Persistent Systems Interview Experience (Off-Campus 2020)

Round 1(Technical Test of 45 minutes Duration): After successfully filling all the details I received an email regarding an online exam which was held on 19 November 2020 on the AMCAT platform. The test was an MCQ based on questions from subjects such as DBMS, Data Structures, Operating Systems (ENTIRE SUBJECT), Computer Networks, and OOPs Concepts.

I did not prepare a word from Computer Networks as It was the only subject I disliked in computer science.  

So overall this exam was easy and the ones who prepare the above-mentioned subjects well will be able to make it.  

After this, we had a logical reasoning section, comprised of questions that are easily available in RS Agarwal Reasoning book, so practice it well. As far as my performance is concerned I did take time in doing these questions since they were lengthy.

The third section in the test was English for which I cannot judge how exactly my test went but I’m pretty sure you will be able to do it.

Round 2(Coding Section Duration 45 minutes): This is a combined section so when you are done with your technical section MCQs you will be directed to the coding part.

There were two problems. Both of them were based on arrays and you can choose the language of your choice. The first problem was based on finding the number of vowels from an input array (space separated). There were in total 15 test cases out of which 2 are visible to you. I was able to pass 12 test cases in total and then I moved on to the next code.

The second problem was comparatively time taking and tougher one compared to the first I was left with very little time so couldn’t do it well. It was based on sorting as well as arranging the elements of the array. The total number of test cases was 19 and I only managed to pass two visible test cases (just because they were visible to me).

Round 3(Technical Interview Level 1 Duration 30 minutes): Right after two days, (21 November 2020) I received an email for being shortlisted for the Technical level 1 interview which was to be held on 23rd November 2020.

So I had exactly 48 hours to study. All the subjects mentioned above in the technical assessment were a part of the interview syllabus. Primarily I studied DBMS and OS for interviews which are mandatory.

The interview was held at 9 am on 23rd November on the Smart meet platform (virtual) and the following were the questions:

1. Introduce yourself
2. Which programming language are you comfortable in? (I Chose C)
3. What type of language is C and why is it still in use? (he wanted to know the usage of C till today)
4. Put a light on pointers in C
5. Indirectly asked about dynamic memory allocation (Malloc Calloc)
6. Gave me a situation based question on Dynamic memory allocation ( He wanted to know the concept of the keyword Realloc—I wasn’t able to tell the word realloc but he told me)
7. An indirect question on Dangling Pointer in C
8. A question on for loop on an array, what will happen if I run the loop on array till size less than that of the array and what will happen if loop runs on size more than array—the answer to first I gave was no error and to the second I said Compiler error to which he said no it’s a runtime error and explained the reason also)
9. He asked me if I know java, I said NO. (Be very clear and straight forward)
10. What are Data Structures and tell their types?
11. What is a Linked List? Tell the difference between linked lists and arrays
12. Tell me about Stack Data Structure
13. Applications of Stack
14. Real-world application of Stack. (I wasn’t able to tell even though he gave me time, then he himself told me to see plates in your kitchen, it’s a type of stack)

Any Questions for me?

I asked two questions:

• It was my very first interview what will you suggest to me if there are any improvements needed please let me know. He said yes I will give my feedback to HR don’t worry.
• Sir upon selection from this round will we be having other rounds? He said you might have 2 more rounds.

Round 4 (Technical Interview Level 2 Duration 40 to 45 minutes): On the very same day at about 2.30 pm I got another mail stating that  I was shortlisted for the second technical round which was scheduled at 6 pm (Same day) on 23rd November 2020.

Questions:

1. Introduce yourself
2. Your resume says you are a professional anchor why didn’t you pursue that career?
3. Tell me something about your project
4. What did you do in your project (I told her that my project was not a successful implementation and it didn’t work well)
5. She asked that do you know any other language other than C and C++?
6. Do you know OOPs?  
7. Tell me about Polymorphism ( Static and Dynamic)
8. Why didn’t you learn java?
9. Gave me a SQL query to insert a primary key into an already created table (I did it wrong to which she didn’t react)
10. Tell me about Data Structures and their types
11. Tell me components of the operating system
12. What is the process and what Is thread, tell the difference
13. Tell me scheduling algorithms in OS
14. What is Kernel in OS? What does it do?
15. Where is C still used? ( I said system programming)
16. Will you prefer doing system programming or web applications etc? ( I said anything to me would be fine)
17. Tell me about Static variables in C
18. Dangling pointer in C
19. Are multiple inheritances possible in C++?  (I said I’m not sure  but multilevel is possible)
20. Do you know diamond problem in C++? (I said No)
21. Is C an OOP language? (I said it’s POP language). 

She didn’t ask me If I had any questions for her but I rather told her mam I have questions for you, she said go ahead?

1. On which platform does your company work? See, persistent is a service-based company we work on different platforms.
2. It was my very first interview what will you suggest to me if there are any improvements needed please let me know. You can recall our entire conversation you’ll get to know what improvements are required. But Keep learning.  

Round 5 (HR Interview 20 minutes Duration): So for this, I was informed on the next day (24th November 2020) that too hardly one hour before the start of the interview. So keep on checking your emails. The interview was scheduled for 15 minutes but it took about 20 minutes.

1. How did your previous 2 interviews go?
2. Hello, how was your day?
3. Introduce yourself ( while I was telling about my academics he interrupted me saying I don’t want to know about your marks and CGPA its already on your resume, tell me something about your hobbies, family, project, etc)
4. He then asked if your family is into a business why didn’t you go for it?
5. Have you done any projects or coding on hacker rank? (I said No, he asked why)
6. Tell me your favorite subject I said data structures
7. Have you done any projects on data structures? I said No. Did he ask why?  
8. Tell me about your hobbies (pre lockdown)
9. Sports? (Have you taken part in any competition?)
10. Why didn’t you sit for placements last year? ( Give an honest answer, I said I was studying GATE, and I was also rejected by many companies)
11. He asked why were you rejected? I said I didn’t prepare well for placements
12. What if you meet Sundar Pichai what advice will you give him? (This turned up to almost an argument for the next 3-5 minutes)
13. If you were to be given 10lacs on which project will you invest?
14. Evaluate yourself and tell me any 3 improvements needed in you. (I kept on answering, but he was like no this is not an improvement, etc, so this question hung me up for a few minutes)
15. Are you aware of what package we are offering you?
16. Any location preference?
17. Any Questions for me?

So I asked sir since how long are you working at persistent and what made you stay?

To which he responded by saying it’s been more than 6 years and the working culture is great which made me stay

So in the end he told me the Date of Joining will be 15th of December If I get selected (He said I hope you Have no issues with that).

After a week, 1st December 2020, I got a mail that I have been selected, and then they sent the offer letter on 13th of December 2020, and they mentioned the DOJ which was 16th December 2020.

So Let me tell you all that GeeksforGeeks is one of the best portals which helped me a lot for my interviews. And guys be very confident and honest in your answers, stay positive. Remember one thing: They need employees, so they are definitely there to select you. Prepare well and make it to the company!