SSB interview tips

SSB INTERVIEW

An interview is a face-to-face meeting, especially for the purposed of assessing the candidate for the job applied for. It aims at evaluating your academic knowledge, awareness or current topics, communication skills, the clarity of thought and expression and sense of balance, and ability to extricate you from tricky situation.

SSB's: One of the most fundamental factors that contribute to the successful interview is the time and quality of preparation made by. Normally the President/ Vice President of the Services Selection Board will conduct the personal Interview. They are very senior Officer from the Armed forces. Degree of preparedness for an interview helps reduce the uncertain anxiety prior to the Interview.. The amount of effort you wish to put into preparation is directly proportional to your out put at the interview. How to plan your preparation ? Preparation develops Confidence and gears you for the anticipated grilling. Prepare the following:

How to Tackle?

Write down in a neat and legible handwriting the PIQ form given to you (Please copy it down it is given in this CD). Try to put down everything in an orderly and crisp manner. Revise your Bio-data thoroughly. Try to form your own questions based on it. Answer them to your full satisfaction. Check your Bio-Date for grammatical and spelling error. Remember discerning interviewer expects Zero error in the Bio-Data.Try and collect as much information about the City in which you live, your School, College, place of interview and places you have visited. Be sure regarding your hobbies. For example, if you have written reading as a hobby, be sure about what you have been reading. Interviewer expects a serious reply. He expects the names of the authors and then will ask questions based on their themes. A serious reader will score over others who refer cheap detective, thriller novels. The logic holds good for any other hobby you have mentioned in your PIQ.Be clear of your favorite subject and area of you interest in the subject, which you are/have specialized.

Refresh your knowledge. Then interviewer might ask you a few technical questions.A well-groomed look gives an image of thoroughness and professional look.Your achievements should be brought out in a systematic order as and when you are asked about it.Follow the normal etiquette for the interview., Wait for the officer to speak first- Listen carefully before you speak. Take a few long breaths this will calm down your nerves, after listening to the question carefully, clarify your doubts if any, before you answer the question.Think well before you answer. For more questions will follow your answers.

The New Technique adopted at the SSB Interview is RAPID FIRE questions. Listen to the questions carefully. Think well before you answer, elaborate your answers and tactfully take him on to your strong points. Do not over emphasize them.

The Thematic Story writing will be 12 in all. 11 of them are having some picture and one does not have any. You will get about 3 minutes for each story. Do not write stereotype stories. Try different theme for different stories. Remember you are the Hero; the aim should be to bring out leadership qualities of the hero through these stories.
The Qualities that you are to project through your stories are:-

ALTERTNESS, AVAILABLITY FOR TASKS
GOOD BEHAVIOUR
CONSIDERATION
COURGE
DETERMIANTION
DICISION MAKING
ENDURANCE AND ENTHUSIASM
FAIRNESS, FLEXIBILITY
HONSETY, HARD WORK
INTEGRITY
LOYALTY, LEADERSHIP.
MANNERS
PERSEVERANCE, PATRIOTISM
RESOURCEFULNESS
STRAIGHTFORWARDNESS
SMARTNESS
SUPPORTIVENESS
TACT, TRUTHFULLNESS
ZEAL

Only during the perception test you are required to give The age, sex, mood, and number of group of the persons you see in the picture. Your story should such that it suits the picture yet tells The past is that what led to this situation What is happening in the picture? What will happen in the future?

1.Selection Board (No & Place) Batch No Chest No UPSC Roll No

2. Name in CAPITALS as in application form

3. Father's Name

4. (a) Place of maximum residence
(b) Present Address (With Approximate
population of the City/town/village)
(c) Permanent Address (With Approximate
population of the City/town/village)

(Whether District HQ or Not)

5.Fill in the details below:

State & District Religion WhetherSC/ST Mother Tongue Date of Birth
Married/Single/Widowed
6.(a) Parents Alive Yes/No
(b) If not alive your age at the time of Father's/Mother's Death
(c) Parents/Guardians Occupation /Income (As applicable)

Particulars Education Occupation Income per Month

Father
Mother
Guardian
No of brothers
No of sisters
Your ranking amongst your brother and sister

7. Educational Record(Commencing from matriculation /Equivalent Examination):-

S.No QualificationAcquired Name of Institute Year Division&Marks% Medium ofInstruction
Boarder/DayScholar Out Standing Achievement if any
a) Matric/Higher Secondary
b) 10+2
c) B.A/B.Sc/B.Com
d) Professional

8. Age ( Year & Months) / Height (in Metre) Weight (in Kilograms)

10
(a) N.C.C Training _________________________________________ Yes/No
(b) Total Training (if Yes) (Give details below)

Total Training Wing Division Certificate Obtained

11. a) Participation in Games & Sports

Games/Sports Period or Duration of Participation Represented School/College/University
OutstandingAchievement, if any

b)Hobbies/Interest

c) Participation in Extra curricular activities :-

Name of the activity group Duration of Participation Outstanding achievement if any

d) Position of responsibility/Offices held in NCC/Scouting
Sports team/Extra-curricular group and other fields:-
12.
(a) Nature of Commission
(b) Choice of Service

13. Number if chances availed for commission in all three services

14. Details of last interview ,if any (Air Force/Navy/Army Selection Board)
S.No Type of Entry Place and SSBNo Date Batch and ChestNo Recommended/Not
Recommended

Be very clear in your thought and expression. Don't speak in a low voice, be loud enough so that interviewer don't have to strain their ears.Be brief, brevity is the hallmark of a good communicator. Answer all the questions in a sequence.If you don't know an answer be Honest. The Interviewer will respect integrity and honesty.NEVER Exaggerate.Never boast about anything including your achievements.Never enter into an argument with the interviewer on any topic.

Must Know these Stuffs:

1 The rank structure of the forces

2 The current events

3 Knowledge about your town

4 Your projects

5 Why you want to join the forces?

6 What will you do in case you do not get selected at selected?

7 (this is to see how determined you are in achieving your aim.)

8 Have a plan B in case you exhaust all the chances then you will

9 Take up ------- job.

10 When the interviewer asks you to organize a trekking event remember the following points; or any other event the heading under which you can cover the preparations are:

11 Initial Preparation

12 Venue

13 Event

14 Specific Items need for the event.

15 Communication

16 On the day

17 Hospitality

18 Budget

19 Keeping the journal and recording the event

20 After the event

21 Maintain proper Eye contact with the person who asks you the Question. This shows your Confidence and honesty.

22 Avoid using frequently words and phrases like" I mean", " You know", "well", "as such" etc.

23 In the end you want to ask the officer any questions plese do so, if not then so politely "I have no questions to ask you sir."

24 Last but not the least, BE NATURAL. When the interview ends.

If offered a Handshake, do so, if not just say, "Thank you for the

wonderful evening and put the chair back to its original position before leaving. Leave the place with a warm smile and a nod of head. Close the door gently and leave the room.

Your Appearance..

Appearance makes the man. You should dress up for the occasion. Most of the time you will be asked to attend the Interview in the PT. Kit it is better for you to keep a small pocket Comb and a neat and clean Handkerchief. Freshen up yourself before you set foot in the interviewers room. Your warm smile, excellent etiquette and a firm handshake will be starting point.As we have

brought out earlier, RAPID Fire questions are the order of the. It means you will be asked to answer a number of questions after listening to them just once. Please listen to the question carefully. If you have not understood the question then ask for the clarification. Try and answer the questions in the same sequence as put forth to you. Since the distance between you and the interviewing officer would be about 6 feet, you are expected to talk in a loud and clear voice. Take your time think and answer questions.DO NOT TELL A LIE. You will be caught.

Interviewing Officers are usually hold the Rank of Colonel or its equivilant rank in the Navy/Air Force.Here are some of the tips which you wil find it useful while facing the Interviewing officer:

a) Be tidy and well dressed. Wear simple clothes but willo fitting clothes.Do not wear Jewllery

b)On entering the room wish the panel and do what they say.

c) Do not get over anxious. A minor degree of nerveousness is expected from everyone.

d) Be Yourself

e) Be polite and use words like "Please", "Sir", Do not sound egoistic.

f) Be natural and never convey extravagant ideas like " I would die for my country" or " The best profession is the Defence Forces ".

g) Do not lie or beat around the bush. If you are not sure of thre answer say that uyou do not know. You are not going to be penalized for say it.

h) Be brief, loud and clear.

i) The major questions like Why do you want to join the Army/Navy/Air Force?. There are no perfect answer to this question. While answering it try to convey 4 or 5 facts such as:

i. Defence services offers a Challange to a young person

ii. Merit is given due recognition in te Forces.

iii. I will get an opportuniyt to learn and exprience the latest technological inventions.

iv. I like an out door life rather than a 10 to 5 desk job.

v. I will get an opporunity to mingle with all sorts of people and persons from different parts of the country.

vi. In my opinioin the Uniformed forces offers reasonable pay and perks

vii. One of the most respected professions in Indian is that of a soldier.

j) Be truthful in stating your hobbies. be prepared to answer questions about it.

k) High light your achievement in sports, NCC and other extra curricular activites.

l) Current affairs be a regualr reader of magazines and news paper.

m) When a situation is given to you think and answer be very specific and answer in the most practical way.

n) Thasnk the Officer for hois time before you leave the room.

Don't:

1. No lies/false hood please.
2. You have no bad points except to over work to get perfection in any task under taken.
3. Do not Waste your time unnecessarily read some magazines.
4. Don't be tense take it easy, always think before you answer.

The usual headings under which you will be asked to give out the appraisal is:-
a) What is you personal opinion about your self?
b) What does your parents think of you?
c) What does your best friend think about you?
d) What does your worst enemy think of you?
e) What does your teacher think of you?
f) What are your strong points?
g) What are your weak points?
h) What are the qualities you would like to develop?

You are a group of Nine college students, all of you went to River Kasi for enjoying a boat ride.
While you were going for boating, you saw a school bus carrying children for picnic spot near
the River. When you started boating down the river, you you saw an Helicopter flying very low
and crashed near Fort, which was 2 kms away from your location. You also noticed that there
was a lot of hue and cry of small children, who got stuck in the cable car just near to your boating
site. Two of your friends who went to investigate the Helicopter crash reported to you stating,
that the Pilot was injured and a box, which he was carrying was to be delivered to ATC by 1500
hours, if not it would explode. The cable operator rushed towards you, and requested you to help him
out to repair the cable car and rescue the children. One of your friends told you that he had left his
wallet containing money and important address in the near by teashop. You were also required to reach
the college hostel to attend the function at 1700 hours. The time now is 1430 hours.
Write your actions and discuss a suitable solution.
Assume resources available are
a) a Jeep
b) traffic on the road
c) Phone at Local Hospital which is 6 Kms away from your location.
d) Road head is 2Kms from you
e) Fort is 4 kms away from you

By carefully following the suggestions you will be able to Project your OLQ (Officer Like Qualities) to the selectors at the Services
Selection Board.
Remember to be natural and calm, be your self, do your best, put the interest of the group before your own, and always be alert. By being yourself your qualities are easily seen by the selectors. All the selectors are well trained, so please do not use any unfair means are bluff.

A) Assessment of Candidate's Participation within the formulated Rules
B) Planning and Intelligent Assessment of the situation
C) Inidividual Quality in context to the Group
D) Assuming control of a Group to execute a task
E) Assess the problem from different angles
F) Assign responsibility to Team mates
G) Ability to realise the Potential of Group Members
H) Capacity to motivate others
I) Alertness
J) Creative Thinking
K) Putting the Group before the Self
L) Helping Tendency
M) Originality of Thought
N) Quick Decision Making
O) Cooperation with Others
P) Group Integration
Q) Planning and Execution
R) Leadership Initiative

Thematic writing is given to judge your imagination and positive thoughts.
When you start writing the story remeber the following:
The story should have a Past
the present (i.e what is happening in the scene)
The Future.
In the story the hero/heroien may be seen/or imagined
the hero should bring out his good quality. ie that any one of the 15 OLQ already told to you in
this SSB Handbbok
The story should be about 12 to 15 sentences
3 for Past
6 for Present
3 for future

In the picture no 1.
Mr. Ram was an hard working and intelligent young man.
His aim was to become a collector, he started his preparation from his final year at the college.
In the picture we see him preparing for the forth coming prelim.
Being a maticulas and a student of forsight, he had collected thematerials for the test. His
hard workl and didication had paid him. He passed the exam with flying colours
He continued his hard work in the academy too, and he passed out as the best IAS officer in
his course.

...........  Above all seekly first the kingdom of God and all these things shall he added unto you....