Now, your behaviour and mental ability will get you top post in public sector bank

If you are looking to work in a Public Sector Bank, be prepared to undergo two psychometric tests, which are a part of the selection process.

The PSBs are taking these psychometric tests to ascertain that the aspirant would be able to head lenders reeling under bad loans.

This is a part of the three-stage selection process that includes background check and personal interviews, executives familiar with the matter told Economic Times.

There are nearly 50 candidates in the fray. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has engaged global management consulting firm Hay Group to shortlist managing director and CEOs for five PSBs including Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda, two senior executives told ET.

One of the executives, on the condition of anonymity, said the psychometric tests are to analyse the leadership qualities, situational judgment capability and overall personality traits.

Meanwhile, Hay Group and RBI refused to comment on the matter.

The psychometric test, which lasts around four hours, includes questions such as the biggest setback in the candidate's life and how he or she dealt with it.
"A group of five-six experts asks these questions, some are in-depth questions, the rest seek to ascertain the preference and style of an individual - whether you are impatient, risk averse and so on," one of the candidates who attended the session told the financial daily.

Another executive told ET that the idea was to have an objective third-party view before the candidates are tested on their sector -specific knowledge.
"I think this was the first time I listed my achievements and spoke about it for almost an hour," the candidate said.

Earlier this year, the government had given a nod for new norms for selection of MD & CEO for five PSBs, making way for appointment of private sector candidates on flexible salary packages.

Canara Bank, Bank of India and IDBI Bank are the other lenders in the list.

The government had relaxed eligibility criteria with regard to age and experience of applicants. The age limit was increased from 55 to 57 years and the mandatory board-level experience for the applicants was reduced to one year, from three years.

In 2014, a panel was set up to examine the selection process to the posts of CMDs and executive directors of PSBs for 2014-15.

ET reported that this was after the then Syndicate Bank chairman and managing director SK Jain was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly accepting bribes of Rs 50 lakh to enhance the credit limit of some companies.

The government had then cancelled the appointments of eight CMDs and 14 executive directors of state-run banks made by the previous Congress-led Indian government.

(Images: Reuters)