The personality test
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Here are some tips from Arindam Bhattacharyya, who stood tenth in the Civil Services examination this year, on how to tackle the interview. Arindam, who had prepared for the examination in Thiruvananthapuram, had in recent issues of Education Plus written about how to approach the Preliminary and Main examinations.
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Many candidates lose a lot of sleep cramming up extra data for the interview. I feel that there is no harm in saying "I don't know" any number of times.
Most people who have anything to do with the Civil Services examination declare that the interview is the toughest stage in the process. This is not true. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has one of the most rational and structured basis for conducting the entire examination, and the interview in particular.
It is wrong to call it the interview. It is formally called the Personality Test. In reality, it is just a conversation, not a test or interview. Now that I have presented the `conversation' hypothesis, let us see how this reflects on the preparation and performance of candidates.
Preparing for the interview
One often hears of how candidates read up about their home state, district, current affairs and so on. This kind of an over-emphasis on your home State is unnecessary. You should be clued in to what is happening around you. The interview board is not going to ask you questions like "Who is your District Collector?"
Yes, occasionally such questions are asked, and there are two aspects behind such questions. One, these questions come along only when you have disappointed the board with your inability to carry on an interesting conversation. Two, the interviewer may want to test your presence of mind. It is perfectly acceptable for the candidate to say something like "our last Collector has just been transferred, and I do not know the name of the person who has been appointed in his place." Not that the interview board knows the correct answers all the time.
The right attitude
In our daily life, we do run into questions to which we may not know the answers. Then we are not bothered or ashamed of saying "I don't know". The same should hold good here too. Many candidates lose a lot of sleep cramming up extra data for the interview. I feel that there is no harm in saying "I don't know" any number of times. It is how you say it that matters more. Be just a bit apologetic, without overdoing it. Do not be arrogant, and give the impression that you could not care less. There is no reason to be unnerved and lose your presence of mind. Say "I don't know", and recast your mind to a fresh start for the next question.
In the Civil Services examination, the Preliminaries test your memory, the Mains your mental faculties, and the interview your personality. Sequentially, the order is prelims, mains, and the interview.
But your preparation should follow the reverse sequence: develop your personality first, your mental faculties next, and finally memorise.
Facing the board
Often candidates who are about to face the interview board are confused by signals emanating from the candidates who have gone through it. When you are in Delhi for the interview, the atmosphere is electric, and it is easy to get carried away by what the previous candidates have to say about the nature of the board, the kind of questions asked, and the response the answers given elicited.
Frame of mind
Your state of mind will be like a paper boat tossed about in the sea, on a dark stormy night. Pay no attention to such trends and predictions; they are not only inaccurate (sometimes wilfully so) but also it is dangerous to expect the board to demonstrate the same behaviour again and again. The only constant parameter is that the board wants to bring out the best in you. For this, some boards will adopt an objective question-and-answer approach, while others will pose problems and situation-oriented questions.
They will do so in a cordial manner unless you insult or irritate them. They will want to know how focussed you have been in your preparation, and how badly you want to be in the Services. They also try to judge if you have been a fairly successful person in your subject of graduation, or employment. Finally, they assess your personality on the basis of your biodata, hobbies and interests.
Greeting the board
A common source of confusion is over the best way to greet the board. To complicate matters further, there is the problem of greeting the women members. Be audible, coherent and respectful. Being coherent means that your greeting should be crisp. Being respectful means that you follow the protocol: Chairman first, women next, and all others third.
Answering questions
Another source of confusion is how to tackle a situation when two or more board members simultaneously ask questions. Again, I think the conversation model gives you a convenient solution; what would you do if such a situation arises in a conversation? We would say something like "O.K., which one shall I answer first?" Do the same for this interview as well, only couch your reply in more formal words.
This is a correct approach because the board members try to confuse and unnerve the candidate to test his presence of mind. Therefore, the candidate does himself no favour if he starts assessing the seniority of the members, or whether a woman asked the question first or not, or any other criteria. And in the process if you take more than eight to 10 seconds to respond, the verdict is out; you will be noted down as having lost your presence of mind. So, be prompt, and give a quick reply like "Sir, which question shall I take first?" Throw the ball back at them.
To correct or not
Yet another point of debate is whether or not you should correct the interviewer if he/she mentions an obvious error, and questions you on that basis. Many are of the view that the interview members should not be
corrected. This is not wise and for two reasons. One, how do you know that they are not testing you. Two, why do you want to take the trouble of answering a wrong question. The issue here is not whether you will appear impolite by correcting them; it is whether you are polite in general. Correct them politely if you are sure of your facts, but express it in words of ambiguity; something like "but sir, I was under the impression that...", should see you through. The examiner will either correct himself, or stick to his stand.
Anyway, you now know the real motive behind the question. Your only problem is how to handle an examiner who refuses to budge from his question. You could say something to the effect that since you had so far been in possession of another set of facts, you are not in a position to give a well-judged answer, and so on. By doing so, you would have signalled to the board that you would not be led into a cul-de-sac. You need your wits around you. But going to the other extreme, and trying to act street smart will not help. Many "cool" candidates have failed to impress the board. You have to choose your words carefully, and come across as a well-read and interesting person.
Although there is no formal dress code, it is better to adhere to what people have been doing for years. Girls are given the choice of sari or salwar; boys have to wear a full-sleeve shirt, dark trousers, and tie.
Blazer or coat is optional, as the interview is in the summer. And please, no perfumes. This isn't a date, although most certainly it will be a day to remember.
Arindam Bhattacharyya
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