Round 1 - Problem Solving | Elimination
Taken by Karat | Attempt-1
Two easy-medium questions.
- Problem(s):
- Problem related to string parsing, leetcode easy-medium level
- Extension of the above problem
- Platform: Karat
I took a lot of time in explaining and coding the solution for first question due to which didn't got time for coding the second version of the problem.
Indeed allows a second attempt for this karat interview, in case you are not satisfied with your interview. Since, I did not get time to code the second question, decided to use the second attempt.
Taken by Karat | Attempt-2
Three easy-medium questions.
- Problem(s):
- Problem related to finding wheter it's possible to form a given word by selecting continuous chain of characters from a char matrix.
- Two extension of the above problem, in which multiple words are given, and we have to return list of all words we can form using the characters in matrix.
- Platform: Karat
I was able to discuss and code the two versions of the problem and we discussed the solution for the third version, didn't get time to code the third version.
Got call for selection in next round within 2-3 days.
Round 2 - PBDS | Elimination
Taken by SE-II
Only one question and its variations was asked in this round.
- Problem(s):
- Started with an easy level tree question. Discussed two-three solutions for it.
- Moved to a graph version of the same problem, which I solved using dp after taking one hint from the interviewer.
- Platform: Hackerrank code pair
Got call for selection in next rounds within 2-3 days.
Round 3 - Code Review
Taken by SE-II
Discussions about work. Questions related to why leaving, why Indeed, etc.
Interviewer shared a CPP code snippet scattered across three files on GitHub. I was to go through the code and write any suggestions/feedback about the code. This was basically a role-play as a code reviewer.
I was able to suggest a lot of design, memory and functionality related comments for the shared code.
- Platform: Github
Round 4 - Whiteboard-III
Taken by a panel of Staff software engineer and an SE-II
General introduction. Question on most challenging project.
Given a memory optimization problem. I started with a brute force version which was very bad. Thinking loudly and continuous discussions with interviewers helped me in coming with a good solution to the problem. They seemed happy. One of them even praised me for leading the discussions in whole round.
- Platform: Hackerrank code pair
Round 5 - Whiteboard-II
Taken by a panel of two SE-II
Started with general introduction. The interviewer supposed to be taking the interview never switched on his camera and only said three small sentences during the whole 1 hr interview.
Given a problem related to string parsing by the shadow interviewer for which I suggested a little optimized brute force solution.
Was asked to look for a better solution. I struggled in this round. There was no communication between me and the interviewers. I received one hint after 5 minutes of silence - "look for some data structures you can use to solve this problem". After that again followed by long stretches of silence from the interviewers side. I was thinking loudly whole time in hope, that they will direct me to the correct approach, but didn't received any feedback from them.
Suggested a somewhat more optimized solution than the first one, but still not the optiminal one(according to the shadow interviewer expressions). Got more nervous and calculated wrong time complexity of the solution. Interviewers never given any feedback that I am calculating wrong complexity.
- Platform: Hackerrank code pair
Round 6 - Close Interview
Taken by Director of Engineering | 30 mins
Feedback about the interview process.
Q: What I would have done better in last round?
A: I told that I should have asked for hints.
Q: What we could have done better?
A: Told him that in last round, there was a gap in communication. Interviewers should provide some hints to candidates if they seems stuck.
Other questions like, Why leaving, why Indeed, etc.
Feedback
Reject | Reason - Not able to come with optimal solution and calculated incorrect time complexity in Whiteboard-II.
Suggestions
- Ask for hints if you get stuck because providing an optimal solution with hints is better than providing a sub-optimal solution without taking any hints.
Other Info
Applied directly through careers page.
Prior Experience: 1.3 Year
College: Tier 2-3
Last 4 round were taken on same day.
Recruiter first reached on: Last week, August
First Karat round date: First week, Sept
Last 4 Rounds date: Last week, Oct
Feedback Received on: One day after the last round.
Other Experience