My situation

Two years ago, I graduated from a well-known private university in India with a BBA degree. I also received a campus placement at a startup, where I was working as a consultant in the insurance sector.

However, I hadn't even completed three months at my job when I was diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which was initially associated with a middle-ear infection. Over the next six months, I progressively lost my ability to hear.

That diagnosis completely changed my life. I had to resign from my job, and for quite some time I tried different treatments, including homeopathy and Ayurveda, hoping that my hearing would recover. Unfortunately, nothing worked.

Eventually, I had to undergo cochlear implant surgery. Even that wasn't straightforward — I had to go through four surgeries before the implantation was finally successful.

The entire process took roughly two years of my early 20s. It also put a significant financial burden on my family, and we now have a large loan to repay.

I'm currently 23, and I'm trying to figure out how to rebuild my career. I have a few options, but I'm genuinely struggling to decide which direction makes the most sense.

Option 1 — RBI Grade B

This is probably my dream option.

Pros:

• Very good salary and benefits
• Respectable and intellectually stimulating career
• The syllabus is closely related to my BBA/Finance background
• Good long-term career stability
• I believe I have the ability to crack it if I prepare seriously

Cons/concerns:

• Extremely competitive
• Relatively few vacancies
• I attempted RBI Grade B Prelims this year and scored 66.5, while the cutoff was around 108
• It may take multiple attempts to reach the required level
• I don't know if I can afford to spend several years preparing when my family already has a substantial loan to repay
• My priority is to become financially independent as soon as reasonably possible

I genuinely feel that I could eventually crack RBI Grade B, but I'm also aware that "I can crack it eventually" and "I can afford to spend several years trying" are two very different things.

Option 2 — IBPS/SBI PO or banking

Another possibility is entering banking through PO-level exams.

Pros:

• Relatively good salary
• Stable employment
• Faster route to financial independence compared with spending years preparing exclusively for RBI Grade B
• I already have some familiarity with the exam pattern

Cons/concerns:

• I attempted SBI PO Prelims this year, but it didn't go as well as I had expected
• I was also informed by IBPS that I was not eligible for the PO exam under the disability category I applied under, and my application was rejected
• From what I've read online, many people have very negative experiences with banking jobs
• I'm concerned about transfers and rural postings
• I don't particularly want a career where I could spend years being posted in rural areas

So I'm not sure whether banking is actually a good fit for me, even if I manage to clear the exam.

Option 3 — MBA + corporate career

Before my hearing loss, this was actually my original plan.

I wanted to gain some work experience and then pursue an MBA, ideally from a good business school. Many of my college batchmates are currently doing their MBAs.

But after everything that happened, my priorities have changed.

An MBA from a top institution would require a significant financial investment, and I would probably need another education loan. Considering the existing financial burden on my family, I'm hesitant to take on substantially more debt.

I'm also questioning whether corporate life is the right choice for me. I worry about job security and the fact that companies ultimately prioritize business performance and profits, so I'm not sure I want to take on a large loan for a degree that doesn't necessarily guarantee long-term stability.

Option 4 — Other government jobs (LIC AAO, IFSCA Grade A, NIACL AO, SSC CGL, etc.)

This is probably the option I'm considering as a middle ground between my first two choices.

There are several other government/regulatory-sector exams that I can potentially apply for, such as LIC AAO, IFSCA Grade A, NIACL AO, SSC CGL and similar examinations.

However, one important factor is that I'm not equally interested in all of these roles. My academic background and personal interests are much more aligned with Finance and Economics. I'm not particularly interested in areas such as taxation or insurance, so even though some of these jobs offer good stability and compensation, I'm unsure whether I would actually enjoy the work in the long term.

Pros:

• More exams means more opportunities instead of depending entirely on one exam
• Relatively stable and secure careers
• Many of these positions offer decent salaries and benefits
• Some roles, particularly in financial/regulatory organizations, are more closely aligned with my interests in Finance and Economics
• I could potentially secure a job sooner rather than spending several years preparing exclusively for RBI Grade B
• Once financially independent, I could still consider attempting RBI Grade B later

Cons/concerns:

• Vacancies can be unpredictable and competition is still quite high
• Some exams are conducted infrequently, so I can't necessarily depend on one particular organization
• The roles, work culture, transfers and career growth vary significantly between organizations
• I'm not particularly interested in taxation or insurance, so I'm concerned about choosing a job primarily for stability and later realizing that the actual work doesn't interest me
• Preparing simultaneously for several different exams can also become unfocused and overwhelming

Where I'm stuck

I don't want to make a decision purely based on fear or because I feel like I'm "behind" compared with my peers.

At the same time, I can't ignore my family's financial situation. Becoming financially independent and contributing toward the existing loan is a major priority for me.

I feel like I have three competing priorities:

1. Financial independence as soon as reasonably possible
2. A stable career that I can sustain long-term
3. Doing something that actually has good growth and isn't just a job I take because I'm desperate

So, if you were 23, had a BBA/Finance background with good cgpa and academic background, had lost roughly two years because of an unexpected medical problem, had a significant family loan to consider, and were in my position:

What would you choose?

Would you:

• Take the safest job you can get first and then prepare for RBI Grade B alongside it?
• Give RBI Grade B another serious attempt despite the competition?
• Pursue banking despite the concerns about postings/work culture?
• Go back to the original MBA/corporate plan?
• Or consider an entirely different career path that I'm overlooking?

I'd especially appreciate advice from people who have actually worked in RBI, banking, corporate jobs, or completed an MBA.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I genuinely want perspective from people who have more experience than I do and can help me think through this rationally.