Preparing for technical campus placements

Background:-

2020 hits and nations start to get affected by Covid-19 one by one. Colleges are closed temporarily and students are free to explore themselves and their hobbies.

I stumble across competitive coding knowing sub-consciously that it is really very helpful for me to get placed in companies. I started coding because of my interest in it but realizing after a few days that my interest has turned into a daily routine.

I solved not more than one or two programming questions daily, slowly increasing the difficulty of questions resulted in my steady improvement. Months passed and sometime around July-August companies started recruiting candidates.

Recruitment process:-

Most of the companies that visited my college had this pattern:-

It is obvious that tech companies need 1) Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, Logical Ability 2) Subject Knowledge 3) Communication skills and 4) Coding

Different companies focus on different subjects like:-

1. Data structures and Algorithms
2. Computer Networks
3. Database Management Systems
4. Operating System

Being CS undergraduates, nearly everyone had good projects, but most were lacking in their Subject knowledge, quantitative aptitude or Coding. As a result of which many students missed their chance of getting placed for higher package, some even failed to clear Round-1, including good students due to their ignorance of subjects and aptitude.

I was fine with CS subjects and competitive coding helped me a lot to develop my thinking ability as a result of which I cleared first round, coding rounds were relatively easy for me as I was coding for past few months.

Interviews:-

Interviews generally begin with greetings followed by introduction of the candidate followed by Technical Round. Technical Interviewers generally expect candidates to explain their project(s). Questions are asked on preferred programming language as mentioned in resume and on preferred subjects. Right?

Not Exactly.

It is generally true that questions are asked from preferred programming languages and subjects but I believe sometimes interviewer may expect interviewee to use their knowledge to come up with an answer. Once during my interview I had such a question and I said:

I’m not sure about this but being a CS student I believe that things should work this way

Therefore, it is very important to convey your thought process clearly during an interview. It is necessary to have knowledge of not only preferred subjects but other subjects also, it is not always the case that the interviewee is asked about their favorite subject.

Coding interview follow the same principle of explaining your thought process to the interviewer.

HR and MR are very general rounds if you are good at communicating, you are ready to take challenges and if you are prepared these rounds are easy to crack.

Final verdict:-

I was lucky enough to get placed for higher package because I solved coding questions, I am fine with subjects and have fine communication skills.

From my experience I learned that projects are necessary but one must not forget the importance of fundamental subjects because to reach next level taking every step is necessary at least until you are master of some skill.

Tips for preparation:-

1. Start preparing 4–5 months before campus placements if you are not a hard worker be disciplined.
2. Solve 1–2 coding problems daily with increasing level of difficulty.
3. Don’t forget to read subjects, they are very necessary.
4. Practice logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude etc. because if you failed at this you lost your chance to be an interviewee no matter how good you or your resume is.
5. Work on your communication skills if you need to.

Thanks and all the best.