Career transitions are never easy, especially when you’re already settled in a stable and well-paying job. Yet, some decisions are driven by purpose, priorities, and long-term vision. This is the story of Ashutosh Shukla, who made a bold shift from engineering to banking and cracked the exam in his very first attempt within just six months of preparation.
Success Story of Ashutosh Shukla
Ashutosh completed his B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from NIT Silchar (Assam) and was working as a senior engineer at Larsen & Toubro Ltd. He was also pursuing his M.Tech from the National Institute of Technology Trichy, sponsored by his company. Despite a stable career path, he chose to step into the competitive world of banking exams for personal and professional reasons.
Q1. Can you tell us about your educational and professional background?
Ashutosh completed his B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Silchar, and was working as a senior engineer at Larsen & Toubro Ltd. He was also pursuing his M.Tech from the National Institute of Technology Trichy, sponsored by his company. Despite a stable career, he decided to explore opportunities in the banking sector.
Q2. What motivated you to switch from engineering to banking?
Ashutosh decided to switch sectors due to personal reasons and long-term life planning. Since his fiancée was working as a probationary officer in Punjab National Bank, he wanted to build his career in the same field. This motivated him to step out of his comfort zone and prepare seriously for banking exams.
Q3. When did you start preparing for banking exams?
He began his preparation in August 2020 when his M.Tech semester shifted online due to the pandemic. This was his first serious attempt, and although he narrowly missed clearing the State Bank of India PO and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection PO prelims by small margins, he did not give up. With better analysis and strategy, he cleared the exam within six months.
Q4. What was your strategy for quantitative aptitude?
Being from an engineering background, Quant was his strong area. He listed the complete syllabus topic-wise and covered each topic systematically while maintaining short notes for formulas and tricks. Regular mock practice helped him improve speed and accuracy.
Q5. How did you prepare for reasoning?
For reasoning, he focused mainly on practicing different types of puzzles and miscellaneous questions. He relied heavily on mock tests to understand patterns and improve his approach. Continuous practice and post-mock analysis strengthened this section.
Q6. How did you approach the English section?
He prepared grammar and reading comprehension separately to build clarity in basics. Reading editorials daily helped improve vocabulary and comprehension skills. Sectional mock tests were useful in tracking progress and improving performance.
Q7. How did you manage general awareness?
Initially, he underestimated GA but later realized its importance in overall scoring. He focused on covering the last four months of current affairs thoroughly and practiced daily quizzes. Consistent revision played a key role in improving his GA performance.
Q8. What was your preparation strategy for the computer section?
He covered fundamental computer concepts and practiced related questions through mock tests. Since it is a scoring section, he ensured regular revision and quiz practice. This helped him gain confidence in this part of the exam.
Q9. How important were mock tests in your preparation?
Mock tests formed the backbone of his preparation strategy. He not only attempted full-length and sectional mocks but also carefully analyzed each test to identify weak areas. According to him, mock analysis is more important than simply attempting tests.
Q10. What advice would you like to give to banking aspirants?
He believes that consistent practice is the key to success in banking exams. Aspirants should identify weak areas through mock tests and work on them regularly. Following one reliable source and maintaining discipline can significantly improve chances of success.
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Hi, I’m Tripti, a senior content writer at Oliveboard, where I manage blog content along with community engagement across platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. With 3+ years of experience in content and SEO optimization related to banking exams, I have led content for popular exams like SSC, banking, railway, and state exams.