An IAS interview is a 30-minute activity that has the power to alter your life. In just under 30 minutes, an applicant with a high UPSC interview score may be separated from rivals by more than 100 points. Given that this is the final round of India’s hardest competition, one would have an unbeatable lead. Here are a few tips which will help you excel in your last but the most important round.
1. Assess your personality on your own
Instead of a knowledge test, the interview stage is a personality test. You must first evaluate your personality in terms of your strengths and shortcomings if you want to put your best foot forward and come across as a confident, aware, and well-rounded person. Examine yourself for symptoms of anxiety, such as swaying, hunching over, slouching, raising your voice, increasing the rate at which you speak, etc.
2. Communication Skills
It’s crucial to prepare for the interview by practicing your eye contact and question-answering techniques. You need to respond succinctly and directly, without wallowing in unnecessary detail. In order to prepare for the IAS interview, you must immediately summarise and condense your material. Your ability to think clearly must be demonstrated, which can only be done via practice.
3. Thoughtful & Precise Responses
The interview panel is attempting to determine through a specific question not only the breadth of your expertise in a given field but also how well you are able to respond to it, even with limited understanding. IAS officers frequently have to deal with a wide range of difficulties, challenges, and topics that are not always in their areas of expertise, but they still have to find solutions. The only way they can do that successfully is by providing logical and focused problem-solving solutions that don’t necessitate in-depth topic knowledge but rather a general awareness of the issue. In order to construct answers that aim for realistic and doable solutions to the challenges being presented to you, you should try to concentrate on this while preparing for your IAS interview.
4. Browse newspapers
Global current events typically serve as the basis for the majority of UPSC interview questions. Read about crucial news from the day, such as elections and government initiatives. Recap the most recent three months of events while keeping up with the daily headlines.
5. Focus on the optional courses
The preparation for optional subjects is not seen as being necessary by many pupils. Optional topics are important from the perspective of the interview. This portion of the interview panel is my personal favorite. Recognize them as well, and prepare for them with the same thought.
6.Don't wait; get started right away
As soon as you finish the Mains exam, UPSC candidates need to start getting ready for the interview. Don’t wait around for the mains results any longer. Success and procrastination are incompatible, and that is true. Have self-assurance and anticipate the future. Get to work on developing your personality and your communication abilities.
7. Obtain all the State and City Information
Knowing about your country’s geology and other facts, particularly those pertaining to the state and city in which you currently reside, is essential for the IAS interview as the UPSC is largely about administration. Always be prepared by knowing the history of your state and community. One of the most significant pieces of interview advice for the UPSC is this.
8. Practice before a mirror
You can get rid of anxiety and reluctance by practicing or acting out your lines in front of the mirror. Try to provide straightforward answers to inquiries like “What is your name?” Where do you call home? ‘ etc. On the day of the actual interview, it will greatly assist you and make you sound more assured.
9. Have all the necessary paperwork on hand
If you want to avoid issues, check all of your paperwork, ID cards, and certificates before you arrive at the venue. Finding out that some documents are missing after arriving at the site will cause issues.
10. Dress Code
The way you dress is really essential since you only get one chance to make a first impression. On the day of the interview, you should dress nicely. Women candidates should dress traditionally, such as in a sari or churidar, and men should dress professionally in a light shirt and dark pants.
11. Overconfidence is not Good
Be cautious not to overestimate your abilities as this could lead to disaster. Intense and difficult, the UPSC interview. Because overconfidence can come across as insincerity and make you appear arrogant, pay close attention to what they are saying when they are asking the question.
12. Create a positive outlook
The IAS interview is the subject of several urban legends. The interviews you’ve had in the past may not have gone well for you. Avoid allowing your opportunities to be ruined by negative ideas, though. Never stress about things you have no control over, such as the interview panel, the position, the questions, etc. Ideally, you should.
13. Be well-prepared for your hobbies
This is frequently the first question the UPSC interview panel will ask, frequently in a jocular manner. Make sure you get off to a good start. Avoid giving trite responses. The interviewer can better grasp candidates’ personalities by learning about their hobbies. Up to the final week before the UPSC interview, continue practicing your hobbies.
14. Perform mock IAS interviews
To avoid common errors, practice is helpful. Your skills and weaknesses can be identified by good mentors and friends, who can then provide the required recommendations. Top IAS performers have acknowledged the value of mock interviews. In addition, they assist in enhancing your consistency. The confusion brought on by conflicting viewpoints from other people should be avoided at all costs to avoid losing your true self.
15. Learn how to answer the actual "IAS interview questions”
The vast majority of the internet “IAS interview questions” are not actually questions that are asked during an interview with the UPSC. ‘The interview test is not intended to be a test of either the specialized or general knowledge of the candidates, which has already been tested through their written papers,’ according to UPSC
16. Be comfortable
A wide range of topics and subjects may be covered by the questions. You occasionally might not have all the answers. When asked about a subject, if you have no knowledge of it, you should say as much. Remain calm. Calm down. Your capacity for emotion is important. Nobody is familiar with everything known to man. Of course, the UPSC board is aware of that.
17. Examine your graduate course texts
The UPSC anticipates that applicants will be serious about their graduation. In light of the fact that the interview panel believes the candidates have knowledge in this particular field. Consequently, more in-depth inquiries may originate from this location.
18. Don't make last-minute preparations
You must begin preparing for the interview while you are still focusing on the prelims and major exams. Without waiting until the very last minute, applicants can begin by watching/reading IAS topper interviews and looking for IAS interview questions
19. Speak politely, noticeably and be audible
Do not shout or murmur. Maintain a clear voice, say each word aloud, without skipping any, and wherever necessary, emphasize the stressed syllable. Speak to the board members in a way that they can all hear you, with interest and enthusiasm, without having to ask you to repeat yourself. Look at the Chairman’s or the members’ eyes while speaking to them; avoid looking at the ceiling, the table, the wall, or the floor. You must speak with spirit so that when the board members hear you, they will be excited. Avoid sounding monotonous or robotic.
20. Avoid Arguments
To avoid being duped by the board’s argumentative questions, confront the board members’ opinions and attempt to refute their claims. Instead, be careful and thoughtful when expressing your opinions. When expressing your opinions, refrain from attacking individuals or endorsing a specific person. Instead, be objective and offer suggestions. Do not point out other people’s mistakes. If you are incorrect, own up to it right away and apologize. Your conclusions should be rational and supported by solid arguments. Avoid being arrogant and overconfident in yourself.
Toppers have stated time and time again that the UPSC interview is typically a friendly activity. Other than the fact that it will affect your chances of selection, there is not much to be afraid of. Be honest with yourself and respond with assurance. There is nothing to be afraid of during the UPSC IAS interviews because they are a friendly exercise to get to know you and your personality. The key is practice, which will undoubtedly aid in boosting your interview confidence. You will succeed if you work hard every day. From the moment you go into the interview board room until you leave, present a pleasant appearance, handle yourself with assurance, and maintain that seductive makeup smile on your face. Give the board members the impression that you are observant, courteous, and passionate.