Is Career Gap an issue in IBPS interviews ?

Hi all, today I recieved a mail from one of readers Achuta. She is giving English tuition yet been rejected in interviews by many banks for the job of clerk. She asked some questions which I am going to share here, these are the most common questions that are asked in the comment section so I am making this conversation a post.

I am Achuta Saripalle. I have scored 74 with general category.
I have done Post Graduation in Management & Insurance from XLRI Jameshedpur in 2008. It is a one year course offered by ICICI Prudential Life Insurance in collaboration with 17 B Schools in India. As it is conducted by ICICI, there is no CAT/XAT score required to join this B School. After completing my PG, I was offered as an Agency Manager with the same company but that was into sales and as I was not interested in sales, I did not join the job. after that I got married and as I was abroad I could not work anywhere. I came back to India in December 2012 and started giving bank exams but could not join into any organization; except that I have been taking spoken English classes at home itself.
I have appeared for clerks exam last December but was rejected in the interview. Reason not known to me.

I have appeared for KVB Clerks Exam and again was rejected in the interview.

Now questions are :-

Will the bank accept such long career gaps?

As any other employer banks don't want to hire someone with 5 years career gap.

You need tell them that you were doing something productive and you are serious about this. As most of the people of your age group are teachers and authors like me, so people from these don't join. Further you are from India's best B-school, interviewers doubt your seriousness. Just step in the shoes of interviewer, "A lady from XLRI with such a hold on English language,is appearing for Clerk job. She might not be interested in this job, I should give a chance to some needy person."

Are married women equally given preference for bank PO jobs?

Yes married women are given equal chance but you shouldn't expect local posting in first two years. As most of the married women don't join, again interviewer tries to give chance to someone who badly needs a job.

Why have you not worked anywhere else?

If you were giving tuition at home or you were expecting a child then nobody is going to ask this question. You were teaching English and as I can see your hold on language is really good, you are an ideal employee for any bank but the only problem is interviewer don't trust you. You are over-qualified for clerk post and that is fact. Appear for PO exams and do some work. Read this post for clarification :-
http://www.bankexamstoday.com/2013/12/10-most-questions-in-ibps-interviews.html