How to Become a Probationary Officer

About Probationary Officer

A Probationary Officer is the someone who is appointed for handling the overall banking management of a bank or company associated with the banking sector. They are the entry-level employees who are promoted to the posts of Assistant Managers of Scale 1 of the bank after the completion of the probation or training period which is of minimum 2 years duration. In the banking field, they are also referred to as Junior Management Grade-1 (JMG-Scale 1). Probationary Officer is responsible for various banking activities of different sections including finance, billing, accounting, investment, marketing, etc. Handling transactions of the customers is one of the major functions of these officers. They have the authority to pass cheques, issue checkbooks, manage cash, etc. These officers also work in companies that focus mainly on financial and accounting matters.

So, if you have an interest in the banking sector and if you think you have the capabilities to take up financial and account related responsibilities, then this can be a job that you can opt for. The post can be acquired by clearing the designated banking entrance exams structured for the selection of Probationary Officer. The scope of employment opportunities is also good along with the professional growth of an individual.

Eligibility to become Probationary Officer

Candidates planning for Probationary Officer job must most importantly know the essentials and requirements of becoming a PO. To do so, they must first trigger the answer of how to become a Probationary Officer. Mentioned below are all the relevant details and information about becoming a Probationary Officer.

Subject Combination: Any Stream in Bachelor/ Master Level 

Exam: IBPS PO, SBI PO, Private Banks including ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Federal Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, IDFC Bank, IndusInd Bank, YES Bank, etc.

Nationality: Must be a citizen of India

Minimum Age: 20 - 21 Years

Maximum Age: 30 years for General Category and 3 to 15 years relaxation for reserved category candidates 

Eligibility:

• Candidates must have a passing certificate of bachelor or master degree from a reputed and recognized institution.
• A valid scorecard of the Probationary Officer entrance examination is compulsory to engage in the selection process conducted by different banks and companies.
• Candidates must not hold any kind of criminal or civil offence record and must not possess any kind of negative track record.
• Candidates awaiting graduation or masters result or any other ongoing exam can also apply for the entrance examination.

Types of Job Roles Probationary Officer

A Probationary Officer is usually introduced to all the work types of a bank when hired and hence have the benefit of enjoying a lot of diversity in their job profile. He/she is trained in different functions of a bank such as finances, accounting, customer relationship management, investment handling, billing. marketing etc. This not only gives a candidate practical knowledge but also helps in evaluating what the PO is most suited for, while on probation. The job profile of a Probationary Officer also includes task such as managing clerical tasks and dealing with matters such as discrepancies in accounts, cross-checking the cash balance, issuing chequebooks and ATM cards, demand drafts etc.

Employment Opportunities for Probationary Officer

Aspirants of this job profile must know the different sectors in which they can work in. Candidates should know about the different options and employment opportunities available in the market. A Probationary Officer is mainly hired in the banks but other companies that provide financial advise or support also hire POs. Mentioned below are sectors that offer employment opportunities for Probationary Officer aspirants.

Government Sector: Banks of Government Sector or Public Sector Banks hire Probationary Officers to manage the banking tasks. These POs are responsible for planning, marketing, budgeting and loan processing. The functional role of Probationary Officers remains the same in both public and private sector banks. The difference lies in the amount of security and benefits assured by these banks. Work tenure can also be a point of differentiation between the two sectors. Probationary Officers hired by Government Banks are for fixed time period be it on a contractual or regular basis. A breach in security in a government-owned bank might lead to cancellation of work permit and legal punishment as per the requirement of the case. Pension benefits are also enjoyed by the Probationary Officers of Public Sector Banks.

Private Sector: A Probationary Officer of Private Sector Bank functions in a similar way as the PO of a Public Sector Bank. He/she gets appointed to handle loan approval and processing, handling cheques, issuing passbooks, managing investments, marketing and budgeting. The amount of risk involved is comparatively low to that of a Government Bank. If a Probationary Officer is found guilty then there are probabilities that the punishment may be nominal. Pension benefits, on the other hand, may or may not be provided to the bankers of the Private Sector. This depends on the policies designated by the Private Bank which may vary from one bank to another. Other benefits like accommodation charges, travelling allowance, medical claims, number of leaves, etc. are also given to the Probationary Officer leniently in both private and public sector banks.

Employment Sector/Industry for Probationary Officer

A Probationary Officer comes across a number of responsibilities in her/ his career. There are a number of top recruiting companies for Probationary Officers in India. These companies hire candidates based on their entrance exam score, past performances and experience (if applicable). Some banks/companies may involve an internal selection process for the purpose of hiring the best candidates. These companies give candidates the best of the work role depending upon the companies’ requirement and candidate's performance. Candidates, on the other hand, must select the best bank as per their choice and interest and strive hard for acquiring a seat in that bank. Candidates can go through the list of few top recruiting companies for better opportunities. PO aspirants must also know that the list of these companies includes both banks and private setups. The list comprises of the following:

• State Bank of India
• Union Bank of India
• HDFC Bank Limited
• Allahabad Bank
• Bank of India
• Canara Bank
• Good Leaps Solution Private Limited
• Citicorp Services India Private Limited
• Astute Solutions Private Limited
• Vishnu Multistate Cooperative Society

Pay Scale/Salary of Probationary Officer

Salary of a Probationary Officer depends on the bank they have been hired in. Mentioned-below is the salary scale of the Probationary Officers: 

Note:The figures mentioned above are an approximate estimate and may vary from one organisation to the other organisation.

Books & Study Material to Become Probationary Officer

If you want to become a Probationary Officer then you must clear the entrance examination designed specifically for the selection and appointment of Probationary Officer in India. To successfully clear the examination one should study hard and be well prepared for the test. There are few books that will you with your preparation. These books will also help you in understanding the exam pattern and the syllabus that must be covered for the entrance test. Apart from these, study materials you must also be ready to grab any learning opportunity available. Let’s look at some of the best books and study materials for the preparation of Probationary Officer entrance examination.

• Magical Book on Quicker Mathematics by M Tyra
• Objective Mathematics for Competitive Examinations by Tarun Goyal
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S Agarwal
• Analytical Reasoning by M.K Pandey
• Arihant’s Fast Track Objective Arithmetic by Arihant Publication
• Comprehensive Guide to IBPS Bank PO/ MT Preliminary & Main Exam (7th Edition) by Disha Experts
• SBI - IBPS CWE - Bank PO Guide Preliminary Examination by Mr. Jitesh Vohra & Mr. Sunil Palia
• 50+ Bank PO and Clerk 2016-18 Previous Years' Memory Based Papers by Adda247 Publications.

Pros of becoming a Probationary Officer

• Being a Probationary Officer, you have the chance of working on new challenges and interesting task every day.
• The job improves your communication skills as you are involved in more interaction with the clients.
• As a bank PO, you are more secure and stable as compared to other jobs.
• Benefits are also attached to the job profile, as you will be liable to claim compensations and other corporate benefits fairly more than other firms and industries.
• The post will help you to gain knowledge of different kinds of works involved in the banking sector. More variety of works will be exposed to you which will help in your professional growth.
• The best part of a PO profile is the number of holidays as compared to any other private organisation. This, in a way, helps in maintaining the work-life balance.

Cons of becoming a Probationary Officer

• Be prepared to do a lot of paperwork on a daily basis.
• A small mistake in the paperwork can risk your job any moment landing you to be affected with legal proceedings.
• Until the probation ends, you will be responsible for a lot of work and duties that might not even be related to your designation.
• The job requires interaction with a number of people every day. This can be a pain in multiple situations, especially while dealing with stubborn clients who will just not understand the bank policies.
• Once you are aware of all the kinds of job roles in the banking sector, then your profile will eventually turn out to be less creative and boring.