December 15, 2013

Updated: December 15, 2013 16:28 IST

Careers in banking, insurance

T. MURALIDHARAN

I want to pursue career in Banking. Please provide some information on how I can begin my career a public sector bank. Are there institutes that offer courses related to Banking?

-Naren

The recruitment process of public sector banks includes competitive examination followed by an interview. Several public sector banks, regional rural banks and cooperative banks recruit personnel, based on the performance of candidates in the competitive examinations conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection.

Institute of Banking Personnel Selection is an autonomous body set up by the banking industry to cater to its recruitment needs. 19 banks including Bank of Baroda, Andhra Bank, Canara Bank and Allahabad Bank recruit probationary clerks, probationary officers and specialist officers based on performance of candidates in competitive examinations conducted by the institute.

However, RBI and SBI conduct separate examinations for recruitment for their banks.

To begin your career in the banking industry, you can take one of the competitive examinations, based on your academic background and aspirations.

Eligibility

The eligibility criterion for probationary clerks and probationary officers is a Bachelor’s degree. The first stage of recruitment process, the online written test, is objective type. The questions are aimed at assessing candidates on areas like reasoning, English, numerical ability, general awareness and computer knowledge.

Candidates who clear this test are called for interview.

To be eligible to take the specialist officer examination, you should attain a degree in the specific specialist field.

For instance, graduates in Agriculture are eligible to apply for Agriculture Field Officer and graduates in Law can apply for Law officer.

Coming to courses that complement career in Banking, you con consider one of the following:

Indian Institute of Banking and Finance, Mumbai offers Diploma in Banking and Finance. This course is designed to address the demand for the professionally qualified manpower for the banking and finance sector.

The course aims at providing knowledge of modern banking environment and operational processes so that the students are job ready once they complete the course.

Please note that this course will not qualify you to get a job in banks but improves your prospects of getting selected.

To be selected by a bank, you have to meet the eligibility criteria it specifies and successfully clear its recruitment process.

Indian Institute of Banking and Finance (IIBF) is a professional body of banks, and financial institutions in India. IIBF is premier institute in banking and finance education.

The institute offers several distance mode courses in specialised areas. It also supports learning through contact classes, virtual classes, e-learning through portals etc.

Another course that can improve your prospects in the banking sector is MBA in Banking.

The programme, MBA Banking, imparts knowledge of financial and strategic management of banks. Through this course, you will learn about international financial services that have direct impact on the banking practice.

The following are some of the institutes that offer management programmes related to Banking:

Institute of Public Enterprise, Hyderabad offers Post Graduate Diploma in Banking, Insurance and Financial Services. The eligibility criterion is graduation with at least 50 per cent marks.

The admission is based on performance at entrance test, GD and PI. For details, log on to www.ipeindia.org

Amity School of Insurance, Banking and Actuarial Science, Noida offers MBA with Insurance and Banking as specialisation.

The eligibility criterion is graduation with 50 per cent marks. For details, log on to www.amity.edu

Symbiosis School of Banking Management, Pune offers MBA with Banking Management as specialisation.

The eligibility criterion is graduation with minimum 50 per cent marks.

The admission is based on performance at entrance test. For details, log on to www.ssbm.edu.in

T. Muralidharan

TMI e2E Academy

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