Balancing Career and Dreams: Mastering the UPSC Exam While Working. Discover effective strategies to conquer the UPSC exam while excelling in your professional commitments.
Every year, many candidates fill out applications for the UPSC exam. Every year, the UPSC conducts a civil service exam. The most challenging tasks faced by working aspirants are time management, health care, and nine-hour jobs. Most of the working aspirants fear that they will not be able to compete with the aspirants who are preparing for the full-time. The major challenge faced by working aspirants is mismanagement of time, inability to follow the routine schedule, and a hectic workload. As per the survey, 10 Lakh aspirants apply for the UPSC CSE examination, out of which around 1 Lakh are working professionals. So, in this article, we will discuss the various tips and steps a working professional must follow while preparing for their upcoming UPSC Civil Services examinations.
Steps and Tips for UPSC Preparation
Understand the examination and its pattern
One of the most important steps is to understand the examination syllabus. The UPSC examination syllabus is vast, so it is very necessary to limit your sources for the examination. The best way to limit the sources is to keep reading and solving the previous year’s questions. Examine the questions which have already appeared in competitive tests over the last few years in Depth. Make a schedule and a pattern that will allow you to devote enough time to each subject in your syllabus. You will be able to not only centre your priorities and devote an equal amount of work and devotion to each subject, but you will also be able to establish a rational mindset toward building a consolidated knowledge base in this manner. This will help you understand the exam process and use the resources judiciously.
Also see: UPSC Syllabus 2023
Time Management
Time management is one of the most crucial factors, and your success is somehow directly or indirectly dependent upon your time management. So, it is advised to consider the examination as “Project Management.” So, you must have to follow the points mentioned below:-
- Don’t focus on the input hours
- Prioritise completing the subjects
- Prioritise the CSE preparation above your job or any other work
- Ignore the job and complete the important topics first
- If the time is limited, skip reading the newspaper.
You only have a limited amount of time to qualify for the UPSC exams, so always be conscious of the time limitations. As a result, you would prioritise your study above all else, devoting the majority of your days to developing your logical thinking skills to comprehend the types of questions posed in such competitive tests.
Also read: UPSC Exam Pattern
Use Technology
In today’s world, the Phone is a huge assistance. We can easily and quickly access the internet. You must use your Phone for all assistance; nevertheless, it can also serve as a great source of distraction. Make sure you stay focused on your work and don’t get sidetracked by other online distractions. So, it is advised to use technology wisely. We all are well aware that working professionals must have to travel daily. So, use a tablet or laptop for study instead of the Phone. You can do note-making as well as book reading through your laptop or tablet.
See more: UPSC Notes
Restrict your sources
An old adage says you should never enter a war unarmed. As a result, preparing for such a major exam of your life should not be done without the resources essential to integrate functioning & produce productive results in the pursuit of efficiency. Choosing the right study materials is critical if you want to take a systematic approach to your preparation. So, some factors you must have to keep in your mind while selecting the sources are:-
Simplify your preparation by reading limited sources and revising them multiple times
Notes can be skipped, copied through the original sources, and toppers notes.
Don’t miss: UPSC Previous Year Question Paper
Choose your optional very wisely.
Optionals are one of the most important factors for the UPSC CSE examination. One of the basic approaches to selecting the optional subject is your interest; if you are interested in any of the subjects, you can choose it as your optional. The other approach to determine the optionals is the availability of the content. Some of the factors you must consider while choosing your optional for UPSC CSE are:-
- Some of the optional subjects like Public Administration, Political Science & IR, History, Sociology, Economics, Geography, etc., have a syllabus that correlates with General Studies in Prelims and Mains. It will save you time
- You’ve already completed four merit-based GS-I, II, III, and IV papers and an essay paper. Choosing an optional subject with a long syllabus means you’ll have to devote more time studying the subject. So, pick a subject that can be easily covered within less time
- Some aspirants believe that a good UPSC optional topic has a high success rate in terms of the number of candidates who appear to be recommended. It is, however, only half correct. Your answers will be assessed mostly on the comprehensibility of your response. As a result, pick a subject that you’re familiar with
UPSC Preparation with Job
Preparing for the UPSC exam while working can be challenging, but it is possible with proper time management and dedication. Here are a few tips to help you balance work and UPSC preparation:
- Set specific goals and create a study schedule that fits into your work schedule.
- Utilize your commute and breaks at work to study.
- Prioritize your studies and plan your work schedule accordingly.
- Make use of online resources such as mock tests, lectures, and PDFs to supplement your learning.
- Stay motivated and don’t get bogged down by stress.
It’s important to remember that UPSC preparation is a long-term process and requires consistent effort over a period of time. It’s also helpful to have a support system to keep you accountable and motivated during the process.
Conclusion
In the above post, we have learned about the preparation for the UPSC exam Tips for Working Aspirants. There are numerous benefits of preparing for UPSC CSE with having a job. The most significant advantage you can gain while working full-time and studying for competitive exams such as UPSC Civil Services is that you will have mental peace and feel financial independence to finance your fees and other expenses for required materials.
Hopefully, this post will assist all working professionals in their preparation for the upcoming UPSC examinations. One may easily sign up for the best online UPSC class for better preparation and make their preparation journey a lot smoother. As a result, take a deliberate method with a balanced mindset to succeed in a UPSC examination while having a professional while working full-time in the service.