Sapient

Sapient had two technical tests.Both had questions to write programs.Even algorithm would do.They say any language c/c++/java etc.

In first technical test question was like there are 3 test centers say A B C and students can give their preference(1st pref 2nd pref n 3rd pref) where they want 2 give their test.But each center had limited seats only so if one center is filled students will have to be allotted their 2nd pref and so on.The question was to allocate students to different centers and it should work for many days as each student can say on which date he wants to take the test.

I wrote the program in C even though a ‘class’ approach would have been easier.Anyway the program is simple as it just contains lot of if else’s but remember to give enough care not to miss certain cases that may occur.Just think about all the possibilities and also remember to write some comments so that the one who corrects can understand and don’t give much importance to the date thing.

The time of test was 1 hour if my memory is correct.

Very few were selected for the next round and it had 2 questions but the time was the same.The questions were like

1. A Postal department receives postal letters from different companies. A postal mail has some weight and distance. Rates for each slab according to weight and distance was mentioned.
0-15 gm
15-50gm
50+ gm
0-50 KM
50-500 KM
500+ KM
Create a PostalMail class. which should have CalculateCost method. Also Postal Department has to generate Report for each company which contains count of letter for each slab and total cost of all mails which were sent by that company. If total amount exceeds Rs. 1000 then give 20% discount.
This generateReport method would take parameter as array/List of PostalMail class.

2. There was some string given AAAZBBBDDDDFF which is compressed as 3AZ3B4D2F. Write a method compress which takes uncompressed string and returns the compressed string.

The first question is similar to question in the previous round and second can be easily done with a loop.In case you need the answer just let me know.

Interview

Interview was a very friendly one.He even opened the door for me.Shaked hands with me and started off as if it was a chit chat.But soon he started asking questions about the problems that were solved in the first 2 rounds.He had the answer sheets of first two rounds.He asked questions from my program.Problems with it , enhancements that can be made etc.I think he was trying to find out my understanding of the problem.

Then slowly he moved to some core topics.Usual questions.Then java ,just the basics.1 question was like what is the output

for(int i=0;i<10;i++)

{

S.O.P(i);

}

S.O.P(i);

The answer is compilation error.If you difficulty finding why it is compilation error,just ask me and i will tell you.

I came to know that i got selected by that day night.

Sasken Communication Technologies

Sasken Communication Technologies was the next company I got placed. I got it through shreds (shredskerala.org) . The test that sasken conducted was bit different. I think the test was more time pressing. It had many typical aptitude questions but what made it different was that it had many statistics related questions, probability related questions and also technical questions from subjects like C ( find output type ) ,Microprocessor, oop OS, basics of language processors and DS and even few with concepts related to Engineering Graphics.

Interview of sasken was bit tough I think. It continued for more than one hour and after that there was an HR interview also .Questions were asked from all topics like oop ,Data structure OS and even general knowledge questions .Questions were more application level based than just theory. I heard few of my friends were asked even math questions like application of integration etc.So expect anything from them. Some examples were

When a number is multiplied by 13, it will become greater than 105 by an amount with which it is lesser to105 by now. What is the number?

My successor’s father is my father’s son and I don’t have any brothers or sons. Who is my
successor?

milesTwo people were walking in opposite directions. Both of them walked 6 forward then
took right and walked 8 miles. How far is each from starting positions?

Which of these checks for structural errors of a language

The depth of a binary tree

Infosys

Infosys was the next company i tried my luck with.I never wanted to get it but still just gave a try.I was not at all tensed because i was already placed and i hope that helped me a lot.The test pattern of infosys is bit different from TCS .I felt it was easier than TCS.i think aptitude questions from Aggarwal and some basic english would easily get you through.i would suggest use of high school grammar book Wren and Martin.what infosys had extra was some picture questions.They give 3 pictures and you have to find the next.Many bank tests etc this sort of questions i think.also there was this logical questions like ‘all dogs are cats ,some cats are birds so then four options like some dogs are cats,some birds are dogs etc … ‘.I think Aggarwal has a thicker book which contains all these sort of questions.Buy that if possible.

Let me test your aptitude : find the next number in the series : 13 , 8 , 5 , 4 ,  ?

This is very easy if you think in the right direction.Aptitude is like singing or dancing.Some people are better at it.some can get good marks even without studying much.Some ( Usually those top scoring people in the class) have real difficulty with this.Just find out where you stand and work accordingly.Clearing aptitude is not very difficult.

Now the interview part.My interview was a sort of stress interview.First question was ‘are you already placed’.I said yes n the interviewer in an angry way asked me then why Infosys.I jus talked about how infosys was started with very low capital far later than tcs but is now a competitor to it etc etc n convinced him that infosys has a better growth rate and hence i too has a better growth opportunity in infosys than tcs etc.But still interview continued in a stress manner.My resume had chess in ma hobbies.He asked many openings and strategies.Few i answered but later i said am not a professional or anything.

I think writing further of interview wouldn’t be of much help.Anyway if u feel an interview is stress just be cool and always remember the interviewer has nothing personal with you and that he is just testing you.keep your cool always smile and reply with respect.

Placement/Campus Recruitment

Google search was invented when its founders had real difficulty in finding and retrieving some information for doing their assignments when they were in college.They knew that what they wanted was there in the net but no good search engines to find it.

Similarly i tried getting some information about placements of many IT companies and other organizations and realized there was no quality stuff in the net.So I thought i will write about whatever i know so that it would be helpful for others.

This page will mainly include stuffs like my experience during various placements i participated in and may be tips on how to tackle their tests and interview easily.I hope this will be really useful.I attended recruitments of 4 companies and got placed in all. I have also attended ISRO recruitment for Scientist/Engineer but the results are not out yet.I will write about all these in this page.

Tata Consultancy Services

The first company i got was tcs.It was long back and i don’t remember the exact dates of the interview.It was around March 2007 i think.First there was an online(computerized) aptitude test and then an interview.

The test contained many math oriented aptitude questions.I think a BTech student won’t have much difficulty cracking them.It also had questions like finding Synonyms and Antonyms.I had real difficulty answering them and i think if your English skills are not above par your situation would be same as mine.They also had some sentence completions , Reading comprehensions etc also which where not very difficult.There were some logical analysis questions also .

Tips to Crack the Test:

1. Study Aptitude book by Aggarwal ( This is a must irrespective of which company you are trying).
2. For language section study using any GRE guide ( Some say Barron’s is the best as most synonyms antonyms are directly from that text).
3. Find out old question papers and work out ( This is more important than the first two).
4. There are many easy questions at the end of many sections like pie chart, bar chart based questions at the end of Math section.Try doing them first or manage time well as each section has time limit and i also think that they have separate cutoff for each section.

5. Above all be confident and relaxed as the test may seem very difficult ( Never panic whatever may).

Interview was conducted only the next day.I had only one interview as both techs and HR were there in my panel.Some had separate tech and HR interview.My panel had one lady(HR) and 2 men (techs).i never knew the lady was HR.If there is a lady in your panel most probably she is the HR and so give more respect n importance to her as her decision has more weightage than those techies.

Tips to crack the Interview:

1. They say first 2 minutes is most important in an interview.Even though it is not possible to fully rehearse what you will do in the first two minutes i suggest trying to do that.Just enact at home how you will enter the room , say good morning to them ,sit on the chair , how you will ask permission to sit ,how you will sit etc.
2. If you perform well in the first 2 minutes your subsequent mistakes may be overlooked and vice versa.Most probably even in a tech interview the first question will be “Tell me about Yourself”-Most important question.Prepare for this question well.And remember to start by saying your name (“My name is ………….. or I am …………… ).
3. Another important HR question would be “Tell me one of your weaknesses”.Say anything silly or funny or something that is not a very serious weakness but never a real weakness of yours.
4. Many such tricky HR questions would be there just use your intuitions and gut feeling to answer them and just show them you are comfortable and confident.
5. Never ever say anything bad about anything or anyone,especially about your nation ,native,college,teachers,parents etc etc
6. For tech learn C , data structures,operating systems ,dbms etc.
7. If a question say from math or some trivial ( non core ) subject is asked just realize its only a tricky question and u can solve it by your common sense.Just keep your cool head and try.

These are just my experiences and opinions sometimes it may be wrong.whenever in doubt be bold and whenever you are sure you don’t know learn to say so.

HAPPY PLACEMENTS

Introduction

I have tried blogging a few times but was never very successful.One that at least had a few posts was one in which i wrote few poems.Most of them were just average or below that.I think am better writing articles mainly on self development science computers etc.So this is a humble attempt from me to help others by sharing what i know and by narrating my experiences.I believe that spreading knowledge is the only way to bring peace and prosperity in this world.

My posts may initially contain many stuffs and even plagiarized contents but i will try to converge to the single topic of success as fast as possible and also try 2 make all the posts as original as possible.