The banking sector, in the next five to 10 years, may create around 10 lakh new jobs. So, if you are the kind of person who is well-organised, have an eye for detail, ability to relate to people at all levels and love to play with numbers then working in this field is a lucrative option, says Gaurav Pal
A bank probationary officer or bank PO is a post which is just one step short of being a bank manager. It is the gate way to the managerial life which can lead to one the highest positions — the general manager. The first stage of becoming probationary officer is to crack the written exam. Hard work and utmost dedication are needed for being selected in the Exam. Almost all banks have a similar pattern. Generally, there is an objective test followed by a descriptive test. The candidates are required to adopt the right strategy to crack the exam to avoid last minute panic.
The objective test pattern consists of five parts: Reasoning section, quantitative aptitude, test of English, general awareness and computer knowledge. In 95 per cent of the exams, there are negative marks which are almost up to 0.25 for each wrong answer. It is also a must to clear all the sections as banks want to make sure that their future manager is an all-rounder. However in the descriptive type pattern, essay type answers are expected. The time duration is for 60 minutes and the test is just for qualification purpose. So make sure that you unfailingly reach the magical figure of 40 per cent.
Before must start preparing for any exam, it is of utmost importance to know the strengths and weaknesses. One can strategise the trip to the endpoint well if you know the start point. One needs to recognise the strengths and weaknesses for any test preparation, like one can be strong in mathematics, average in physics and totally clueless in chemistry. This is important because then one can create your study plan to turn your weaknesses into strengths and ignore certain weaknesses if they are not important from exam point of view. Another important factor to consider is planning. It is accurately believed ‘he who fails to plan, plans to fail’. Nobody can challenge the significance of planning when doing any vital task, and if it means preparing for the exam, one should be even more careful. The study plan that will suit the best will be the weekly plan. One can choose some chapters to study every week so that you are able to complete your syllabus on time.
The candidate needs to focus on fundamentals of mathematics and read a lot of material on general awareness. One will have to focus on the banking sector as well, since majority of questions in the general awareness section are from the banking sector. The candidate needs to brush up on basic computer knowledge as well, since this section is high scoring. One must prepare taking into consideration the difficulty level of the PO exams, as the officer is known for surprises. Although the market is flooded with many books, it is important to wisely choose the right books and study material, so that it pays in the long run. Choosing the right study material for any exam is a difficult task but is a very important step in determining one’s success in that particular exam. Students preparing for this exam must choose the study material carefully.
The candidate should make a structured plan for all the topics and sections that can be asked in the exam. Start revising the most important topics first followed by the less important topics. Try to clear concept topic wise instead of trying all the topics at the same time. Don’t forget that only learning chapters will not take you anywhere, it is questions that you need to answer in the final exam. So practice, practice and practice till one is perfect at the chapter and then move ahead. Try to solve at least five question papers as it will help to identify any difficult areas in the test papers that one has covered and need revision for. This will help to increase speed in solving the paper, along with smooth and easy movement across sections.
It is important to study hard and spend a few hours daily on preparation but an hour or a half in the daily timetable demands that one spends some time alone. Use this time to exercise the mind and body to keep oneself fit. Breathing exercises should be included in this regime in order to relieve the stress and be ready for intellectual challenges. Try to sleep at the same fixed time every night. Avoid sleeping in the afternoons. A short nap may be helpful though. Avoid stimulating the sensory system with too much TV, arguments, or fights.
Whatever be the mode of preparing, personal effort is very much required as the competition will be very high. One has to know the exams really well. This means that one should know the syllabus, the exam pattern, exam notification and important chapters.
And it is not just knowing all the important aspects of the exam. How to prepare properly for the exam is just as crucial. The general guidelines for the aspirants hold the key to success. The following are the important tips that one should keep in mind:
So, get set on the right track with proper strategies and one will come out with flying colours.
(The writer is CEO, Intelivisto Consulting India Pvt ltd)