SSC CGL or banking jobs, what’s better for women? This question is asked by many female candidates who want to prepare for govt job exams. Are you wondering which of these jobs are better for women candidates? CGL and banking are two very different and competitive career paths but confusing for many. Making the right career choice is crucial for female candidates as they put a higher priority on the work-life balance.
I know female candidates who are serving in both positions and although both jobs offer security and salaries I feel they both have slightly different sets of challenges. Let’s explore.
SSC CGL vs Banking Jobs Comparison
When comparing SSC CGL and Banking Jobs, I considered several key factors These things can significantly influence your career choice and satisfaction. Let’s examine each:
| Aspect | SSC CGL | Banking Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Job Security | Very high; it’s proper government job | High in PSU; not in private banks |
| Salary and Benefits | Fixed; regular increments; pension benefits | Mostly urban and semi-urban locations (esp for Pvt banks); frequent transfers in govt banks |
| Work-life Balance | Generally better; fixed working hours | Can be challenging, especially in private banks; may involve longer hours |
| Career Growth | Promotions often after serving many years | Faster growth potential, especially if you’re ambitious |
| Job Locations | Pan-India postings; transfers possible | Mostly urban and semi-urban locations (esp for pvt banks); frequent transfers in govt banks |
| Work Environment | Less pressure | Fast-paced; can be high-pressure, especially in private banks |
This comparison highlights the pros and cons of both SSC CGL and Banking jobs. Now let me a deep dive into the actual life style of two women candidates.
Story of 2 Women Candidates
SSC CGL job experience in detail
SSC CGL (or Staff Selection Commission Combined Graduate Level) is a national-level exam conducted by SSC for various Group B and C posts for government depts and ministries. It offers a wide range of positions like Assistant Accounts Officer, Assistant Section Officer, and Assistant in various ministries.
As you might know, many of these posts are office-based posts. So you don’t have to work in the field which is exactly what most women job seekers prefer. However, they are highly sought after – so you need a higher ranking in exams. Not to mention many job profiles may require you to work outside of your home state – though home state is possible for higher rankers. I know many women who got jobs through CGL and enjoy their work-life balance. Even though men may choose jobs like Audit where they are needed to move away from their base office for better pay.
Overall, I feel SSC CGL gives you a good opportunity to choose your station and stay put there without many transfers. Although transfers do happen – I know someone who was posted in Tamil Nadu from Delhi as a punishment posting. But overall, job satisfaction is quite high.
Cons of CGL jobs
However, many people have left CGL jobs because they feel stuck in a routine. They couldn’t come to terms with having a structured life. So it’s critical to understand what you want.
Banking job experience for women in detail
Banking jobs in India are broadly categorized into two sectors:
- Public Sector Banks:
- Government-owned banks like SBI, PNB, and BOB offer positions such as Probationary Officers, Clerks, and Specialist Officers.
- Private Sector Banks:
- Banks like HDFC, ICICI, and Axis offer roles including Relationship Managers, Credit Analysts, and Branch Managers.
One woman I know chose to join the Govt Bank as an Officer. Banking not only offers good salary perks, but promotion opportunities are also abundant. But it requires you to learn quickly – especially leadership skills and people-to-people skills. Unfortunately, these skills aren’t taught in schools or colleges. So the woman who joined the bank rose through the ranks and is currently earning well.
Cons of banking jobs
However, these rapid job promotions in banking come at a cost – transfers. Some years she stays with family and sometimes she gets to live alone (which isn’t easy). So I think how you want to take your career is entirely up to you. Joining a bank as a clerk is also attractive as transfers are less frequent, although they do happen.
Conclusion
Ultimately, govt jobs are very scarce and tens of lakhs of students compete for them. Yet, choosing a career that you won’t regret for the rest of your life is critical. SSC CGL offers better job security and predictability in your day-to-day life, but it doesn’t offer better growth prospects (if you’ve got a competitive streak in you). Whereas banking offers better growth though life can get pretty tough too. In any case, if you’re not properly balancing work-life then you can feel frustrated even if you have the desired job profile. Ultimately, your career choice should be decided by your innate tendency and personality. So what are you choosing – write in the comment box.
