Introduction
Most of us are keen to make a career in the banking sector. Since time immemorial, a job in a bank is looked upon prestigiously & secures financial stability for an individual and his family. However, most aspirants are clueless as to how does one get a job in a bank? The article here makes an attempt to address this same question.
Is there any scope of making a career in the banking sector?
Well absolutely! As on 31st Jan, 2015, there were 27 public sector banks (out of which 6 are nationalized), 6 are State Bank of India & its associates, 21 private sector banks, 41 foreign banks having branches in India, 39 foreign banks having representative offices in India, 45 Regional Rural Banks, 34 state cooperative banks & 52 urban cooperative banks.
So, you see, there is an immense potential to get a job in a bank. Moreover, with 95% of India’s middle class preferring to invest their savings with the banks (fixed deposit & other products) it is indeed the backbone of the economy.
How do I get a job in a Bank?
Most public sector banks conduct their selection on the basis of the examination & interview conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) on their behalf, while the private sector banks and foreign banks have their own criteria of selection.
Could you brief me on the exams conducted by IBPS?
IBPS conducts a Common Written Examination (CWE) & a Common Interview (CI) for aspirants who are keen to make a career in the public sector banks or the regional rural banks. The exams are one of the most competitive exams and require a lot of preparations. The selection ratio is 1 out of 1,000 (i.e. 0.1 %). The CWE is conducted across 2 tiers – Tier I is easy & more number of students would qualify for the exams while Tier II is difficult & a few students would be able to qualify. Those students who successfully qualify for the Tier I & Tier II exams would be called for an interview. The CWE examination is an objective based examination with negative marking for wrong answers. To get prepared for IBPS exam, visit their website.
Is there any other way in which one could get a job in a bank?
One can contemplate pursuing the Post Graduate Certificate in Banking (PGCB) program offered by many institutes. The program is an autonomous program. However, the same is structured based on the requirements laid down by the banks. PGCB gives an opportunity for anyone who wants to make a career with the private sector banks. Most institutes offer this program as a part time program & there are criteria laid down for selection of a candidate for this program (age – individuals must be less than 24 years at the time of completion of the program, a candidate should have completed his graduation from a recognized university & should possess good communication skills etc)
So to conclude
If you are looking to get a job in a bank, then either appear for the IBPS exams (especially for public sector & regional rural banks) or opt for the PGCB if you are looking to make a career in the private sector or foreign banks.
