Banking industry attracting more job aspirants

Updated on: Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Scores of students and job aspirants seem to be turning towards the banking industry as the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) has stated that banks would recruit close to 7.5 lakh people in the next five years. Experts and banking professionals state that banking would be the most favoured career destination in the next few years because of the large number of job opportunities.

The IBPS is an autonomous body that conducts the Common Written Exams once every six months and provides a gateway for students to get placed in various banks such as Axis Bank, Allahabad Bank, Canara Bank, and Central Bank of India. Almost all banks except the State Bank of India and its five associate banks conduct their recruitments based on this test.

The banks hire people for various posts, including clerical officers, probationary officers and middle management. According to the statistics on the IBPS website, the organisation has been able to fill 79,236 vacancies in 2010-2011.

Explaining the procedure, K. P. Muralidhar, General Manager of Syndicate Bank, said that all the registered candidates are first expected to take up the Common Written Examinations and are given a score based on their performance. “Each bank has a different cut-off mark for the interview. Students who score well are eligible to sit for the interview which is conducted by individual banks separately. ”

Mr. Muralidhar pointed out that this system is advantageous to the banks as well as the students. Bank employers said that the common test helps them save time as each bank does not have to conduct its own examination. This option is also beneficial to the students as it helps them save time and prevents them the trouble of taking up several examinations.

However, bank officials said that there is low awareness about the pattern of the exam among the youngsters in Karnataka. Only a small percentage of the applicants are recruited in the State when compared to neighbouring States like Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. Coaching centre experts stress on the need for the youngsters to prepare themselves thoroughly to score well in the examinations.

Vijaya R., Director, Aditi Career Academy, who coaches students for these exams said that understanding the procedure and hard work are extremely essential for students to clear the exams. “Apart from that, students should also read books and newspapers to enhance their general knowledge. It is important for students to pay special attention to reasoning, English and mathematics.”

Ms. Vijaya said that the exams are conducted four times in a year for clerical posts, and twice in a year for the post of officers and for Regional Rural Banks (RRBs). “Students who have passed SSLC, Pre-University and degree, between the age group of 18 and 28, can appear for the exams. After appearing for the CWE, the IBPS will give a marks card, which will be valid for a period of one year. Meanwhile, the candidates, with the help of the marks card, can apply for jobs in as many as 19 PSU banks and get employed after appearing the interview.”

Ramesh, who has been coaching youths for the bank exams in Bijapur, said, “Reading national newspapers is very essential as it helps the youths to gain general knowledge and keep themselves abreast of the day-to-day developments taking place in the world and it also improves their English.”

The next set of exams is expected to be scheduled in November and further details can be obtained by logging on to http://www.ibps.in/html/clientele.htm

Banking industry attracting more job aspirants

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