My interview was on the last day of the IAS Mock interview. I had read a few interviews before arriving in India. (Actually, receiving an interview invitation was an unexpected event for me)
In reality, it was the only stage of the hiring process that I was able to take seriously, and I have to admit I was worried (nervousness will directly correlate with expectations)
In any case, my list of unpredictable things is as follows:
They don't let in the main entrance. The majority of people arrive early because Delhi is a shaky city. I slammed the main entrance and demanded the CSIF person to unlock the door and allow us to sit in a cool spot.
There was some disagreement and then things settled down because they were obliged not to open the door. (Imagine driving in the summer months in Delhi It was a nightmare for one hour)
When they opened their doors, they ask to seat you in an open-air hall that was circular, maybe no AC, but adequate fans, which made it at ease. The desks and chairs were too small.
It was apparent that they had sourced it from a nursery school.
The clerk makes sure everything is checked according to his checklist. One of my guests was told to leave the premises and return with a photograph within 1 hour.
The person was very tense since he was in the south of India, specifically Kerala. (I did not understand the reasoning for the reason that UPSC has just one center for interview)
A few candidates were walking around, while others were singing something, maybe prayers. People were reading newspapers like they were trying to read them all (perhaps there were 7 news publications within the space)
They informed me that I cannot keep their bags on them, and the lockers are only for watches and mobiles, not bags.
I was worried about losing all my documents.
I was the 2nd candidate and asked the candidate who was last to watch my bag once I had left for the interview.
I was contacted by them the chap I spoke to came in and I have subjected the process of frisking, and they demanded that I put the pen and return it to my bag.
The man gave me directions regarding the best way to go (the circular room is located in the middle, and the interview rooms were along the perimeter).
He gave me directions like where to sit and the best time to enter in the same manner as if I were going to an underground Dungeon.
Please Also Read: How Similar Was Your UPSC Mock Interview With A Coaching Centre Compared To The Actual Interview?
The bell did not ring just before I got to the room, the man came over and instructed me to leave the room immediately, not sitting on the chair in the famous pose on which I've studied a lot.
David looked at me and then gave an eye to the other members before asking the question " We're a bit confused about you, and why you would like to join the Civil Services. OK In the two or three (i was not listening completely) minutes, show that you are serious about your application.
I was a bit shocked and was cribbing in my head I was hoping that they would at least offer me a place to sit. ....I began ......after maybe 3-4 sentences of rehearsed prose David gestured by hand to sit.
I focused on my writing, but he stopped me midway by making a hand gesture again...smiled and said "Not convinced" The entire room smiled, ...and I was like I was a stranger, looking at the chairs.
They were made from bamboo, and there was plenty of bamboo furniture and other showpieces. I was maybe confused for a few seconds.
"OK! you start, Chairman pointing to the first member on the left hand" It was your life in, studied and worked in a variety of countries.
What's the best solution for Ganga?
Based on your experiences". Then I attempted to appear polite and he asked me an answer in a direct manner and he asked me to give him a direct answer.
I offered two words the answer "Shift people" and I'm not sure why, but was a bit off-putting for him and he was like were jumping up on a chair, then began to talk - how do you do the same thing in India with people who live on ghats in Ganga over the past tens of thousands of years, blah.
He claimed he's from Varanasi and asked me to name the cities along Ganga and the beginning and ending places of Ganga.
I answered very simply to him.
It begins in the Himalayas and then ends within Bangladesh to join the Bay of Bengal. He was again furious. you do not even know where the most sacred, ....mightiest river of India comes to an end.
In this particular moment, I am certain that I'd snubbed everyone here, and I was sure of it. and uncontrollably, I was back to my normal self and moved my hands while talking, etc.
Then the music stopped, and it was just chairs and people were asking questions one at a time, sequential wise.
After I changed to the next person, however, I could see myself making notes, and I believe there was a checklist for the members.
These were very standard questions and I replied with ease as if am with my colleagues at work, engaged in a philosophical discussion about China/India as well as my MBA School in the US and the causes of the financial crisis, the education system in India and, yes there was a question about Chanakya .......very small or not at all.
Then, when I got back, the candidate who was the last that was sitting on the chairs (whom I was told not to talk to) I was asked - what did you do for forty minutes ... I was unable to speak a single word because I was still thinking about the quality of the interview.
A surprise came up, as I returned into the room, I came across an applicant who was on the verge of being promoted to SSP for North Sikkim, but he was still waiting for his interview. (what is going to happen in the future Demographic dividend and motivation for youth in the country?)
In a long article, I've made a few suggestions (in the order they are important) to the future candidates.
Do not be a fake, or else you won't be able to defend yourself.
Be bold, the majority of the people who are on the board do not expect the latest in book knowledge, they are looking for your opinion. This is something you must express with confidence or else you'll lose your confidence.
Some questions could be bizarre like this lady who I asked " How the techniques of prevention of Tax evasion, used by Chanakya can be used today". They'll be asking what is in their heads So, you shouldn't feel the least bit, and every person will ask similar questions from the hidden areas of their brain.
Don't be concerned about these kinds of questions.
The marks of the interview do count quite a bit (as it's a low-scoring hiring process, in which the top applicant is only awarded 50% marks).
I know someone who scored 117 during an interview but was not able to make it to the list, but one with the same marks is among the top 50.
I was not very well-performing during the interview.
However, when I was able to see my name on the list of candidates who were selected, I was told that the only thing that I was waiting for, was "How did I do during the interview?
Also Check: UPSC MOCK INTERVIEW
Don't include contradictory information in DAF I was asked regarding - why you've selected only five options in your selection and why you haven't selected IFS despite being Chinese as well as having global experiences. DAF is a source of information for them, so be sure to read "between the lines" meanings in DAF.0
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