Summary
I successfully navigated the interview process for an Associate Software Engineer role at Blue Yonder, which included an online assessment, two technical rounds, and an HR round. Following these comprehensive evaluations, I was delighted to receive an offer for a 6-month internship with a subsequent full-time employment opportunity.
Full Experience
About Me
I am a final-year B.Tech student from a Tier 1 college.
Offer Details
I received an offer in October 2023 for a position in Bangalore or Hyderabad, with a salary of 12,00,000 INR and a total CTC of 12,60,000 INR.
Online Assessment
This round consisted of two parts:
- 45 MCQs: These questions covered a range of topics including English, general problem-solving, coding aptitude (output-based questions), computer networks, and operating systems.
- 2 Coding Questions: I was given two coding challenges.
After this round, 26 candidates, including myself, advanced to the next stage.
Round 1 - Technical (40 mins)
This round began with my introduction. The interviewer then inquired about my LeetCode profile, where I mentioned my stats: 472 problems solved (156 Easy, 260 Medium, 56 Hard).
I was given a DSA problem: "Given two nodes of a binary tree, return whether both of them are cousins." I initially explained a brute-force approach and then optimized it when prompted.
Next, I was asked about my favorite sorting algorithm, to which I replied Merge Sort. Following this, I was asked to code and dry run Quick Sort. The interviewer also questioned the time complexity of Quick Sort when the array is already sorted and asked which sorting algorithm I would use to achieve O(N) time complexity in the best case for a potentially sorted array. I suggested a modified Bubble Sort.
The discussion then shifted to my resume, where I explained my projects in detail and answered specific questions about them. I also discussed my role in a previous internship, emphasizing the implementation details.
Towards the end, I was asked about my key takeaways from the round, where I spoke about my values. I also made sure to ask a few questions to the interviewer.
Round 2 - Technical (30 mins)
Similar to the first technical round, I started with an introduction. The interviewer asked about the difference between Arrays and Linked Lists. I was then asked to code Merge Sort and provide a thorough explanation.
We revisited my projects, and I explained all of them in detail, answering follow-up questions. I was also asked about my primary programming language for competitive coding.
A probability-based question was posed: "If there are 10 pairs of white socks and 10 pairs of black socks, what is the minimum number of times a person has to pick (randomly) to ensure that he/she has 2 black socks?" I answered 22, explaining the best, average, and worst-case scenarios.
I made sure to be confident and spoke extensively during this round, and I also engaged the interviewer with my questions, as he was very friendly.
Round 3 - HR (40 mins)
This round also started with my introduction. I was asked to provide three compelling reasons why they should hire me. Other questions included: "If God gives you a chance to change your past, what would you do?" and "What are the two things you are proud of?"
The interviewer also inquired about my family and what I had done for society, given my previous mention of making a positive impact. We discussed my internships and the challenges I faced there.
I was asked what my friends would say about me – specifically, one positive and one negative trait. The interviewer also asked about my previous interview experiences, where I mentioned being rejected after the second tech round at Wells Fargo and after the tech round at Infibeam Avenues.
Further behavioral questions included: "What superpower would I like to have?", "Do you have any plans for higher studies?" (I was advised to say NO to this), "What is one thing you have done innovatively?", and "Can you tell me an instance where you started working for achieving a goal and then achieved something else?" This round primarily assessed my communication and thinking skills.
Final Verdict
I was selected for a 6-month internship followed by a Full-Time Employee (FTE) position.
Interview Questions (14)
Calculate the reverse of the sum of the product of the elements of the middle row and middle column in a square matrix (assuming the matrix size is always odd).
The heights and names of N people are given in two separate N-sized arrays, and you have to pair them only if the difference between their heights is less than or equal to 2. The pairing should prioritize the shortest couple. Print the paired couples, specifying the name of the shorter person first.
Given two nodes of a binary tree, return whether both of them are cousins.
Code and dry run Quick Sort. Explain the time complexity of Quick Sort when the array is already sorted. What sorting algorithm would you use when the array might be already sorted to achieve a Time Complexity of O(N) in the best case?
Code Merge Sort and explain the algorithm.
If there are 10 pairs of white socks and 10 pairs of black socks, what is the minimum number of times a person has to pick (randomly) to ensure that he/she has 2 black socks?
I was asked to provide three reasons why Blue Yonder should hire me.
If God gives you a chance to change your past, what would you do?
What are the two things you are proud of?
What have you done for society, especially since you mentioned making a positive impact?
What would your friends say about you – one positive and one negative thing?
Do you have any plans for higher studies?
What is one thing you have done innovatively?
Can you tell me an instance where you started working for achieving a goal and then achieved something else?
Preparation Tips
General Advice and Preparation
From my experience, it's crucial not to let rejections bring you down; success comes from finding the strength to get back up. Hard work is key. For DSA questions, always ensure the problem statement is crystal clear, and don't hesitate to ask clarifying questions. When explaining projects on your resume, know the implementation details thoroughly.
During technical rounds, make sure to be confident and speak extensively, explaining your thought process. For HR rounds, communication and thinking skills are heavily tested. Be prepared to talk about your values, accomplishments, and how you handle challenges. Regarding future plans like higher studies, it’s often strategic to align your answer with the company's hiring goals.
I maintained a strong LeetCode profile with 472 problems solved (156 Easy, 260 Medium, 56 Hard), which seemed to be a positive point for the interviewers.