Hilab

Role: SDE (Software Development Engineer)

College: IIT (BHU) Varanasi

Interview Date: Online Coding Test (Nov 2, 2022), Technical Interview 1 (Dec 1, 2022), Technical Interview 2 (Dec 1, 2022)

Interview Type: On-Campus, Full-Time

Result: Selected

Difficulty: Medium-Hard

Rounds: 3 rounds (Online Coding Test, Technical Interview 1, Technical Interview 2)

Topics Asked: Operating Systems, OOPs, DBMS, C++, Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA - Math, Graphs, 1-D DP, 2-D DP), SQL (group by, joins, easy-level query, temporary tables, tricky query), Puzzles (Blind Man and Pills), Resume projects, Internships, React-Redux (advantages, react hooks, lifecycle phases, methods), Backend development (cookies, 'Remember me' features)

Experience:

The candidate, a final year undergrad in Pharmaceutical Engineering & Technology at IIT (BHU), secured an SDE offer from HiLabs through campus placements.

Round 1: Online Coding Test (Nov 2, 2022)

The test comprised 10 MCQs covering Operating Systems, OOPs, DBMS, and C++, with varying point values. This was followed by two DSA questions of medium-hard difficulty. The first problem (20 points) involved math, and the second (50 points) was based on graphs. The candidate answered 7 MCQs and the first DSA problem.

Round 2: Technical Interview 1 (Dec 1, 2022)

The interview began with an introduction and a discussion about the courses studied. This led to a DSA problem based on 1-D Dynamic Programming. After a satisfactory approach, a 2-D DP problem was given, for which the candidate moved from a recursive to an optimized dynamic programming solution. Follow-up questions included the number of recursive calls and distinct solutions. The interview also included SQL questions (group by, joins, an easy-level query) and a puzzle (Blind Man and Pills).

Round 3: Technical Interview 2 (Dec 1, 2022)

This round focused on the candidate's resume and technical expertise. The discussion started with React-Redux, as it was used in an internship project, covering its advantages, hooks, lifecycle phases, and methods. Two medium-difficulty SQL questions followed, one requiring temporary table creation and another tricky query. Questions on backend development, such as 'cookies' and 'Remember me' features, were also asked. The candidate was honest about limited backend experience but shared basic understanding. The round concluded with a short discussion on the potential impact of a recession on the company.

The interviewers were described as friendly and willing to provide hints. Key takeaways for aspirants included reading the job description carefully, thinking out loud, sharing time complexities and edge cases, and being honest about what you don't know.