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

Patootiesaid

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.

Joeyisthebestsaid

@JhansiKiRanii This female candidates being asked about females is new to me. Thanks for sharing it.

I too don't limit myself by genre. There are few authors however who I prefer reading more than others but again not from a single genre.

Joeyisthebestsaid

@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'. 

Sadhikasaid

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.

Omensaid

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 ?

ssver2said

Omensaid

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 ?

Neyawnsaid

Omensaid

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 ?

You may, but remember that from what I have seen that setting expectations very high before the board is not a good idea. The simpler you keep the better it is.

Thats also because what you feel like the grind of life is nowhere close to how life grinds you as time passes by.

So a 65 year old is less likley to believe that you are facing some grind ( and hence turned philosophical ) , because somewhere he knows whats in store for you as years ( and decades ) pass by.

But more than that, the person going to interview you was someone like you, plus thirty more years where he has explored the topics in much more depth. ( Secreatry level officers in State govt do not have as much work. Its even more free in IPS ) 

Look, knowledge/ wisdom  per-se is gained in stages. And when you get new knowledge, it will unfold itself like the peels of an onion. If you have ever peeled an onion, you will find the "perfect-ultimate-final" piece of onion. 

But then when you peel off that layer too, you will find a completely fresh onion, which is even more perfect than the previous one.

So when we know something, we always feel that this is the ultimate truth of life/ syllabus. Until we dig a layer deeper. But while we are at a certain layer, we do feel 100% that this is "the" fact/ "the truth" and final.

Sankozasaid

@Neyawn this is so true! All Non-fiction is just opinion at best. And like everything else, everyone has their own opinion on how to succeed in life, work, love etc. There is nothing sacrosanct. 

All these self-help books seem to me like one big knowledge-porn which leaves one frustrated and confused even more. But don’t get me wrong. I’m also a big part of this circle-jerk and I still read non-fiction. 

On the other hand, fiction is much more humane.  It’s like therapy. Writers tell you things that you were afraid to discuss with any other mortal. It makes you feel less alone in feeling the way you do. 

So yeah. 

I know most men (research says women like fiction more) who are in the workforce read mostly non-fiction. Like I follow Anudeep’s articles. He only talks about non-fiction. It isn’t a bad thing at all! Probably I’ll do the same going forward. 

But I just hope people don’t give up on fiction and philosophy. These two rescue us from the despair that springs forth from the absurdity of existence. 

Omensaid

@Neyawn and yes thank you for all these insights.

ssver2said

Caesarsaid

@ssver2 i second your opinion. Fiction is still okay, esp when it's short and relatable(like kafka, or our Upmanyu chatterjee). But philosophy drowns me into boredom. It feels like why is someone making a simple thing so complex(or maybe i don’t have the bandwidth to process all that). Nothing against philosophy or fiction, rather fiction writers are the conscience keeper of the society, but some people are just not cut out for it.

Will also disagree with@Sankoza,all non fiction is not just opinion, esp if the work is well backed up by facts and documented history

err, no. I get where you are coming from. but I love both fiction & philosophy :p

(check out mypodcast, it's Seneca for now, so, not so mumbo-jumpo) (boy, I'm shameless!) 

but "unreal" stories (eg fantasy) is not my cup of tea, unless supplied with a looooot of details (eg HP, LoTR). also I usually stick to fiction I can relate to. otoh, the true lovers of fiction read it to delve into diverse "realities"

And I too feel that sankoza over-generalizes here. but I confess that when absurdity of life hit, Harry Potter helped more than Albert Camus. and that it's knowledge porn at the end of the day. reminds me of neyawn's article where he says ki kitna bhi mein motivation porn likh dun aur tum padh lo, ussse kaddu kuch nahi hoga, agar mehnat nahi karoge (in better words ofc)

Omensaid

ssver2said

Caesarsaid

@ssver2 i second your opinion. Fiction is still okay, esp when it's short and relatable(like kafka, or our Upmanyu chatterjee). But philosophy drowns me into boredom. It feels like why is someone making a simple thing so complex(or maybe i don’t have the bandwidth to process all that). Nothing against philosophy or fiction, rather fiction writers are the conscience keeper of the society, but some people are just not cut out for it.

Will also disagree with@Sankoza,all non fiction is not just opinion, esp if the work is well backed up by facts and documented history

err, no. I get where you are coming from. but I love both fiction & philosophy :p

(check out mypodcast, it's Seneca for now, so, not so mumbo-jumpo) (boy, I'm shameless!) 

but "unreal" stories (eg fantasy) is not my cup of tea, unless supplied with a looooot of details (eg HP, LoTR). also I usually stick to fiction I can relate to. otoh, the true lovers of fiction read it to delve into diverse "realities"

And I too feel that sankoza over-generalizes here. but I confess that when absurdity of life hit, Harry Potter helped more than Albert Camus. and that it's knowledge porn at the end of the day. reminds me of neyawn's article where he says ki kitna bhi mein motivation porn likh dun aur tum padh lo, ussse kaddu kuch nahi hoga, agar mehnat nahi karoge (in better words ofc)

Totally agree with the point that nothing more motivational than the momentum gained through studying itself. 

Albert Camus has been really helpful to me. Sisyphus is happy has stayed with me for a while now. 

I need to try reading LoTR and HP as you recommended 

mehuifssaid

@Neyawn but it is forum who gave us the insights to achieve our vision!