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𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥...
Flashback to 2022, my third year of engineering, and the initiation of my LeetCode problem-solving journey. Cisco, visiting our campus for a pooled campus drive, set the stage for my first-ever interview experience.
👥 OA Assessment:
Following an Online Assessment (OA) where 20-25 students from my batch were shortlisted, a mix of nerves and excitement permeated the air. The interview call arrived on March 9, 2022, setting the stage for a series of four elimination rounds scheduled for the very next day, all conducted on Webex. The selected and rejected lists for each round were shared in the Webex chat section.
Two problems were presented in the OA – one focused on bit manipulation, and the other centered around the application of Floyd-Warshall algorithms.
1️⃣ Round 1 - OOPS & DSA.
The initial round, delving into OOPS, strings, and linked list problems, went smoothly, earning me a ticket to the next phase. Unfortunately, more than 60% of my batchmates faced rejection after this round, lasting approximately 45 minutes.
2️⃣ Managerial Round:
The managerial round, a mix of good and not-so-good moments, proved to be a 50-50 experience. Luck favored me as I moved forward, along with only one fellow batchmate, leaving the rest behind. The round took around 30-35 minutes.
3️⃣ System Design, Networking & DSA Round :
Meeting the exceptional Ravi Kiran in the third round, I swiftly handled a binary search problem. The discussion shifted to networking concepts, including TCP/UDP, three-way handshaking, and the distinctions between routers and switches. Ravi then explored Netflix's design, where I confessed my knowledge gap. Nevertheless, it became one of the best interviews I've ever faced, thanks to Ravi's guidance. Following this round, I was the sole candidate from my batch to secure an HR round call after a brief 2-3 hour wait. This comprehensive session lasted around 50 minutes.
4️⃣ HR Round:
In the HR round with Shruthi N, She asked about personal strengths, weaknesses, then salary discussions, and internship location preferences. A concise yet meaningful conversation lasting around 10 minutes.
🌐 The Hopeful Wait & Unexpected Turn:
Post HR round, optimism filled the air, rumors circulated, and my family anticipated positive news. However, reality struck on March 21 with a rejection email. A kind of similar emotion was felt when India lost the World Cup on November 19.
𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡! 🤝𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 AMAN BABU 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄.
PS : Keeping in Mind Every rejection is an opportunity for one step closer to your selection.
Sharing this journey isn't just about the rejection; it's learning from experiences, and staying strong.
#CiscoInterview #CareerJourney #Resilience #LearningAndGrowth 🚀📈
