Approach to a successful Bank Interview (Part- I)

Approach to a successful Bank Interview (Part- I)

Not being successful at any stages of life certifies one and only thing. And that is –“We haven’t tried for the success whole heartdly”

So, just one more attempt is needed.

Today we shall discuss about the approach to a successful Bank Interview. I have divided this article in 2 parts. The first one which you are reading right now is going to elaborate the things to be kept in mind upto your entry inside the Interviewer’s chamber. And the rest would follow in the next article.

Take a good sleep at the night prior to the interview.  Neither go to bed too earlier nor too later than your normal scheduled time to go to bed. And yes, crosscheck all the documents you are supposed to carry  the next morning once again. Dress up something like I have described in the concerned post at this space only.

As I have often said that, please reach the interview venue a bit earlier than the scheduled time. Accommodate the time for possible traffic jams or for search of location if you are new to the city. Being on time keeps you away from any possible mental anxiety.

Have a nice breakfast so that you would be feeling comfortable and energetic. Keep a small water bottle with you. I mean, your throat must not be feeling dry prior to your entry inside the room.

Once you are sitting inside the e conference room along with other candidates, interact with a few of them only upto the point of personal introduction. Don’t discuss anything which has happened with or which might happen with any other candidate.

The coordinating officer there, would be asking you to show your certificates etc, Often people start roaming around in the entire room during this period. DO NOT DO that. The coordinating officer is competent enough to recommend a  +5 marks in advance for any extra qualifications or achievements you are having and also he can recommend a -5 for indiscipline. Don’t forget that the CCTV camera is keeping an eye on you here.

Once you get to know that you are going to be the next one to go inside the interview room. Close your eyes, try to imagine, what you would gain, if you are selected and what would you loose, if not. Take deep breaths about a few times.

Take your file (only file) with you and leave anything else in the conference room only. Give a gentle knock at the interview room’s door. It signals the interviewers that the new candidate is standing at the door. Don’t  ask for the permission to enter  after being almost half entered inside the room.

Wear a natural smile on your face. Greet the chairman along with the other panel members.  DO remember to maintain an eye contact.

And don’t forget to greet the female member of the panel separately. It is a normal etiquette to show your humbleness towards the feminine gender. Once you are asked to sit, don’t forget to thank them and then take your seat.

Be tuned friends,

Next part of this article would be at this space soon,

Regards

Why I was not selected? - What went wrong at my Banking Interview?

Why I was not selected? - What went wrong at my Banking Interview?

There are only 15 reasons for not being selected in a PSU bank interview as far as my knowledge is concerned.

So many times students have asked me this question. Well, No one can tell you the exact reason for yourself not being selected after the interview, BUT, based on the inputs I am going to provide over here, you can certainly judge yourself. Because a person can tell a lie to everyone, but not to himself.

A candidate might not be selected if:

1.       He has not adhered to the announcement of the coordinating officer, (The officer who verifies your certificates prior to the interview).

2.       He has not followed the standard dressing code.

3.       He has not been confident enough at his entry inside the interview room.

4.       He has not utilized the “first 40 seconds factor”

5.       He has more interest in telling about the influence his parent or relatives are having.

6.       He was the one and only reason because of which his last company was surviving.

7.       He has created an impression that he is dissatisfied with either his family or his college or his    present or ex-employer.

8.       He has not been able to maintain an eye contact.

9.       He has not been able to judge the “blanks”.

10.   He didn’t have the courage to say – “I don’t Know”

11.   He didn’t have the etiquettes to say – “I apologize”

12.   He has been allergic to a “smile”

13.   He has appeared for the bank examination because no one was offering him a job.

14.   He is more comfortable in getting a posting at his own hometown.

15.   He has not been aware of what is called a finishing touch of an interview.

Now, anyone who has not been successful till now can easily guess “what went wrong”

Rest in next post,

Regards,

Biggest blunder candidates do at the Bank PO interview (Part – II)

Biggest blunder candidates do at the Bank PO interview (Part – II)

Being negative in their approach is the reason of not being found in the final selection list.

Being dissatisfied with your employer or with the institution in which you have studied or with the circumstances you have faced is not uncommon. But yes it is a real blunder if a candidate expresses such points and such feelings during a Banking interview.

If a candidate has no regards for the institution where he or she has spent at least 3 best years of life during graduation or having no regards for the ex-employer, he or she certainly does NOT deserve to be part of an industry which needs active public dealing.

Secondly, giving absolutely vague answers like –“I want to join the PSU banks because of the social status associated with these jobs”

“I didn’t get any job after my graduation hence I started preparing for the banking examinations”

“My employer didn’t treat me well in my past job so I quit and decided to prepare for PSU Banks”

For god sake, if possible, try to avoid such things. Do you want them to get an impression that as nobody is giving you a job, they should?

Or are you trying to tell them that you are not able to take right decisions at the right time hence you couldn’t pick up a good stream and college to study, a good employer to work for?

You are there to sell yourself,

Do it intelligently,

Rest in next post,

Stay tuned,

And yes, please provide your valuable feedback,

Regards,

Biggest Blunder - candidates do at the Bank PO interview (Part – I)

Biggest blunder candidates do at the Bank PO interview (Part – I)

Being negative in their approach is the reason of not being found in the final selection list.

Many a times a candidate is asked to tell about his or her strengths and weaknesses, and the ones who are not selected are among the persons who have either uprightly said that – “I don’t have any weakness” or the ones who have disclosed such a weakness which would be a hurdle in discharging day to day functions of the bank.

Always remember that we all are normal human beings and because nobody is perfect, its impossible that you are not having any weaknesses. Simply telling the interviewer that you are not having any negative traits in your personality gives an impression that you are not open to talk about each and every aspect of your personality.

Also, there are people who share such negative points which are almost next to impossible to be removed from the personality or which may directly or indirectly affect the job for which you are being interviewed.

One of the candidates, very well known to me has cleared about 9 PO examinations in a row but has never been able to clear the interview. Once he approached me, my first question to him was about this aspect only. And I was shocked to hear that he has been telling in interviews that  - “His biggest weakness is that he is not  comfortable in crowds, He likes to work alone”

If something else would have been his weakness then that might have been easy to remove, but not this one.

Is it not a blunder? Facing an interview for a job profile which requires you to interact with hundreds of odd faces each day, how can one be so irresponsible to say that he is not comfortable in working in a group or interacting with people?

So, be cautious, when you visit a shop to purchase something, the shopkeeper tries to show you the best items he has kept for sale. You too go to face an interview where you are selling your personality, they are having lots of choices, and do you have it in you what they are looking for?

hence analyze what the interviewer wants to hear and then react…..

Rest in next post,

Stay tuned,

And yes, please provide your valuable feedback,

Regards,

How to answer - Why should we recruit you?

How to answer - Why should we recruit you?

Well this is the question which has been asked to almost each and every candidate during past one year in Bank PO or Bank clerical interviews,

Once again I would point out that the questions which are common to all of the candidates can NOT have any kind of standard answer. It is not like answering the question about the capital of India. In that case every one can say –“Delhi” as his or her answer.

Interviewer wants to make you nervous; he is searching for the “Kamzor Kadi Kaun?”

So it is better to not to be the “Kamzor Kadi”.

Here the case is totally different.

Hence I would like to provide few inputs on the basis of which, any candidate appearing for an interview can frame his or her own answers.

First of all a candidate must be assured that as he or she is among the ones shortlisted for the final round of selection process (interview), bank is really keen in recruiting them in actual. 

Secondly, you can start your answer as – "Sir the bank has a need of talented individuals who are eager to learn and who can help the business of the bank to grow………As I am among the candidates who have cleared the written examination, this proves that I have a bit of talent, and as the interview progresses, I hope I would be able to confirm you that I am eager to learn too”

It can be mentioned in the answer that – “Bank has came out with this recruitment process that itself signals that the bank is looking for the right candidates to join it, Half of my potential has been proved in written, and for the rest half, I have been given an opportunity to interact with this learned panel”

Please do point out any  relevant experience or any milestones achieved with previous employer.

Or If a candidate says that – “Sir, because I have the potential which the bank is looking for. Banking is a process of continuous public dealing and I really love to interact with different individuals each and every day”

Financial inclusion can also be included in the answer as – “Sir, I want to contribute my level best towards the nation by being among the first batch of newly recruited bankers who would be entrusted with the responsibility to be engaged in implementation of financial inclusion in our country”

After so much of hard work in preparing for and clearing the written part, of the selection process, certainly one can NOT afford to lose here at the final stage. So, be logical, Interviewer is checking your ability to react. Your ability to stand in your own favour.

If your confidence level is really good (But make sure that you don’t look over confident), you can say – The bank should recruit me because, I have the capability which I have proved in the written part and I need a chance to prove my skills.

Try to highlight your positive points, your strengths and to hide your  negative sides.

I hope this throws atleast some light on the said question.

For any queries, please feel free to write to me at any point of time,

All the Best

Importance of First 40 Seconds in an interview

The importance of first 40 seconds in a Banking Interview

Whether a candidate is appearing for the profile of that of a generalist officer or a specialist officer, or that of a clerk, first 40 seconds of the interview decides the 95% of the results.

Once again I would point out that – “There is NO second chance to make the FIRST impression”.

So, what is needed to create that “impression” in the first 40 seconds?

Enter the interview room with a natural smiling gesture, make sure that your legs are not trembling or you are not feeling thirsty. (More about successful approach to the interviews, is going to be my next article which would illustrate more about this), look as much confident as cool as you can, and in any case don’t forget that you are the guest of the bank and those sitting inside are the hosts, so they are eager to treat you with dignity and respect.

Don’t sit unless you are asked to do so. Remember to wish them all a very good morning (or whatever the time may be).Be relaxed while sitting. Sit straight. From their behavior you would yourself get an impression, who is the chairman of the interview board, look towards him with a smiling face as if you are signaling that you are now ready to face their questions.

Nothing more is needed in first 40 seconds of the interview,except, what I have mentioned over here.

Once you are sure that everything has gone right till you have taken your seat and are still confident and ready to face the questions and are ready to treat the interviewers as your friends, nothing can go wrong now onwards……

Rest in my next post

All  the best

Top 10 MISTAKES Which Candidates Do at an Interview

Top 10 MISTAKES

Which Candidates Do at an Interview

MISTAKE No. 1

Timing

Not reaching the interview venue on time – This simply creates anxiety and nervousness and the half battle is lost even before the actual thing begins.

MISTAKE No. 2

Turnout

Not being dressed up properly (Dressing up for the interviews has been explained HERE). As I have wrote often that – “There is no second chance to make the first impression”

MISTAKE No. 3

Comfort Level

Not being able to make yourself normal prior to entering the interview room. 48% of the candidates are feeling very thirsty or too hungry at this time so do remember to have a normal breakfast and carry a bottle of water with you. (Although you are supplied with snacks, water and lunch etc over there, but, if it is with you, you would be just ok).

You cant expect to have a marvelous interview when your throat is simply dry.

Secondly – Looking at other candidates and comparing them to you is also something to be avoided.

MISTAKE No. 4

Entry

70% of the candidates don’t know about how to enter the interview room.

Wait for the next post in which this aspect is going to be dealt in detail

MISTAKE No. 5

Non Utilization of first 40 Seconds of the Interview

Whether to hire or not to hire a candidate is decided normally in first 40 seconds of the interview only, rest is just a formality. Not being able to leave a mark in first 40 seconds, almost throws you out of the race.

MISTAKE No. 6

Not being able to say – “I Don’t Know”

Its not too hard to say – “I Don’t know”

Interviewers are more experienced than you, hence be honest, instead of telling anything you are not sure of, its better to admit that you don’t know. Remember – “To enter is human and to admit is Super Human”

MISTAKE No. 7

Trying to show knowledge by being too descriptive.

Candidates think that if they are fully aware of the topic asked in question then they must show their knowledge to the interviewers.

Or trying to show influence by answers like – “I am holding ‘this’ degree from ‘this’ college and my father is holding ‘this’ position, my uncle is ‘this’ my elder brother is ‘this’.

If they have asked about you then be specific and don’t open the Kundli of your family unless they have asked to do so.

It’s a wrong practice; no one is interested in your knowledge over there. That has already been proved at the written examination.

Be as specific as you can.

MISTAKE No. 8

Non Aware of how to deal with ‘Blanks’

‘Blanks’ are the period of around a few seconds which may extend upto half a minute in which interviewers don’t ask you anything but they are talking to each other. Your reaction at this time is of prime importance.

Don’t start looking at the room or don’t start counting the number of lights or fans installed in the room. Be calm and cool.

MISTAKE No. 9

Not being able to divert the interview in your strength areas.

A majority of candidates are not able divert the flow of questions towards the areas of their strength. Thus they become an easy target and get nervous. Read here about answering to questions like – “Why do you want to choose banking as a career?”

Also, If you are holding a professional degree which is not related to banking, please also read, “How to answer – a career change” here

MISTAKE No. 10.

No Finishing Touch

Exactly like the first impression, this is also too much needed. Even if you are selected, you may seldom meet the interviewers again in your life, give a finishing touch to the interview, so that after you leave, they must discuss about your personality.

Click Here to learn about the interview panel.

These are the major blunders which a majority of candidates do. Do read my post about the simple techniques which makes wonders with the personality.

Stay tuned, this is just a beginning, more to come in my next post

All the best

Change of career: How to answer?

Change of career: How to answer?

Many a times, candidates have enquired to me that they are not comfortable in answering that after acquiring a degree in engineering or in any other professional field which is not directly related to general banking, why are they interested in opting for banking as their career.

Well, like any other thing, this answer should also come from the inner side of your hearts. There are a few inputs which I am providing based on the experience of either myself or my colleagues. Rest of the answer can be easily framed based on these inputs.

Firstly and most importantly, please don’t criticize your degree or your college at the interview.

Means, 

We shouldn’t say that after a B.E. I wasn’t getting a good job or My College didn’t help in getting a good job and hence I had to think about change of stream. Never do that. It creates a negative impression. They would think that in future after leaving the bank, you would criticize them too.

Look very much confident and satisfied with your degree, college and other achievements.

As soon as such a question is asked, smile a bit, look into the eyes of the chairman of the panel, then in the eyes of the other members within a fraction of seconds and then say – Sir, Engineers are considered to be blessed with one of the best brains on this earth. The RBI Governer, Dr. D. Subbarao is himself a product of IIT Delhi (Read More). I believe I can contribute to the best of my capability.

Smile and say, 'Sir, being a technocrat, Dr. Subbarao is doing very well, I too just need a chance to prove myself'  - make your smile deeper and make an eye contact again.

"I am not choosing engineering as my career option because as I came out of my teenage, I realized that meeting and communicating new people, gives me immense pleasure. Banking can certainly give me right platform for that." - may be a good response.

"I can contribute to the day to day banking by applying the concepts of operational research or the concept of project management in any kind of study or research undertaken by the concerned department of the bank.

And above all (Smile again, and look in their eyes again) and say, I want to switch from engineering to banking, because, I have a faith in myself that I can not only be a good engineer, I can be good banker too" -You can try this too.

Rest in next post,

Be tuned, All the Best

How to answer: Why Banking as a career option?

Why Banking as a career option?

This is the most probable question, which most of you are going to face at the interviews,

Actually, there is no standard answer to these kinds of questions, I would provide the inputs for you and you may frame your own answers. Because, if a specific answer is posted here or anywhere at the online spaces then the purpose of asking this question by the interviewers and that of it being answered by you won’t be fulfilled.

Here are some of the inputs, which can be used to frame the answer:

Banking is the backbone of every economy.

Banking relates to everyone, from a common man to a billionaire.

It gives an opportunity to interact with lots of people on a daily basis.

It is related to everyone’s life.

As per the standard facts, there are millions of Indians who still don’t have access to the basic banking facility and hence the government is focusing on financial inclusion, it may be pointed out that you want to contribute in this holi task by being among the first batch to be recruited by keeping the financial inclusion in mind.

It is the only sector which is evergreen, whatever are the circumstances, a human being is never ever satisfied by the money he or she is having, and hence banks are sure to book business. If one is having money then banks would get business in terms of deposits and if one is having lack of money then banks would get business in terms of lending.

The “Shining India” or the “Incredible India” would have been always a dream only if there would not have been the banking and finance institutions to finance the infrastructure development in India.

There is a vast scope of growth of this sector as there is a large chunk of human capital in this nation which is deprived of the basic banking facility.

If everyone would have access to the ethical and practical banking facilities then it would certainly help the poor farmers of this agricultural dependent country as the farmer who feeds the nation wouldn’t have to impoverish himself by being a victim of alternate channels of parallel banking. Which in result would help the growth of the economy of this country.

In this way the black money would also be controlled because the money would flow directly through the legal system.

More to come at this space, Be tuned,
All the Best

Dr. D Subbarao, The 22nd Governor of RBI, Ex-IITian,

Dr. D. Subbarao took over as the 22nd Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. Dr. Subbarao has been appointed for a three-year term. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Subbarao was the Finance Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Government of India.

Dr. Subbarao has earlier been Secretary to the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council (2005-2007), lead economist in the World Bank (1999-2004), Finance Secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh (1993-98) and Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India (1988-1993).

Dr. Subbarao has wide experience in public finance. In the World Bank, he worked on issues of public finance in countries of Africa and East Asia. He managed a flagship study on decentralisation across major countries of East Asia including China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Cambodia. Dr. Subbarao was also involved in initiation of fiscal reforms at the state level. Dr. Subbarao has written extensively on issues in public finance, decentralisation and political economy of reforms.

Born on August 11, 1949, Dr. Subbarao holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur and M.Sc in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Dr. Subbarao also holds an MS degree in Economics from Ohio State University. He was a Humphrey fellow at MIT during 1982-83. He has a Ph.D. in Economics with thesis on fiscal reforms at the sub-national level. Dr. Subbarao was a topper in the All India Civil Service examination for entry into Indian Administrative Services and Indian Foreign Services in 1972. He was one of the first IITians to join the civil service. 

Article Courtesy : RBI Press Release 05/09/2008

So, Friends, our role model, Dr. Subbarao is himself an IITian, a technocrat and still you think that engineers cant make it to the banks?

Dressing Up for the Interviews

Dressing Up for the Interviews

It’s the most important part of an Interview. 

People spend a lot of times in preparing for the interviews, they try to read as much as they can, but still there are few persons who are not able to cross the benchmark. Dressing sense might be one of the reasons.

As someone has truly said, - “There is no second chance to make the first impression”

So, let me share my experience in this matter.

Guys

·         Use a light coloured shirt. White shirts have never been out of fashion. If white is not your taste then you can try very light blue, or too much light pink, in any case the colour of the shirt should be near to the white.

·         Chose a trouser in which you are most comfortable with. It shouldn’t be too loose or too tight. Fabric should be soft. Its colour has to be dark but must matching with the colour of the shirt.

·         Right fitting of the dress is also a must.

·         Never ever wear a brand new dress for an interview. In case you have to wear, try to get it washed and thoroughly pressed before use.

·         Shoes must be well polished and there is no other scope than formal black or formal brown, nothing else. As far as possible, try to wear the shoes which don’t have laces.

·         Tie: Most candidates are often confused, whether or not to wear a tie? The simple answer is yes, if you are comfortable. Otherwise except in the interviews, generally no one wears the tie kind of stuff in a PSU Bank.

·         Senior officers of the bank, who seldom come out of the AC offices, do like the ties and they wear a tie themselves, so please wear a tie in the interview, if you have a practice of wearing the ties.

·         If you have not been comfortable with the ties, then its better not to wear any. Because, If you would feel un-easy after it then its better to leave the same in your drawer only.

·         Needless to mention that a clean shave is a must. And if you maintain mustaches then it must be neatly trimmed. Haircut must not be like an army man; rather it should be having a normal look, neither too short, nor too long.

Girls

·         Don’t wear a saree for an interview, if you are not in practice of wearing any.

·         A formal Suit should be fine. It must be looking simple, sober and presentable.

·         Colour should be according to your choice; in any case ladies are not needed to be guided about this.

·         No high heels, no jeans (unless you are sure that you look too gorgeous in that), and even then, maintain a kind of sober and simple feeling.

·         No lipstick at all.

·         You must look fresh; hence no heavy makeup would be advisable.

·         Leave your fancy and big ladies kind of bags at home, Carry a small wallet only.

Any bags or folders, you are carrying are not needed inside the interview room, still it creates an impression if you enter with a black or blue/brown coloured plastic file consisting of your certificates etc. (although no one would ask you to show your file inside the room). Simply leave anything not specified above in the conference room (it’s the place where you are asked to sit generally before an interview) and collect it afterwards.

And above all, while you are inside the premises of the bank, do remember that you are a guest of the bank, whatever problems or anxieties you are having must be forgotten before entering the premises. Keep a natural (only natural) smile on your face.