Have you ever wondered how some candidates seem to clear one tough government exam after another, almost as if they’ve discovered a secret formula? Meet Dhaval Pandey, an Electronics & Communication engineer who first became an SBI Probationary Officer and then turned his sights on regulatory bodies—finally achieving success in the SIDBI Grade A exam. In a recent chat with ixamBee, Dhaval opened up about his journey, the strategies he used, and the mindset that kept him going.
From SBI to Regulatory Aspirations
Dhaval’s story begins at State Bank of India, where he landed the coveted PO role with an All‑India Rank of 10. “SBI offered both the hygiene factors and the motivational factors,” he explains, referencing Maslow’s motivation theory. In other words, the job gave him security and recognition—but Dhaval craved growth and fresh challenges. So he asked himself, Why stop at banking when you could aim for regulatory bodies? That simple question sparked a whirlwind of new exam preparations.
The Exam Marathon: A Brief Background
Since leaving SBI, Dhaval has taken the plunge into a variety of exams:
- ECGC PO (awaiting interview)
- NHB Assistant (cleared, though interview dates clashed)
- NICL AO (final stage cleared)
- RBI Grade B (Phase I and II)
- …and finally, SIDBI Grade A, which he cracked most recently.
Impressive, isn’t it? Yet, he doesn’t see it as juggling too many cookers on the stove. He treats each exam as part of an overlapping ecosystem of preparation.
Study Smart: Leveraging Overlapping Syllabi
Dhaval’s secret sauce is simple: focus on the common ingredients first, then add the special spices. He splits his study time roughly 50:50:
“Half my hours go into English, Reasoning and General Awareness—because nearly every exam asks for those. The other half I dedicate to Quantitative Aptitude, Computer Knowledge and the specialist topics like Finance Law for SIDBI or IBPS SO.”
This way, revising current affairs once serves both RBI and SIDBI, and a single mock test can sharpen skills for multiple papers. He compares preparing for tough banking‑level questions to a CAT warm‑up:
“If you’ve tackled CAT‑level puzzles, an RBI prelim often feels like cakewalk. It’s about setting your sights high: aim for the hardest, and the rest becomes easier.”
Conquering the Descriptive Section
This year, SIDBI Grade A introduced a descriptive writing section—just like RBI Grade B’s Phase II. Dhaval relied on a concise topic list from I Exam B:
- Learn the themes: financial inclusion, rural development, electric vehicles, etc.
- Frame your answer: Introduction → Key points/facts/schemes → Conclusion.
- Type regularly: “I practised blind typing so I could spot grammatical slips on the go.”
He recalls one mock essay on financial inclusion where he cited the Rangan Committee, listed relevant RBI schemes and concluded with the latest SIDBI initiatives. “Structure matters more than word count,” he insists. “Make each sentence pull its weight.”
The Non-Negotiable Habit: Mocks, Mocks, Mocks
You’ll hear this over and over, and for good reason. Dhaval treats mock tests like morning exercise:
- Weekend ritual: One full‑length mock in the morning, then a deserved break.
- Immediate review: “Analyse every wrong answer—understand why you erred, then move on.”
He warns that even a two‑week break can throw off your speed and accuracy. “It takes 10–15 days to get back in practice,” he says. “Better to sacrifice a few weekend outings than lose your edge.”
Interview Prep: Be Yourself, Be Ready
When Dhaval sat for the SIDBI interview, he faced a blend of technical and HR questions:
“They asked why I left SBI, what I learned there, and why SIDBI appeals to me. A few meta‑questions too: ‘How do you handle challenges?’ or ‘Where do you see yourself in five years?’”
He credits ixamBee’s mock interviews for fine‑tuning his answers. “They pointed out small stumbles, helped me polish my profile narration, and boosted my confidence.”
Dhaval’s Three Golden Rules
- Aim High
Don’t let seat counts intimidate you. “If everyone says only 300 seats exist, set your target rank at 1 or 2.” - Stay Consistent
Daily drills in core sections build unshakeable foundations. No shortcuts. - Choose Concise, Accurate Content
Quality matters. “With ixamBee’s concise videos and reliable cut‑off analyses, I could cover more in less time—50 % faster.”
Dhaval Pandey’s journey proves that with the right mindset, a smart overlap‑based strategy and unwavering mock‑test discipline, you too can transform daunting exams into stepping‑stones toward your dream career. So pick your target, map out your study plan, and remember: if Dhaval can do it, why not you?
Best of luck, future changemakers—may your preparation be as inspired as your ambitions!
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