There are lakhs of students who will be graduating from college this year. Many of them will be at crossroads and won’t be sure about what path they should be taking to build a successful career. Should they pursue a postgraduate degree or take up a job? If they pursue higher studies abroad, would that improve their chances of building a successful career? These are just some of the questions that fresh out of college students will be dealing with. One of the many paths that graduates can select is a banking career. If you are one of those students who want to pursue a career in the field of banking, then continue reading.
Banking
There is always someone who has surplus money who is not currently earning and there is always someone who wants to start off a new business and needs money. Both these parties will approach a bank for either depositing or seeking a loan. What the bank does is mobilize the populace’s surplus savings and redirect them towards national growth and development. From the customer service point of view, a bank provides services like loans, deposit accounts, custody of documents and personal items, etc.
Starting a career in banking
For a good job, having good marks in your graduate course is important. But, this is only a small part of the requirements. The Banking Service Recruitment Boards (BSRBs) often publish full-page advertisements in major national newspapers looking for applicants. All the applicants have to go through a testing process to qualify for the job. The exam for banking jobs will cover quantitative aptitude, reasoning, general awareness, and English. There might also be a descriptive test. The reasoning test will contain verbal elements while others will be objective. In most cases, the tests can be answered in Hindi and English.
If you are interested in a career in banking in India, here are a few steps that you can take:
- Decide if the banking sector is right for you
There are a lot of opportunities available in the banking industry. However, before you grab any of these opportunities, you need to figure out if the banking sector is the right career option for you. Basic requirements for a banking job include numerical skills, good communication skills, and an eye for detail. Apart from this, you should also have an interest in subjects like finance. If you are interested in such subjects, banking can be a lot of fun.
- Understand eligibility criteria
To get started in the field of banking, you have to first determine if you are eligible or not. Graduation is mandatory for public sector banks. You must have a score between 55 to 60% in your final year. If you are from the reserved category, you might get a relaxation of 5 to 10%. Depending on the job you have applied for, you should be between the age of 18 to 30 years. If you want to work in a private sector bank, you will need an MBA degree along with banking and finance knowledge.
- Qualify the entrance exams
To get a job in a public sector bank, you will have to give an entrance exam. The State Bank of India and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) conduct most of these exams. Here are some of the exams that you can appear for:
- IBPS Clerk
- IBPS PO
- IBPS RRB (Regional Rural Banks)
- IBPS SO
- Reserve Bank of India Officer Grade B
- Reserve Bank of India Officer Grade C
- SBI Clerk
- SBI PO (Probationary Officer)
- SBI SO (Specialist Officer)
The pattern of all the above-mentioned exams is different. These exams test you on quantitative aptitude, reasoning ability, general awareness about banking and economy, and English language skills. There are several courses and books available online that will help you prepare better. You might need about 6 months to be fully prepared for these exams. However, depending on your skills and background, the actual time of preparation might vary. So, if you are an engineering graduate, you won’t have to spend a lot of time on mathematics.
- Understanding the requirements
If you want to work in a private sector bank, you need to search for jobs on online portals and read their requirements. Requirements might vary according to the position. For instance, for a sales job, you must have excellent convincing skills and knowledge of the products. If you are going for a technical role like an audit specialist, you will need knowledge of accounting and finance. You should know how to make presentations and reports.
- Network
Just like any other industry, one way for you to open doors in the field of banking is networking. You can use your network with your friends and family members and connect to professionals who are currently working in the sector. If they are not currently working in the field, they can still share some insights about how you can enter the banking sector. You can also meet other professionals through your alumni network or job fairs.
- Create the right resume
The resume for a banking job will be a lot different than the CV for a creative job. While working for the bank, you have to focus on professionalism. You have to highlight your financial literacy, acumen, and analytical skills. You can do this by mentioning any projects related to finance, data analysis, or quantitative skills that you might have done or your test scores in subjects related to finance. You can also highlight extra-curricular activities that display your communication skills like public speaking or writing. Make sure that your picture in the CV is professional.
- Update the LinkedIn Profile
It is crucial that you use the right content and headline while updating your LinkedIn profile. It should be customized to fit the banking sector. You can also join online groups for banking careers that will help you learn more about what this sector entails. You should also follow people working in the HR departments of leading banks so that you can be updated on vacancies.
Since banking exams are centralized and students are recruited through an All-India level examination, the notification for recruitment is also issued nationwide. Both undergraduate, as well as graduate, students from different streams like commerce, science, and arts, are eligible. Visit oliveboard.in to know more about banking exams in India.