TCS digital interview

Round 1: Online Test

This round consisted of an online test conducted at TCS Ion centers. It was divided into 4 sections, with the first 3 being Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and the last one being a coding challenge. There was sectional timing and negative marking, so it was crucial to answer only when sure.

Section 1: Reading and Vocabulary Skills

This section had 15 questions to be completed in 10 minutes. Most questions required finding answers from paragraphs, so speed and accuracy were key.

Section 2: Quantitative Aptitude

I faced 20 questions in 30 minutes, ranging from intermediate to advanced levels, covering basic equational math to geometry.

Section 3: Technical MCQ Round

This was a relatively easy section with 15 questions to be done in 30 minutes. The questions were clear and tested basic technical knowledge. I tried to attempt as many questions as possible here, as it seemed to be the easiest section.

Section 4: Coding Section

This section had only 1 coding problem to be solved in 60 minutes. We had to code in Eclipse IDE, with manual debugging and only 2 visible test cases out of a total of 8. The question I received was the '0/1 knapsack problem,' which is a standard dynamic programming problem.

Out of more than 250 applicants, 90 students were shortlisted for the second round, and I was among them.

Round 2: Face-to-Face Interview

The second round was a face-to-face interview at a TCS facility. There were 5 panels, each consisting of 3 members. I waited for almost 5 hours before my turn. The interview was a combination of Technical and HR questions. The interviewer called my name last, and I entered the room, greeted them, and handed over my resume. The interview then began:

1. They asked me to tell them something about myself.
2. They inquired about a project I had worked on, and I spent about 10-15 minutes answering all their questions, which seemed to impress them.
3. They asked which language I was most comfortable with. I stated Java, knowing that further questions would be based on it.
4. They asked, "Why is String immutable?"
5. I was asked about other immutable things in Java.
6. They then asked how one could explicitly make anything immutable.
7. "Suppose you have a large quantity of data input in your application. How would you handle it?" (They hinted at cache servers, like those used by Facebook).
8. They followed up with, "What is the algorithm of cache servers?"
9. I was asked to explain the difference between ML, DL, and AI.
10. They noticed my work with Kali Linux and asked what I specifically did with it.
11. "How does an aircrack attack work?"
12. "What is the dark web? How can you access it?"
13. "Why can’t you access the dark web with Chrome or any other normal browser?"
14. "What is the difference between an application server and a web server?"
15. They asked how packet bundling is handled in PHP, as it was in my skillset.
16. "Where and how is MongoDB used?"
17. "What is the use of MongoDB and why to use it besides having relational databases like MySQL?"
18. "What happens when you hit enter after typing a URL?"
19. They covered OOP concepts in Java.
20. "You seem to have quite a taste in research work along with studies. What would you choose: research or development?"
21. Finally, they asked if I had understood all job-related criteria and was aware of the pay scale, offering me a chance to ask any doubts.

I thanked them for their valuable time and left. The results were announced after about two weeks; 21 out of 90 students were selected, and I was among them!