SERVICE SELECTION BOARD (SSB) Interview Procedure
a) To get through the services selection board is not an easy job because the candidate is not examined by one man, but three different men.
b) The ssb conducts a grueling examination of a candidate’s personality, so that his best and worst come out of him.
c) The military officer’s life is a life of battle. His life is quite distinct and unique and somewhat different from the life of officers of other public services. The army life requires both ‘brain and ‘brawn’. The candidate must have many traits of leadership. He should possess egility of mind and alertness of body.
PREVIEW
a) Part- I - procedure for ssb,ssb schedule,selection procedure
b) Part- II - general hints for the guidance of candidates appearing in services selection boards
PROCEDURE FOR SSB
1) After passing the upsc examination, candidate will be required to report for an interview at one of the services selection boards.
2) The call letter specifies the name of the centre where the candidate is required to report and the date and time, when he is required for the interview.
3) The candidates are required to be punctual and report at their respective places in time. If a candidate is not able to present himself on due date for certain unavoidable circumstances, he should intimate the authorities are satisfied, a fresh date will be intimated to the candidate.
4) The candidates are received at the railway station by a representative of the services selection board, who conducts them to the place of their lodging.
5) The candidates are allotted rooms, where they stay till their interview is finished.
6) After the reception is over the candidates are taken to the interview centre, where the routine of their interview begins.
7) Candidate’s stay at the interview centre is for 4 to 5 days. If a candidate is selected, he is required to stay a day or two more to undergo thorough medical examination in the nearest medical unit.
8) On the first day, the candidates are briefed by the senior officers of the services selection board as to the routine of the interview.
9) Group photos are taken.
10) The candidates are allotted chest numbers, which they wear throughout their stay at the interview centre.
11) They are then asked to fill in certain forms which require their personal particulars and some other information required by the board. In these various forms, the candidates have to furnish name of their father, fathers occupation, income, names of brothers and sisters and their ages. The candidates are advised to go fully prepared for all these.
12) The candidates are also required to give on these forms, the details of their education and where studied, record of scholarships and trophies obtained, participation in extra curricular activities, hobbies, games and sports, books studied and whether the candidates were the members of NCC or other social clubs and organizations.
13) The candidates are advised to give true details of all these particulars. They should not distort the facts but be honest in giving these details. To be more accurate, it is better to collect all details before going to the board.
14) On the second day, the candidates are required to undergo intelligence and physical tests.
15) On the third and fourth days, the candidates are required to take group testing officer’s tests. Alongwith this, the candidates continue to be interviewed by the president or the deputy president of the board.
16) On the fifth day, the candidates have to appear before the final conference comprising all the members of the board for interview between 2 to 5 minutes.
17) It is on this day the fate of the candidate is decided. All the testing officers have their reports before them, about each candidate. They discuss each candidate’s capabilities and short comings. If the candidate is backed up by all the three testing officers, he is surely to be taken. The border line cases are also discussed in this conference and finalised. The accepted ones are asked to stay behind and the rejected ones are told to go back to their homes.
18) The candidates should know that their interview begins from the time they arrive in the services selection board and finishes when they are out of the premises of the board.
19) They have got to be cautious and steady during all the 4 or 5 days, when they stay in the board.
20) The selected ones are no doubt happy, but there should be no feelings of remorse for those who may be better men, but are not considered for service in the army. Patience, optimism and more concerted efforts will help them at a later stage.
SSB SCHEDULE
Day-1
· Arrival of candidates
· Documentation
Day-2
· Stage-1 tests (fn)
· Candidates not recommended in stage I dispersed
Day-3
· Psychological tests
· Interviews
Day-4
· Goto - 1 tasks
· Interviews
Day-5
· Goto – 2 tasks
· Interviews
Day-6
· Conference
· Announcement of Results
· Dispersal of Candidates less Recommended Candidates
· Medicals
SELECTION PROCEDURE STAGES
Test of stage - 1
· intelligence test and rating from one to five (basic int-verbal/non verbal)
· Picture projection & discussion test (pp&dt)
It is different from group discussion wherein candidate should have knowledge of the subject in pp&dt all candidates are at par. Picture is so designed that ideas generate on the spot
Test of Stage - 2
· Psych technique
· Gto technique
· Interview technique
MEMBERS OF THE SSB
· The president of the board (takes interview).
· The deputy president of the boards (takes interview)
· The psychologist tests candidates’ psychology and I.Q (intelligence quotient)
· The group testing officer (takes all outdoor tests, finds out candidates’ qualities of leadership)
· Psychiatrist (interprets candidates’ personality in case of doubt)
Part-II
GENERAL HINTS FOR THE GUIDANCE OF CANDIDATES APPEARING IN SERVICES SELECTION BOARDS.
Good behaviour
· From the time, try to behave in a gentlemanly way.
· See that ssb receptionist is treated with all due respect and honour, whether he is an officer or is from the ranks.
· Mind that he has come to receive you and not to give you any information regarding the ssb. He, therefore. Should not be troubled with a barrage of questions regarding your interview.
· Act as he asks you to do so. This is not a time for probing into the various formalities and tests of ssb.
· Be patient and do not behave in a childish way.
Widen your circle of friendship
· Wherever you go, friendship pay you. It will pay you more in the ssb as you have to work here in a group.
· Do not antagonise any of your rival.
· Wish and greet other candidates who have come for the interview. Show that you are a man of decency and cooperation.
· Talk about the interests of other candidates. Do not be shy, but indulge in profitable conversation with other candidates. By showing that you have ample preparation for the ssb, you could be able to make a couple of friends who will surely side with you in various activities at the ssb. The friendship and better acquaintanceship will help you in your selection.
Good manners
· Good manners cost you nothing, but pay you much.
· Courtesy is a very valued thing.
· Treat the servants in your rooms and in the mess with good manners.
· Courtesy and modesty with your co-candidates is very paying thing.
· Mind that you are being constantly watched at the ssb.
Create an atmosphere of informality.
· During your ssb interview, you will be meeting all the testing officers turn by turn. This may happen either individually or in a group. Whatever may be the situation, if you are engaged in talks, do not be tongue-tied. Do not be formal or very informal to any of the officers of the board.
· You may require a little bit of informality to talk to them. If for example, the group testing officer talks to you before the
commencement of a command task and asks you,. “which is your place of residence?” Tell him the place of your residence and invite him to visit the city of your residence with politeness and tact. Keep a cheerful disposition throughout your stay in the ssb.
· A wrinkled face will not please anyone.
· Do not put unnecessary questions to your testing officers. It is only whenever you are in genuine doubt, clarify the point.
· Show humour and wit depending on the situation.
Dress well, tress well
· Your dress should be neat and clean and not gaudy and flabby.
· Do not dress as to look foppish.
· Simplicity must be the key note in the selection of your dress.
· Very glaring colours are not good.
· Pay attention towards your tress also.
· In short wear smart dress to look really smart and alert.
Speaking manners
· In the army an officer has to command a group of soldiers. He will always be giving orders verbally.
· A single word can betray your weakness and spoil your chances of selection. The art of cultivating pleasant speaking manners is much more essential for one who is appearing for ssb.
· It is , therefore, essential that a prospective candidate should possess a sweet, stable and dignified manners of speech.
· He should not stammer and should not speak haltingly.
· Here it shall suffice to say that one should speak with proper accent, pronunciation and grammar.
· He should speak audibly and fluently, keeping the proper pitch of voice.
Increase your store of knowledge
· Personality can not be increased by aping others. You have got to be original and this can happen, if you increase store of your knowledge.
· Acquire knowledge of facts and figures. A person well informed and having a sufficient knowledge of world events, present trends in art, literature and science is not only full of confidence and has self reliance, but also has a matured personality to attract attention of others.
· You should have a sufficient knowledge of the job for which you have applied.
· Study a wide range of newspapers and magazines. Keep notes and try to assimilate all that you read. This will make you reach the intellectual level. Your fund of knowledge will help you during your interview.
Overcome your nervousness
· Nervousness does not make a candidate to assert himself. Everyone likes to shake off nervousness, as it impairs our self control and cripples our intelligence.
· A nervous man has no control on his speech organs. In fact, he is unable to show what he is.
· To remove nervousness one should take 15 to 20 long breaths daily.
· One should cultivate the habit of relaxation. Another way of removing nervousness is not to imagine unfavorable situations.
· Do not worry as to what is going to happen. Always be optimistic and cherish happy thoughts and feelings.
· Do not entertain any fear.
· Do not cultivate defeatist mentality. Have an healthy out look of your life.
Remove fear and worries
· A man of fears and worries has no personality.
· These are enemies of man.
· These kill his enthusiasm and do not allow him to rise.
· All other shortcomings are due to these two drawbacks. We do not admit that these are inborn. These are habits which we have cultivated and can be removed with practice.
· We should try to find out the cause of our fears and worries. Once we have taken the analysis, we should go ahead to eradicate these. These can be removed by auto-suggestion. We can remove these by not fearing and worrying. Indulge yourself in some hobby, games and sports. Cultivate healthy and positive thoughts.
Cultivate qualities of leadership
· In the army sleepy officer or officers suffering from certain complexes are not wanted.
· They should be such who can lead their men successfully in time of emergency.
· They should possess a lot of presence of mind and quickness of decision. The military thus calls for a high degree of leadership.
· We should cultivate these qualities when we are studying in our schools and colleges.
SOME LEADERSHIP QUALITIES FOR SSB
1. Quickness of mind.
2. Having definite ideas about various problems.
3. Originality of thought and mind.
4. Straight forwardness.
5. Practical intelligence.
6. Self confidence.
7. Sociability.
8. Quickness of decision.
9. Logical approach to various problems.
10. Attitude of team spirit and cooperation.
11. Initiative and drive.
12. Attitude of optimism.
13. Cheerfulness under stress and strain.
14. Organizational ability.
15. Force to influence others.
16. Dash and courage.
17. Resourcefulness.
18. Physical endurance and mental stamina.
19. Adventurous type.
20. Sense of duty and loyalty to the group
21. Wit and humor.
22. Firmness of convictions.
23. Frankness of ideas
24. Adaptability.
25. Disciplined bent of mind.
26. Regard for the views of others.
27. Consideration for the interest of others.
28. Industriousness.
29. Eloquency of speech.
30. Matured personality.
b) The ssb conducts a grueling examination of a candidate’s personality, so that his best and worst come out of him.
c) The military officer’s life is a life of battle. His life is quite distinct and unique and somewhat different from the life of officers of other public services. The army life requires both ‘brain and ‘brawn’. The candidate must have many traits of leadership. He should possess egility of mind and alertness of body.
PREVIEW
a) Part- I - procedure for ssb,ssb schedule,selection procedure
b) Part- II - general hints for the guidance of candidates appearing in services selection boards
PROCEDURE FOR SSB
1) After passing the upsc examination, candidate will be required to report for an interview at one of the services selection boards.
2) The call letter specifies the name of the centre where the candidate is required to report and the date and time, when he is required for the interview.
3) The candidates are required to be punctual and report at their respective places in time. If a candidate is not able to present himself on due date for certain unavoidable circumstances, he should intimate the authorities are satisfied, a fresh date will be intimated to the candidate.
4) The candidates are received at the railway station by a representative of the services selection board, who conducts them to the place of their lodging.
5) The candidates are allotted rooms, where they stay till their interview is finished.
6) After the reception is over the candidates are taken to the interview centre, where the routine of their interview begins.
7) Candidate’s stay at the interview centre is for 4 to 5 days. If a candidate is selected, he is required to stay a day or two more to undergo thorough medical examination in the nearest medical unit.
8) On the first day, the candidates are briefed by the senior officers of the services selection board as to the routine of the interview.
9) Group photos are taken.
10) The candidates are allotted chest numbers, which they wear throughout their stay at the interview centre.
11) They are then asked to fill in certain forms which require their personal particulars and some other information required by the board. In these various forms, the candidates have to furnish name of their father, fathers occupation, income, names of brothers and sisters and their ages. The candidates are advised to go fully prepared for all these.
12) The candidates are also required to give on these forms, the details of their education and where studied, record of scholarships and trophies obtained, participation in extra curricular activities, hobbies, games and sports, books studied and whether the candidates were the members of NCC or other social clubs and organizations.
13) The candidates are advised to give true details of all these particulars. They should not distort the facts but be honest in giving these details. To be more accurate, it is better to collect all details before going to the board.
14) On the second day, the candidates are required to undergo intelligence and physical tests.
15) On the third and fourth days, the candidates are required to take group testing officer’s tests. Alongwith this, the candidates continue to be interviewed by the president or the deputy president of the board.
16) On the fifth day, the candidates have to appear before the final conference comprising all the members of the board for interview between 2 to 5 minutes.
17) It is on this day the fate of the candidate is decided. All the testing officers have their reports before them, about each candidate. They discuss each candidate’s capabilities and short comings. If the candidate is backed up by all the three testing officers, he is surely to be taken. The border line cases are also discussed in this conference and finalised. The accepted ones are asked to stay behind and the rejected ones are told to go back to their homes.
18) The candidates should know that their interview begins from the time they arrive in the services selection board and finishes when they are out of the premises of the board.
19) They have got to be cautious and steady during all the 4 or 5 days, when they stay in the board.
20) The selected ones are no doubt happy, but there should be no feelings of remorse for those who may be better men, but are not considered for service in the army. Patience, optimism and more concerted efforts will help them at a later stage.
SSB SCHEDULE
Day-1
· Arrival of candidates
· Documentation
Day-2
· Stage-1 tests (fn)
· Candidates not recommended in stage I dispersed
Day-3
· Psychological tests
· Interviews
Day-4
· Goto - 1 tasks
· Interviews
Day-5
· Goto – 2 tasks
· Interviews
Day-6
· Conference
· Announcement of Results
· Dispersal of Candidates less Recommended Candidates
· Medicals
SELECTION PROCEDURE STAGES
Test of stage - 1
· intelligence test and rating from one to five (basic int-verbal/non verbal)
· Picture projection & discussion test (pp&dt)
It is different from group discussion wherein candidate should have knowledge of the subject in pp&dt all candidates are at par. Picture is so designed that ideas generate on the spot
Test of Stage - 2
· Psych technique
· Gto technique
· Interview technique
MEMBERS OF THE SSB
· The president of the board (takes interview).
· The deputy president of the boards (takes interview)
· The psychologist tests candidates’ psychology and I.Q (intelligence quotient)
· The group testing officer (takes all outdoor tests, finds out candidates’ qualities of leadership)
· Psychiatrist (interprets candidates’ personality in case of doubt)
Part-II
GENERAL HINTS FOR THE GUIDANCE OF CANDIDATES APPEARING IN SERVICES SELECTION BOARDS.
Good behaviour
· From the time, try to behave in a gentlemanly way.
· See that ssb receptionist is treated with all due respect and honour, whether he is an officer or is from the ranks.
· Mind that he has come to receive you and not to give you any information regarding the ssb. He, therefore. Should not be troubled with a barrage of questions regarding your interview.
· Act as he asks you to do so. This is not a time for probing into the various formalities and tests of ssb.
· Be patient and do not behave in a childish way.
Widen your circle of friendship
· Wherever you go, friendship pay you. It will pay you more in the ssb as you have to work here in a group.
· Do not antagonise any of your rival.
· Wish and greet other candidates who have come for the interview. Show that you are a man of decency and cooperation.
· Talk about the interests of other candidates. Do not be shy, but indulge in profitable conversation with other candidates. By showing that you have ample preparation for the ssb, you could be able to make a couple of friends who will surely side with you in various activities at the ssb. The friendship and better acquaintanceship will help you in your selection.
Good manners
· Good manners cost you nothing, but pay you much.
· Courtesy is a very valued thing.
· Treat the servants in your rooms and in the mess with good manners.
· Courtesy and modesty with your co-candidates is very paying thing.
· Mind that you are being constantly watched at the ssb.
Create an atmosphere of informality.
· During your ssb interview, you will be meeting all the testing officers turn by turn. This may happen either individually or in a group. Whatever may be the situation, if you are engaged in talks, do not be tongue-tied. Do not be formal or very informal to any of the officers of the board.
· You may require a little bit of informality to talk to them. If for example, the group testing officer talks to you before the
commencement of a command task and asks you,. “which is your place of residence?” Tell him the place of your residence and invite him to visit the city of your residence with politeness and tact. Keep a cheerful disposition throughout your stay in the ssb.
· A wrinkled face will not please anyone.
· Do not put unnecessary questions to your testing officers. It is only whenever you are in genuine doubt, clarify the point.
· Show humour and wit depending on the situation.
Dress well, tress well
· Your dress should be neat and clean and not gaudy and flabby.
· Do not dress as to look foppish.
· Simplicity must be the key note in the selection of your dress.
· Very glaring colours are not good.
· Pay attention towards your tress also.
· In short wear smart dress to look really smart and alert.
Speaking manners
· In the army an officer has to command a group of soldiers. He will always be giving orders verbally.
· A single word can betray your weakness and spoil your chances of selection. The art of cultivating pleasant speaking manners is much more essential for one who is appearing for ssb.
· It is , therefore, essential that a prospective candidate should possess a sweet, stable and dignified manners of speech.
· He should not stammer and should not speak haltingly.
· Here it shall suffice to say that one should speak with proper accent, pronunciation and grammar.
· He should speak audibly and fluently, keeping the proper pitch of voice.
Increase your store of knowledge
· Personality can not be increased by aping others. You have got to be original and this can happen, if you increase store of your knowledge.
· Acquire knowledge of facts and figures. A person well informed and having a sufficient knowledge of world events, present trends in art, literature and science is not only full of confidence and has self reliance, but also has a matured personality to attract attention of others.
· You should have a sufficient knowledge of the job for which you have applied.
· Study a wide range of newspapers and magazines. Keep notes and try to assimilate all that you read. This will make you reach the intellectual level. Your fund of knowledge will help you during your interview.
Overcome your nervousness
· Nervousness does not make a candidate to assert himself. Everyone likes to shake off nervousness, as it impairs our self control and cripples our intelligence.
· A nervous man has no control on his speech organs. In fact, he is unable to show what he is.
· To remove nervousness one should take 15 to 20 long breaths daily.
· One should cultivate the habit of relaxation. Another way of removing nervousness is not to imagine unfavorable situations.
· Do not worry as to what is going to happen. Always be optimistic and cherish happy thoughts and feelings.
· Do not entertain any fear.
· Do not cultivate defeatist mentality. Have an healthy out look of your life.
Remove fear and worries
· A man of fears and worries has no personality.
· These are enemies of man.
· These kill his enthusiasm and do not allow him to rise.
· All other shortcomings are due to these two drawbacks. We do not admit that these are inborn. These are habits which we have cultivated and can be removed with practice.
· We should try to find out the cause of our fears and worries. Once we have taken the analysis, we should go ahead to eradicate these. These can be removed by auto-suggestion. We can remove these by not fearing and worrying. Indulge yourself in some hobby, games and sports. Cultivate healthy and positive thoughts.
Cultivate qualities of leadership
· In the army sleepy officer or officers suffering from certain complexes are not wanted.
· They should be such who can lead their men successfully in time of emergency.
· They should possess a lot of presence of mind and quickness of decision. The military thus calls for a high degree of leadership.
· We should cultivate these qualities when we are studying in our schools and colleges.
SOME LEADERSHIP QUALITIES FOR SSB
1. Quickness of mind.
2. Having definite ideas about various problems.
3. Originality of thought and mind.
4. Straight forwardness.
5. Practical intelligence.
6. Self confidence.
7. Sociability.
8. Quickness of decision.
9. Logical approach to various problems.
10. Attitude of team spirit and cooperation.
11. Initiative and drive.
12. Attitude of optimism.
13. Cheerfulness under stress and strain.
14. Organizational ability.
15. Force to influence others.
16. Dash and courage.
17. Resourcefulness.
18. Physical endurance and mental stamina.
19. Adventurous type.
20. Sense of duty and loyalty to the group
21. Wit and humor.
22. Firmness of convictions.
23. Frankness of ideas
24. Adaptability.
25. Disciplined bent of mind.
26. Regard for the views of others.
27. Consideration for the interest of others.
28. Industriousness.
29. Eloquency of speech.
30. Matured personality.