How to prepare for Engineering Services Interview.

Dear All,
Here are the tips for Engg.Services Interview by Posubabu Alli, Present working IES officer in Indian Railways.
Thanks, Rao, Director, IES,Bangalore.

Engineering services Interview

Unlike CSE interview, ESE interview is quite simple and can be lead by the candidate to the right direction, if properly prepared. Board consists of four members. Chairman and 3 members.

Chairman of the board is from UPSC. Usually UPSC members head the interview boards. If there are multiple boards for a stream, there may be chances of disparities anoy multiple boards. Because marks pattern of one board differs from the other. In such case scaling should be done (But, I don’t know whether it happens or not). Multiple boards for one stream is usual in civil engineering because no. of candidates are more. Normally, one board interviews each candidate for twenty minutes at an average 6 to 7 candidates are interviewed by a board  in one session )i.e., either forenoon or afternoon session)

Normally chairman of the board starts the interview with questions related to bio –data like name, village, state, ongoing events in state etc. Deep knowledge in current affairs is not expected in this interview. Fair amount of knowledge regarding current events is sufficient. Reading news paper and magazines like India Today and Front line is sufficient you can simply skip political news in magazines and news papers concentrate on technological issues. Especially science and Tech. Colum in Thursday Hindu newspaper is very much useful. The question corner in this edition is very quite useful. Old questions can be had from the book. The Hindu speaks on scientific facts”.

You must project you self curious in knowing principles of operations of daily using gadgets etc.

In this area some previous questions asked were ¾

1.      Principle of working of bowling machine (incidentally this candidate written hobby as cricket in application)

2.      Working of spark plug in scooter

3.      Working of Xerox machine

4.      Working of air conditioner

So, the questions are more based on applications rather than theory.

 We can expect questions an

1.      Working of LCD, LED TV

2.      Internet telephony, IPTV

3.      3 G technology, wireless communication Bluetooth, wifi etc.

4.      Orgonic engines

5.      Indian space and Defence programs.

6.      Climate change adaptation etc.

 ∴ one must go deep into science and Technology topics. Science technology books of various publishers meant for CSE mains will be useful (like spectrum series, wizard series etc)

At least 20 to 30% of interview will be on present job / studies. The candidate should convincingly tell why he/she is willing to join Engg. services. There is every possibility that interviewers counter your arguments interms of pay, nature of job etc. please, keep in mind that the pay package in engg. services is less than that of PSU’s. But, you can talk about rapid promotions etc. Responsibility is no doubt high in engg. services. Job nature is less technical and more administrative. One should hare good interpersonal skills to get the job dare by subordinates. Such quality has  to be displayed during interview while you communicate.Don’t show case your present career / job as bad one. You speak about relative advantages in engg. services.

Be clean and true to yourself, regarding why you would like to join engg. services. Brush up basic theoretical principles. There are no questions seeking you to analyze technically too much (usually done in BARC interviews). Here, also concentrate more on applications. For eg:-what kind of motor is used in a mixer / grinder and why?

Have some idea regarding the sectors to which your engg. stream relates. For example – electrical engineers should know about per capita electrical energy consumption, proportion of varies kinds of electrical energy sources, national grids, HVDC links etc. similarly, civil engineers may be asked an interlinking  of rivers, urban planning etc.

Subject experts will be coming from varied fields. Depending on their fields their questions vary. One or two professors or vice chancellors will be there. You have to ensure that their questions should not be missed because; their questions will be in general nature. The questions by other experts are some times related to their field only for ex: if question like – “which kind of motor is used in Delhi metro trains?” are asked, it is …………………….. beyond some doubt about correctness.

The simplest solution to get rid of interview troubles is performing better in written exam. Having performed better in written, candidates confidence will be at peak and there by chances of getting good interview scores and hence getting top rank will be enhanced

                                                                                    Wising you good luck

                                                                                    Posu Babu Alli, IRSEE

                                                                                 Divisional Electrical Engineer

                                                                                    South central Railway   

Discussions related to this post should be here. http://www.onlineies.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=302

Thanks,

IES,Bangalore.

No.1 GATE/IES coaching center in Bangalore