The problem of deciding whether to take the PO and Clerk exams to join the banking sector in India is probably the most frequently encountered by aspirants to the banking sector. Both ways can open the doors to prestigious jobs in government and private banks; however, there are differences in regard to the level of complexity of exams, job profile, examination structure, and preparation procedures. Preparing for both these exams at once will make your options in terms of career many; however, this requires proper planning on your part.
It is imperative that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of preparing for both PO and Clerk exams.
Structured Bank Coaching Centre will help candidates prepare for these exams through syllabus management, increased speed, and strategy.
Should you apply for both PO and clerk exams? Pros, cons, and strategy
Read the following pointers to learn whether you should apply for both PO and clerk exams and the pros, cons, and strategy:
Understanding the core differences: PO vs. Clerk
PO and Clerical recruitment differ in terms of the selection pattern and difficulty level. PO recruitment includes a selection process comprising Prelims, Mains, Descriptive Paper, and Interviews/GD, where questions are moderately to complexly framed to secure low cut-off marks, while Clerical selection concludes with Mains (without Interview), where the questions are easy to moderate, requiring high speed from the candidates, giving rise to high cut-off marks. In terms of professional career, PO begins with the designation of Assistant Manager (Scale-I), doing administrative & managerial work along with fast career growth, but the clerical designation deals with front desk duties and customer service, where there is gradual growth into officers’ cadre through internal promotions (JAIIB and CAIIB).
The pros of applying for both PO and clerk exams
Preparing for both cadre exams simultaneously gives one many advantages that can greatly increase the chances of success of the candidate in selections.
- Similar Syllabus: Almost 80%-85% of the syllabus remains similar for the Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning Ability, English Language, and General Awareness for both PO and Clerk exams. Preparation for the PO exam also prepares you for the basics that will be tested in the Clerical Exam.
- Safety Net System: Some of the major banks, such as SBI, IBPS, and IBPS RRB, have different selection processes each year for PO and Clerk positions. Applying for both will give you two safety nets at once in one academic year.
- Direct Exposure to Actual Exams: Sitting for the Clerical Prelims is a great mock test for PO Prelims. This helps boost one’s confidence and develop proper time management under the pressure of a real exam.
- Financial Independence & Security: Obtaining a Clerical job gives one immediate financial independence and saves one from the trouble of having a gap year. One will be in the bank now and will be able to prepare for internal exams or even PO exams.
The cons and risks to consider
However, while preparing for both exams may appear to be an obvious move on the surface, there are some possible roadblocks that the applicants have to watch out for.
- Different Mindset and Speed Requirement: For Clerical exams, speed is of the essence since there are very high cut-off marks. In comparison, PO Mains requires one to think analytically and solve time-consuming questions with patience.
- Overload of Preparation: The examination cycle for both SBI PO, IBPS PO, SBI Clerk, and IBPS Clerk usually overlaps from September to February. Dealing with simultaneous Prelims and Mains examinations may result in exhaustion of a candidate.
- Ignorance of Personality Development: Candidates preparing thoroughly for Clerical speed tests will fail to give attention to personality development, knowledge about banking, and practice mock interviews.
Smart preparation strategy for Dual aspirants
Both examinations cannot be cracked independently, so a preparation method that is integrated in nature needs to be followed.
- Top-down Approach to Preparation: Always remember that your core preparation needs to be at the PO Mains standard. Once you know how to solve difficult Data Interpretation questions, Reasoning Puzzles, and Reading Comprehensions, then solving Clerical standard questions would become easy for you.
- Differentiate Between Speed Training and Conceptual Clarity: Allocate specific days to speed training for the Clerical Prelims section through sectional speed tests and shortcut methods of calculation.
- Clerical Mock Test Analysis: Do the mock tests for Clerical only to increase your speed, accuracy, and elimination methods. Do the mock tests for PO only to build up your stamina, question selection, and skipping techniques.
- General & Banking Awareness should be Consistent: General and Banking Awareness are required not just for Mains but also for the interview of PO. You should be consistent with general and banking awareness throughout the year and don’t keep it till after Prelims.
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Conclusion
Taking PO as well as Clerk examinations need not be an either-or situation. In fact, taking both these examinations will widen your choices; all that you need to do is be aware of the different patterns of the two exams and the speed that is required in these exams. As long as you create a strong base, which is common to both these exams, and pay extra attention to the individual demands of each examination, you can easily prepare for both these exams. With proper practice, analysis of mock tests, time management, and proper preparation methodology, there is no reason why you should feel stressed out about preparing for both these exams.
