Need career advice: Cancelled my UPSC plan and decided to prepare for RBI Grade B.
I'm 21F (turning 22 this August) and recently graduated with a B.Tech in CSE (AI & ML).
For years, my plan was to prepare for UPSC. I had even convinced my parents that I'd take a gap year after graduation solely for UPSC preparation. They've always supported that dream because it's what I wanted for a long time.
However, after seeing this year's UPSC paper and the increasing unpredictability and complexity of the exam, I took a step back and seriously reconsidered my career options. After a lot of research, RBI Grade B seems like a much better fit for me in terms of the work profile, work-life balance, and my interests.
The problem is that my parents are extremely disappointed. Since I had been talking about UPSC for years, they find it hard to accept this sudden change and are still trying to convince me to prepare for UPSC instead.
I'm determined to prepare for RBI Grade B, but another concern is the uncertainty around the exam itself. The notification isn't regular, vacancies are limited, and there's always the fear that the recruitment may get delayed or not happen in a particular year.
So I started looking at backup options like SEBI Grade A, NABARD Grade A, IFSCA Grade A, etc. But then I realized that even these recruitments are irregular.
The only relatively stable backups I can think of are SBI PO and IBPS PO. My thought process is that if I don't get RBI immediately but manage to get into SBI/IBPS, I can continue preparing for RBI Grade B while working.
Another reason I'm overthinking this is that I don't really have the luxury of spending years on trial and error. My parents have made it clear that they expect me to be financially settled by the time I'm around 25–26. Otherwise, they'll start pushing seriously for marriage. I don't know how serious they are about that, but it's something that's constantly at the back of my mind. Because of that, I feel like I have to make the right career decision now instead of taking unnecessary risks.
I'm feeling quite confused about whether this is the right approach.
If you were in my position, what would you do?
- Is RBI Grade B worth taking a gap year for?
- Are SBI PO/IBPS PO good backup options if RBI is the end goal?
- Are there any other career paths or exams I should seriously consider?
- If you've switched from UPSC to regulatory body exams (or vice versa), how did you make that decision?
I'd really appreciate advice from people who have gone through a similar situation or are preparing for these exams. I'm looking for practical suggestions rather than reassurance. Thanks in advance!