The SSB interview is the second hurdle in your journey to become an Indian Defence Officer. SSB interviews can be tough to crack, and candidates often take multiple attempts before succeeding in the process. Preparing for the interview requires a combination of intelligence, presence of mind, and social awareness. It is also important to understand the value system of the Indian Armed Forces and cultivate interpersonal communication skills.
During the interview, you will be asked questions about your past decisions and achievements, your future goals, and your personality traits. You should be able to clearly explain your answers, as well as express yourself fluently in English. Your answers should be thoughtful, honest, and sincere, but not arrogant or boastful. During the interview, be mindful of your body language and avoid crossing your arms or fidgeting.
When you arrive at the SSB reporting centre, you will be given a form to fill out with personal and academic details. You will then be assigned a chest number, which you will use to communicate with other board members throughout the process.
After completing the questionnaire, you will be taken for a screening test. This consists of the SSB OIR Officer Intelligence Rating tests, the Picture Perception and Description Test (PPDT), and the Story Narration and Discussion Test. The PPDT segment tests your ability to quickly interpret and build stories based on images presented to you, so it is important to practice. The OIR tests assess your verbal and nonverbal reasoning skills, so it is important to have a good understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses in this area.
Once you pass the OIR and PPDT segments, you will go for the personal interview. In this stage, you will be interviewed by individual members of the SSB board. They will ask you questions about your personal and professional experiences, your hobbies, and your opinions. They will also evaluate your body language, confidence, and suitability for the role of an officer.
The final phase of the SSB interview is the conference, where all board members will meet to discuss your suitability for an officer position in the Indian Defence Forces. The assessors will collectively decide whether or not to recommend you. This part of the interview lasts for about 1-2 minutes. During this time, the assessors will ask you general questions about your stay at the SSB and what you have learned from the experience. The conference is a very important part of the SSB interview, so it is important to be prepared.