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Cisco || SDE Intern Interview Experience || [Rejected]
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About Myself:
I'm a dedicated B.Tech student majoring in Information Technology at Madan Mohan Malaviya University of Technology, Gorakhpur, currently in my third year. I'm passionate about using my technical skills to drive innovation in the IT industry. I'm currently a Problem Setter Coding Intern at iMochaWorks and have experience as a Doubt Solver in CodeChef for competitive programming. I specialize in C++ and Java and I'm also exploring Full-Stack Development. In competitive programming, I've achieved notable ranks in various contests.
I had the opportunity to interview for the Software Engineering Intern position at Cisco for the year 2024. I'd like to share my interview journey with all of you.
Stage 1: Code with Cisco Online Coding Round
In the initial "Code with Cisco" coding round, I, along with my teammates Sahil bhaiya and Vivek, successfully solved all three dynamic programming questions. However, despite our efforts, we did not make it to the next round because our completion time was 40 minutes, while the selected candidates completed the questions in 30 minutes. Nevertheless, due to our strong performance, we all received individual coding round links from Cisco.
Stage 2: Individual Coding Round
In the individual coding round, there were 30 aptitude questions and 2 coding questions. I managed to solve only one of the coding questions, but this was enough to help me clear this round.
Subsequently, I received an interview invitation. This technical interview round began with the interviewer asking me to showcase a project I had recently worked on—a to-do list application. I was tasked with implementing additional functionalities in the project, and I successfully completed all the assigned tasks.
Stage 3: Technical Interview Round
The interviewer then shifted the focus to computer network and operating system questions, to which I provided answers for about half of them. Following that, I was presented with some basic data structure and algorithms questions, which I managed to solve without any issues.
Stage 4: Managerial Round
After a few hours, I received an invitation for the managerial round, which was the final stage of the interview process. During this round, the interviewer again inquired about my project and was satisfied with my responses. We discussed computer network concepts once more, and I managed to answer about half of the questions correctly. The interviewer also asked me some managerial questions to assess my soft skills and decision-making abilities.
However, after waiting for two hours, I received the message that I did not clear the managerial round. While I'm not entirely sure about the selection criteria, I view this experience as a valuable learning opportunity and a chance to improve.
Tips for Clearing the Interviews:
Preparation:
Make sure to thoroughly prepare for the technical rounds. Brush up on data structures, algorithms, computer networks, and operating systems. Practice coding problems regularly to improve your problem-solving skills.
Project Showcase:
Be ready to showcase your projects and explain your role and contributions. Practice explaining your projects in a clear and concise manner.
Soft Skills:
Work on your soft skills and be prepared to answer managerial and behavioral questions. These questions often assess your ability to work in a team, handle challenges, and make decisions.
Time Management:
Pay attention to time management, especially in coding rounds. Try to optimize your problem-solving speed while maintaining accuracy.
Learn from Rejections:
If you face rejection, view it as a learning opportunity. Understand your weaknesses and work on improving them for future interviews.
Stay Positive:
Stay motivated and remain positive throughout the interview process. Confidence and a positive attitude can make a significant difference.
Remember that interviews are not just about proving your technical skills but also about demonstrating your ability to work in a professional setting. Keep honing your skills, and you'll have a better chance of success in future interviews.