Monday, December 28, 2009

Interview Preparation

Hello All,

Sorry for the delay in the post.
I have been very busy with my training at LBSNAA. Even right now as I write this post I am sitting in the office of a regiment of army at Poonch(the border town on Indian side).

Let's come to interview preparation.
Interview is a test of your personality. The attempt is to test your presence of mind, attitude, emotional stability and in general they would like to see if you are a balanced personality or not.

1. First take a few copies of your mains form. Share it with a couple of people/friends who are close to you. Now start writing questions on every component of your mains form. For eg. if your form contains names of 4 5 places, then write whatever questions come to your mind wrt these places and even related questions. For eg. my form had moradabad in it, so questions would pertain to brass exports, SEZ, child labour in brass industry, moradabad's share in Indian handicraft exports and so on. Open your mind to the range of questions that can be asked. You should take some time to do this job as it is the most crucial part. Make a notebook having different sections, hobbies, places, educ background and write as many questions as possible.

2.. Once you have made this notebook, start researching the answers. Write relevant facts and info in a separate notebook.

3. For general awareness and a balanced opinion, read atleast 2 newspapers. I read ToI and Hindu. Jot down the important aspects and facts in news and major issues, for eg climate change.
4.Also focus heavily on International relations and specially India's equation with other countries and changes in foreign policy. Get a good book on India's foreign policy, preferably a new one.

5.Always remember that more important than the facts it is your opinion that matters. So try to cultivate a balanced thinking if you don't have it. Try to form an opinion on all issues around you.
6. For people with difficulty in public speaking, get involved in group discussions with other people on current issues of importance.

7. Develop a good awareness of yourself and your background. You should be sure of what you have presented before them in your mains form. I hope you haven't lied about your hobbies and extra curricular activities in the form, as they are wise men/women.

Keep posting questions on this post for interview preparation. No other questions would be entertained.

25 comments:

  1. hello di,
    Thank you for your blog on interview tips as i was waiting for this for some time now.
    It is really helpful and i will adopt it in my preparation.Please find my queries.

    1.Why Interviewing panel did not ask you a single question on your optional papers.They must be people from the respective field of specialization.Is their any trick in handling interviewing panel on this or its shear luck.
    2.During my past experience not in UPSC but other technical interviews that i have become louder in tone eventually (exitement or anxiety) don't know why ? do psychology has an answer to it and how to rectify it also if possible please share your experiece during the interview have you maintained the same codac tone throughout :)

    I will be very gratefull if you answer my both queries as it will be very helpul to overcome the same.

    Best of luck in your training.
    Rgds
    Pravesh

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  2. Hi Shubhra,
    thanks for this excellent input for interview prep... can you pl suggest few questions for "Travelling" as a hobby....

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  3. thnx a lot mam,b coz this is d most confusing stage of preparation.i have been reading Bipin Chandra-india since independence.which book do u recommend for I.R. is V.N. Khanna good?Should we also be preparing for pre simultaneously.

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  4. Ms.Shubhra,

    Thankyou for taking time inspite of your hectic schedule to reach out to us who are aspirants of this exam.

    My question: How do we handle situations that relate to personal matters and when the interviewers try to put us under stress deliberately?

    They might be trying to measure our emotional poise...what is it that they are looking for?

    Thanks!
    Aneesh

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  5. thank you that you are back again.
    I have been visiting your blog for so many months.
    Each day I would start by checking your blog.
    And phew.... you are back again.
    Mam please write down about your experiences after getting selected esp. at LBSNAA.
    Although this is not a place to ask this question.
    But can you please tell me how you utilize the magazins in your prep of current affairs?
    I have a problem. the thing is that the magazins are so full of info. that when i tried to make notes from them it happened that whole of the magazin got copied in my note-book.So howto abbreviate what is already short?

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  6. Thanks 4 all those imp. aspects Madam and hope you'll inculcate the spirit of olive green in your district. Best of Luck Madam :-)

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  7. thanx ma'm for all the knowledge...i want to know which books should i follow for preliminary pub ad exam?
    regards
    amit

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  8. hello mam, wish u n ur family a vry happy new year.....

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  9. Thank you so much for your guidance. I feel that all of us were eagerly waiting for your post.

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  10. Now these are some really useful tips..thank you ma'am

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  11. dear mam! its akhil from als.thanks lot for providing so much of guidance in a selfless manner. i n my frinds miss ur choklates when v rite answers.....wishing u all the best wishes. warm regards!!!

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  12. hii shubhra didi .... it's very excellent and useful...!! thank you didi

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  13. hello mam,
    Heartiest congratulations to u on ur success....i m new to both ,the preparatin of civil services as well as for blogging. my optionals are mathematics n geography.actually mam,i m nt able to contact any one with mathematics as optional.are u aware of any of ur colleagues at LBS who did it wit mathematics.kindly help me w.r.t the issue
    Thanking you in anticipation

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  14. @srishti
    I dont remember wich one I used. u can ask smone from pol sc optional which one is good

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  15. Read Tips for IAS Interview http://www.jagranjosh.com/articles-tips-for-ias-interview-1304682570-1

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  16. hi Madam,

    Thanks a lot for your tips and for the interview you published

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  17. Thanks for this nice practical tips. It would be best to prepare for the interview than gasping for the right words and panicking.

    Interview Coaching Calgary

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  18. Thank you Shubhra Saxena

    I appreciate your initiative

    Regards
    Ravi

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