Every year, lakhs of students write the UPSC exams. UPSC exams are tough as it not only include written examinations but personality assessment rounds as well. While some examinees dedicate their entire time preparing themselves for the examination, there are some working professionals as well who prepare for the UPSC exams while committed to a full-time job. 

If you are someone who is doing a job but yet preparing for the UPSC exams, then you have stumbled upon just the right article for you. We have prepared a concise guide providing some of the best UPSC tips for working people. Stick to the end of the article as we share strategies to crack UPSC while working.

Quick tips for UPSC

1. It is not preferable to quit your job while preparing for the UPSC exams as having valid work experience helps in scoring during the interviews. It is essential to strike a balance as quitting the job can halt career progression as well.

1. Preparation for prelims should ideally start 9-10 months prior to the exams. The focus should be on building the foundation. You can also simultaneously prepare for the Mains as well.

1. It is essential for a candidate to devote at least 5-6 hours each day to the exams. 

IAS Tips for working professionals

• Preparing a routine

One of the essential components of the ultimate strategy to crack UPSC while working is building a proper routine and sticking to it. An ideal routine for a working professional can be broken by having a minimum of two hours of general affairs before work. During working hours, you can skim through general affairs and after coming back, it is essential to study a preferred subject for at least 2 hours. Weekends should have a different routine with more hours devoted to studying and preparation.

• Making the minutes count

UPSC has a vast syllabus and it takes time to cover it entirely. As a working professional, it is difficult to devote dedicated study hours for studies, therefore it is essential to plan the study sessions carefully. Breaking the chapter into smaller chunks can help in managing time effectively while retaining more information in a short period of time. You can also use the popular time management techniques. Use the Pomodoro technique where one has to complete a given task in 25 minutes and then can have a 5-minute break. When four tasks have been completed this way, a 15-minute long break can be taken.

• Fixed office timings

While working a full-time job, cramming a few more hours into finishing work in hand can sometimes ruin your preparation time for the UPSC exams. But it is essential to mention here that fixed office timings and work days can help in balancing your routine. You will get your fixed hours of study every day and will be able to complete the vast syllabus.

• Opt for selective study

The syllabus for UPSC exams is vast and it is not possible for a working professional to cover everything. Therefore, the strategy of selective study can work wonders for working professionals. You can study previous exam question papers to understand which are the areas you should study first. Assessing the difficulty level of the exam papers will help you to gauge how to ace the exams easily. 

The key to cracking UPSC while working full time is by considering the professional commitment as an advantage and not a liability. You will find several success stories of professionals who have aced the UPSC exams while working full-time. Working professionally provides financial stability and it also helps in creating a good impression during the interview round. With effective time management and a comprehensive routine, we are sure you will crack UPSC easily.