In today’s time, with limited job opportunities it is crucial to have an extra edge that separates you from the rest. To have that edge, you do not need to have some unique feature that you were born with but rather a quality that you have developed over time that defines you. Be it your dedication towards your goals, your time management skills, whatever it is, it should always drive you in the path that you choose.
It can be quite challenging to grab a job offer when you’re competing in a crowded market. Nowadays candidates are inundated with so much of online content and have a great deal of information at their disposal. So how do you choose what’s best for you that will help you to crack NDA. Here are few tips to outsmart your peers:
1. Remove Negative thoughts/fear.
I can do it!!
First and foremost, it is pertinent to note that you should believe in you. You should fully invest in yourself. If you believe you can do it, then you are on the right path. We believe that candidates should repeat this Mantra-I CAN DO IT!! as often as possible.
You need to overcome the fears on a rational and an emotional level. On the rational level, think about why you want this opportunity. This may include financial benefits, job security as well as other aspects of joining the Forces- the reputation, the PRIDE to name a few.
On the emotional level, inspire trust. Trust in yourself that you are born to be an Officer. The trust in yourself that you have all the OLQs that is required to be in the forces. Demonstrate you’re worthy of that trust.
2. Paying attention and Focus.
Taking the first point further, Focus is next big quality that you need to practice and inculcate in yourself. You should always be focussed and pay attention when you’re supposed to be learning the material in class. Every minute detail that your guide/mentor is illustrating should be noted down and followed to the core.
You should also make a habit to take good notes as writing down the information as you learn it will not only help you in absorbing the information and paying attention, but will also serve as a reference for when you go to study later.
You should never let your mind wander or you will miss out on a key information that will later appear on tests. With so many distractions, it is crucial to dedicate your time for studies and your personal grooming as NDA is not just about what you know but also about how you present yourself-your personality.
3. Measure your progress and reward yourself.
Staying focussed can be quite tricky with so many distractions, especially the little devil that we can not live without these days that we call “smartphones”. On the one hand, you can not deny the fact that it is really required to keep you updated with latest in the market. With all these Apps and study material available online, the role of smartphones can not be neglected.
On the other hand, social media is obviously an important distraction that can take your most of the time if you dont keep it in check. We understand that this is equally important but too much salt spoils the food.
One way of keeping the focus is to track your progress on a daily basis. The progress should be tracked on both macro level as well as micro level. Participate in quizzes to see how much you know about a subject. Set goals and before you go to sleep always check if you achieved that goal. Reward yourself when you do so and work harder for your next goal.
If you can make a habit of this and include it into your routine, then you will not only have a much clearer idea of how you’re progressing and any areas you might need to brush up in but will also help you retain information for longer, reduce your stress levels and prepare you for an exam-type environment.
4. Avoid shortcuts.
Every shortcut has a price usually greater than the reward-Bryant McGill
While preparing for the NDA exam, it is advised that you should avoid taking short cuts. It may appear an easy way now but it may prove to be a snake in the grass. Even if you know that you can get the solution to an exercise on the Internet or from a friend, always give priority to solving the exercise by yourself. Of course the help can always be taken but not before you have put your best foot forward. Make a note of the problem that you found difficult and practice it again over time. Always give priority to solving your problems yourself.
5. Do practice tests.
Last step is to put your efforts to test. Here, the little devil-your smart phone can come quite handy. With so many apps available in the market, you should take mock tests regularly to check your progress. Do not forget to take the tests topic-wise to check your mastery on the topic but also a weekly test should be taken to test your overall progress. Taking a practice test will help you figure out how much information you actually know vs how much information you think you know.
With this we come to an end of this article. While these are some of the ways that can help you outsmart your peers but these are not the only ways. You might already be doing what it takes to be- the one they are looking for. Just trust yourself and keep going. ALL THE BEST!!
