How to prepare for a bank job after B.Com: Ballabhgarh professor's advice on exams

Several routes are open to young people who dream of a bank job after B.Com. A government bank job requires preparing for competitive examinations alongside studies. Bank exams do not ask only commerce questions. A good grasp of maths, English and general knowledge is also needed.

Dr Shobhna Goyal, associate professor in the commerce department of Agarwal College, Ballabhgarh, said in an interview what students should do to get a bank job after B.Com and how to prepare.

According to Dr Goyal, a B.Com degree is not essential for a bank job. Students from B.Sc or any other stream can also get one. A student should first decide whether to join a private bank or a government bank. Private banks also recruit through the placement cells of colleges and universities. For government bank jobs, candidates have to take the IBPS and SBI exams.

Dr Goyal said IBPS holds exams for the posts of PO (probationary officer) and clerk. Recruitment is also held in Regional Rural Banks (RRB). State Bank of India conducts its own separate exam. Completion of graduation is required for PO. For clerk too, candidates must meet the eligibility conditions of that recruitment.

She said lakhs of students sit the bank exams. Anyone aiming at a bank job should therefore begin preparing from the first year of B.Com. The questions in these exams differ from ordinary college coursework. They cover maths, general knowledge and English.

On maths, Dr Goyal said it is necessary to prepare questions up to class 10 level. Questions on ratio, time and averages should be practised extensively. For this, candidates should solve previous years' question papers and take mock tests. In maths, keeping track of time is as important as giving correct answers.

To improve English, she advises reading an English newspaper daily and building vocabulary. She also suggests getting into the habit of writing something daily on a current-affairs topic and having an English teacher check it.

On which skills to learn, Dr Goyal said knowledge of computers is extremely important for a bank job, because all banks use computers today. Knowledge of digital banking, good communication skills and the ability to understand a problem and find a solution should also be there.