Mode of Application: A recruiter reached out to me via my Naukri profile regarding a Analyst Developer opportunity at FNZ

🔹 Round 1: Online Assessment (HackerRank)

The first round was an online test on HackerRank consisting of 8 questions.

Breakdown:

• 1 SQL Question

  • Required performing a PIVOT operation on a table
  • Tested understanding of data transformation and aggregation

• 1 C# Coding Question

  • Given an interface, needed to implement required methods
  • Most of the logic involved using LINQ for data manipulation

• 5 Aptitude MCQs

  • Basic logical reasoning and quantitative questions

👉 Overall, the round focused on practical SQL + clean C# implementation + basic aptitude

🔹 Round 2: Technical Interview

1. Database Design

• Reviewed a 3-table schema

• Suggested:

  • Adding Primary Keys
  • Defining Foreign Key relationships
  • Using ENUMs for fixed values
  • Using DECIMAL instead of FLOAT for monetary fields

• Wrote 2 SQL queries based on the schema

2. SQL Performance & Indexing

• Optimized a given query

Suggestions:

• Add indexes
• Avoid correlated subqueries

Follow-ups:

• What are indexes?
• Types (clustered, non-clustered)
• How indexes improve performance

3. C# Code Review

• Reviewed 2 code snippets

Key improvements:

• Move DB logic to Repository layer
• Prevent SQL Injection (use parameterized queries)
• Replace string return type with boolean

4. Dependency Injection & SOLID

• Explained Dependency Injection (DI)

• Covered:

  • SRP (Single Responsibility Principle)
  • OCP (Open/Closed Principle)

5. Coding Round – Banking System

• Implemented:

  • Deposit & Withdraw
  • Savings Account (Min balance: 1000)
  • Current Account (Min balance: 0)

• Extended to:

  • Transfer between accounts

6. Design Improvements

Suggested:

• Strategy Pattern → for account-specific rules
• Factory Pattern → for account creation

🔹 Round 3: Culture Fit (Face-to-Face)

This was a face-to-face discussion focusing on mindset and alignment.

Questions asked:

• Why FNZ?
• Why are you switching?
• What does FNZ do?
• What is your current role?
• What is the most challenging part of your current job?

👉 My answer for challenge:

• I discussed requirement gathering from stakeholders
• Explained how handling ambiguity and aligning expectations can be difficult

💡 Overall Experience

• Interview was very interactive and deep

• Strong focus on:

  • Fundamentals (SQL, C#)
  • System design thinking
  • Communication & clarity

• Every concept mentioned was explored with detailed follow-up questions

🔥 Tips for Future Candidates

• Be strong in SQL (especially joins, indexing, pivoting)
• Practice LINQ-based C# problems
• Revise SOLID principles + design patterns
• Be ready to justify every decision you make
• Prepare real examples for behavioral questions

❌ Verdict: Rejected after Final Round