The bNext Internship Program is the flagship internship initiative of bKash Limited, one of Bangladesh’s leading mobile financial service providers. Designed for undergraduate students, this programme offers a structured and immersive experience aimed at nurturing future leaders in the fintech industry. The programme attracts undergrads from various backgrounds. The brand value of bKash and the exposure it offers are huge attractions for any student looking to kick-start their career.
We have interviewed Shabab Junayed and Tanvir Mahmud, two Bnext alumni, to understand the various challenges and requirements of getting the opportunity so that you can prepare yourself to the best of your abilities to stand out among the rest.
Motivation
As one of the country’s leading fintech companies, Bkash has always been an attraction for undergrads. For Tanvir it was no different; graduating from North South University, he was an intern at the External Corporate Affairs department. “Even though I come from a finance background, I applied for the External Corporate Affairs department. I’ve always been intrigued by how corporate communication and stakeholder management work hand in hand to shape a company’s public image.”
Recruiting Process
- CV Screening
The first step is for applicants to fill out a form and submit their CVs. This is the crucial step of showing yourself capable enough to get a call for the next stages. Shabab strongly advises preparing an undeniable CV and starting to think about it from an early stage.
“Prepare a CV that recruiters can’t ignore. You have four years of undergrad to do things that make your CV stronger. So work accordingly.”
One way of making a CV heavier is to involve yourself in extracurricular activities as early as you can. Shabab and Tanvir both participated in ECAs.
“I have been heavily involved in ECAs since my college days. This helped in making a good impression, as I could demonstrate that I am a team player and a resourceful one. They want that,” explained Shabab
Tanvir also benefited from being involved in ECAs, not just for the achievements he could write on the CV, but also in the interview stages, where most of the conversation revolved around his activities in his university clubs.
“I was actively involved in several clubs during university, and I also received valuable guidance from my seniors. During the interview, a good portion of the conversation revolved around my ECA experience — what I did, why I chose certain roles, and how I contributed,” said Tanvir.
- Aptitude Test
After the first screening, a selected few are requested to give an aptitude test. The aptitude test consists of 10 marks for English, 10 marks for math, 5 marks for critical reasoning, and 5 marks for general knowledge.
To prepare for the aptitude test, Shabab Junayed gave the following suggestions: “Since I sat for the IBA, BUP, and JU admission tests, I already knew what was coming in this step of recruitment. I just revised those. My suggestion for anyone applying would be to go through question banks. That helps.” Shabab also expressed that it was not that difficult for him, and Tanvir advises a good brushing up of English grammar and basic math.
- Focus Group DIscussion (FGD)
This may be something new that you may not have heard before. A Focus Group Discussion (FGD) is a qualitative research method where a small group of people (typically 6–10 participants) are brought together to discuss a specific topic, guided by a moderator. In the context of hiring, FGDs are used to observe how candidates interact in a group, solve problems, express opinions, and handle team dynamics.
For Tanvir, it was the highlight of the recruiting process. He shared some key points to follow during this stage.
- “Take initiative early during the FGD, but avoid dominating the conversation.
- Demonstrate active listening and build on others’ ideas.
- Come prepared with some basic knowledge about bKash — especially key statistics or recent initiatives. It shows awareness and helps you stand out during the case discussion segment.”
It is important to show that you are contributing meaningfully but you’re doing it in a palpable manner; the balance is key, according to Shabab. The one advice he gave was, “Be vocal yet be polite and respectful.”
- Case submission and Final interview
At this final stage, the interview session sometimes correlates with a final presentation or case submission stage. In order to prepare for the interview, it is important to practice being level-headed and not getting too nervous. Tanvir shared his experience preparing for the interview, saying, ” I created a roadmap for how I wanted to present myself — starting with a strong introduction, highlighting my key experiences, and preparing for expected questions related to my background, club involvement, and the department I applied for.” Preemptive measures were also taken by Shabab, as he pointed out, “I just identified questions that the recruiters might ask in accordance with my CV. Then made sample answers accordingly. This helped a lot.”
Shabab’s anticipation was proven to be effective as he pointed out that the questions will resemble your experiences mentioned in your CV. “You’ll be asked situational questions from your CV. They’ll give you scenarios that you may or may not relate to any of your previous experiences.”
In sharing his experiences being a former delegate for TBS Graduates, Tanvir shared that he faced one unexpected question, which one of the interviewers jokingly asked, “Since you’re part of TBS and have written articles in newspapers, if something went wrong in the organisation, would you write about it too?”
Although unexpected, it was a test to see how Tanvir would react in a tense moment by the sudden turn in conversation. “ I smiled and responded diplomatically, emphasising my integrity and responsibility in any role I take on.”
Shabab, on the other hand, expressed his surprise at the limited time given to prepare the presentation. “We had to rush since we were given certain deadlines. To tackle this, I solved the case at first and prepared a draft slide. Due to time restrictions, I didn’t beautify it much; rather, I focused on my pitch.”
All in all, both of the alumni expressed the need for an active role in ECAs and the need for preparing an outstanding CV that cannot be ignored. By utilising your university life by networking, participating in clubs, and being confident in showcasing your abilities, you too can ace the selection process of Bnext and see yourself progress, just as our respective interviewees did in their respective careers.