ThoughtWorks | Graduate application developer | India | Nov 2024 [Offer]

My journey with ThoughtWorks began when I reached out to an employee on LinkedIn and applied with a referral. The entire process involved four distinct rounds: a HackerRank Test, a Code Pairing Interview, a Technical Interview, and finally, a Leadership & Cultural Alignment Interview.

Round 1: HackerRank Test (75 min)
This round consisted of four coding questions—two easy and two medium—primarily testing logical reasoning. A week after taking the test, I received an email confirming my selection for the next stage.

Round 2: Code Pairing Interview (90 min)
For this round, I received the problem statement an hour before the interview. My task was to clone a repository, set up the environment, and understand the problem. I collaborated with two ThoughtWorkers who observed my collaboration skills, coding clarity, and ability to apply OOP principles and functional modularity. The focus was on identifying code smells, refactoring, and testing a legacy codebase while encouraging discussions. The problem itself wasn't overly difficult; the key was demonstrating my understanding and application of SOLID principles and OOP concepts, especially through effective use of classes and design principles. The very next day, I was notified of my progression to the subsequent round.

Round 3: Technical Interview (65 min)
This one-on-one session began with an in-depth discussion about my personal and internship projects. Following that, I was given two coding questions: Valid Anagram and Find First and Last Position of Element in Sorted Array. Additionally, I answered questions on coding OOP concepts with real-world examples. I also engaged in a case study involving an e-commerce website, where I had to identify entities, define their relationships, and write SQL queries based on the proposed design. A week later, I received an email informing me that I had cleared this round and would proceed to the final HR stage.

Round 4: Leadership & Cultural Alignment Interview (50 min)
This final round aimed to understand my perspective and aspirations beyond my resume. After initial introductions, I was presented with a PPT slide containing 25 cards. I picked around 5-6 cards, each with a scenario, and discussed the situations using the STAR method. My advice for this round is to simply be myself and share my authentic story. Four days after this interview, I received a call from HR confirming my selection and discussing the joining process.

Throughout the process, each interview involved two ThoughtWorkers who were consistently helpful and supportive. Overall, it was a great learning experience, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity.