Introduction
I recently had the opportunity to attend an off-campus recruitment drive conducted by Tech Mahindra in Hyderabad for the position of Associate Software Engineer. I am sharing my experience here to help others prepare better for their interviews.
Overview of the Process
The process began with a pre-placement talk, during which the company representatives provided important insights about the selection stages and expectations.
Online Test
The online test was divided into six sections, comprising a total of 130 questions. There were no negative marks or sectional time limits, but each section had a specific cut-off.
Sections Included:
- Aptitude: Questions covering basic numerical and analytical problems.
- Reasoning: Logical reasoning and problem-solving tasks.
- English: Grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension-focused questions.
- Essay Writing: A short writing task on a given topic.
- Technical: Questions related to programming and core technical concepts.
- HR: Behavioral and situational queries.
Round 1: Aptitude Test
This section had 130 questions to be completed within 80 minutes.
Breakdown of Questions:
- English (70 questions): Basic grammar (prepositions, articles), vocabulary (synonyms, antonyms), and paragraph-based comprehension.
- Quantitative Aptitude and Reasoning (60 questions): Topics included partnerships, profit and loss, time and distance, picture series, blood relations, and analogies.
Out of 400 students, only 60 advanced to the next round.
Round 2: English Essay Writing
For this round, I had to write an essay on a randomly assigned topic within 1200 characters and a time limit of 10 minutes.
Sample Topics:
- "Mother or Father - Who is a Better Parent?"
- "Should Facebook Be Banned?"
- "What Animal Would You Like to Be If Given a Chance?"
Accuracy in grammar, clarity of thought, and quick thinking were essential. Of the 58 students who cleared the aptitude test, 38 moved to the next stage.
Round 3: Technical Interview
This round focused on my technical knowledge, projects, and problem-solving skills.
Questions Asked:
- Introduce yourself.
- Share details about your projects and your role in them.
- Why do you want to join Tech Mahindra?
- What is encapsulation in C++?
- Explain some basic concepts of Java.
- Problem-solving: A question on series and another on profit and loss.
- Challenges faced during B.Tech studies beyond academics.
The interviewer appreciated my responses and called me for the HR interview after about 10 minutes.
Round 4: HR Interview
The HR interview had a relaxed and conversational tone. Since it was late in the evening, three candidates were interviewed together.
Questions Included:
- How was your technical interview?
- Are you comfortable relocating to a different city?
- General questions about my hobbies and interests.
Outcome
Out of 400 participants, 30 students were selected, and I was ecstatic to be one of them. This marked my first job offer, and it was a moment of immense pride for me.
