TCS Prime Interview Experience Feb 2024

Last week, I had an interview with TCS for their Prime role. The interview was comprehensive, covering a broad spectrum of technical and behavioral topics. It began with fundamental software engineering questions, where I was asked to define software testing, describe the various steps in the software engineering life cycle, and explain 'agile' software development.

Next, the focus shifted to backend authentication. They questioned me on the difference between Verification and Validation, explained what a token is, and differentiated between token-based and cookie-based authentication, including how they can be implemented.

A significant portion of the interview revolved around my project. I explained its details and outlined my specific roles. They probed into my choice of MongoDB over SQL, discussing the key differences between them. We also covered database scaling, including the distinctions between horizontal and vertical scaling. Since I had mentioned designing the database, they asked about my considerations during the design process and about normalization, inquiring how I ensured my database adhered to normal forms.

For SQL, I was presented with a database schema and asked to write two queries, which were at an easy level.

OOPS concepts were also thoroughly explored. I was asked about the differences between C++ and Java, and a follow-up question on how memory is freed in C++ given its lack of built-in garbage collection. They also asked about the two steps involved in Java compilation and to list a few string in-built functions. Since I mentioned coding regularly, they asked me about the last program I wrote, and I discussed a problem involving Dijkstra's algorithm.

The discussion then moved to version control, specifically Git. I explained the difference between Git and GitHub, and clarified the distinction between pushing code to a repository versus uploading it to cloud storage like Google Drive, highlighting the additional functions Git provides.

Finally, the HR round covered questions about my year gap, my motivation for joining TCS despite having other offers, and my hobbies. My mention of books and guitar led to some follow-up questions. We also discussed my location and time shift preferences.

Overall, I felt the interview went very well, and I was confident in most of my answers. I was delighted to receive an offer one week later.