Shailendra Singh's RBI Grade B Success Story: A Journey of Hope After 8 Long Years

Are you also preparing for a big exam like RBI Grade B? Do you sometimes feel tired or worried that it’s taking too long? If yes, then today we have a story for you that will feel like a warm hug. 

It’s the story of Shailendra Singh, a boy from a small village who took 8 years to reach his dream job. His journey teaches us that it’s okay to take time, and it’s okay to feel lost sometimes. What matters is that we don’t give up. Let’s read his beautiful story together.

Who is Shailendra Singh? 

Shailendra comes from a small village in Haryana. In his village, most boys dream of joining the Indian Army. It’s a matter of great pride. Shailendra also had the same dream in his heart. He wanted to wear the uniform and serve the country. But maybe God had a different plan for him. Life took him on another path, into the world of banking, and finally to the biggest bank of all, the Reserve Bank of India.

Let’s see what problems he faced at the very beginning.

The Long Road: Early Steps and Big Stumbles

Shailendra first appeared for the RBI Grade B exam in 2015. He tried for 1-2 months, but it was just a casual try. He could not clear the first stage, which is the Prelims exam.

In 2016, he was more serious. He worked hard and cleared the Prelims! But he hadn’t prepared well for the second stage, the Mains exam. So, he could not go for the interview. It felt like climbing one step but then slipping back.

In 2017, Shailendra was working in a bank. It was very hard to manage his job and studies together. Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time for everything? Shailendra felt the same way. He made a big decision. He left his job. But soon, he left another one too. For the next 6-7 months, he felt very lost and sad. It was the toughest time of his life, and he didn’t even appear for the exam that year. He had no job and no clear path ahead.

After that difficult phase, his friends helped him get back on his feet. In 2018, he started preparing from zero. This time, he studied with all his heart. He cleared Prelims. He cleared Mains. He reached the interview round! But in the interview, he got nervous and missed the final list by just 0.5 marks.

You would think that after reaching the interview, the next time would be easier. But something strange happened. For the next three attempts, Shailendra could not even clear the first stage, the Prelims. The exam pattern kept changing, and he felt stuck. It’s like being a great runner who keeps tripping right at the starting line.

After not clearing the Prelims in 2022, Shailendra felt very, very hopeless. He thought of quitting. He thought maybe this dream was not for him.

But then, he remembered he had one last attempt left. A final chance. He told himself, “Let me give it one more try. A last push. A final effort.” He decided not to give up, even when his heart was heavy. This decision to try one last time, with hope, was the real turning point for him.

Now here’s where Shailendra really showed what smart preparation looks like.

How He Studied: Simple and Smart Methods

Shailendra knew Prelims was his weak spot. So what did he do? He decided to face it directly. His simple plan was:

• Give Other Exams: He started giving exams like IBPS PO and SBI PO. This helped him practice the new question patterns and stay updated. It was like playing many friendly matches before the big final match.
• Make Your Own Notes: For General Awareness, he made his own notes every single day. This helps you remember better. 

“I always felt it’s better to make your own daily notes for General Awareness instead of reading monthly PDFs at the end.”

• Practice Daily: For Reasoning and Quant, he solved just one or two hard puzzles or DI sets every day. Consistency was his secret. Small steps every day make a big difference.

For Mains: Using His Strength

Shailendra was already good at Mains because of his years of hard work. This teaches us that no effort ever goes to waste. His simple tips for Mains are:

• Know Your Syllabus: He says you should have the syllabus printout and remember every topic. This helps you know what to study and what to ignore.
• Follow the Source: For Finance, he advices to go through the RBI website because all important questions often come directly from RBI reports and notifications.

• Limit Your Books: Don’t run behind hundreds of books or PDFs. Pick a few good sources and read them again and again. Revision is more important than reading new things.

But studying is one thing. How did he handle the final exam and the interview?

The Final Push: Exam Day and Interview

For his final attempt in 2023, Shailendra shares something very honest. He says, “To be honest, my 2023 attempt was not my best effort. But my old hard work helped me.” Because of some personal problems, he couldn’t study as hard as he wanted to. But all the knowledge he had gathered over the years was still with him. It was like a savings account of hard work, which he could use when he needed it most. He finally cleared Prelims, Mains, and got the interview call.

The Interview: Being Yourself

The interview is not just about knowledge; it’s about your personality. Shailendra’s advice is very simple:

• Know Your Story: Prepare every single detail about yourself, your education, your work, and your city. Most questions come from there.
• Watch Others: He suggests watching interviews of other successful candidates on YouTube. This helps you understand how to answer questions calmly and what kind of body language to have. It makes you feel less scared.
• Take Help: Shailendra gave mock interviews with EduTap. He says the experts there gave him great feedback and helped him feel much more confident before the real interview. It’s always good to practice with people who can guide you.

Of course, he did not do all of this alone. He had some wonderful people standing behind him.

The Power of Support: Family, Friends, and Mentors

In his toughest time, when he had left his job and felt completely lost, it was his friends who stood by him. They gave him emotional support and helped him get back up.

And throughout this 8-year-long journey, his mother was his rock. Her prayers and belief gave him the strength to keep going, year after year. Never forget the people who love you; they are your biggest superpower. Your family’s trust in you can help you cross the biggest oceans.

So, after this long and emotional journey, what are the final tips Shailendra wants to give you?

Final Tips from Shailendra

Here are his golden rules, in simple words:

• Revise Many Times: Reading a book once is not enough. The real magic happens when you revise it 4-5 times. This puts the information deep into your memory.
• Be Consistent, Not Intense: It is better to study for 4 hours every day than to study for 12 hours one day and then zero for the next three days. Small, daily efforts win the race.
• Trust the Process: Just like MS Dhoni says, focus on doing the right things every day. Don’t worry too much about the result. If your process is honest, the result will come.
• Make Your Own Strategy: Listen to everyone’s advice, but in the end, make a plan that works for you. You know your strengths and weaknesses best.

We hope Shailendra Singh’s story filled your heart with hope. Your journey is your own, and it’s beautiful. Keep working hard, be kind to yourself, and never, ever lose faith in your dreams.