Can an Introvert Become an IAS/IPS Officer?: Tips for UPSC Preparation

The road to becoming an IAS officer is a tough, if not the exhaustive journey. Even more so for those who are introverts who will have to function in an extrovert environment. This article will try to highlight the fact that being an introvert need not be a barrier in becoming an IAS officer.

Personalities of an introvert IAS officer?

The dictionary defines an introvert as a person primarily concerned with their own thoughts and feelings rather than with external things.  The general opinion is that an introvert is a shy person who would rather not talk to anyone. But this is far from the truth. An introvert is actually a person who would rather not waste time talking unnecessary stuff to others. They draw strength from within. They don’t look outside for comfort or solace. You might think an introvert cannot aspire to become civil servants. This is a myth. Do you have an IAS dream and are you held back because you think you are an introvert? Worry not! Even introverts can become civil servants. Read on to know the ways it can.

First of all, you should know that an introvert doesn’t like small talk. He/she talks only if it has a purpose. Don’t get us wrong. They are not antisocial. They don’t hate people. Usually, they have very few friends but those they call friends would swear by their loyalty.

Introversion and extroversion are aspects of people’s nature. These are traits which are hard put to change. Both can be used to one’s advantage. Extroverted people generally face no difficulty in talking to people and making friends. Introverts might find this a challenge because of their inherent trait of looking within oneself. As an IAS officer, you will need to talk to people and find out about the difficulties they face. You will also have to deal with a lot of different personalities on a daily basis. Being an introvert, you will be able to talk straight to people and get to the point right away. You won’t waste time indulging in chin-wagging. This can help you be effective and productive.

To know what traits make a good IAS officer visit the linked article

Inherent advantages of being an introvert in IAS preparation:

• You tend to have fewer numbers of friends. This means less distraction.
• Being inward-looking you can focus 100% on your studies.
• Your ability to go deep into a topic is immense. This will keep you in good stead while writing answers, especially essays.
• You will generally be unaffected by things that happen outside again contributing to your ability to concentrate.
• In the IAS interview, you are not expected to make small talk anyway. You only have to answer questions put forth by the board.

What to do if you are introvert:

• Don’t perceive introversion to be a negative quality.
• You cannot suddenly become extroverts, so don’t try. Nature cannot be changed. But you can definitely improve your social abilities if you try, and only if you want to. Your introverted nature will not come in the way of your being a good civil servant as explained earlier.
• Don’t hide the fact that you are an introvert. It is nothing to be embarrassed about. It can be one of your greatest strengths.

Aspirants can become familiar with the general pattern of the UPSC exam by visiting the IAS Syllabus page. For more preparation materials they can refer to the links given in the table below:

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