can put upto two of them and prepare them well.
The problem is really of generation gap you see. If you were born in the 60s, you had less things to do, and very little information on pursuing a hobby. So you had less hobbies and pursued them over a relatively long period of time.
In “our” generation, thanks to Internet you can nearly pursue any hobby including earth watching from space without a long term commitment to it or being tied to the same hobby. So that creates some discrepancy in how we timing vs how the hoard things.
Last to last year, I met a candidate who had put reading Ramayan and Mahabharata in hobby section. When I asked him why he had put it, he said you ask any question in this.
He was fairly good, but the board may not be so kind, as these are strong areas of several people in the board.
besides among the youth the MAhabharat and Ramayan thing has picked up thanks to reading Devdutta Patnaik. Some people have quoted this in hobby by just reading Jaya.
The candidate managed to get IRS that year ( as far as I remember )
This year when I saw him, I asked him, you have not filled the same things again no?
He laughed and said No sir.
He also managed a fairly good 26 rank this year.So sometimes it is a good idea to play safe.
Interesting. Thank you@Neyawn for sharing. Will keep that in mind. :)
ssver2,
@Neyawn it would be of great help if you could tell how much specific one should get while writing hobbies.. for instance, writing ' 'cooking' vis a vis 'cooking different types of rice/snacks' or 'Cooking Chinese cuisine'.
ssver2,JhansiKiRanii“Define Google” defines hobby as “ an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure.”
You can put upto two of them and prepare them well.
The problem is really of generation gap you see. If you were born in the 60s, you had less things to do, and very little information on pursuing a hobby. So you had less hobbies and pursued them over a relatively long period of time.
In “our” generation, thanks to Internet you can nearly pursue any hobby including earth watching from space without a long term commitment to it or being tied to the same hobby. So that creates some discrepancy in how we timing vs how the hoard things.
Last to last year, I met a candidate who had put reading Ramayan and Mahabharata in hobby section. When I asked him why he had put it, he said you ask any question in this.
He was fairly good, but the board may not be so kind, as these are strong areas of several people in the board.
besides among the youth the MAhabharat and Ramayan thing has picked up thanks to reading Devdutta Patnaik. Some people have quoted this in hobby by just reading Jaya.
The candidate managed to get IRS that year ( as far as I remember )
This year when I saw him, I asked him, you have not filled the same things again no?
He laughed and said No sir.
He also managed a fairly good 26 rank this year.So sometimes it is a good idea to play safe.
was wondering whether writing mahabharata ( instead of indian scriptures) as hobby makes sense or not..... anyway the above video is very insightful if anyone is going for the same this year.
and in general to cherish the acumen of our ancestors of whose there is no current parallel or probably there never will be
The one with the hobbies:
I generally enjoy cooking and have been trying new recipes lately those which I like to eat. But I am not well versed with various cuisines. What range of knowledge (practical) one should possess in cooking?
I also like to watch movies and web series. Have watched hundreds of movies and good 20-25 tv series* (full runtime). But here it is purely for entertainment basis and any relation to productivity is fictional. So, what one is expected to know in this field to not look like a serial time killer?
Lastly, I think I like to read. But then it is scattered read just few hindi and english novels here and there. Some non fiction books also. I also read lot of trash on internet, doesn't count though. I would have read some 30-40 books. However, I am not a sucker for 'classics' (western literature). This might not be a good situation infront of well read people.
All in all I am totally clueless about the whole hobby thing. Any suggestions would be helpful.
*Edit 1: counting number of tv series in my head and then making a correction.
ssver2,AJ_@ssver2 Bhai same case read some books here and there(Harrari's, Sen's etc.) but not enough to write reading non-fiction as a hobby- probably in the same boat as you of pretending to know stuff :pI think@Neyawn sir,@AzadHindFauz and some seniors who already have experience of giving interviews may guide us better.That is okay. At least read / revise 3-4 books in the next 1 month so that if you are asked what is the last book you have read / or favourite author, you dont say something awkward.
Sadhika,Seems like I am the only one who has traditional hobby of muscle training and working out.
I have been regular at it for over 2 years now. The pandemic did act spoil sport but have been able to shed some extra kilos now that gyms are open.
no you are not alone....also this probably is the safest hobby to be used in front of the panel
Seems like I am the only one who has traditional hobby of muscle training and working out.
I have been regular at it for over 2 years now. The pandemic did act spoil sport but have been able to shed some extra kilos now that gyms are open.
no you are not alone....also this probably is the safest hobby to be used in front of the panel
Yup. But they do ask technical questions like metabolic rate, loosing weight without loosing muscle etc. Came across them in some transcripts. I feel nutrition aspect could be asked in depth by the board
ssver2,SankozaSeems like I am the only one who has traditional hobby of muscle training and working out.
I have been regular at it for over 2 years now. The pandemic did act spoil sport but have been able to shed some extra kilos now that gyms are open.
no you are not alone....also this probably is the safest hobby to be used in front of the panel
Yup. But they do ask technical questions like metabolic rate, loosing weight without loosing muscle etc. Came across them in some transcripts. I feel nutrition aspect could be asked in depth by the board
looks like nothing is safe.
And what do you think about mentioning reading philosophy ?
Stoic philosophy, tao, vivekanad etc i have read and enjoyed. Ryan Holiday, Allan Watts etc
Philosophy meets self help is what interests me.
I like reading nihilism and existentialism literature too. Mostly as an escape from the grind of life. Not sure whether to mention it or not.@Neyawn your thoughts on this ?
ssver2,looks like nothing is safe.
Obstacle is the way @MarcusA :p
ssver2,MarcusAAnd what do you think about mentioning reading philosophy ?
Stoic philosophy, tao, vivekanad etc i have read and enjoyed. Ryan Holiday, Allan Watts etc
Philosophy meets self help is what interests me.
I like reading nihilism and existentialism literature too. Mostly as an escape from the grind of life. Not sure whether to mention it or not.@Neyawn your thoughts on this ?
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