The probationary officer post in the State Bank of India is a highly reputed position and one of the most sought-after jobs as it offers individuals not only handsome salary packages but also immense growth opportunities. The State Bank of India rules out forms through notifications for a competitive exam every year to select candidates for the probationary officer post. Candidates wishing to apply for the same have to go through a three-stage exam after which they are selected for the post. The exam is competitive and challenging which is why individuals are advised to carefully study the syllabus and practice by solving as many mock tests as they can. If you’re wondering whether you are eligible for the exam or not, we recommend you go check the oliveboard. The probationary officer exam is conducted once every year and includes 3 stages as mentioned above, the stages being the prelims, the mains, and the interview with the group discussion.
The preliminary exam is the first exam that is conducted online. It includes English language numerical ability and reasoning ability in its curriculum. It comprises 100 questions for one mark each for one hour. Candidates must qualify for the next round to appear for the main exam which is decided after their prelim score. The cut-off for each section in the prelim is decided by the State Bank of India depending upon several factors. The main exam is more or less like the preliminary exam with a little advancement in the questions and some additional topics such as data interpretation and analysis. After qualifying the prelim and the main the candidates are eligible for the interview after which they are eventually selected for the post of the probation officer at the State Bank of India.
The candidates will train as probationary officers for two years. After two years, these candidates are eligible for a promotion as the manager, deputy manager, etc. They also have a salary increment every year. The position holds a lot of opportunities, though it might be draining for some individuals to maintain a work-life balance. As individuals get promoted they are burdened with massive workloads and have to juggle between multiple tasks. If you are not someone who would be willing to work under pressure, for long working hours, applying for this exam might not be the best decision for you. This article will talk about things that candidates must keep in mind to avoid any inconvenience while their preparation and examination of the probationary officer.
- Not reading the instructions: Candidates should make sure daddy read the manual and the instructions entailing the eligibility criteria before they apply for the exam to avoid any errors during the exam. They should make sure the documents they upload are up to date. While filling out the form they should make sure that the information (details) they enter is accurate and it matches the documents. Candidates are advised to keep a record of the documentation such as the login ID and password that they used to access the portal to avoid missing any important notifications and to receive important details and documents such as the Hall ticket.
- Being unaware of the syllabus: Individuals who are still appearing for the exam should bear in mind the syllabus of the exam and plan accordingly. They should practice every individual section, solve as many practice sums as they can. As the exam is very competitive, getting a good score on each section is of immense importance. So be it the prelim what are the main exam individuals should be aware of the marking system and the curriculum so they can avoid any surprises during the exam. Practising the syllabus will help the candidates identify the weaknesses which eventually they can walk on with perseverance and dedication.
- Not giving enough mock tests: Candidates have a lot of access to a lot of mock tests for the probationary officer exam. These mock tests help the candidates to be accustomed to the paper pattern and also the duration of the exam. Candidates are advised to give as many more papers as they can to prepare them and help them identify areas where they need to work on. These mock papers will lay the foundation for the main examination and candidates will be more confident while appearing for them. Individuals should also bear in mind, to take the mock exam at the specified duration and time the same. This will help them with time management, which is a very crucial ability that one must possess if he is to excel at the SBI PO exam.
- Being anxious or stressed before the exam/ exam preparation: A healthy sustainable and attainable goal should be set by the candidates. Candidates should not overwork themselves and plan unachievable goals for themselves. This might overwhelm them and they might get disheartened by failure to achieve the same. Candidates must make sure that they take care of themselves, not work themselves for longer durations as it will cause more harm than good. They must take some time off of studying and relish a book or simply take a nap. A healthy lifestyle, hard work, dedication, and a good schedule are the key to cracking the exam. Planning ahead of time, booking their slot for the exam, keeping the syllabus at your hand before you appear for the exam are the few mandatory steps an individual should take.
The probationary officer post offers good career prospects and holds a good future for the candidates that are eventually selected for the post. The position has a lot of perks to offer, including medical insurance coverage, home allowance, travel allowance, etc. The exam is rather cutthroat as the vacancy of the candidates applying has decreased over the years. Candidates appearing for the exam should make sure they are ready for the career path this post has to offer, the opportunities it holds in the banking sector. Only after careful consideration of the job description, the working prospects should they appear for the exam. We wish the candidates appearing for the exam all the very best
