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the skills to be placed in any suitable post in the bank. Banking interview questions are
meant to measure the attitude, skill and adjustability of the candidate, to draw a
conclusion on his/her suitability in the firm. The interviewers will ask as many questions
they think is necessary before recruiting any candidate as they are concerned with the fact
that the quality and skills of the employees will determines the future of the company.
To become successful in the banking interview process, you need to be well prepared to
face the different sets of banking interview questions. Banking interview questions also
starts with some general questions about the candidate such as his/her family background,
education, and interests. The second and third set of banking interview questions will be
meant to know the candidate's work experience, nature, capacity, ideology, and ability to
solve problems. Answering to the fist set of banking interview questions related to your
family, qualification, or future planning will be quite easy.
Let us discuss some of the common but very effective banking interview questions.
The interviewer may typically begin with 'tell me about yourself". It is a common opener
which is meant to set the ball rolling for the next few minutes ahead. Even though this is
the common question which will be asked in most of the interviews you can score
brownie points by answering the question a bit differently, but at the same time not
deviating much from the context.
General Questions
If you could buy one stock today, what would it be and why?
Can you explain the effect of rising interest rates on the United States economy?
What are the main issues ABC Company has to face before entering a given industry
(Porter framework)?
Explain the techniques you use to value firms?
What do you mean by cost of capital?
When do you use a WACC versus a cost of equity?
Behavioral Questions
Do you think you have leadership quality? Can you explain when did you show
leadership?
Have you think you can perform well in a group?
What is your most noted accomplishment?
What are your positive traits or strengths?
What are your negative traits or weaknesses?
What you can do for the company others people can't?
Explain an example when you had a personal conflict and how you resolved it?
Tell a time when you had an ethical dilemma and how you resolved it.
What type of person do you find difficult to get along with?
The above mentioned are some of the common questions that are used by most of the
banking interviewers. Remember that for a banking job interviewer, there cannot be a
dearth for questions. So be well prepared before attending the interview and answer all
questions in a positive way. Remember if you have the material they are looking for,
you'll get it.
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This article is an effort of the author to respond numerous comments left by the
candidates who have cleared the written part of State Bank of India’s Clerical
Recruitment Examination. The author tries to make it suitable for all Bank Interviews.
The board is keen on judging the real persona in you and brings the best out of you.
• Types of banks
• Functions of banks,
• Difference between various types of banks.
• Types of accounts, deposits, remittances, RTGS
• Collection of Bills, Checks, Advances, Loans, Locker facilities, Different delivery
channels. bank services, bank customer care, Mobile
• Banking, Internet banking, challenges of Internet and mobile banking, Retail
banking, Financial Inclusion, Financial Literacy, Money markets, Investments,
Options, futures and forwards, Credit rating, merchant banking, Over seas
banking and home banking, personal banking, Various Loan Products, Plastic
Money & Credit cards. Cross selling and up selling
• RBI & its functions,
• Some basics about capital markets.
The best available source online for the above topics is RBI Common Man Site
For example, a candidate while giving an introduction about himself / herself mentions
that he / she has done BA in History. The interviewer puts next question – Ok, now you
have decided to join banking industry, how you shall correlate your subject history to
banking?
This is a typical example. The possible right answer would be – being a student of
history, I understand the historical aspects of the present economic scenario of our
country. India has been subject to exploitation by the foreign powers for centuries its
impact is still reflected as widespread illiteracy and poverty in rural areas.
Next question may be asked on financial Inclusion or financial literacy or about a village
branch and your working in that branch. They may also put some hypothetical questions.
While it’s bit easy for a students with Management , Commerce and Economics
background students to easily correlate their academic background to the banking career,
its bit difficult for graduates from History, Geography, Sociology, Literature,Philosophy,
Psychology, Home Sciences, Biology, Chemistry And Physics Subjects.
A little bit imagination and creative answers can help to win the heart of the interviewers
easily.
• For example – the student with Geography background would co relate his subject
to banking in this way: “Our country is 7th largest country in the world and
second largest by population. The geographical distribution of population is
uneven and so is banking. While there are good banking facilities available in the
bigger towns and cities, villages still lack of the basic banking services. “
• A student with sociology background can easily correlate the banking to his / her
academic career by giving an example of social & cultural diversity and
demographic distribution in the country.
• A science student can correlate his own academic subjects with banking by
mentioning the impact of the information technology & science on banking. A
psychology student can correlate his / her subject by discussing about the
customer service, customer profiles etc.
• Typical Question: Are you joining the bank for a Job security?
This is a common question. Of course everybody knows that bank jobs are secure
jobs today, yet to tell the interviewer directly that you are joining the bank for a
job security would leave a negative imprint. Tell that apart from a secure job, you
are looking for a challenging job profile which makes you integral part of the
growing financial system of the country.
• Typical Question: Will you join if you are appointed to serve in a remote
village branch?
This is a very common question, mostly asked from Girls / ladies/ married people.
The answer has to be YES in any case, as any ifs and buts will give a negative
impression. In most cases this question is asked to judge your adaptability.
The best answer would be : Yes, I am ready to join a village branch because it will give
me more responsibilities and work experience.
If you are married, you will be further told that you will have to leave your family will
that affect you. Your response has to be: Yes it will affect, but for me my career is more
important and after all i am doing for the sake of my family.
• Handling Hypothetical Questions:
Sometimes a hypothetical situation is given to you and the interviewer may ask
you to suggest a strategy. These types of questions may be related to social and
political problems of the country as a whole. For example they may ask you
-What is Naxalism and how to get rid of Naxalism,
-how to achieve 100% financial inclusion
-How to end terrorism
-How to make India corruption free
-How to make people financially literate
-How to eradicate poverty from India
-How will you compare India and China’s economy?
-What is America’s role in India’s politics / economy?
-What will be your role to bring more business to your branch?
-How you will improve the marketing strategies of your bank?
the list is endless…..
• The questions depend upon the mood of the interviewer and also the background,
attitude of the candidate. Please note that for clerical posts, there are more direct
questions, for Managerial Jobs the number of hypothetical questions may be
more.
• How to Handle Such Questions?
The examiner does not expect a solution of a socio economic problem. These are
ubiquitous problems and even the political powers are unable to solve them.
However the idea of the interviewer is to judge your depth of current affairs
knowledge and your perception / opinion about the socioeconomic conditions.
• How to make your own OPINION on socio economic issues?
The people who regularly read newspapers, particularly editorials & columns can
express their opinions about the social and economic issues. However if you don’t
find it suitable to read editorials and columns then here is a short cut trick to
develop your opinion:
Every news paper has a “Readers Letters” column on its editorial page. Choose a
Newspaper with more number of “Readers Letters”. Just go through all “Readers Letters”
everyday and you will easily develop your own opinion by reading other people’s
opinion about a particular topic
1. Be confident
2. Believe in yourself
3. Put some counter questions if you feel so
4. Agree or disagree with the interviewer
5. Be neutral to Sensitive issues
6. Don’t answer in Hurry
7. Practice Before Your Interview
8. Be neutral to political parties /
9. Be honest with your Country and your countrymen.