Thousands of working professionals face this life-changing question every year:
“Should I quit my job and prepare full-time for the UPSC Civil Services Examination?”
It’s not a career decision alone — it’s an identity decision, a security decision, a passion decision, a decision about family, expectations, and personal aspirations. It’s a real dilemma because UPSC is not an examination; it’s a transformative process that challenges not just your brains but also your mental endurance, discipline, and emotional stability.
In this blog, we’ll take a comprehensive, structured, and emotionally mindful look at this question, offering clarity, strategic advice, decision-making frameworks, and actionable time management tips for aspirants in jobs.
Why This Decision Deserves Careful Thought
The UPSC CSE is a marathon, not a sprint. It demands 1–2 years of dedicated preparation for serious contenders, with its multi-stage structure:
- Prelims: Objective screening test
- Mains: Descriptive written exam
- Interview: Personality Test
With its extensive syllabus, unpredictable outcomes, and severe competition, this choice can’t be spontaneous.
Two important considerations to assess:
Is your passion to become a civil servant adequate enough to drive persistent effort?
Are you emotionally and economically ready for an adventure with no assured result?
Case Studies: Success Stories from Working Professionals
- Durishetty Anudeep (AIR 1, 2017) — An Indian Revenue Service (IRS) revenue officer, he cleared CSE while on duty, and showed how planning overpowers situations.
- Siddharth Jain (AIR 13, 2015) — Cleared CSE while employed at Deloitte , demonstrating how resource selection and time management can equalize the playing field.
Lesson: It is not your situation but your clarity, discipline, and strategy that determine your success.
Should You Quit Your Job? A Decision-Making Framework
Ponder over these 6 frank questions:
- Have I seriously considered the syllabus and last year papers?
- Have I tried at least one set of Prelims and Mains preparation while on the job?
- Is my present job severely disrupting my study routine (less than 3-4 good hours a day)?
- Am I financially equipped to keep 1-2 years without a salary?
- Do I possess emotional resilience to cope with uncertainty, delays, and potential failure?
- Does my motivation stem from an intrinsic passion, and not from peer pressure or societal expectations?
If your response is a YES to 4 or more of these, and you have a clear direction — you can think of quitting your job. But how long? Be planned for a back-up.
Otherwise, get employed, plan your time well, and build momentum first.
A Practical Preparation Roadmap for Working Professionals
If you keep working while studying, here’s a balanced and achievable plan:
Phase 1: Building Foundations (3-4 months)
- Read NCERTs + General reference books
- Develop knowledge of the syllabus, exam pattern, and previous year questions
- Read daily news (The Hindu, Indian Express) + current affairs monthly recap
- Suggested hours: 3 hours on weekdays, 5-6 hours on weekends.
- You can join La Excellence Weekend batches
Phase 2: Mains-Focused Study (3-4 months)
- Emphasize GS Papers + Optional subject fundamentals
- Start writing answers — at least 1 answer daily
- Try sectional tests on weekends
- Suggested hours: 3 to 4 hours weekdays, 7-8 hours weekends.
Phase 3: Prelims Focus (3 months prior to Prelims)
- Edit static subjects
- Practice MCQs heavily
- Full-length mock tests every weekend
- Suggested hours: 3 hours weekdays, 8-10 hours weekends.
Phase 4: Post-Prelims to Mains (3-4 months)
- Dedicated answer writing for Mains
- GS, Essay, and Optional full revisions
- Full-length test series
- Recommended hours: Try to take leave during this stage.
- You can join Enhance Core Group of La Excellence and take support of peers who are writing mains and our mentors. This ecosystem can revolutionize your mains preparation
Holistic Tips on Time Management for Work Aspirants
- Make Effective Use of Micro-Slots
- 30–45 minutes Current Affairs prior to work
- Podcasts or AIR Spotlight during commute
- Flashcards/MCQs during lunch
- 2 hours static subjects + answer writing at night
- Quick revision of RRP material (La Excellence)
Give High-Weightage, Low-Effort Topics Priority
E.g., Indian Polity, Modern History, Environment — do these first.
Make Use of Technology
Utilize apps like:
- IAS Parliament for MCQs
- Evernote/Notion for note-making
- YouTube channels (e.g., La Excellence) for quick revisions.
Adhere to the 3-3-2 Rule:
- 3 hours on GS
- 3 hours on weekends on Optional
- 2 hours a day on current affairs
- Create a Minimal, Quality Resource List
- Don’t fall into the trap of gathering many sources. Use 1-2 standard books on each subject.
- Emotional and Mental Resilience for the UPSC Journey
This exam will probe your character as well as your minds.
To tackle stress:
- Practice mindfulness/meditation (10 mins a day)
- Have a simple hobby (reading, drawing, journaling)
- Spend time with supportive and positive individuals
- Learn how to disconnect from hurtful comparisons (social media detox)
Remember:
“The journey matters as much as the destination.”
Last Thought: Quit or Stay?
There’s no one “right” answer.
If you’re financially solid, mentally prepared, have dipped your toes, and your job is drastically cutting back study time — you might think about quitting strategically.
Otherwise, it’s more intelligent to gain traction while working, use your leaves and weekends smartly, and set up an intelligent exit later if necessary.
CSE appreciates patience, clarity, and perseverance — not hasty aggression.
“The size of your dream matters less than the strength of your discipline.”
Closing Note:
Whether you remain employed or take the plunge, this journey will change you. UPSC preparation is not only about becoming an officer — it’s about becoming a stronger, wiser, and better version of yourself.
So pick wisely, prepare smartly, and step out with courage. Your tale is waiting.
For more such preparation strategies, you can read here: https://laex.in/category/preparation-strategy/
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
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