IAS Preparation Tips for Working Professionals

It’s a known fact, that preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination is a challenging task. The syllabus is as vast as the ocean. It goes without saying, that preparing for UPSC Civil Services Exam while working full-time is little more challenging. It needs an extra effort from the candidates, as they don’t have the luxury of spending 15-16 hours a day studying and have time constraints and added responsibilities.

Nevertheless, it is possible for working professionals to prepare and crack the UPSC CSE Exam. It is not the quantity of your preparation, but the quality that matters. With good strategy and dedication, anybody can clear the exam. However, there are a few changes you need to make in your schedule, to use your time effectively for UPSC CSE Preparation.

Advantage that a working professional has, Working Professionals have their jobs as a fallback option unlike those who aren’t working.

How is this an advantage?

Candidates who are preparing full-time for UPSC CSE are aware that they don’t have a fall-back option if they couldn’t clear the exam. They also fear that their preparation time would go in waste. This thought always lingers at the back of their head and can induce stress or make them nervous.

Whereas working professionals already have their job as their fallback option and hence are more relaxed and stress-free.

Clearing the UPSC CSE Exam while working full-time will also put you in a good light during your interviews. It will show the interviewer that you’re someone who takes up responsibilities, juggled multiple things at the same time and are contributing to the GDP of the country.

Working and preparing for the exam at the same time is also a fulfilling experience.

Preparing for UPSC CSE Exam while working needs a disciplined approach. Following are a few changes you can make in your schedule to make your preparation more effective:

Time Management: Being a working professional means having very little time at your disposal. You need to make the best use of the time available for your preparation. Reduce your social outings, utilize your breaks at workplace well and make the most of your weekends.

Make short notes of things you study at home and carry it to your workplace. Revise these notes during your tea and lunch breaks. It’s a good idea to read newspaper on your mobile phone (The Hindu Mobile App).

Study plan: It’s crucial that you have a proper study plan till the day of your exam and that you stick to it.

• Go through the UPSC CSE Syllabus
• Break it down and make a list of all the topics you need to prepare
• Divide these topics as per the time available for your preparation and assign time for each topic

Make sure you stick to your study plan and don’t let your topics pile up. You cannot afford to procrastinate.

Resources: It’s important that you have the right resources and right guidance for your preparation. It’s a good idea to join a coaching center during your weekends, if you’re unsure about completing the syllabus within the time available.

Measure your progress: The only way to know if you are making progress is to measure it periodically. Take UPSC CSE Online Mock Tests every few days to track your improvement.

Mock tests will help you analyse your performance, show you where you’re lacking and which topics you’re good at. You can use this information to customize your study plan to focus more on your weak areas and improvise them.

There are a lot of working professionals who have successfully cleared the UPSC CSE Examination while working full-time. All you need is a strong will, a good strategy and dedication. We hope our article motivates you to give it a shot.

Start preparing today. Wish you all the very best.