Not A Success Story But SSB Interview A Lesson For Life

1. TES-30: (24 SSB Bangalore)
2. 10+2 Cadet Entry:  (NSB Coimbatore) (SATYAM KUMAR – S-47490 )

Here today I’m describing my complete journey of my latest attempt:

NSB at Coimbatore 2014 : Around 120 candidates reported and after documents verification the first test of the day:

Day 1: 10 OCT  After documents verifications, chest no. were allotted to us, MINE WAS 42.

Intelligence Test began: The test was simple, it only required concentration logics and presence of mind.  When test Result of Intelligence test was declared, a total of 26 candidates made to second test of the day:

PP&DT. Picture was shown which had about 4-5 characters , scene of a village and the village was surrounded by water. Well everyone made a common assumption of flood and then the discussion began.

The funniest part in the PPDT test was shared by one of my close friend. In his group instead of having discussion on the story every candidate was much more interested in deciding the number of characters, their age and gender. Much of the time of the group discussion was whiled away and my friend just uttered a sentence at the end “ Let’s come to a conclusion”. This was the only sentence what he told because of which he was screened in  ( According to my friend ).

Everything was done by afternoon. Filling up the forms took the time till late in the evening. We enjoyed a lot in the assessment room.

Day 2: 11 OCT : PSYCHOLOGY TEST:

• TAT: 11 pictures and a blank picture were flashed on screen for 30 seconds each. For the last slide I Framed a story having Capt. Vikram Batra as my character.
• WAT:Words  were known to us but due to shortage of time making a positive meaningful sentence was the task. I completed 45/60.
• SRT:The Srt’s were really interesting. One could easily face these things in real life. I completed 57/60.
• SD:I had my own preplanned story . 

Day 2: After the  Psychology test we all were relieved for the day . We were given the permission to stroll around the city . Coimbatore was a new place for many of us . Thanks to state transport because of which we managed to stroll.

The two famous places we visited was

1. Brookfield mall
2. Fun cinema

Day 3: 12 OCT : Personal Interview:

Personal Interview is the main part of analyzing a candidate. I was well prepared for it. I was a bit confident as I covered every aspect. My chest no was 9. I was waiting for my turn to come for the Interview.
One of my close friend was being interviewed at that time.
Interviewer : Analyse yourself and rate accordingly.
Interviewee : Sir I would like to rate myself 6
Interviewer : Why is it so? You have mentioned in your PIQ form that you are a studious person.
Interviewee : Yes sir , but there are candidates who are well equipped with knowledge regarding Geo-Politics in the Barack.
Interviewer : Who?
Interviewee : Sir, chest no 9 who is waiting for his turn. He is going to be interviewed next.
Interviewer : Ok.

His interview got completed and we were given instruction to have the lunch and then report again at the scheduled time . We went to Ante Room to have lunch . I was getting nervous by the time I took Roti and Sabji in my plate my friend came to me and said Bhai be prepared he is going to ask you a hell lot of Questions . I said why is it so ?? Till now no candidate has been asked that much. He said “bhai maine tera naam liya” and he narrated me all the session.

By that time the Instructor came and announced my chest no and asked me to get dressed up and report . I handed my plate to my friend. Got good luck wishes from my friends. The moment I was arranging my certificates I was thinking about the questions what he is gonna ask.

Every step towards the Interview room was like a way to heaven :P.
As soon I entered the room I was shocked the way he welcomed me. He said “Welcome Mr.Satyam Kumar , where were you till now . We are looking for candidates like you” and shooked hands with me .

I was feeling good that ok he is having a good impression on me. Half of my job is done. But that was not something unusual. Later on I came to know that he greeted everyone the same way.

The interview session began. I am going to narrate in the following way :

Interviewer : Have a glass of water
Me : Its fine sir ! I am ok
Interviewer : So, let’s begin the session. Be comfortable.
Me : Sir (with a smile )
Interviewer : What were you feeling / thinking when you were waiting for your turn?
Me : Nothing much sir , there is a fighter plane model in the garden. I was imagining myself to be its fighter pilot . And I was enjoying the cool breeze and the nature.
Interviewer : Here are the rapid-fire questions – Try to answer them in the chronological manner.
(He asked a series of question and I answered everything as I was well prepared with the rapid fire questions )
Interviewer : Fine .
Interviewer : Ohk, Kumar what opinion do you have regarding War?
Me : I explained with the help of examples of History and I concluded War is not a solution for an issue.
Interviewer : You are given about 3 minutes speak about Indo-Pak relationship
Me : As I read everything from SSB crack I was pretty confident and I answered him.
Interviewer : About Indo-China
Me: Explained the major issues: Asylum of Dalai lama, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh issue.
Interviewer : Indo – Bangladesh, Indo-Mayanmar, Indo-Nepal
Me : Answered
Interviewer : Indo- Srilanka
Me : Sir the only thing I know about this is LTTE and I even don’t know its full form

Interviewer : Ok !!
Interviewer : What is the Telangana Issue ?? What is your opinion regarding this?
Me : I explained everything . ( I noticed when I completed my answer he tilted from his chair to table .and as I said sir I am done !! He gave me an amazing look and said well done !!  I was pretty confident that I made it )

Interviewer : You are given a SRT. Suppose you are in a relationship with your girlfriend. And you guys want to marry . But your parents do not agree to your relationship. What will be your course of action?
Me : Sir , My parents are happy when I am happy and this is a hypothetical question. It won’t arise in my practical life . But still if it arises I’ll convince my parents. They won’t disagree.
Interviewer : Ok (with a smile )

Interviewer : Who is your favourite actress?
Me : No one sir, as I don’t watch much of the movies.
Interviewer : your girlfriend?
Me : No sir (with a smile )
Interviewer : Are you a man ?
Me: Yes sir, 100% medically certified
Interviewer : Well  I wish you get recommended from here. We’ll come to know in the medicals ( We both laughed )

Interviewer : You have mentioned in your PIQ form that your passion is to play hockey. Brief me regarding its history.
Me : (Started) Sir, Hockey is not India’s National game.
Interviewer : Is it ?? (He was acting I believe, actually he was judging me whether I know the reason or not ?)
Me: I explained the whole incident. He was impressed.
Interviewer : If by chance you don’t get selected what will you do ??
Me : Sir, I ll take it positively. I ll believe there was something that I lacked and I’ll improve it for the next attempt.
Interviewer : Any questions ??
Me : Sir, Agar select nahi hue to reason please bata dijiye 😛
Interviewer : (With a smile ). We don’t reveal it . You have to analyse yourself and improve it for the next attempt .
Me : Sure Sir !!
Interviewer : Good luck .
Me : Thank you sir . (Left with a smile )

            Day 4: 13 Oct : GTO 1

• Group Discussion: Two topics one related to Media and another related to Things acting as a barrier in Deveolopment . I gave 4 solid points in both the topics and I listened my group mates very carefully and gave chance to speak others. Optional Topic: I don’t remember (as of now)
• GPE:This was the most interesting task . As everyone politely gave their points . We came to a common conclusion too. Our GTO was impressed .
• Lecturette: In my card 4 topics were there:

1. War (Wright (or) Wrong) to solve a dispute (I choose this topic)
2. Advertisements
3. Importance of Games and Sports
4. Your Idol.

We were made through all the Tasks of command task , progressive task , half group task , group task , Individual Obstacles.

Day 5:14 Oct : After Completion of 5 day testing, we went inside Conference room one by one. When I was waiting outside conference hall ,   my body was vibrating while I was sitting on the chair. When my turn came to go inside, though I was feeling  bit nervous but I had a smile on my face to show my confidence level. But this didn’t last much . As soon the President asked me to take my place , we were in advance given practice how to be seated in conference hall by the instructor . I didn’t see the placement of chair and didn’t calculated the appropriate distance from me and sat . The chair disbalanced . I said (Oh my god). Rather to adjust myself I was looking at the officers and their expressions . President said might be there some problem in the chair . He said so to make me comfortable . I took my seat .
The only question I was asked by the president was : Any suggestion you would like to give to improve the service provided.
Me : No sir , All the arrangements were absolutely fine sir . I was like ye kya hua “1 min mai hi conference khatam” .

The conference was over. The result was ready. We were waiting for the result in Ante Room . After sometimes, GTO came with result. Before announcing the result, he gave closing address by motivating all the candidates. After completion of it, he started announcing chest no. those who got recommended. Only one candidate was being recommended.

1. My dear friends SSB is not regarding selecting a person or rejecting someone. Its just whether “The karma , The vacha , The mansa” matches or not . Having OLQ’s is the only way out one can get through . But it doesn’t mean that it has to be learnt or mugging up. Its regarding your natural way of living , your positive thinking that will develop your personality which has to be made over a time not just prior to interview. Please don’t try to mislead or boast about yourself or else they ll screw you up from all the angles . Be practical in your approach. Have a hobby in real not only to fill in your PIQ form .. Hobby is something in which creativity is involved .
2. Best thing about SSB is that they teach you how to lead a life with confidence keeping the time frame in mind . How to get involved in things and with support of the mates solve a issue. Overall your personality trait is being developed. Even if you don’t get through SSB you learn quite interesting things and brings a change within you and makes you feel special from the res.

My dear friends remember only one thing – BE WHAT YOU ARE TO GET RECOMMENDED.

JAI HIND