How is the life of an IBPS RRB clerk?-Advantages & Disadvantages!

Are you confused about choosing a career as a clerk in RRB? Just curious to know the pros and cons of the job to make a choice? If any of these questions are ringing in your mind, this article is for you! Today, we will be discussing the benefits and drawbacks of being an RRB Clerk.

How is life of IBPS RRB Clerk?

The IBPS RRB Office Assistant is a management novice or a trainee job. After clearing the Exam, you will be on a probation period of 2 years. You will have to go through this coaching phase. After the completion of the probation period, you, as RRB Office Assistant will get promoted to the Assistant Manager of the Gramin Bank.

Here are some of the most essential tasks you will have to take care of:

The multiple responsibilities you will have to face as IBPS Clerk are as follows:

• Verification of multiple documents and proofs submitted by the customers
• Single Window Operation
• Passbook, Demand Drafts (DDs), bank accounts for the customers, cash receipts, etc.
• Resolving the various issues of the customers
• Passbook update
• Guiding customers relating to various banking activities
• Attending treasury works
• Managing the cash deposits and withdrawals

Now before delving straight into the pros and cons of this post, let’s take a look at the RRB Exam pattern to know what it takes to compete for the Exam!

You may also like to read: Why does IBPS Clerk get more stress than IBPS RRB Office Assistant?

IBPS RRB Office Assistant Exam Pattern (Clerk)

IBPS RRB 2021 Office Assistant (Clerk) Exam is conducted in 2 different phases which are given below:

Exam rounds for IBPS RRB Office Assistant (Clerk):

• Preliminary Exam

• Mains Exam

IBPS RRB Clerk Prelims Exam Pattern

A composite time of 45 minutes will be provided to you to complete two sections:

1. Reasoning
2. Numerical Ability

You need to clear the cut-off of each section, which will be decided by IBPS, depending on the level of difficulty of the paper.

Serial No.	Section Name	Medium of Exam	No. of Questions	Minimum Marks	Duration
1.	Reasoning	English/Hindi	40	40	A composite time of 45 mins
2.	Numerical Ability	English/Hindi	40	40
	Total		80	80

IBPS RRB Clerk Mains Exam Pattern 2021

Given below is the IBPS RRB Clerk or Office Assistant Mains Exam Pattern:

S. No.	Section	Question	Marks
1	Reasoning Paper	40	50
2	General Awareness Paper	40	40
3	Numerical Ability Paper	40	50
4	English Language / Hindi Language	40	40
5	Computer Knowledge Paper	40	20
Total	200	200

Note: You will have to face no interview for IBPS RRB 2021 Office Assistant exam 2021. The final selection will be based on marks obtained by you in the mains exam of RRB Clerk 2021. Plus, 1/4th marks will be deducted for every wrong answer attempted by you. So be careful while attempting the questions. Attempt the questions that are easy and you are sure of.

Advantages & Disadvantages of being an RRB Clerk

The advantages and disadvantages of an RRB Clerk job are relative. For instance, low work pressure might be desirable for some employees, but not so desirable for those who want to succeed by proving their mettle.

Here are some major advantages and disadvantages of working in an RRB as a Clerk:

Advantages of working in an RRB as a Clerk

1.    Job Satisfaction

Most of the customers of Regional Rural Banks earn their livelihood as farmers and workers, involved in the Agrarian economy. They require a bank account for various purposes, such as receiving MNREGA Wages, Government grants, and to purchase products for agricultural purposes, like, tractors, machinery, etc.) or start a new business. The employees of RRB (Regional Rural Banks) help these people by providing them loans, assist them in agricultural finance and other necessary facilities. Therefore, they help in the development of rural or backward areas. By working and interact with rural people the employees get a lot of experience, which could prove to be really helpful for any related work they want to pursue in the future.

They get job satisfaction through various ways like:

• Interaction with the rural populace

In addition, RRB Employees also get the chance of attending workshops or training conducted by the Government to learn more about farming and breeding techniques, optimal usage of water resources, and much more. This helps the officers to discover ways in which they can reach people easily, communicate effectively with the rural populace, and make a channel to engage them with the banks to get the necessary finances for their future activities.

• NGOs & seminars

Some officers also join Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), attend seminars, and other events to gain an edge over other employees to grow in their careers.

• Posting in home town

RRB requires you to know the local language of the place you will be posted to. Therefore, you have a high chance of getting posted in your own home state.

2. Job security

An RRB Clerical Job is less stressful and involves less work pressure due to limited workload when compared to clerical jobs in commercial banks. The bank timings are mostly fixed. Therefore, you can get a good amount of time to spend with your family. In addition, RRBs also offer great job security like private sector banks.

3.    Less expense

As you know, unlike Metro Cities, the rural towns or areas are less expensive, and therefore are much cheaper to live in. This will make you spend less money and save more.

Read, and Know: 5 Tricks to Beat RRB Clerk Exam-Prepare your strategy today!

Disadvantages of working in an RRB

1.    Limited scope of work

As we have discussed above, RRB Clerk has limited work. Apart from their routine work, their work mostly includes:

• Interacting with the rural populace
• Helping them open bank accounts
• Providing them loans
• Assisting in agricultural financing

2.    Limited growth options

The main purpose of RRBs and is to help provide credit and banking facilities to the rural populace, like farmers, entrepreneurs, and rural co-operative societies. RRBs have limited options in the products and services they offer compared to commercial banks. Therefore, as the scope of work for RRB Clerks is relatively less, many clerks get experience and then give CAIIB and JAIIB Exams to join other PSUs to explore greater career options.

Attempt a Free Mock Test & Test Your Preparations Here!

3.    Boring job

Many times, an IBPS RRB Clerk gets posted in an urban or most probably a rural branch, where you may find the minimal scope of variety in the tasks. A rural bank mostly caters to the demands of a specific type of customer base. It offers facilities or schemes useful for the rural population. Hence, you may be posted in remote villages and your life may get boring. Then, you may also find it hard in getting accommodation. Promotional avenues are less, the work gets monotonous, with no authority.

Conclusion

The growth at RRB’s is not even close to what it is in commercial public sector banks. An RRB Clerk gets limited or no access to proper training or courses. An RRB Clerk can only rise up to Scale III or IV (Chief Manager) in most RRBs and the senior posts are mostly occupied by the officers from sponsoring banks. Growth is mostly related to the factors such as seniority and influence.