Role: Associate Software Engineer (Internship+FTE)
College: Not Specified (Final-year student)
Interview Date: August 9, 2025
Interview Type: On-Campus
Result: Selected (Received Offer)
Difficulty: Medium
Rounds: 3 rounds
Topics Asked: Aptitude, Reasoning, CS Fundamentals (DBMS, OS, CN basics, DSA), Data Structures & Algorithms (Binary Tree, Greedy Algorithms), System Design (LRU Cache), OOPS, SQL, Projects, C++ vs Python, JWT token, Authentication vs Authorization.
Experience:
The candidate, a final-year student with 0 years of experience, interviewed for an Associate Software Engineer role in Bengaluru. The overall process was smooth and well-structured, emphasizing problem-solving, fundamentals, and system design. Interviewers were interactive and supportive, often providing hints.
Round 1: Online MCQ Test
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Method: Online assessment
- Focus: Aptitude, Reasoning, and CS Fundamentals.
- Questions: Aptitude and logical reasoning (medium level); Core CS concepts (DBMS, OS, CN basics, DSA). There were 50 MCQs with negative marking.
- Obstacles: Time management was a challenge.
- Tip: GFG's Last Minute Notes on CS Fundamentals were useful for revision.
Round 2: Technical Interview
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Method: In-person
- Focus: Data Structures & Algorithms + CS Fundamentals.
- Questions:
- Binary Tree Problem: Similar to LeetCode 979 (Distribute Coins in Binary Tree).
- Greedy Problem: Similar to LeetCode 455 (Assign Cookies).
- Theoretical: OSI vs TCP/IP model; SQL vs NoSQL.
- Obstacles: Got stuck on the binary tree problem but received hints from the interviewer.
- Tip: Open communication helps.
Round 3: Technical + System Design + Resume Discussion
- Duration: 45-60 minutes
- Method: In-person
- Focus: Projects, CS Fundamentals, System Design, Problem-Solving.
- Questions:
- SQL Optimization: Given a query, likely involving C++ (e.g.,
SELECT * FROM table WHERE address = ...).
- OOPS: Explanation of all four pillars with examples.
- System Design: Discussion around LRU Cache, including brute force and optimized approaches.
- Theoretical: Abstraction with example.
- Aptitude: Two basic math questions, one solved with help.
- MySQL: Write a query involving 3 tables to display students with the highest total marks in descending order (involved joins).
- Projects: Detailed discussion of final year projects.
- Concepts: Differences between C++ and Python compiler and interpreter.
- Security: Explain JWT token, its usage, difference between Authentication and Authorization, and how to remove JWT token from the server side upon client-side logout.
The candidate successfully cleared all rounds and received an offer for an Internship + FTE.