Mastercard

Role: SDE

College: Not Specified

Interview Date: 2024-11-01

Interview Type: On-Campus, Full-Time

Result: Selected

Difficulty: Medium

Rounds: 3 rounds

Topics Asked: Java, Database, Projects, Data Structures, Algorithms, REST APIs, Scenario-based, Behavioral

Experience:

The candidate was selected for an SDE role after going through three rounds of interviews.

Technical Interview — Round 1
The interview started with an introduction. Despite admitting not being proficient in Java, the interviewer asked several Java-related questions, including JUnit and testing concepts, automation techniques using Selenium, CI/CD scripting languages, and Java synchronization techniques like mutexes. Database questions involved discussing relationship types (many-to-many), primary/foreign keys, and optimization strategies for both SQL (indexing) and NoSQL (partitioning/sharding) for 'Book' and 'Author' tables. Projects discussed included REST API methods (GET, POST) and API security (TLS). A basic DSA problem was given: identifying the missing element in a sequence (e.g., where 4 is absent). A scenario-based question involved assigning 10 random questions to 3 individuals using a Java-based solution.

Technical Interview — Round 2
This round focused primarily on projects and extracurricular activities. The candidate detailed projects, including their approach, execution, and technologies used, with the interviewer showing interest in unique project names. A DSA question involved finding the second largest element in a list. Discussions also covered hackathon experiences.

HR Interview
Questions included family background, non-technical activities and achievements, and internship experiences.