Guidance for ISSB interview
 

Interview Questions at ISSB generally have four categories:

[B]1. Questions from your personal life[/B]
Be prepared for the questions from your personal life specially any troubled times that you might have seen. They give you forms to fill on the first day having questions about whole your life. They know your brought up and any hard times you might have seen or they even rightly predict them without mentioning. Like in my interview I was asked why my academic graph dropped in second year result when I have got good percentage before and maintained it afterwards. Do not panic to answer such questions. Be open and explain each and everything they ask. This way you let them know that you have nothing to hide or feel ashamed of.

[B]2. Questions from GK[/B]
Give Geography a special consideration. Like where a country, lake, ocean etc is located. Consult world map as well as that of Pakistan. They may also ask you about roads, currencies and capitals.
Some questions are particular to Pakistan and a few about Islam.
From Current Affairs they may ask about your opinion about particular issues as well as they ask questions about abbreviations like NADRA, PEMRA etc.


[B]3. Academic[/B]
There are some questions specific to your field.


[B]4. Mathematical[/B]
Since they have your IQ level from verbal and nonverbal tests such questions are to check whether you can apply your mind in practical situations. At first the questions might sound difficult but it is almost never the case.
Make sure you apply the BODMAS rule like: two plus two divided by two is 3 never two. Two plus two into two is 6 never eight. Divide, Multiply, Add and then subtract.

Then there are questions for decimal calculations. Do not panic if they sound difficult at first. They just involve simple consideration. Like 0.5/0.05 equals 10, 0.5/0.25 equals 2. Practice them at your own so you can just pick that up there.

In start they ask simple questions but level of difficulty increases as you answer them rightly. So they may ask some calculations like if one kilogram sugar in of 37.5 what will be the price of 5 kilogram? Obviously you have to multiply but you are not provided with any paper. You can add 30 five times, then 7 and then .5 in your mind if it is easy for you or you can multiply them by visualizing the whole figure in your mind.

Last but not the least :)
Never never lose your temper be very calm. They usually check your temper in personal questions like by taunting any of your close relatives, by asking what would you do in some particular situation etc.

I am Somebody who has been twice delcared not-recommended.
I appeard for ISSB (PMA 113 and PMA 115) but haplessly i was declared not recommended in the ISSB on both occasion. i was an intermediate student back then.

is there any exception for students with a master's degree who have already availed two chances? cuz i have heard taht students with a master degree are given the third chance?

@ Snazzy
 

Yes,You are rite..There is a 3rd chance for those having Masters degree....This kind of Recruitment in Armed Forces is known as Short Service Commission.

The Recruitment is done [B]When Required [/B]basis.

Regds

I didn’t want to recall the bad memories yet i couldn’t keep myself away from the fascination. I tried my luck in the 112 course and after a re-interview they simply waived a good bye. The bus had already left and i had to walk for 3 km's to reach my home along with the luggage. My experience was so unpleasant that i still try not to go near about of ISSB center, trying again was out of the question.
My interview was entertaining, environment was welcoming and the Colonel seemed to have a vivid character. The re-interview was a disaster, there were three army personnel, all of them in uniform and they were staring at me like an alien has just landed on earth. They asked me a few questions, some of them i replied and most of them i couldn't. Mathematical questions were so complex that i couldn't guess if they were trying to ask about eggs or rupees. Upon saying "Sorry", i was asked to spell the word. The last question i still remember was, "What if we say the sheet on this table is black?" As it was white so i plainly said, no. Its white.
ISSB has three dimensions. Psychologist tests, GTO tasks and Interview.
Psychologists want you to be an optimistic person. So show them how positive your response is through making positive sentences and stories.
GTO tasks are to have an insight of your leadership qualities, how you follow your assigned commanders and how you lead the group during tasks. GTO is not interested in whether you completed your task or not, he is there just to assess your moral, integrity, hopefulness and willingness to help the other members.
I consider interview as the most important factor of being successful as the interviewer is a Colonel. In the board if you have his vote, there is a minor chance that you won't be recommended, as junior officers always have to say Yes sir!
Another important factor according to me is your confidence level. As far as my experience is concerned having confidence while appearing in an interview is a myth, the more i try to be the more i fathom into a chaos of uncertainty. Simply in the end the game is to be what you are. If you had the qualities which army requires there is no reason that you wouldn’t be selected.


Regards,

@Snazzy
Yes you can avail the third chance. Visit joinpakarmy.gov.pk. I hope you will soon find an opening as per your qualification. If there is none at the moment you can call Army Recuriment and Selection center. They will let you know when such jobs are probable.

@Lord Avolon
Thanks for your valuable guidance but as far as I know all the 3 dimensions are important and psychological is the most. They might have interviewed candidates while in uniform but I appeared a month back in ISSB and none of them was wearing uniform. I was told that this is because they do not want candidates to approach a particulat person afterwards since in unifrom you can know their name, rank, unit etc.

[QUOTE] consider interview as the most important factor of being successful as the interviewer is a Colonel. In the board if you have his vote, there is a minor chance that you won't be recommended, as junior officers always have to say Yes sir!
[/QUOTE]

My interviewer was appearingly a junior officer.

As far as I know the interviewer, the psychologist and the GTO write your report without knowing to whom your other dimensions of assesmnet have been alloted and mostly if you are recommended by any two of them you are successful. Reinterviews are called when there in some ambiguity or the interviewer and psychologist have given different opinion.

There is a common misconception that those who are called for reinterview are highly recommended or the only recommneded ones. Re-interview is good to the extent that atleast they are considering you for recommendation. But one should tackle it with great care since probably there is some doubt left that they want to clarify. Nowadays the President himself takes re-interviews at ISSB. I guess he has some psychological background because all the girls I met after their re-interview told he was asking simple questions and then confusing them thorugh cross questioning.

My interview was quite open and detailed so I wasn't expecting any re-interview. Afterwards people repeatedly told me that since my re-interview was not called I am not to be recommmended. But I was! And so do many other in my batch. So pay no attention to such rumours. They are common in ISSB. There are a lot others, will discuss them afterwards :)

@ Lord AvaLon

[QUOTE]The re-interview was a disaster, there were three army personnel, all of them in uniform and they were staring at me like an alien has just landed on earth.[/QUOTE]

If you are Re-interviewed by three Army personnel....then it means Your Psychi report and interview went in your favour But your GTO didn't recommend you...and luck didn't favour you in Re-interview.

in ISSB,Though one needs to get YES signal from three sides...But Recommendation by GTO matters alot.

[QUOTE]I consider interview as the most important factor of being successful as the interviewer is a Colonel[/QUOTE]

In Army Ranks doesn't Matter to some extent,The Thing which matters is [B]THE POST[/B] (seat).Interviewers at ISSB are in the ranks of Lt.Col,Commander (pak-navy),Wing Comdr (PAF).


[QUOTE]There is a common misconception that those who are called for reinterview are highly recommended or the only recommneded ones. Re-interview is good to the extent that atleast they are considering you for recommendation. But one should tackle it with great care since probably there is some doubt left that they want to clarify. Nowadays the President himself takes re-interviews at ISSB. I guess he has some psychological background because all the girls I met after their re-interview told he was asking simple questions and then confusing them thorugh cross questioning.[/QUOTE]

Re-interviewing candidates are likely to be Recommended...But,some are declared not-recommended as well...
No,President doesn't have some psychlogical background...President just wants to see the candidates, who are under consideration for Recommendation.He just advises the candidates to work hard in PMA.So,one should be comfortable and should listen president carefully.

Those declared not-recommended adter Re-interview...Ther are unfortunate to miss the chance with minor mistakes.

Regds

[QUOTE=Kamran5011]@ Lord AvaLon
If you are Re-interviewed by three Army personnel....then it means Your Psychi report and interview went in your favour But your GTO didn't recommend you...and luck didn't favour you in Re-interview.[/QUOTE]
You may have better understanding and extensive experience with army, i consider the end of my episode those four days which i spend in ISSB center.
There are chances that my psychological reports hinder my smooth way to be included in the lucky ones but i had GTO's vote. And i am absolutely sure as he himself mentioned it while interviewing me before assigning the command task.

[QUOTE=ms.bushra]none of them was wearing uniform. I was told that this is because they do not want candidates to approach a particulat person afterwards since in unifrom you can know their name, rank, unit etc.[/QUOTE]
Again being an army personnel you must be having far better knowledge than i have but what i think the decisions are taken right away on the spot which doesn't let anyone to approach a high ranker. We were not even allowed to have our mobiles there.

Regards,

@ Lord AvaLon

[QUOTE]And i am absolutely sure as he himself mentioned it while interviewing me before assigning the command task.[/QUOTE]

If you are so sure abt your GTO..den i have nothin to say....

[QUOTE]Originally Posted by [B]ms.bushra[/B]
none of them was wearing uniform. I was told that this is because they do not want candidates to approach a particulat person afterwards since in unifrom you can know their name, rank, unit etc.[/QUOTE]

FYI,Results of ISSB are sent the same day to GHQ by Fax...The moment when President or The Army Personnel complete the Re-interview...Finalised Result is sent to GHQ.... So,There are least chances to approach to high ups.

Regds

@ Avlon
[QUOTE]Again being an army personnel you must be having far better knowledge than i have but what i think the decisions are taken right away on the spot which doesn't let anyone to approach a high ranker. We were not even allowed to have our mobiles there.
[/QUOTE]

I am not army personnel although my father is an ex-serviceman. :shy Secondly I am sorry I didnt make it clear. That reason was told by a candidate and I thought it makes some sense. Although results are final before candidates leave ISSB presmises. But isn't it possible if I had asked someone for recommendation I can give him feedback that falan n falan was my interviewer and GTO and they ignored your SAFARISH :) I think it makes some sense while guessing :). Although there would be more genuine reasons for this change.

@Kamran
The interviews I was telling about were not panel interviews but taken by the President alone (although his wife was also present :) ). And there was no question from academics or GK.
Like he asked a girl." yahan a k kasa laga". She said, " acha tha, bohat acha intazam tha, bht discipline tha". He said," kyn jahan discipline na ho wahan acha intazam nahi ho skta?" She got confused.
Then he asked, " Apni batien kis se share krti ho?" She said, " With my best friend". He said," Bahnon se kyn nahi krti?". She said, "un se b krti hon". He said, " to unhian samjhati nahi". She said, " samjhati hon". He said, " jub unhian sub batien pata hoti hain tumhari to phr samjhanay ka faida?"

Now an interview just with this sort of questions, don't you think the interviewer is looking from a psychological dimension? There was no advice for PMA and many of the candidates was not even recommended afterwards!!

@ ms.bushra
 

[QUOTE]Now an interview just with this sort of questions, don't you think the interviewer is looking from a psychological dimension? There was no advice for PMA and many of the candidates was not even recommended afterwards!![/QUOTE]

There are alot of test conducted regarding one's psychological dimensions in ISSB.Now,President generallry asks such kind of questions...he even asks to read newspaper and den enquires..which is the most important news in today's paper....so,he traps every one....What i mean to say is,one should use his common sense while giving response to the president.Normally,President recommends all unless someone makes blunder there....and try to avoid denial attitude.

Regds