First day, first show

My friend Sadayappan (BITS-Pilani, Dual degree - Chemistry/CompSci Engg) had his interview today. This was his first mains, second attempt. He had worked with an IT firm for some time before taking the exams. This is what happened inside Mr.E.Balaguruswamy's chamber today for about 40 mins, in Sadayappan's own words.

"Chairperson:
Did you have anything outside? How was the tea?
Tell me about your district (for 1 min).
You should have got a good placement in campus? Then why did you leave the job?
What is dual degree?
Which is the by-product? Chemistry or computer science?
What are your hobbies?

1st member:
Tell me about food adulteration. How it can be controlled?
How did coco cola give different test results in the span of one week?
What are the methods done in for testing these kind of beverages?
How would you stop food adulteration as a bureaucrat?
Tell me some of the problems caused by computers.
What is impression finding? How well it is developed in India?

2nd member:
What is governance? (I had already mentioned about 'governance' in one of my earlier answers)
What is good governance?
'The government which governs the least is the best government'. Comment.
What is literacy rate in your State?
How often it is calculated?
Do you find any pattern of literacy in your district?
What is the burning issue 'today' ? (inflation)
What is the government doing today to tackle this issue ? (cabinet committee)
Tell me where who have come close to the government.
Do you know that your financial benefits (w.r.t fifth pay commission not sixth) will be less here when compared to software job?

3rd member:
Tell me about Tanjore painting.
What was the issue of badminton and bird flu?
Which badminton event was stopped because of that?
What is your opinion about the coming up of malls?
Explain character, integrity and honesty.

4th member:
How is chemistry going to help computers?
Tell me about C 60 and its applications.
How computer is going to help chemistry?
If you become collector in your district which issue you would address which today's collector is not able to solve?
How will you tackle political pressures?
Will you resign your job when you are harassed and will you go back to software sector?

Chairperson:
What Sadayappan is the interview over?
Do you have anything to ask us?
Be frank..Do you think we five (referring to the interview board) can solve any burning issues?

..thats how it ended.
Many technical questions I flunked. Overall it was cordial. The board helped me to keep myself cool."

For more details sadayappan@gmail.com

SadaiIntvw © pp2008

The D-day CSE Interviews - concluding Part

The CSE Personality Tests start tomorrow. At this point of time there is not much to add but just that - Be yourself. Do not lose your cool.

Have in mind that you are already in the top one per cent and its just the finishing touch that is happening today.

Just be natural. All the best!

The high decibel days CSE Interviews – Part II

The results are out, and as usual there are many shocks that make us believe that the theme of UPSC happens to be “uncertainty”. Here I just have one thing for those deserving candidates who have failed to make it – something much bigger is waiting for you. Just take time out, and get ready for the next onslaught at the exams. Success is just a matter of time.

Here we will see what is to be done during the high decibel days – from the time of the mains results to the day before interview. To save my time as well make it more readable for you this is given in a kind of FAQs format.

Should I join coaching?
Yes and no. Yes – if you are looking forward to taking some mock sessions. No – if you are going to solely rely on the coaching to understand what is happening around you. Though the rapid current affairs classes are useful in making you aware of where to focus and where not to, they are not useful in terms of the depth of coverage. In fact it is not possible for the institutes to do that within the short time frame. The coaching classes are done under the presumption that you have done your groundwork well. Also try avoiding religion/caste-based coaching institutes.

“I do not feel confident, I’m overloaded with facts”
Unless one utters these statements, one is not going in the right track! Given the nature of the interview it is very normal to feel pressurised, insecure etc. Take it in the right spirit; the following steps might help boost your esteem levels.

• Be thorough with your mains form
• Be systematic in acquiring and absorbing information
• Take time out, think about key issues like – women empowerment, terrorism, corruption, democracy etc. (this would help in handling the third category of questions confidently)
• Maintain a positive outlook
• Visualise/Mentally create the interview environment while practising answers for the expected questions like Tell me about yourself, why civil services after BE-MBA? etc
• Give quality mock interviews
• Just have in mind that this is not a knowledge test

About mock interviews?
Never be afraid to appear in mock interviews. In fact mock sesions form the backbone of the preparation. One should definitely give 4-5 mock interviews. Do a benchmark mock interview in the next 3-4 days. Take another 2-3 mocks in the last week of March, depending on your interview date. And the final mock about 2 days before the actual D-day. Take the help of quality coaching institutes, seniors, and those who have appeared in the interview earlier.
Ensure that your first and the last mocks are with top quality people. A bad feedback can spoil your career! Take the last mock in your formal/interview attire – especially if you are not used to wearing tie, blazer etc – for men, and sarees – for women. (Am making it so explicit just to avoid some ridiculous comments from CosmicNoises)

How to improve communication skills?
This is something that is totally under our control, as we often see people from villages around towns like Tirunelveli start speaking US English within a few weeks of joining a call centre. If they can, why not you? The next two weeks are enough to significantly improve one’s oral communication skills / spoken English. Also, just remember that the interview is being conducted to recruit civil servants not news readers or receptionists – you need not have any hi-fi accent; just clear, confident, communication is expected.

• Read aloud for about 20 minutes daily. This can be a news item or the editorial. If possible record it once and hear it. This will come a long way in helping you.
• Speak slowly, do not rush while speaking.
• Rehearse/Visualise/Voice out. Especially answers for the expected questions like How will your hobby, watching films, be useful to you as a Police officer?, Why should you be made an IFS officer? etc.

During the interview -
DOs:
• Smile. Be pleasant
• Maintain a confident posture
• Listen the question carefully
• Take 2-3 seconds before you start answering. In fact, even for the questions like What is your name? take some time to answer
• Be flexible. If you really see a point in what someone else is saying, accept it
• Maintain eye contact with all the members from time to time
• Feel free to say "sorry I don't know", when you actualy don't know something

DON'Ts:
• Enter the room without the Board’s permission
• Take your seat without being offered
• Place your hands on the desk
• Speak fast
• Have a casual attitude. Don’t utter words like – ya / ok / cool etc
• Make bold body gestures
• Guess answers without the Board’s permission
• Argue with the Board. If you have to disagree with someone, do it politely
• Compromise on values

Just remember these points over the next two weeks, use in your mock sessions and by the time of your interview, these will be a part of your habit. Else one is likely to flounder under pressure on the D-day.

Keep head cool! Good luck!