Interview is the last and a very important phase in IBPS PO Recruitment as only 1 out of every 3 candidate is selected in the process. And as IBPS PO Phase III of Personal Interview (PI) is going to be held very soon, it is very important that every candidate starts preparing for this phase in a very professional way. Yes, professional!! Because you must not take it casually.

How to crack the IBPS PO Interview – 10 Tips to crack IBPS PO Interview

Why is it that a brilliant candidate who could crack many banking exams as that of IBPS and SBI’s couldn’t get through the phase of Interview?

In Personal Interview, your attitude, confidence, fluency and, knowledge everything matters a lot. Yes, it is not just about the knowledge, more than that it is about your ability to deliver your knowledge and thoughts. You are expected to dress properly and carry yourself with confidence.

Introduction is the most perplexing part in Interviews and it the most important part as well. Many of you might face difficulties in framing a proper set of content that you should deliver while introducing yourself. Moreover, the interviewer might start asking questions from your introduction itself. Yes, the questions can be as simple as ‘What is your hometown famous for and in which district does it lies?’ or little tricky as ‘Who was the first CM of your state in independent India?’ The key is to be prepared to face anything challenge with calm and composure.

Nervousness gets in human nature in some difficult situations and that might happen during your personal interview too, but it is important that you tackle it without showing the obvious signs of panic. The right posture to stand, the way you talk, the right posture of sitting everything accounts for your personality that you’ll be judged upon.

There can be questions related to your educational background. This is the most common type after the introduction. If you are from commerce or related stream, there is a fair chance for you face questions related to banking and finance right away and if you are from any other stream, for example, technical or science you may face a question, ‘Why are you willing to pursue career in banking but not in your stream?’ These are some very general questions that you should be prepared to answer. And as demonetization is a hype nowadays in India, you may also encounter questions related to finance and demonetization.

Key Skil to Required to crack IBP PO Interview

1. Clarity of Thoughts
2. Confidence of your Knowledge
3. Honesty
4. Good Work Ethics
5. Seriousness about Job
6. Good Communication Skil

Physical Appearance

How you carry yourself, how immaculate your dressing up is, etc. portray your sincerity and sense of pre-planning. Here are a few things you need to keep in mind:

1. Be neat and clean (Clean shaved, trimmed hair clean and trimmed nail).
2. Nicely ironed formal shirt (a coat and tie, if possilble), trousers and polished shoes.
3. Neither you should stink nor should you use a perfume/deodorant that’s very strong.

Right Posture for the IBPS PO Interview

Body language is very important, especially so when it reflects your seriousness. here’s how you can maintain a pleasant body language:

1. Sit straight, slightly leaning to the front (it shows your attentiveness), with hands-on the table (in front of you) or on your lap.
2. Make eye contact and smile occasionally.
3. You can use your hands while explaining things, it makes your explanation more expressive.
4. You can sit cross-legged or a simple position, depends upon your comfort.

Etiquette to Crack IBPS PO Interview

Here are some tiny but significant details that you need to keep in mind right from the beginning and throughout your interview:

1. Ask permission to come in.
2. Shake hands with the panel (if they are in your reach), introducing yourself.
3. Ask permission to sit down.
4. Offer them a copy of your bio-data each and your certificates, if any.
5. Carry a pen and a few blank papers.

Initiate Conversation

Don’t wait for them to start, if they don’t ask anything within 5 seconds, you can start introducing yourself.

Some Tips for IBPS PO Interview

• Learn about the organisation and the position. Check out their website, use online corporate directories. You should track down all sorts of useful information, such as the organisations’s size, history, main products and services, the names of top executives and current news stories.
• Rehearse with mock interviews. And read interview experiences.
• Go through the current affairs for the last six months.
• Read out thoroughly the important and burning issues.
• You must be really careful and fully aware of what you are filling in your bio-data.  Yes, it is really very important as the interview panel usually start asking questions from your bio-data itself. So it will be really beneficial for you if you have all the general knowledge regarding what you are filling in your bio-data.
• Think well about your greatest strengths and weaknesses; your most significant work or school experiences, your future plans.
• You are most likely to also have an encounter with questions pertaining to the technical aspect of banking, so revise your subjects well as they expect you to be capable of answering questions related to the field of banking if you are an aspirant for the post of Probationary Officer.

IBPS PO Expected Interview Question with Answers

On the basis of the question asked in previous IBPS PO interviews, we are presenting here the important questions along with the suitable answers. You may expect the same questions in your interview, so prepare them carefully:

1. Que: Introduce / Describe yourself?
Ans: Your answer should include the following details:

•  Personal Information (Your Name, Parents’ Designation etc.)
•  Education (Your Degrees, College and City Name)
•  Work Experience (if any)
•  Additional qualification or achievements (if any)
•  Your hobby (you are advised to develop at least one hobby as it considered a good practice)

2. Que: Why do you Want to Join Banking Sector?
Ans: In our country Banking is considered as one of the fastest growing sectors. It can offer several career opportunities.
Note: Kindly avoid answering like “banking is your childhood dreams”, “job security”, “big salary” etc.

3. Que: Will you leave this job if you get a better Job opportunity?
Ans: This is a common question asked nowadays in bank interviews if you have higher educational qualifications. Your answer should be as follows:

I believe in living a stable lifestyle rather changing it for small monetary benefits. And I find banking career as a good growth opportunity, so I will not quit this job.

4. Que: How your high studies & qualification is going to help us?

Ans: Candidates appearing for IBPS Interviews are from different fields that don’t provide them any knowledge regarding banking and finances. You can answer like:

•  My technical knowledge and skill will help me handle customers from these sectors.
•  I have good professional skills that will help me in managing team work.
•  I have good communication skills that will me in offering confident customer services.

5. Que: What are your weakness/Strength?
Ans: My strength is that I can make solutions to the problem and situations as per the need. I can motivate myself for any work involved that I get involved with.

• My weakness is that I am habitual to complete my work by following proper rules and want to see others following the rules too. If anyone is not doing so, I may get irritated. But I promise I will make a solution to it soon.
• Note: Make sure, you won’t reveal any weakness that may result in a bad impression. It’s good if your weakness also gives a positive attitude towards your work.

6. Que: What qualities should one possess be a Bank officer? Do you think you have these qualities?
Ans: According to me a Banker should possess the following qualities:

•  Organized Mind
•  Good Communication Skills
•  Accuracy and Efficiency
•  Mathematical and Analytical Skills
•  Co-operative and Friendly Personality
•  Quick Learner
•  Leadership
•  Management
•  Alert and Awareness
•  Honesty and Integrity
• All these qualities are very important. And I positively feel that I have these qualities with me and in the near future, I will be developing these qualities at a good level.

7. Que: As a student of Science/Art/Commerce, why didn’t you go for higher studies?
Ans: In this case tell them the accurate reason you have.

8. Que: What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself five years from now? Ten years?
Ans: I plan things systematically. I don’t know that in which bank I will get placed, so at present, it’s tough to tell you the exact designation. But after 10 years, whatever position I will be having, you can see me learning something new.

9. Que: How do you Handle Pressure?
Ans: Show your level of handling pressure with an example you have faced in the past. Make sure you would be able to make a good impact on the interviewer.

10. Que: How you manage your work? Explain your management style?
Ans: I keep information regarding the status of work done by me and my subordinates on regular basis. I finish the assigned work within the allotted deadline.

11. Que: Why should we hire you?
Ans: If you hire me, I will be able to present my skills in front of you. I assure you that whatever goals our organization will set, I will complete them within the specified time.

Important Note: Kindly prepare topics related to your education background. Specially the “meaning and importance of the subject field in which you have possessed your degrees”.

For example: If you are from Economics’ filed, you might get questioned like “What is Economics and why it is important? Tell us about the factors affecting our Economy!”.

• These all were the questions that may be asked to examine your personality, character, skills etc.
•  You will also be asked questions regarding the current affairs, banking, and finance to test your knowledge and learning about the related field. Some important questions are shared below:

12. Que: What is CRR, SLR, Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Bank Rate, NPA, etc.?
Ans: Kindly read all the important banking terms.

13. Ques: What is Marketing, E-Commerce?
Ans: Marketing can be understood as the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.

14. Que: Tell me something about Mobile Banking & Net Banking.
Ans: Mobile banking is a service provided by a bank or other financial institution that allows its customers to conduct financial transactions remotely using a mobile device such as a mobile phone or tablet.

Net Banking is an electronic payment system that enables customers of a bank or other financial institution to conduct a range of financial transactions through the financial institution’s website.

15. Que: What is Indian Constitution?
Ans: Indian Constitution is the supreme law of India that lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles and the duties of citizens.

16. Que: Tell me something about Prime Minister Jan-Dhan Yojana?
Ans: Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is National Mission for Financial Inclusion to ensure access to financial services, namely, Banking/ Savings & Deposit Accounts, Remittance, Credit, Insurance, Pension in an affordable manner.

An Account can be opened in any bank branch or Business Correspondent (Bank Mitr) outlet. PMJDY accounts are being opened with Zero balance. However, if the account holder wishes to get cheque-book, he/she will have to fulfill minimum balance criteria.

Know the complete process by following the link – http://www.pmjdy.gov.in/scheme

17. Que: Explain Demonetization, its effects, and challenges faced by the Indian Economy?
Ans: Demonetization is the act of stripping a currency unit of its status as legal tender. But in simple terms demonetization means that Reserve Bank of India has withdrawn the old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes as an official mode of payment.

18. Que: What was the impact on India’s Growth Rate after Demonetization?
Ans: Because of Demonetization, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth forecast for the current fiscal year decreased to 6.9% from 7.4%, and lowered its 2017-18 projection to 7.7% from 8%.

19. Que: Do you know about Accounts?
Ans: Accounts can be understood as a record or statement of financial expenditure and receipts relating to a particular period or purpose.

20. Que: What is the procedure to Withdraw or encash Fix deposits (Daily banking activities)?
Ans: Withdraw Fix Deposit is also known as Breaking of Fixed Deposit. It is done when we urgently require funds or we get better investment opportunities elsewhere. You have to follow the following procedure:

 You should mention the account number where it should get credited and the Deposit Number.

 You have to fill the premature FD Breaking form available at the bank itself.

 You must attach an ID proof (PAN etc).

 Deposit the form in the bank.

Note: In the case of companies with a current account, company’s seal will be required along with signatures of partners.

You will not be able to get the same interest rate offered originally. You will be getting the interest rate according to the tenure your saved your FD in the bank.

21. Que: Tell us about Fintech companies!
Ans: Fintech companies are those companies that use new technology and innovation to leverage available resources in order to compete in the marketplace of traditional financial institutions and intermediaries in the delivery of financial services.

22. Que: Do you know about E-payment?
Ans: E-payment or Electronic Payment is a financial exchange that takes place online between buyers and sellers.

23. Que:  What does BREXIT mean?
Ans: It is a word that that has been used as a shorthand way of saying the UK leaving the EU – merging the words Britain and exit to get Brexit.

24. Que: You might have heard about US President Donald Trump’s Decision on banning 8 Muslim Countries Visas, creating a boundary against Mexico, Banning H1B1 and L1 Visas. According to you what would be the effects of such decisions?
Ans: Donald Trump has taken the decision keeping in view the safety and national security.

•  The order bars the entry of any refugee who is awaiting resettlement in the U.S.
•  The decision prohibits all Syrian refugees from entering the U.S. until further notice.
•  It bans the citizens of seven majority Muslim countries; Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen from entering the U.S. in any visa category.
•  Anyone with U.S. citizenship whether that person in natural-born or naturalized is not affected.

25. Que: What are the Pros and Cons of Indian Government’s decision to combine the Rail Budget and Economic Budget?
Ans: It will be favorable because:
There will be less wastage of time when a new policy is to be initiated and implemented. Keeping them separate resulted in a lot of drawbacks and hindrances.
There will be less of political pressure on the Railway budget and the centre will have the ultimate hold of the decision making.
The railways will be of this now and the same fund could now be used in better ways for development the conditions of Indian railways.
Unfavourable because:

•  A fall in the annual budget that will be something unusual for the railways and they might not react supportively to that.
•  After the merging, there will a complete end to any future chances of privatization.

26. Que: Surgical Attacks on Pakistan – was it a good move?
Ans: Surgical strikes was considered the best option to deal with the threat as the option of surgical strikes was taken in the wake of an increase in infiltration bids. Terrorists had begun gathering in large numbers along the LoC with the objective of crossing the border and targeting locations in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as other metros.

Candidates who are employed somewhere might encounter questions based on their current work profile. Members of the interview panel want to learn why you want to quit your current job to start your career as a Bank PO. Don’t use terms like Job Security, Work-Life Balance etc. while answering such questions.

These are some important questions which are frequently asked in IBPS PO Interview. Candidates preparing for Bank PO Recruitment exams should do research from the internet and prepare the answers to these questions well.