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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

591 comments

@Neyawn Its a long query, but i have been following your advice on mains, prelims and studies though have commented only thrice on forum, Please give your guidance as its needed, would be immensely grateful :) 

1. In the column for prizes/ scholarships, will it make sense to write about school level district competitions in GK / GATE rank/ giving interview for BARC scientific officer position?

2. I have done two research internships in abroad during my IIT years. It will be considered under employment right.

3. Under extra-curricular activities along with hobbies. Would it be okay to fill in extra-curricular activities like volunteering in NGOs.

4. In college, i mentored a junior who had failed classical mechanics course to pass course. I happened to join a fellowship called "India fellowship" just after passing oand have worked and lived in a community school in a village near Sitapur district at Hardoi Border for an NGO as part of fellowship.

Now thing is during my stay in village, i had mentored 4 girls from community (two from school and two from community) out of my pocket and as personal project along with work. It so happened that one of girls got job in police constabulary, two in govt colleges for engineering and fourth has now done diploma in software.

After completing fellowship, i kept in touch with students and children from nearby villages and infact have guided another girl clearing polytechnic (but this time no physical presence)...

Whenever i find time during preps, i do check with those children to check mental well being, guide, persuade parents and help find books.

I also had mentored a child of really poor farmer (less than 150 rupees a day earning) pass class 10th exam during my stay at village

Work was about implementing process in community school and even work also involved taking life skill sessions during which i used to mentor couple of students. 

*I feel like i have decent track record of mentoring, can i write "mentoring" as hobby of mine? as some friends have said it cant be written as hobby, problem is i don't seem to have any other genuine hobby it seems*


About second hobby, i used to write blog on social issues for fellowship but have stopped completely since december 2018, similarly i have watched many infotainment documentaries (500 GB HDD has 190 GB documentaries) but again i have missed out on them for last 3 years although i have started rewatching post this mains. what to do?


I am bit talkative, lack clarity of expression sometimes i feel which may be offputting to examiner i think... Please suggest your solutions to them...

5.3k views

Prafull401526said

@Neyawn Its a long query, but i have been following your advice on mains, prelims and studies though have commented only thrice on forum, Please give your guidance as its needed, would be immensely grateful :) 

1. In the column for prizes/ scholarships, will it make sense to write about school level district competitions in GK / GATE rank/ giving interview for BARC scientific officer position?

2. I have done two research internships in abroad during my IIT years. It will be considered under employment right.

3. Under extra-curricular activities along with hobbies. Would it be okay to fill in extra-curricular activities like volunteering in NGOs.

4. In college, i mentored a junior who had failed classical mechanics course to pass course. I happened to join a fellowship called "India fellowship" just after passing oand have worked and lived in a community school in a village near Sitapur district at Hardoi Border for an NGO as part of fellowship.

Now thing is during my stay in village, i had mentored 4 girls from community (two from school and two from community) out of my pocket and as personal project along with work. It so happened that one of girls got job in police constabulary, two in govt colleges for engineering and fourth has now done diploma in software.

After completing fellowship, i kept in touch with students and children from nearby villages and infact have guided another girl clearing polytechnic (but this time no physical presence)...

Whenever i find time during preps, i do check with those children to check mental well being, guide, persuade parents and help find books.

I also had mentored a child of really poor farmer (less than 150 rupees a day earning) pass class 10th exam during my stay at village

Work was about implementing process in community school and even work also involved taking life skill sessions during which i used to mentor couple of students. 

*I feel like i have decent track record of mentoring, can i write "mentoring" as hobby of mine? as some friends have said it cant be written as hobby, problem is i don't seem to have any other genuine hobby it seems*


About second hobby, i used to write blog on social issues for fellowship but have stopped completely since december 2018, similarly i have watched many infotainment documentaries (500 GB HDD has 190 GB documentaries) but again i have missed out on them for last 3 years although i have started rewatching post this mains. what to do?


I am bit talkative, lack clarity of expression sometimes i feel which may be offputting to examiner i think... Please suggest your solutions to them...


Answering your query inline

@Neyawn Its a long query, but i have been following your advice on mains, prelims and studies though have commented only thrice on forum, Please give your guidance as its needed, would be immensely grateful :) 

Thanks for the accolades , I hope you make the most of it. The dream is to have a community meet soon. Ever since the quality of discussions collapsed, we couldnt get anyone from the community for a community meet. It became a Toppers meet from the academy, which we stopped doing. I am hopeful folks from this thread, this participation make it with flying colors :)

1. In the column for prizes/ scholarships, will it make sense to write about school level district competitions in GK / GATE rank/ giving interview for BARC scientific officer position?

People have done that. There is no negative things about them. The BARC interview can be skipped.


2. I have done two research internships in abroad during my IIT years. It will be considered under employment right.

Again, Internships have been kept out of employment, but you can still put that. Last year also people have done that. Prepare well on those topics.


3. Under extra-curricular activities along with hobbies. Would it be okay to fill in extra-curricular activities like volunteering in NGOs.

Thats okay. I personally do not think highly of NGOs thing as something that attracts a bureaucrats towards your profile. Also the questions get messy sometimes.


4. In college, i mentored a junior who had failed classical mechanics course to pass course. I happened to join a fellowship called "India fellowship" just after passing oand have worked and lived in a community school in a village near Sitapur district at Hardoi Border for an NGO as part of fellowship.

The fellowship is fine to mention.


Now thing is during my stay in village, i had mentored 4 girls from community (two from school and two from community) out of my pocket and as personal project along with work. It so happened that one of girls got job in police constabulary, two in govt colleges for engineering and fourth has now done diploma in software.

After completing fellowship, i kept in touch with students and children from nearby villages and infact have guided another girl clearing polytechnic (but this time no physical presence)...

Whenever i find time during preps, i do check with those children to check mental well being, guide, persuade parents and help find books.

I also had mentored a child of really poor farmer (less than 150 rupees a day earning) pass class 10th exam during my stay at village

Work was about implementing process in community school and even work also involved taking life skill sessions during which i used to mentor couple of students. 

*I feel like i have decent track record of mentoring, can i write "mentoring" as hobby of mine? as some friends have said it cant be written as hobby, problem is i don't seem to have any other genuine hobby it seems*


Look, you set the bars very high when you say work with NGO. There is a famous guy from forum, whose book on Socio is a bit famous. He was in Bihar when I spoke to him last. He had NGO / Mentoring and all that in his DAF. But he was actually socially committed. It was completely different talking to him. He had worked only for non profits in Africa, India.

The guys who really like to work for NGOs serve in hinterlands of Bihar and UP and poorer states. Not in posh urban areas and claiming to  serve the urban poor in their locality. Worse, they run away when there is actually serving the poor without AC in rural areas and there is no car, but kharata bus and overloaded bolero travel.


About second hobby, i used to write blog on social issues for fellowship but have stopped completely since december 2018, similarly i have watched many infotainment documentaries (500 GB HDD has 190 GB documentaries) but again i have missed out on them for last 3 years although i have started rewatching post this mains. what to do?

You could watch them like 5 -10 of them and put that. 


I am bit talkative, lack clarity of expression sometimes i feel which may be offputting to examiner i think... Please suggest your solutions to them...


This girl was talkative. The first time, it was a mess, I hated to say it, but she sat hours just to correct that behaviour. She worked very hard.

Made a 180 degree turn in how she said things and what she said.

Got a 201. Sent a thank you note. Also her mantra.

Here is a screenshot.




The solution is in written answers and not blabbering first thing that comes to your mind.

Matlab Man ki baat nahi karni hai. We already have a PM do that. 

Hope I address your query to some extent. 

ssver2,AzadHindFauzand6 otherslike this
8.2k views

cot_ainoksaid

@Neyawn  Sir, I would be grateful if you will share your views on the following points:

1. In the column for prizes/ scholarships, does it make sense to write about intra-university level prizes in debates, quizzes, etc or even school level prizes?

2. I have done two foreign internships during my engineering. But that was almost 4-5 years ago. Would it make sense to fill it in the scholarship column or would it sound out of place?

3. In the sports column, should I just mention the name of the sport or also the level at which I have participated? Say, zonal level swimming or just swimming?

4. The 4thcolumn mentions extra-curricular activities along with hobbies. Would it be okay to fill in extra-curricular activities in which I participated during college (but not after) like debating or quizzing here?

5. I write short poems and prose in English and Hindi that I publish on a social media handle. It’s nothing major but I have been doing it for the last 4 years. Do you think I can write it under the hobbies column as “writing poems”? 

#1 People have done that. even school level prizes.

#2 You can put that. Prepare those countries and internships well. Be thorough with that. If you cant be thorough, leave it.

#3 Zonal Level swimming seems fine.

#4 Yes. people have done that. The ones who have cleared have also left debating after college. Those who continue, don't quite reach the interview stage.

#5 You may, and prepare famous poets as well very well.

ssver2,cot_ainokand1 otherslike this
5.8k views

Omensaid

I read the prelims thread and comments by@Neyawn and others. I am afraid and almost want to start preparing for the next prelims already. :/

But Prelims *is* tricky. There are so many people every year where they have gotten a rank and flunked prelims next year! You need 4 months or solid prep before you know how to crack it. Once you develop the knack , you can do so in 2 months. Even 15 days. Then you can give a topper interview and say i cracked IAS in 15 days! That works!

But when you prepare, be cautious, give the exam the time and respect it deserves.

ssver2,alankritbhatia6382and5 otherslike this
8.3k views

@Neyawn last year after working alot with inputs from you, I expected such a 180 degree turn around (as you described above in case of that girl) in my case too. Same Bhonsle sir board. But , what that girl was feared about, happened to me. 154 again in my second interview too. I need a 'surgical strike' to turn around things this time. I hope you help me again , with more intensity. 

5.4k views

MassiveSuccesssaid

@Neyawn last year after working alot with inputs from you, I expected such a 180 degree turn around (as you described above in case of that girl) in my case too. Same Bhonsle sir board. But , what that girl was feared about, happened to me. 154 again in my second interview too. I need a 'surgical strike' to turn around things this time. I hope you help me again , with more intensity. 

I completely understand how devastating it can be. She had the benefit of it being her first interview, so didn’t have a baggage problem.


However, there is one thing I would like to know. Have you written down your transcript after the interview. I have often seen that 6 out of 10 times candidates who don’t write their post interview transcript do end up with 160 minus type score.


I am not pointing to causation. I am pointing to coexistence, and if you think hard enough, you will see it.

5.7k views
What are consistent qualities of people who score high marks in PT year after year? Is there a common thread that ties them, or is it too flimsy to merit much thought?
4.9k views
@Neyawn Yes. I did. And I shared it with you during lock down. You know me personally 😄. 


5.3k views

MassiveSuccesssaid

@Neyawn Yes. I did. And I shared it with you during lock down. You know me personally 😄. 


That’s good then. Lose the baggage, start afresh. Work on objectivity of answers. We will do some group mocks this year too.

ssver2,MassiveSuccessand1 otherslike this
5.7k views

Neyawnsaid

MassiveSuccesssaid

@Neyawn Yes. I did. And I shared it with you during lock down. You know me personally 😄. 


That’s good then. Lose the baggage, start afresh. Work on objectivity of answers. We will do some group mocks this year too.

Oh the perils of you know who I am but I don’t :(

cot_ainok,
5.6k views

Arrokothsaid

What are consistent qualities of people who score high marks in PT year after year? Is there a common thread that ties them, or is it too flimsy to merit much thought?

From what I have observed, they are the quieter ones,often lack content to be an alpha male in the group, objective, balanced and don’t give opinions in matters that are factual.

Also they always have few I don’t knows. That sometimes becomes most important.

ssver2,alankritbhatia6382and5 otherslike this
8.1k views

Neyawnsaid

Arrokothsaid

What are consistent qualities of people who score high marks in PT year after year? Is there a common thread that ties them, or is it too flimsy to merit much thought?

From what I have observed, they are the quieter ones,often lack content to be an alpha male in the group, objective, balanced and don’t give opinions in matters that are factual.

Also they always have few I don’t knows. That sometimes becomes most important.

On second thoughts, I would say that we do have a negative list, but coming up with a positive list is going to be difficult.

ssver2,Omenand4 otherslike this
5.7k views
Deleted
f
4.6k views
Deleted
@Neyawn Ton of thanks for your frank suggestions and wishes. I will not disturb you again with more long questions as i am new and quite confused. Especially on talkative thing, Ma'm scores are some hope for talkative person like me. Just need to clarify things,
1. How does one sit and correct such behavior of one's Man ki Baat like she did? Is there something on that I should do before mains results? Writing what i say is really good advice, where do i start? Should i open some
2. I agree i should not write volunteering with NGOs as part of extra-currics as all of them during college were superficial and in slums area.  This is indeed correct (thanks!)
3. I will write Documentary watching as hobby (i was just watching one in morning) then.
4. Makes sense to remove BARC interview from achievements.
5. On social commitment thing,
However, this fellowship (was 13 months long) which i did was in proper hinterland of uttar pradesh, i actually lived in a classroom of community school amidst the village. Yes, it is accessible by "local thheliya" which was probably reason why NGO founder told me saying he has high hopes from me and i was first one to choose to work there as most of young people chose to live in city and volunteers for school used car from lucknow to have travel of two hours instead of staying in community.

Indeed, many left fellowship (fellows were placed across country, many in tribal belts like kala handi, bastar left fellowship) because of reasons of comfort even i became afraid when i came to know many deaths due to snake bite. Indeed if i had been bitten by a snake, i would have probably died as nearest tahseel (Sidhauli block) is 40 minutes away from village and good hospital was two hour away. Since i was living in school, mobile network was hard to have, so me being able to ask for help was difficult given i was new and lived in isolation so i had to walk alone to seek help which seemed difficult.  

Somehow pep talks by my mentor and realisation that i had commitment to community made me stay back and indeed it was most learning experience. Infact my mentor gave me option to stay at guest house in tahseel and use transport but i also was sure if i want to guide some community girls, it will require a place which is not my private place (parents are reluctant to send adolescent daughter to home of a 21 year old young bachelor). 

So i agree with your statement. Many people do leave due to challenges of work (like community ignoring your efforts, it took me more than 6 months to convince parents of girls to send their child to school to me for tutoring) and comforts. Those NSS hours at colleges at IIT are sham, so i will not write them ( i was unsure because of this, thats why asked). But fellowship, i think, is fine to mention.

Even during lockdown, i was supporting school teachers of village for online classes. I even fundraised significant money for Covid Cash relief (https://www.indiafellow.org/covid-relief/) which involved giving direct cash to migrants in distress using network of development sector, I think quality of social commitment was decent during that year. 

I think mentoring is only hobby i can say with conviction because despite many odds, i worked with social commitment and i do use my leisure time to mentor children even after my job as fellow. Also mentoring which i did had some results which i could show them as matter of actual track record i think. During fellowship, i used rest of my time after work on a day in engaging with community people and asking children come to school (which was my home for a year)

Besides just so you know, i have worked with PAGIR NGO of LEH (10 day workshop component of fellowship using self fundraiser) for a design thinking project there for them. 

My fear is although i have social commitment, my poor quality of expression and inability to summarize things may make my day worse if i do get that golden chance of interview this year. Now do you suggest should i write mentoring as hobby, or i am diverting??? Please know i am not indulging in self appreciation, its just that i am confused and want to eliminate clutter which i present. Does mentoring make sense then or i should write something to showcase this.

A relevant blog i wrote and a relevant news clipping of a newspaper,  documenting my stay at school:  https://www.indiafellow.org/blog/2017/12/my-first-3-months-at-swarachna-school/





4.7k views

Neyawnsaid

Prafull401526said

@Neyawn Its a long query, but i have been following your advice on mains, prelims and studies though have commented only thrice on forum, Please give your guidance as its needed, would be immensely grateful :) 

1. In the column for prizes/ scholarships, will it make sense to write about school level district competitions in GK / GATE rank/ giving interview for BARC scientific officer position?

2. I have done two research internships in abroad during my IIT years. It will be considered under employment right.

3. Under extra-curricular activities along with hobbies. Would it be okay to fill in extra-curricular activities like volunteering in NGOs.

4. In college, i mentored a junior who had failed classical mechanics course to pass course. I happened to join a fellowship called "India fellowship" just after passing oand have worked and lived in a community school in a village near Sitapur district at Hardoi Border for an NGO as part of fellowship.

Now thing is during my stay in village, i had mentored 4 girls from community (two from school and two from community) out of my pocket and as personal project along with work. It so happened that one of girls got job in police constabulary, two in govt colleges for engineering and fourth has now done diploma in software.

After completing fellowship, i kept in touch with students and children from nearby villages and infact have guided another girl clearing polytechnic (but this time no physical presence)...

Whenever i find time during preps, i do check with those children to check mental well being, guide, persuade parents and help find books.

I also had mentored a child of really poor farmer (less than 150 rupees a day earning) pass class 10th exam during my stay at village

Work was about implementing process in community school and even work also involved taking life skill sessions during which i used to mentor couple of students. 

*I feel like i have decent track record of mentoring, can i write "mentoring" as hobby of mine? as some friends have said it cant be written as hobby, problem is i don't seem to have any other genuine hobby it seems*


About second hobby, i used to write blog on social issues for fellowship but have stopped completely since december 2018, similarly i have watched many infotainment documentaries (500 GB HDD has 190 GB documentaries) but again i have missed out on them for last 3 years although i have started rewatching post this mains. what to do?


I am bit talkative, lack clarity of expression sometimes i feel which may be offputting to examiner i think... Please suggest your solutions to them...


Answering your query inline

@Neyawn Its a long query, but i have been following your advice on mains, prelims and studies though have commented only thrice on forum, Please give your guidance as its needed, would be immensely grateful :) 

Thanks for the accolades , I hope you make the most of it. The dream is to have a community meet soon. Ever since the quality of discussions collapsed, we couldnt get anyone from the community for a community meet. It became a Toppers meet from the academy, which we stopped doing. I am hopeful folks from this thread, this participation make it with flying colors :)

1. In the column for prizes/ scholarships, will it make sense to write about school level district competitions in GK / GATE rank/ giving interview for BARC scientific officer position?

People have done that. There is no negative things about them. The BARC interview can be skipped.


2. I have done two research internships in abroad during my IIT years. It will be considered under employment right.

Again, Internships have been kept out of employment, but you can still put that. Last year also people have done that. Prepare well on those topics.


3. Under extra-curricular activities along with hobbies. Would it be okay to fill in extra-curricular activities like volunteering in NGOs.

Thats okay. I personally do not think highly of NGOs thing as something that attracts a bureaucrats towards your profile. Also the questions get messy sometimes.


4. In college, i mentored a junior who had failed classical mechanics course to pass course. I happened to join a fellowship called "India fellowship" just after passing oand have worked and lived in a community school in a village near Sitapur district at Hardoi Border for an NGO as part of fellowship.

The fellowship is fine to mention.


Now thing is during my stay in village, i had mentored 4 girls from community (two from school and two from community) out of my pocket and as personal project along with work. It so happened that one of girls got job in police constabulary, two in govt colleges for engineering and fourth has now done diploma in software.

After completing fellowship, i kept in touch with students and children from nearby villages and infact have guided another girl clearing polytechnic (but this time no physical presence)...

Whenever i find time during preps, i do check with those children to check mental well being, guide, persuade parents and help find books.

I also had mentored a child of really poor farmer (less than 150 rupees a day earning) pass class 10th exam during my stay at village

Work was about implementing process in community school and even work also involved taking life skill sessions during which i used to mentor couple of students. 

*I feel like i have decent track record of mentoring, can i write "mentoring" as hobby of mine? as some friends have said it cant be written as hobby, problem is i don't seem to have any other genuine hobby it seems*


Look, you set the bars very high when you say work with NGO. There is a famous guy from forum, whose book on Socio is a bit famous. He was in Bihar when I spoke to him last. He had NGO / Mentoring and all that in his DAF. But he was actually socially committed. It was completely different talking to him. He had worked only for non profits in Africa, India.

The guys who really like to work for NGOs serve in hinterlands of Bihar and UP and poorer states. Not in posh urban areas and claiming to  serve the urban poor in their locality. Worse, they run away when there is actually serving the poor without AC in rural areas and there is no car, but kharata bus and overloaded bolero travel.


About second hobby, i used to write blog on social issues for fellowship but have stopped completely since december 2018, similarly i have watched many infotainment documentaries (500 GB HDD has 190 GB documentaries) but again i have missed out on them for last 3 years although i have started rewatching post this mains. what to do?

You could watch them like 5 -10 of them and put that. 


I am bit talkative, lack clarity of expression sometimes i feel which may be offputting to examiner i think... Please suggest your solutions to them...


This girl was talkative. The first time, it was a mess, I hated to say it, but she sat hours just to correct that behaviour. She worked very hard.

Made a 180 degree turn in how she said things and what she said.

Got a 201. Sent a thank you note. Also her mantra.

Here is a screenshot.




The solution is in written answers and not blabbering first thing that comes to your mind.

Matlab Man ki baat nahi karni hai. We already have a PM do that. 

Hope I address your query to some extent. 

@Neyawn Ton of thanks for your frank suggestions and wishes. I will not disturb you again with more long questions as i am new and quite confused. Especially on talkative thing, Ma'm scores are some hope for talkative person like me. Just need to clarify things,
1. How does one sit and correct such behavior of one's Man ki Baat like she did? Is there something on that I should do before mains results? Writing what i say is really good advice, where do i start? Should i open some
2. I agree i should not write volunteering with NGOs as part of extra-currics as all of them during college were superficial and in slums area.  This is indeed correct (thanks!)
3. I will write Documentary watching as hobby (i was just watching one in morning) then.
4. Makes sense to remove BARC interview from achievements.
5. On social commitment thing,
However, this fellowship (was 13 months long) which i did was in proper hinterland of uttar pradesh, i actually lived in a classroom of community school amidst the village. Yes, it is accessible by "local thheliya" which was probably reason why NGO founder told me saying he has high hopes from me and i was first one to choose to work there as most of young people chose to live in city and volunteers for school used car from lucknow to have travel of two hours instead of staying in community.

Indeed, many left fellowship (fellows were placed across country, many in tribal belts like kala handi, bastar left fellowship) because of reasons of comfort even i became afraid when i came to know many deaths due to snake bite. Indeed if i had been bitten by a snake, i would have probably died as nearest tahseel (Sidhauli block) is 40 minutes away from village and good hospital was two hour away. Since i was living in school, mobile network was hard to have, so me being able to ask for help was difficult given i was new and lived in isolation so i had to walk alone to seek help which seemed difficult.  

Somehow pep talks by my mentor and realisation that i had commitment to community made me stay back and indeed it was most learning experience. Infact my mentor gave me option to stay at guest house in tahseel and use transport but i also was sure if i want to guide some community girls, it will require a place which is not my private place (parents are reluctant to send adolescent daughter to home of a 21 year old young bachelor). 

So i agree with your statement. Many people do leave due to challenges of work (like community ignoring your efforts, it took me more than 6 months to convince parents of girls to send their child to school to me for tutoring) and comforts. Those NSS hours at colleges at IIT are sham, so i will not write them ( i was unsure because of this, thats why asked). But fellowship, i think, is fine to mention.

Even during lockdown, i was supporting school teachers of village for online classes. I even fundraised significant money for Covid Cash relief (https://www.indiafellow.org/covid-relief/) which involved giving direct cash to migrants in distress using network of development sector, I think quality of social commitment was decent during that year. 

I think mentoring is only hobby i can say with conviction because despite many odds, i worked with social commitment and i do use my leisure time to mentor children even after my job as fellow. Also mentoring which i did had some results which i could show them as matter of actual track record i think. During fellowship, i used rest of my time after work on a day in engaging with community people and asking children come to school (which was my home for a year)

Besides just so you know, i have worked with PAGIR NGO of LEH (10 day workshop component of fellowship using self fundraiser) for a design thinking project there for them. 

My fear is although i have social commitment, my poor quality of expression and inability to summarize things may make my day worse if i do get that golden chance of interview this year. Now do you suggest should i write mentoring as hobby, or i am diverting??? Please know i am not indulging in self appreciation, its just that i am confused and want to eliminate clutter which i present. Does mentoring make sense then or i should write something to showcase this.

A relevant blog i wrote and a relevant news clipping of a newspaper,  documenting my stay at school:  https://www.indiafellow.org/blog/2017/12/my-first-3-months-at-swarachna-school/




4.6k views
@Neyawn Thank you Sir. Will keep these points in mind. That is if i get the chance to fill the DAF. Hoping for the best, and preparing for the worst. 


Neyawn,Omenand2 otherslike this
4.3k views

@Neyawn Sir will there be any discussion group for interview based on say optional, graduation subject, current affairs. If it happens, then it would be helpful for 

Neyawn,whatif1997
4.2k views

This is one video I would like you to watch. Not fancy Youtube stuff. Regular mock. What are your observations about the candidate?


Omen,omega31and7 otherslike this
7.4k views

Neyawnsaid

This is one video I would like you to watch. What are your observations about the candidate?


I checked the candidate has 200+ score, so you can take a cue.

4.9k views

Prafull401526said

Neyawnsaid

Prafull401526said

@Neyawn Its a long query, but i have been following your advice on mains, prelims and studies though have commented only thrice on forum, Please give your guidance as its needed, would be immensely grateful :) 

1. In the column for prizes/ scholarships, will it make sense to write about school level district competitions in GK / GATE rank/ giving interview for BARC scientific officer position?

2. I have done two research internships in abroad during my IIT years. It will be considered under employment right.

3. Under extra-curricular activities along with hobbies. Would it be okay to fill in extra-curricular activities like volunteering in NGOs.

4. In college, i mentored a junior who had failed classical mechanics course to pass course. I happened to join a fellowship called "India fellowship" just after passing oand have worked and lived in a community school in a village near Sitapur district at Hardoi Border for an NGO as part of fellowship.

Now thing is during my stay in village, i had mentored 4 girls from community (two from school and two from community) out of my pocket and as personal project along with work. It so happened that one of girls got job in police constabulary, two in govt colleges for engineering and fourth has now done diploma in software.

After completing fellowship, i kept in touch with students and children from nearby villages and infact have guided another girl clearing polytechnic (but this time no physical presence)...

Whenever i find time during preps, i do check with those children to check mental well being, guide, persuade parents and help find books.

I also had mentored a child of really poor farmer (less than 150 rupees a day earning) pass class 10th exam during my stay at village

Work was about implementing process in community school and even work also involved taking life skill sessions during which i used to mentor couple of students. 

*I feel like i have decent track record of mentoring, can i write "mentoring" as hobby of mine? as some friends have said it cant be written as hobby, problem is i don't seem to have any other genuine hobby it seems*


About second hobby, i used to write blog on social issues for fellowship but have stopped completely since december 2018, similarly i have watched many infotainment documentaries (500 GB HDD has 190 GB documentaries) but again i have missed out on them for last 3 years although i have started rewatching post this mains. what to do?


I am bit talkative, lack clarity of expression sometimes i feel which may be offputting to examiner i think... Please suggest your solutions to them...


Answering your query inline

@Neyawn Its a long query, but i have been following your advice on mains, prelims and studies though have commented only thrice on forum, Please give your guidance as its needed, would be immensely grateful :) 

Thanks for the accolades , I hope you make the most of it. The dream is to have a community meet soon. Ever since the quality of discussions collapsed, we couldnt get anyone from the community for a community meet. It became a Toppers meet from the academy, which we stopped doing. I am hopeful folks from this thread, this participation make it with flying colors :)

1. In the column for prizes/ scholarships, will it make sense to write about school level district competitions in GK / GATE rank/ giving interview for BARC scientific officer position?

People have done that. There is no negative things about them. The BARC interview can be skipped.


2. I have done two research internships in abroad during my IIT years. It will be considered under employment right.

Again, Internships have been kept out of employment, but you can still put that. Last year also people have done that. Prepare well on those topics.


3. Under extra-curricular activities along with hobbies. Would it be okay to fill in extra-curricular activities like volunteering in NGOs.

Thats okay. I personally do not think highly of NGOs thing as something that attracts a bureaucrats towards your profile. Also the questions get messy sometimes.


4. In college, i mentored a junior who had failed classical mechanics course to pass course. I happened to join a fellowship called "India fellowship" just after passing oand have worked and lived in a community school in a village near Sitapur district at Hardoi Border for an NGO as part of fellowship.

The fellowship is fine to mention.


Now thing is during my stay in village, i had mentored 4 girls from community (two from school and two from community) out of my pocket and as personal project along with work. It so happened that one of girls got job in police constabulary, two in govt colleges for engineering and fourth has now done diploma in software.

After completing fellowship, i kept in touch with students and children from nearby villages and infact have guided another girl clearing polytechnic (but this time no physical presence)...

Whenever i find time during preps, i do check with those children to check mental well being, guide, persuade parents and help find books.

I also had mentored a child of really poor farmer (less than 150 rupees a day earning) pass class 10th exam during my stay at village

Work was about implementing process in community school and even work also involved taking life skill sessions during which i used to mentor couple of students. 

*I feel like i have decent track record of mentoring, can i write "mentoring" as hobby of mine? as some friends have said it cant be written as hobby, problem is i don't seem to have any other genuine hobby it seems*


Look, you set the bars very high when you say work with NGO. There is a famous guy from forum, whose book on Socio is a bit famous. He was in Bihar when I spoke to him last. He had NGO / Mentoring and all that in his DAF. But he was actually socially committed. It was completely different talking to him. He had worked only for non profits in Africa, India.

The guys who really like to work for NGOs serve in hinterlands of Bihar and UP and poorer states. Not in posh urban areas and claiming to  serve the urban poor in their locality. Worse, they run away when there is actually serving the poor without AC in rural areas and there is no car, but kharata bus and overloaded bolero travel.


About second hobby, i used to write blog on social issues for fellowship but have stopped completely since december 2018, similarly i have watched many infotainment documentaries (500 GB HDD has 190 GB documentaries) but again i have missed out on them for last 3 years although i have started rewatching post this mains. what to do?

You could watch them like 5 -10 of them and put that. 


I am bit talkative, lack clarity of expression sometimes i feel which may be offputting to examiner i think... Please suggest your solutions to them...


This girl was talkative. The first time, it was a mess, I hated to say it, but she sat hours just to correct that behaviour. She worked very hard.

Made a 180 degree turn in how she said things and what she said.

Got a 201. Sent a thank you note. Also her mantra.

Here is a screenshot.




The solution is in written answers and not blabbering first thing that comes to your mind.

Matlab Man ki baat nahi karni hai. We already have a PM do that. 

Hope I address your query to some extent. 

@Neyawn Ton of thanks for your frank suggestions and wishes. I will not disturb you again with more long questions as i am new and quite confused. Especially on talkative thing, Ma'm scores are some hope for talkative person like me. Just need to clarify things,
1. How does one sit and correct such behavior of one's Man ki Baat like she did? Is there something on that I should do before mains results? Writing what i say is really good advice, where do i start? Should i open some
2. I agree i should not write volunteering with NGOs as part of extra-currics as all of them during college were superficial and in slums area.  This is indeed correct (thanks!)
3. I will write Documentary watching as hobby (i was just watching one in morning) then.
4. Makes sense to remove BARC interview from achievements.
5. On social commitment thing,
However, this fellowship (was 13 months long) which i did was in proper hinterland of uttar pradesh, i actually lived in a classroom of community school amidst the village. Yes, it is accessible by "local thheliya" which was probably reason why NGO founder told me saying he has high hopes from me and i was first one to choose to work there as most of young people chose to live in city and volunteers for school used car from lucknow to have travel of two hours instead of staying in community.

Indeed, many left fellowship (fellows were placed across country, many in tribal belts like kala handi, bastar left fellowship) because of reasons of comfort even i became afraid when i came to know many deaths due to snake bite. Indeed if i had been bitten by a snake, i would have probably died as nearest tahseel (Sidhauli block) is 40 minutes away from village and good hospital was two hour away. Since i was living in school, mobile network was hard to have, so me being able to ask for help was difficult given i was new and lived in isolation so i had to walk alone to seek help which seemed difficult.  

Somehow pep talks by my mentor and realisation that i had commitment to community made me stay back and indeed it was most learning experience. Infact my mentor gave me option to stay at guest house in tahseel and use transport but i also was sure if i want to guide some community girls, it will require a place which is not my private place (parents are reluctant to send adolescent daughter to home of a 21 year old young bachelor). 

So i agree with your statement. Many people do leave due to challenges of work (like community ignoring your efforts, it took me more than 6 months to convince parents of girls to send their child to school to me for tutoring) and comforts. Those NSS hours at colleges at IIT are sham, so i will not write them ( i was unsure because of this, thats why asked). But fellowship, i think, is fine to mention.

Even during lockdown, i was supporting school teachers of village for online classes. I even fundraised significant money for Covid Cash relief (https://www.indiafellow.org/covid-relief/) which involved giving direct cash to migrants in distress using network of development sector, I think quality of social commitment was decent during that year. 

I think mentoring is only hobby i can say with conviction because despite many odds, i worked with social commitment and i do use my leisure time to mentor children even after my job as fellow. Also mentoring which i did had some results which i could show them as matter of actual track record i think. During fellowship, i used rest of my time after work on a day in engaging with community people and asking children come to school (which was my home for a year)

Besides just so you know, i have worked with PAGIR NGO of LEH (10 day workshop component of fellowship using self fundraiser) for a design thinking project there for them. 

My fear is although i have social commitment, my poor quality of expression and inability to summarize things may make my day worse if i do get that golden chance of interview this year. Now do you suggest should i write mentoring as hobby, or i am diverting??? Please know i am not indulging in self appreciation, its just that i am confused and want to eliminate clutter which i present. Does mentoring make sense then or i should write something to showcase this.

A relevant blog i wrote and a relevant news clipping of a newspaper,  documenting my stay at school:  https://www.indiafellow.org/blog/2017/12/my-first-3-months-at-swarachna-school/




Haha, Thanks for pouring out your heart. 

Keep it simple!

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