When you are going for an SSB interview, the first question that you will be confronted is “Tell me something about yourself.” This is not just a regular question but an important one. The interviewer wants to understand more about you as a person and what is your goal behind wanting to join the Indian 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 unprepared when the question is asked. Whatever you answer in the opening statement about yourself, always say things that are genuine and don’t exaggerate in any case. If you have not done anything then never say it, because Interviewing officers adopt various methods to catch liars.

Below mentioned, we will give you some tips on how to answer the question “Tell me about yourself” in an SSB interview.

1. Pitch Yourself Clearly-

Turn this into a great advantage 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 dicey question to answer, as you don’t want to give too much details or sound like you’re boasting.

The best way to answer this question is to give a brief overview or detail of your life. You can start by discussing your present 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 precise and to the point. You want to give the employer a taste of who you are, but you don’t want to overpower them with information. Remember, you’ll have sufficient time to discuss your experiences and skills during the rest of the interview.

2. Talk about Why You Decided to go with This Path

Interviewing officers are more bothered in knowing about things that are not written in the PIQ or in the details. So, give them more details about yourself. Talk about your life history in brief and explain why you chose this path. You can tell them the story of what inspired you to join the Indian Armed Forces. A story is very captivating as people can relate to it more. So, tell them a story about your life in short.

3. Talk about Your Educational Achievements

The next thing you can discuss 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 pursuits and how succeeding in the SSB interview can contribute.

4. Show Academic Inclination

The next thing you can discuss in your opening statement about yourself is academic interest. Portray that you are a good learner and ready to be trained. Indian Armed Forces training is one of the toughest in the world and this gives them an idea that you are ready for any technical training after being selected.

5. Extra-Curricular Activities

These activities are outside your academic profile and syllabus like organizing camps, marketing campaigns, student clubs, or conducting cultural programs. These skills add advantage 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 exaggerate for the sake of it, if you have not done it then don’t say it. If you lie or fake in the SSB interview then there is a higher chance that you will get caught.

6. Hobbies, Passion, and Interest

Talk about your hobbies, passion, and interests, it gives a good and lasting hint that 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, jumping, cycling, trekking, playing badminton, 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 edge and if you can seal it with a certificate then it is a bonus.

7. Talk about Your Working 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 wisely as why did you join the job and what did you learn from it?

In a nutshell, the best way to answer the “Tell me about yourself” question in an SSB interview is to give a brief of your academic qualifications (Professional experience if Any), followed by a description of your personal interests and hobbies. Remember to keep the answer precise and relevant to the position you are applying for.