Same here.
Because of extreme pressure from senior management, constant targets and late‑night sittings. The work‑life balance is very poor.
1st, it's not a government job. 2nd, you lose personal life. 3rd, you have to work with people who have almost no knowledge. 4th, you get mistreated. 5th, you can't maintain self‑respect. 6th, there's no empathy. 7th, you can't take casual leave for personal reasons. 8th, you have no choice about when to leave the office at night. 9th, you have to behave like you're deaf and dumb. Will continue later...
It's a reality check: when the workload crosses reasonable limits, burnout is inevitable. Compared to the high‑pressure banking world, SSC offers a much calmer atmosphere with lower stress. A big plus is the fixed log‑off time – you might stay an extra half hour, but it rarely goes beyond that. Plus, you get influential roles in prestigious departments like MEA, ASO, and UPSC. I'm not trying to demotivate aspirants; I just want to highlight that these jobs give a rare mix of power and personal time.
My cousin comes home after 9:30 pm most days (joined in 2018). No work‑life balance, no time to workout, cook or socialize – but he's doing well financially. He bought a car and a house and even works from home after returning from the bank. He's seriously thinking about doing an MBA now. Even though I'm unemployed at the moment, I feel sorry for him. He looks like a typical middle‑aged uncle despite his young age, with grey hair and a pot belly.
Because they want more... only a very few leave due to work‑life balance.
After you start earning, you feel you should finally get some peace; otherwise the money just keeps flowing.
Right now, you don't have a job, so securing financial stability is the top priority. At this stage you're not thinking much about the future work environment; you just want a stable, good job. But once you get selected, start working and a fixed routine sets in, financial security loses its shine because you realise that if you work diligently and honestly, your job stays secure. Then peace of mind, work‑life balance and personal time start to matter. Along with job security, you now crave fulfillment, a healthy work environment and the freedom to live a balanced, meaningful life. When you notice work taking a toll on your mental and physical health and affecting relationships, you begin to question your choices. Then you face a tough decision: either accept it as part of the routine or walk away and look for opportunities that match your values and needs.
Many other jobs offer the same facilities but with far less work pressure.
Because you end up working in a different state without knowing the local language and receive zero training. The bank expects you to master everything – local language, banking knowledge, and hit all targets like deposits, loans, NPA, insurance, mutual funds, compliance, etc. Combined with a toxic workplace, favouritism and union politics, it eventually breaks you.
Bank PO jobs aren't that bad. It's just that a few people can't handle the pressure. There are many pros like good salary and benefits. I worked at the Central Bank of India, New Delhi, for about 10 months. Official timings were 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, but I usually left around 6–6:30 pm. The work was hectic, but I managed. Then I cleared RBI Grade B and left that job. In RBI the pressure is lower and I'm enjoying life.