Dear Readers,
Congratulations to all of you who have successfully cleared the IBPS PO Mains exam! Now it is time for you to gear up and start preparing for the next phase of the selection process, the Personal Interviews.
This article will help you prepare for personal interviews, understand how you should conduct yourself during the interview and explore the kind of questions you might face during the interview. The article will also guide you how to handle tricky questions or situations .
Aspirants generally feel that a vast variety of questions can be asked during the interview. In reality, majority of the questions asked in interviews follow a standard pattern and are dependant on your personal profile.
The questions can be broadly categorized into the following categories ( in order of priority):
- Introduction related questions
- Questions related to personal details
- Academics or work experience related questions
- Current Affairs questions
- Situation based questions
In this article, I will discuss these questions one at a time.
- Introduction Questions – This is typically the first question an interviewer asks and more than 80% of the interviews begin with this question. The interviewer can ask the question in a variety of ways, such as ” Please introduce yourself”, “Tell me something about yourself” or “What can you tell me about yourself”.
For this question, you should provide your basic introduction and stress on things you have achieved so far. Some of the important points that you should keep in mind for this question type are:
- If you have excelled in academics, you should talk about your distinctions, awards or special certifications or courses. This makes your profile stand out and makes it distinct.
- If extra curricular activities are your strength, talk passionately about them. In case you have taken up any particular activity, such as sports, drama, music, etc. make sure place extra emphasis on it. Talk about the events you have participated or won. Having any of these elements in your profile once again lends uniqueness to your profile.
- Highlight your hobbies and interests like reading or travelling. Add what you like to read and the places you have travelled to.
- During the introduction, the interviewer might ask questions related to your family background. Make sure you are ready for these questions and you should be able to furnish details with respect to your family in an organised and impressive way.
2. Personal Details Questions – Here the interviewer wants to know more about you and your interest in the banking industry. You can expect questions like “Where do you see yourself in 5 years”, ” What are your career goals”, ” Why have you chosen the banking sector”.
Some of the important points that you should keep in mind for this question type are:
- If you are from diverse educational backgrounds like engineering or science, you may be asked questions like ” Why did you decide to move to banking’, ” Being an engineer, why did you not do an MBA?”. Make sure you think these questions through and establish solid reasons so as why did you decide to make the switch from other areas to banking. In this case, the best answers are generally ones that showcase your relationship or experience with/in the field of banking. Highlight some sort of a connection with the field is something that is appreciated here.
- You may be asked to map out your strengths and weaknesses. Always prepare this in advance. Try and make your answer stand out and avoid words which are cliched or conventional. Also, prepare well an answer pointing out minor weaknesses. For example, do not give an answer saying that you are not punctual, it might give a wrong impression to the interviewer.
- For strengths and weaknesses, make sure you can backup your answer with relevant examples. Having a set of examples to justify your answer reflects rational thinking and a personality that displays self-understanding.
- You might also be asked, ” Why should we select or reject you?”. Here, you need to map out your strengths. As for rejection, you should confidently tell them that there is no particular reason to reject you.
3. Academic or Work Experience Questions – This question majorly depends on whether you are a fresher or you have prior work experience. Some of the important points that you should keep in mind for this question type are:
- If you a fresher, you might be asked questions on your favourite subjects, projects or internships. Make sure you have answers ready for questions related to your favourite subjects or internships. By displaying competence in these areas, you display to the panel that you take up all tasks with seriousness and diligence.
- If you have prior work experience, you need to talk about your job role and responsibilities. You can expect questions on the organisations you have worked in or the industry you have worked in. These questions are generally basic in nature but inaccurate or flimsy replies in this area reflect that you might not be the most diligent workers. Since this is a job interview you are appearing for, you need to showcase a willingness to learn and perform. Also, do not paint your previous roles, organisations and co-workers in negative light. Maintain a positive outlook and reflect a personality that focuses on the good rather than the bad.
- In case you carry some prior work experience, make sure you are ready to the answer questions pertaining to your shift to the Banking industry. Make sure you display crystal clarity with respect to the reasons for your shift.
4. Current Affairs Questions – Questions based on current affairs are a very important part of banking interviews. Interviewers like to check whether you are updated with current events and whether you possess an understanding of events that are taking place around you. In order to prepare for this area of the interview, you should ideally go through the current affairs of the last 3 to 6 months before the exam.
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5. Situation based Questions – These questions are asked to check your presence of mind, your wit and how you will be to handle a particular situation while interacting with customers. Some questions that can be asked of you are:
- “What will you do if you are made the Prime Minister of the country for a day?”, “What will you do if you are made the RBI Governor for a day?”.
- You may be asked questions on how you will handle a dissatisfied customer?
- What will you do if you are posted in a rural area with minimum amenities?
- Your opinion about major national policies in banking sector. For eg. Jan Dhan Yojana or Digital banking.
In these questions, you need to display a positive mindset that focuses on development of all sections of society. Your focus should be positive aspects and if there are some points of criticism related to the given question, you should follow it up with solutions.
Also, for any particular question related to banking, make sure you keep in mind the existing policies, conditions and scenarios related to banking. Your response should include these parameters.
General Tips for Interviews:
Here are some general tips you need to keep in mind while going for the personal interview –
- You should be appropriately dressed. The best approach is to dress formally.
- Do not forget to carry all the valid prescribed documents.
- Arrive on time for the interview.
During the interview –
- Greet the interviewers and look interested.
- Do not interrupt the interviewer and listen to the questions patiently and attentively.
- Answer the questions confidently. Your tone of voice and body language is equally important as your answers.
- Try to answer the questions truthfully, do not lie or make up answers.
- Do not talk negative about anyone or anything, especially about past employers.
- If you do not understand or know a particular question, ask for some time to answer it or ask the interviewer to move on to the next question.
Closing the interview –
You can end by expressing your thanks for the interviewer’s time and consideration and quietly leave the interview room.
Interviews are a display of confidence, presence of mind and knowledge while engaged in a conversation. Ensure you take up some mock interviews and prepare well keeping the above parameters in mind.
All the best!