The veteran aspirants of SSB will agree with me that they have faced different types of Interviewing Officers in different interviews. By different I mean the way with which they deal you, the way with which they present themselves and the way with they carry out the interview is totally different. Some may disagree with the types I am going to list down, yet I have tried my sbest to list the most common types. Also if you have met any other type of Interviewing Officer in you Service Selection Board Interview, please post in the comment box below.
Types of Interviewing Officers at SSB
- The friendly Guy: This is the most common type of interviewing officer people get. Generally for freshers the Interviewing officer tends to take up this role. Even for repeaters once in a while you may get such an Interviewing Officer. This guy will be very friendly with you, talk to you nicely and smile throughout. You’ll never understand that he’s extracting the deepest secret out of you, through his tactics. He’ll be very sweet with you and you’ll become very easy with him, thus being friendly with him. How to deal with him: Maintain the distance; don’t get too friendly and overwhelmed. Speak only that much which you planned. They are taught to smile, so don’t get trapped by the smile.
- The ‘you know nothing’ sir: The Interviewing Officers of this type will discourage you and push you down. They’ll ask you questions and never accept the answers. They’ll say that you have not prepared well, and you just came in the SSB for the sake of coming. No matter how hard you try, he’ll never be satisfied with your answers. You’ll feel so worthless at one point of time. How to deal with him: You already know that he is doing it on purpose, just give your answer and be cool.
- Question Tree: This guy will have hundreds of questions for you. He’ll never let you complete an answer, as he’ll be interrupting you in between every answer. He’ll ask you comprehensive questions, with 10-15 questions in a go, and as you start answering he’ll interrupt you. This will make you forget the questions and thus leave you irritated. At a point you’ll feel very much irritated and bugged. How to deal with him: You can simply keep on answering his questions, don’t lose your calm. If you forget the questions, just answer the one’s you remember, but never look worried. Be cool.
- ‘Whatever you speak, doesn’t interest me’ officer: You keep on speaking and answering his questions but he’ll put his head down, or close his eyes. Some even make and expression of disgust, making you think that they don’t want to hear you. They might even keep looking at the clock. An officer made such a face once which made me think he is just hating every word I speak. It is very difficult to talk to somebody who is looking dis interested in what you saying, and this is his tactic to diverge your attention. How to deal with him: Again now you know he is doing it on purpose, so keep on giving you answer, and keep on looking at him.
- Keep on going: This officer will never interrupt you, even if you finish your answer he’ll not say anything, just keep looking at you. You’ll get bored of speaking, because this guy will allow you to speak endlessly. In fact once you finish your answer you’ll have to tell him that, that’s it sir. How to deal with him: This guys is most easy to deal with. Just keep going on!
Please post any other type that you may have encountered!
