In this article, let me discuss how to get an entry level job at a bank in both Public and Private sector banks.
Seeking employment with PUBLIC SECTOR BANKS
To get a job as an entry level Probationary Officer (PO) in a public sector bank, you need to give the IBPS-PO or the SBI-PO exam. Candidates who have completed their graduation in any discipline including those who are in their final year are eligible to apply for these exams.
These competitive exams are held once a year and contain MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) covering topics in mathematics, statistics, analytical reasoning and English comprehension skills. Those clearing the exam are then invited for a group discussion/exercise and personal interview. Those candidates who get selected are sent to an extensive training program and then posted in a branch. The initial posting is generally in a rural or semi-urban branch of the bank.
IBPS also conducts the RRB PO or the IBPS RRB Officer Scale I exam to appoint candidates at Officer post in the various Regional Rural Banks of the country.
Note: Amongst these exams, the SBI-PO is the most difficult and competitive exam followed by the IBPS-PO and then the IBPS-RRB PO.
Seeking employment with PRIVATE SECTOR/COMMERCIAL BANKS
Private banks manage their own recruitment and regularly hire fresh graduates. To apply you need to have a bachelor’s degree (in any discipline) with at least 50% marks and above. Applications are made online either directly on the bank’s website or through some recruitment portal such as Naurki, Monster etc Many banks conduct aptitude tests followed by group discussions and personal interviews. You need to regularly check the banks’ websites or the job portals for any new openings that get posted online.
There are also banking diploma courses offered by private institutions that prepare you for careers in the private banking sector. Many private banks conduct campus recruitment drives at these institutions, so enrolling for a banking diploma course makes it at times easier to secure a job in a private bank. It is however not mandatory to get enroll for a banking diploma in order to secure a job in a private bank.
Jothsna is the co-founder of Academy One, a career guidance and study abroad counseling venture. Prior to founding Academy One in 2005, Jothsna worked as an IT and business consultant with companies like Motorola and Trajen Inc. in the USA. She holds an engineering degree in computer science from Andhra University and a MS from the University of Texas. She also received her MBA from the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University, USA.