When you are going for an SSB interview, the first question that you will be asked is “Tell me about yourself”. This is not just a casual question but an important one. The interviewer wants to know more about you as a person and what is your motivation behind wanting to join the Armed Forces.
You should be able to answer this question in a way that is both honest and convincing. Practice your answer beforehand so that you are not caught off-guard when the question is asked.
Whatever you include in the opening statement about yourself, tell things that are genuine and don’t bluff in any case. If you have not done anything then don’t say it, because Interviewing officers adopt various techniques to catch liars.
In this article, we will give you some tips on how to answer the question “Tell me about yourself” in an SSB interview.
1. Pitch Yourself
Turn this into a great opportunity to pitch yourself to the interviewing officers. In an SSB interview, the interviewer will often ask you to “tell me about yourself.” This can be a tricky question to answer, as you don’t want to give too much information or sound like you’re bragging.
The best way to approach this question is to give a brief overview of your life. You can start by discussing your current or most recent part of your life and then talk about your education and skills. Be sure to mention any relevant accomplishments or awards.
Keep your answer brief and to the point. You want to give the employer a taste of who you are, but you don’t want to overwhelm them with information. Remember, you’ll have plenty of time to elaborate on your experiences and skills during the rest of the interview.
2. Talk about Why You Chose This Path
Interviewing officers are more interested in knowing about things that are not written in the PIQ or in the markets. So give them more information about yourself. Talk about your life story in brief and explain why you chose this path. You can tell them the story of what inspired you t join the Indian military. A story is very engaging as people can relate to it more. So tell them a story about your life in short.
3. Talk about Your Education
The next thing you can talk about is your education. Explain to them why did you choose this course or stream or a particular college. Give them a brief idea about your educational goals and how succeeding in the SSB interview can contribute.
Show Academic Interest
The next thing you can include in your opening statement about yourself is academic interest. Show that you are a good learner and ready to be trained. Indian military training is one of the toughest in the world and this gives them a hint that you are ready for any technical training after getting selected.
4. Extra Curricular Activities
These activities are outside your academic qualifications like organizing camps, marketing campaigns, student clubs, or conducting cultural programs. These skills are added advantages for any candidate as management is one of the most sought-after skills in any organization. If you have it then express it. Don’t bluff for the sake of it, if you have not done it then don’t say it. If you lie in the SSB interview then there is a higher chance that you will get caught.
5. Hobbies, Passion, and Interest
Talk about your hobbies, passion, and interests, it gives a good impression if you are passionate about something that can be nurtured for the sake of the organization. For example, if you are good at sports like running, log jumping, cycling, trekking, playing band, singing, etc. then there is a great chance that you may be a part of the future team in the military. These points give candidates an extra advantage and if you can seal it with a certificate then it is a bonus.
6. Talk about Your Work Experience
If you have any work experience at any level maybe as a trainee or intern then you can also include them in your introduction about yourself. Any work experience small or big, paid or unpaid can become handy in selection. But choose your words carefully as why did you join the job and what did you learn from it?
Conclusion
The best way to answer the “Tell me about yourself” question in an SSB interview is to give a brief summary of your academic qualifications (Professional experience if Any), followed by a description of your personal interests and hobbies. Remember to keep the answer focused and relevant to the position you are applying for. For more tips on acing your SSB interviews, follow our blog.
