Last Minute IBPS Clerks & POs Interview Preparation Tips

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Friends, hope you've already completed reading the last year's Interview Experiences of IBPS Clerks , POs and interview study material posted by Gr8AmbitionZ and some other sources. So I am not going to talk about those things anymore. Lets talk about a few informal things about your IBPS Clerks and POs interview preparation. Lets start with the check list.

Checklist (the items you should carry to your IBPS Clerks / POs Interview) : Required Documents, Pen, Handkerchief, Small water bottle, detailed address of the Interview venue, a simple smile on your face. 

Study Materials : When I was attending my first bank interview at Bank of Maharashtra (lucky me... there is no IBPS at that time :P ), I was completely tensed. Gathered each and every book which has the title "Banking" on it and started preparing them. Even on the day of my interview, I woke up at 4 AM and started mugging up. Then my father asked, "Beta, are you going to attend the interview of RBI governor ???". I just gave him a dumb look. To my surprise, in interview they asked me only 3 banking related questions... all the remaining questions are of general issues (about my background, my future plans, why banking etc etc..). I was sweating, shivering...  tried to give suitable answers to all the questions. But what I observed was, "I was stammering while searching for suitable English words to convince them with my answers. Then I felt "I would have performed better if I spent a little time on my body language and speaking skills, instead of wasting too much time on mugging up those materials". Give it a try. 

To Do List : One day before the Interview

• Make convincing answers for the questions like "Tell us about yourself, Aren't you over qualified for this clerical job ?".
• Practice your answers in front of a mirror. Observe how you are communicating, how you are changing your facial expressions while you are lying (or making some serious statements). Try to improve them. 
• Check whether you have all the required documents are not. Put them in a file / plastic cover so that it will be easier for you to carry.
• Check where the interview venue is. Its not enough if you know the area. You should know the exact location of the interview and approx time to reach the venue from your home. 
•  Lay out your interview outfit the night before. Get a good night's sleep.

To Do List : At the morning of the interview

• Try to wake up a little early than usual.
• Breakfast : Don't skip Breakfast. Trust me, you cant be active if you skip the breakfast. You can't smile if you are not active. You can't make a good impression if you can't smile. So, don't skip breakfast. Eat whatever you like. But don't eat oily and spicy food.
• Don't read anything except that day's news paper. No need to mugup every word and sentence in the news paper. Just have a quick glance at the headlines in the main addition. Interviewers tend to ask this question very frequently if they are running out of new questions to ask. 
• Try to be there at the interview venue 30 minutes before the specified time.

To Do List : After Reaching the Venue

• Feel free to use the restroom. 
• Listen to music in mobile, talk to your fellow aspirants. But don't discuss about the "Expected questions". That fellow may tell you something about the "current korean currency rate in pakistan". You will immediately switch to "I don't know anything zone". A simple enquiry about the pattern of the interview is ok (if that fellow already completed his / her interview), but don't bang your head if you don't know answers to any of those questions. After all, the panel is not gonna ask you the same questions.
• Dispose of all negative thoughts and feelings that are circulating in your head. 
• Take a few moments to inhale and exhale for a couple of minutes, maximize deep breaths or close your eyes in prayer to calm your nerves. This controlled breathing pattern puts you in control of the most important part of the interview, yourself.
• Be gentle with the certificate verification panel. Talk to them with smile. This not only makes you feel comfortable but also helps you in maintaining the smile during the interview. 
• Sip some water and clear your throat, so that you’re not left feeling dehydrated and it will help you to talk clearly. Fear can sometimes sap your energy to the point of exhaustion where it limits professional performance. Drinking water helps you to rebuild your mental and physical strength.

Language : Most of the times the clerical interviews will be held in local language only. Most of the panel members start the interviews in English and latter switches to local language. Keep one thing in mind, you have to respond in the same language in which the interviewer asks you questions. Ofcourse, you may be very fluent in English and want to show it to them. But the problem here is, they may think that you are showing your attitude. And at the same time, don't answer in local language if they ask  questions in English. Talk slowly. It not only helps you to convey your answers in a clear manner but it also helps you to get rid of anxiety and nervousness.

Dealing with Nervousness : One of the reasons that some people get really nervous in interviews is that you feel like you’re being judged … and worse, judged by someone who has the power to give you what you really want (a bank job obviously) and who may or may not deign to give it to you. Now lets see the other side of the coin. You are not the ONLY person who are being interviewed. The panel members don't even know your name till they start interviewing you and obviously they won't even remember you after those 7 minutes of interview.

And most important thing is, they are also human beings like you, not some robots those have no feelings. They too ate idly / dosa at the early morning of the day and rushed to the interview hall in the same way you did. And who knows ? the interviewers are probably just as nervous as you are :P  Finally what I am trying to say is, they are not going to scan your brain and realize that you don't know anything. According to them, you are just the person, whom they see during those 7 to 10 minutes. Try to give your best out of you.

Final Words : Stay Cool. Relax. The interviewers will be very friendly and it will be like a normal chit chat. Remember guys, you are going for an interview... not for an Interrogation. Do well. Waiting for the good news.. Cheers :)

Krishna Reddy

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