Banking

Most people like to save something for our future lives or hard times, which people sometimes encounter during their life span. On the other hand there are some people who need finance to start new ventures or expand their existing business.

This is where the banking services step in. A bank mobilises people's surplus money to meet the objective of national economic growth.

Today banks not only serve as savings bank but also render many more services such as to provide safe custody for our valuables, to lend money against property, to accept deposits, to issue traveler cheques etc. Banks provides employment opportunities to men and women both.

For seeking entry into banking services a candidate must at least be a graduate with fairly high marks. Recruitment for the public sector banks is done through the Banking Service Recruitment Boards (BSRBs).

The advertisements for recruitment appear in all major national newspapers as well as the Employment News. Recruitment is done on the basis of a written test, which consists of:

• Test of Reasoning
• Quantitative Aptitude
• General Awareness
• English Language
• Descriptive Test

The test is qualifying in nature and the marks obtained are not added in the final merit list. Except for the descriptive portion, all other sections contain objective-type questions. In Reasoning, there are verbal and non-verbal sections.

In English, the test is aimed at judging the overall comprehension and understanding of the language. The descriptive paper can be answered in English or Hindi. It is meant to judge the written expression of the candidates.

Banking Eligibility Criteria

While recruitment in nationalised banks is done through the BSRB, recruitment in private banks is direct. The jobs are considered more glamorous as most private banks give preference to high value accounts.

One may be able to join these banks after putting in a few years of service in a nationalised bank. However these banks give preference to MBAs and Chartered Accountants who can find direct recruitments as officers.

Lower down the line, fresh graduates can hope to find jobs as clerks, marketing executives, personal banking executives and home banking executives.

Banking has emerged as one of the most challenging sectors in our country today. Openings are available at various levels, from clerks to Probationary Officers (PO).

Apart from people with commerce or management backgrounds, the banks also recruit engineers and agriculture graduates, for specialized jobs in the rural areas and industrial belts. What is more, banks hire doctors for the supervision of the health of all its employees.

A banking job aspirant can do specialised courses in banking from a number of universities such as:

• University of Madras, Centenary Buildings, Chepauk, Chennai-600005,
• The Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202 002,
• Ravishankar University, Raipur-492 010
• Guru Ghasidas University, PO Koni, Bilaspur-495 009.
• Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak-124 001.