Kotak NextGen Collections Program – Hardship Assistance Unit: Launch Your BFSI Career in 2025
Kotak NextGen Collections Program – Hardship Assistance Unit: Launch Your BFSI Career in 2025
India’s financial sector, valued at $465.1 billion in 2024, is set to generate over 1.5 lakh jobs in 2025, with non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) like Kotak Mahindra Finance at the forefront. The Kotak NextGen Collections Program – Hardship Assistance Unit (HAU), offered in collaboration with UNext Manipal Academy of BFSI, is a specialized training and placement program designed to prepare graduates for roles such as Hardship Assistance Executive and Relationship Manager. Offering salaries up to ₹4 LPA plus incentives, the program focuses on managing delinquent accounts and supporting customers in financial distress. This blog explores the program’s structure, benefits, eligibility, application process, and preparation tips, with insights from Eduooze Skill Institute, a trusted training provider with over 7,000 placements.
What is the Kotak NextGen Collections Program – HAU?
The Kotak NextGen Collections Program – Hardship Assistance Unit (HAU) is a targeted initiative by Kotak Mahindra Finance Ltd., a leading NBFC with an AUM of over ₹1.5 lakh crore. The program trains candidates to handle distressed loan accounts, negotiate repayment plans, and ensure compliance within the Hardship Assistance Unit, addressing India’s ₹2.5 lakh crore stressed asset market (2024). Delivered through UNext Manipal Academy of BFSI, this one-month program combines online/classroom training with guaranteed placement, making it an ideal entry point for graduates seeking a stable BFSI career.
Eduooze Insight: “The HAU program offers a unique blend of empathy-driven training and job security, perfect for freshers entering collections,” says Bhavna Rohera, Banking Trainer.
Source: Kotak Mahindra Finance – kotak.com; Kotak NextGen Ignite Programme – aibankcareer.com
Key Features of the Kotak NextGen Collections Program – HAU
Program Structure
- Duration: 1 month (online or classroom training, 4–6 hours daily).
- Curriculum: Focuses on delinquency management, customer relationship management, compliance (e.g., RBI’s KYC/AML guidelines), financial distress resolution, and digital tools.
- Certification: Issued by UNext Manipal Academy of BFSI upon completion.
- Provisional Offer Letter (POL): Guaranteed job offer from Kotak Mahindra Finance upon passing assessments.
- Job Roles:
- Hardship Assistance Executive: Manage overdue accounts, negotiate repayment plans, and assist distressed customers (CTC: ₹3–4 LPA + incentives).
- Relationship Manager: Support client relationships, resolve payment disputes, and maintain portfolio health (CTC: ₹3.5–4 LPA + incentives).
Program Benefits
- Guaranteed Placement: 100% job assurance with Kotak Mahindra Finance in the HAU vertical.
- Competitive Salary: ₹3–4 LPA plus performance-based incentives (up to ₹50,000 annually).
- Skill Development: Training in collections, empathy-driven customer service, negotiation, and compliance.
- Career Growth: Progress to roles like Area Collections Manager (₹6–10 LPA) within 3–5 years.
- Industry Exposure: Work in Kotak’s network of 1,800+ branches, managing distressed portfolios worth ₹100 crore+.
Source: Kotak NextGen Ignite Programme – aibankcareer.com
Eligibility Criteria
- Qualification: Graduate with 50% marks in 10th, 12th, and graduation (any stream).
- Age: 28 years or younger.
- Additional Requirements:
- Strong communication, negotiation, and empathy skills.
- Willingness to handle sensitive customer interactions and occasional field visits.
- Basic knowledge of regional languages and English.
- Preferred: Candidates with an interest in BFSI and collections.
Source: Kotak NextGen Program – kotak.com
Application and Selection Process
- Online Registration:
- Apply at kotak.manipalbfsi.com or aibankcareer.com.
- Submit personal details, educational certificates, and proof of age.
- Pay a nominal application fee (₹100–500, if applicable).
- Assessment:
- Level 1 (Online Test): Tests Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Analytical Reasoning, and basic financial knowledge (e.g., delinquency management processes).
- Level 2 (Interview): Online or in-person panel interview with Kotak and UNext Manipal to assess communication, empathy, and suitability for HAU roles.
- Provisional Offer Letter (POL):
- Issued upon clearing assessments, securing a seat in the program.
- Pay program fee (₹30,000–40,000 + GST, varies by batch; partial refunds after 1–2 years).
- Training Phase:
- One-month training (online or at UNext Manipal’s Bengaluru campus).
- Covers HAU-specific skills: delinquency management, repayment negotiation, and compliance (e.g., RBI’s 6.75% repo rate impact).
- Placement:
- Join Kotak Mahindra Finance as Hardship Assistance Executive or Relationship Manager in select locations across India.
Eduooze Support: Application guidance, test preparation, and mock interviews tailored for Kotak’s HAU assessments.
Source: Application Process – aibankcareer.com
Key Skills Developed in the Program
- Delinquency Management:
- Strategies for managing overdue accounts and structuring repayment plans.
- How to Develop: Practice 3–5 delinquency resolution scenarios during training.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM):
- Build trust with distressed clients using empathy and effective communication.
- How to Develop: Role-play sensitive customer interactions via Eduooze workshops.
- Compliance and Risk Management:
- Adhere to RBI guidelines, KYC/AML regulations, and NBFC fair practices code.
- How to Develop: Study RBI’s collections framework through Eduooze’s PGCRB.
- Financial Product Knowledge:
- Understand loan restructuring and hardship assistance processes (e.g., loans up to ₹5 crore).
- How to Develop: Review Kotak’s loan products and HAU protocols.
- Digital Proficiency:
- Use CRM software, Finacle, and digital tools for tracking collections and reporting.
- How to Develop: Train on BFSI platforms via Eduooze modules.
Eduooze Support: PGCRB covers collections strategies, compliance, empathy training, and digital tools for NBFC roles.
Source: Kotak Mahindra Finance – kotak.com
Roadmap to Success in the Kotak NextGen Collections Program – HAU
- Pre-Application (1–2 Weeks):
- Research the program on kotak.com or aibankcareer.com.
- Verify eligibility (graduate, 50% marks, age ≤28).
- Prepare documents: 10th/12th/graduation marksheets, ID proof.
- Application and Assessment (2–4 Weeks):
- Submit online application and register for assessments.
- Practice 50 aptitude questions daily (20 Verbal, 15 Numerical, 15 Reasoning).
- Prepare for interviews: 5 behavioral questions (e.g., “How would you support a client in financial distress?”) using STAR method.
- Eduooze Support: 1,000+ mock questions and interview role-plays.
- Training Phase (1 Month):
- Attend training (online or in Bengaluru).
- Complete assignments and pass assessments.
- Pay program fee (₹30,000–40,000 + GST).
- Placement and Career Start:
- Join Kotak Mahindra Finance as Hardship Assistance Executive or Relationship Manager (₹3–4 LPA).
- Aim for promotions to Area Collections Manager (₹6–10 LPA) within 3–5 years.
Timeline: Application (1 month), Training (1 month), Placement = 2–3 months total.
Source: Kotak NextGen Ignite Programme – aibankcareer.com
Challenges and Solutions
- Program Fee Affordability:
- Challenge: ₹30,000–40,000 fee may be a financial barrier.
- Solution: Partial fee refunds after 1–2 years; explore loan options via Kotak.
- Competitive Selection:
- Challenge: High applicant volume for limited seats (e.g., 50–100 per batch).
- Solution: Excel in aptitude tests and interviews with Eduooze’s PGCRB preparation.
- Emotionally Demanding Roles:
- Challenge: HAU roles involve handling distressed clients, requiring emotional resilience.
- Solution: Develop empathy and negotiation skills through Eduooze’s role-play workshops.
Testimonial: “Eduooze’s PGCRB and mock interviews helped me secure a ₹3.5 LPA Hardship Assistance Executive role in Kotak’s HAU program!” – Priya M., Bengaluru, 2025.
Why Choose Eduooze Skill Institute?
- PGCRB Program: Covers collections strategies, compliance, CRM, empathy training, and digital tools for NBFC roles.
- Mock Tests: 1,000+ questions for aptitude, financial knowledge, and interviews.
- Workshops: Focus on negotiation, KYC compliance, and HAU-specific scenarios.
- Job Fairs: Connect with Kotak Mahindra Finance and other BFSI recruiters.
- Certifications: PGCRB enhances employability for collections roles.
- Contact: 9142465110 or www.eduooze.com.
Conclusion
The Kotak NextGen Collections Program – HAU is a premier opportunity for graduates to launch a rewarding career in India’s BFSI sector, offering salaries up to ₹4 LPA, comprehensive training, and guaranteed placement with Kotak Mahindra Finance. With a focus on delinquency management and customer support in the Hardship Assistance Unit, the program equips candidates with critical skills in collections, compliance, and empathy-driven service. By leveraging Eduooze Skill Institute’s PGCRB for test and interview preparation, candidates can excel in the selection process and build a stable career. Apply today to join Kotak’s HAU team and thrive in 2025!
Call to Action: Launch your BFSI career with Eduooze Skill’s PGCRB! Call 9142465110 or visit www.eduooze.com to prepare for the Kotak NextGen Collections Program – HAU.
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