KOCHI: Sidharth B. and Ann Mary George have a key success mantra for civil services aspirants.
“Keep the learning process simple and choose an optional subject that could earn you maximum marks,” said Sidharth, who got the 15th rank in the civil services examination.
Ann Mary, who won the 123rd rank, is of the view that getting into civil services is possible not only through hard work but “smart work and making the right choices”.
A B.Tech graduate whose civil services aspirations took a serious turn after he quit a B2B e-commerce firm after a two-year stint, Sidharth, a resident of Kaloor, joined a coaching centre in New Delhi to streamline his preparation.
In fact, the failure to clear the examination in the first attempt taught him a key point.
“I learnt that there is no point in going for an extensive preparation. One has to adopt a simple method focusing on tips given by former toppers and collecting the right material and ideas to crack the exam,” he said.
Maintaining that there was no specific reason for him to choose the Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Sidharth said he would work for the nation’s interests in his capacity as a diplomat.
Son of businessman Babukuttan Pillai and homemaker Anitha Keshavadas, Sidharth is a former student of Nava Nirman Public School, Vazhakkala, and Bhavan’s Adarsha Vidyalaya, Kakkanad. He completed B. Tech from Mar Athanasius College of Engineering at Kothamangalam.
Internship
It was her internship at the Planning Commission in 2013 that prompted Ann Mary to pursue a career in civil services. A former president of the YMCA’s youth wing and a resident of Maradu, she made it big in her third attempt, while the first two attempts gave her a key learning point. “Many aspirants make their first attempt without much effort. My experience is that we should give the best try right from the first attempt. It is not about the number of hours that one spends but more about preparation with focus that helps one clear the examination,” she said.
A former student of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kadavanthra, Ann Mary is of the view that attempting practice tests and preparing with the examination in mind will prove beneficial. “Instead of studying 10 books at a time, it is better to pick one or two key books recommended by either former toppers or teachers that will ultimately help,” she said.
Daughter of businessman George P. and Shaji George, an administrative officer at the LIC Divisional Office, Ernakulam, Ann Mary said interview was more of a personality test than a test of general knowledge. “Focus more on your strengths and weaknesses and interact with experts, teachers, and friends to get the right tips for the interview,” she suggested.
