So, if you’re planning to go for a technical government job, like in Railways, SSC JE, ISRO, DRDO, or even PSU’s like BHEL, ONGC, etc., then yeah bro/sis, buckle up. It’s not a chill ride, but not impossible also. You just need to have a decent plan, right mindset and a bit of patience… okay maybe a lot of patience .
Let’s just break it down in a casual way. No fancy motivational quotes or anything, just raw tips and mistakes you should avoid.
1. Choose the Right Exam First (don’t shoot in the dark)
First things first, don’t try to prepare for 10 exams at once. That’s a trap.
Some of the main technical exams in govt sector are:
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SSC JE – For diploma/degree holders in civil, mechanical, electrical etc.
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RRB JE, RRB SSE – Mostly railways jobs, and very popular.
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GATE – If you want PSU jobs or admission in M.Tech/Ph.D. in IITs.
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ISRO / DRDO – Research-based jobs, for people who really love tech.
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State AE / JE – Each state has their own PSCs (Public Service Commission).
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PSUs through GATE – BHEL, NTPC, IOCL, etc. recruit through GATE scores.
Pick 1–2 exams and stick to it. Don’t be that guy who’s preparing for SSC JE and also UPSC and also bank PO and also CAT .
2. Know the Syllabus (like really know it)
This sounds basic, but trust me many people just start studying without knowing the exact syllabus. Read the syllabus like it’s your new best friend.
Let’s say you’re an electrical engineering student. Then in SSC JE or RRB JE, they’ll ask things like:
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Basic electrical (Ohm’s law, Kirchoff, etc.)
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Machines (DC, Induction)
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Power systems
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Measurement
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Utilization
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Some general aptitude & reasoning
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Also some GK, current affairs
Knowing what not to study is just as important. Don’t go deep into topics that are not even in syllabus.
3. Make a Study Plan (but don’t overplan)
Okay so don’t just start reading books randomly. Make a rough plan – like:
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3 hours technical daily
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1 hour GS/GK
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1 hour practice questions/mock test
Start slow and increase hours if needed. Some days will suck, it’s okay. Just don’t quit completely coz of one bad day.
Also don’t spend 5 days making a colourful timetable with highlighters and stickers… just start studying
4. What Books to Read?
No need to buy 15 books for one subject. Just get 1 book that’s good and stick to it. For most exams, here’s what people usually use:
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Electrical/Mech/Civil – Made Easy books, ACE Academy, R.K. Jain, J.B. Gupta etc.
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General Awareness – Lucent GK (basic but helpful)
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Reasoning & Quant – RS Aggarwal or any SSC-level books
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Previous Year Papers – Very important. Try to solve last 5-10 years of questions
Also YouTube has a lot of free content now. Just don’t get distracted and watch cat videos after 20 mins
5. Solve MCQs Daily
Reading theory is nice, but unless you solve MCQs, you’ll not know where you stand. Make habit of solving:
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50 technical MCQs
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20 general awareness questions
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1 mock test per week (increase as exam nears)
This also helps in increasing speed and accuracy.
6. Join a Coaching? or Not?
To be honest, you don’t NEED coaching. If you’re self-motivated and can study alone, you can do great with YouTube and books.
BUT, coaching helps if:
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You need discipline / routine
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You don’t understand core concepts on your own
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You want notes, test series, and guidance
Offline is expensive now, so online coaching like Unacademy, GradeUp etc. are cheaper and flexible.
Just don’t depend only on coaching. They’ll not study for you.
7. Practice Tests = GAMECHANGER
This is where the real magic happens. Mock tests show your weak points.
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Start with topic wise test
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Then sectional test
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Then full length test
Don’t feel bad if you score low in first few tests. That’s normal. Use it to improve.
And also, don’t just give tests for “satisfaction”. Analyze your mistakes. See why you’re wrong. That’s where you grow.
8. Current Affairs / GK – Not to Be Ignored
Technical guys think “I’ll ace technical, no need for GK”.
Bad idea.
In SSC JE, RRB JE and state exams, GK + Current Affairs is like 30–40% sometimes. That can make or break your selection.
Best tips:
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Read 10–15 mins current affairs daily (there are many apps)
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Monthly magazines
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Static GK from Lucent or NCERTs
Make short notes or flashcards. Revise before exams.
9. Revision is More Important Than You Think
Even if you study 10 hours a day for 6 months, if you don’t revise, it’s gone.
Make habit to revise weekly:
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Concepts
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Formulas
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Tricks
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Notes
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Wrong answers from mocks
Don’t study new stuff 2 weeks before exam. Just revise and relax.
10. Mental Health and Patience
This journey takes time. Sometimes you’ll fail, sometimes you’ll feel like giving up.
It’s okay to take a break. Talk to friends. Listen to music. Go for walk. Don’t compare yourself with others on social media.
Most people give up after 2-3 months. Don’t be “most people”. Stay till the end.
Real Talk
No one cares how many hours you studied. What matters is how smartly you studied. You could be studying 4 hours and cracking the exam, while someone else doing 10 hours still failing.
Focus. Be consistent. Accept bad days. Come back stronger next day.
Conclusion
So yeah, technical government job study is tough, but not rocket science. If you have clarity, good resources, and discipline, you can definitely crack it.
Start with understanding the exam. Pick the right subjects. Don’t over-study useless stuff. Solve questions. Revise. And most importantly – don’t lose hope.
Whether it takes 6 months or 2 years, one job is enough to change your life.
All the best