After tackling the UPSC prelims and mains, the Personality Test (Interviews) is the ultimate challenge. Here's a list of top tips from IAS officers that can help you ace the interview.

1. Be yourself Retired IAS officer Ramesh Kumar Khanna advised taking mock interviews to gauge your preparation. “But keep your personality intact, and be yourself. You must also focus on your attitude and confidence level,” he wrote on Quora.

2. Know your DAF IAS officer Apala Mishra (AIR 9, 2018) emphasised the importance of your DAF (Detailed Application Form). “Ensure that you put in only those attributes and strengths that you wish to highlight in the DAF. Do not put down any achievements or hobbies that you cannot explain,” she said.

3. Don’t go unprepared Dr Apala Mishra warned against the myth that the interview is only about personality. “We need to understand that knowledge, too, forms the basis of our personality. It requires equal amounts of work that one puts in at the prelims and mains stages,” she said.

4. Focus on what you know Jitin Yadav, IAS (2016 batch) stressed the importance of confidence in your knowledge. “Do not feel underconfident imagining how much you do not know. Focus on gaining confidence from how much you already know,” he advised.

5. Learn to be a good listener Jitin Yadav advises aspirants to listen carefully before responding. “Some aspirants start framing their answers before the question is finished. Never do that, we end up giving incomplete answers,” he explained.

6. Be careful while responding Jitin emphasised that the interview is not a knowledge test. “Interview checks your personality traits via indirect methods; your response to questions will give them hints to assess your traits,” he said.

7. Keep your dress code simple Jitin advised aspirants to keep their outfit simple for the interview. “Many questions may come up regarding the brand or design. In my opinion, it’s better to keep the outfit as simple as possible,” he said.

8. Keep a check on your behaviour Jitin advised aspirants to avoid interrupting the board members. “Also, answer one question at a time. Never mix the previous question with the new one,” he says.

9. Learn to manage anxiety A moderate level of nervousness is beneficial for the interview. “If anxiety is in extremes — either too high or too low — only then it’s a concern,” Jitin explained.

10. Don’t be desperate The IAS officer emphasised that during the personality test, it’s important to prioritise professional conduct over emotional reactions. “Never show you are too desperate for getting selected,” he said.