Decoding “Did You Make Any Friends?” in SSB Conference

When an SSB officer asks, “Did you make any friends?”, it’s more than a casual question. They are assessing your social adaptability, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and ability to collaborate in a competitive environment.

The key is to answer honestly yet positively. Focus on interactions, cooperation, and learning rather than just naming people. Highlight how you contributed to teamwork and built rapport with peers.

How to Frame Your Answer:

• Acknowledge interactions: “Yes, I interacted with several candidates during tasks and discussions…”
• Focus on positive qualities: “…I appreciated their supportive and cooperative attitude.”
• Emphasize teamwork: “…Collaborating with them helped me perform better and learn from their approach.”
• Avoid negatives: Do not criticize anyone or exaggerate friendships.

Sample Answer:

“Yes, I made friends during the SSB process. Working with different candidates helped me understand their perspectives, and collaborating with them during group tasks and discussions was a learning experience. I tried to be supportive and cooperative, and in turn, I built friendly rapport with many of my peers.”

Key Do’s and Don’ts:

Do’s	Don’ts
Speak honestly and positively	Name only a few people or exclude others
Emphasize teamwork and cooperation	Criticize anyone or complain
Show learning from interactions	Overstate or fake friendships
Keep it concise and confident	Get emotional or overly casual

Pro Tip: Even if you didn’t make close friends, frame it as learning to adapt and collaborate with everyone, rather than saying “No.” This demonstrates maturity and team spirit.