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Gurneet Tej has done the city of Chandigarh proud by ranking second in the all-India civil services exam this year. Here, she shares her experience of the personality test/interview in the Mains and provides tips for aspiring civil servants. Excerpts from an interview: How did you prepare for your civil services interview? Though I had been reading certain magazines and newspapers like ‘Hindu’, ‘Civil Services Times’, "Frontline’, ‘Chronicle’, etc regularly, I brushed up my current affairs and general knowledge prior to the interview. I did not go in for any kind of coaching. What questions were you asked relating to your subjects? Yes, I was asked a lot of questions about economics, one of my subjects. Like, budget formulation, state of agriculture in Punjab, whether India was an agricultural economy, etc. Then, there were questions on science, literature and geography too. What were the CV-specific questions? Well, for one, the interviewers were intrigued by my surname and wanted to know its significance. Then, they quizzed me on my hobbies: reading and writing. They asked about my favourite authors, whether I wrote a daily diary, etc. Any questions that you found ticklish? Not exactly tricky, but yes, when I was asked to name the writer to whom is attributed the use of the term ‘fairer sex’ in literature, I had to jog my memory a bit. What kind of body language helps to create a good impression on the interviewers? Keep hand movements under control and portray an exterior calm even if you feel a nervous wreck inside. Make eye contact with all the panelists when you enter and greet them. And when you exit, keep your front profile towards them instead of giving a view of your retreating backside. Any other tips for aspiring bureaucrats? Be honest and frank, as you can’t fool the experts with vast experience who head the interview panel. Be at ease and maintain your cool, since the interviewers are generally friendly people. (As told to Chetna Keer Banerjee)
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