TnPedia2012 PDF

1
INDEX
Deutsche Bank
ITC
Microsoft IDC
Microsoft IDC
Microsoft IDC
Microsoft IDC
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto
Schlumberger
Schlumberger
Bank Bazaar
Bank Bazaar
Bank Bazaar
Epic
Ebay
Paypal
Paypal
Qualcomm India
Yahoo Software Development
Flipkart
General Electric
NetApp
ZS Associates
ZS Associates
Airbus Engineering Centre India
2
6
8
10
12
14
16
17
18
21
23
25
27
29
31
34
36
39
41
42
43
44
45
47
49
51
53
55
57
59
62
65
67
Cisco Systems
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Symantec
IBM (ISL)
I-runway
Pipavav Defence And Offshore Engineering Company Ltd.
Pipavav Defense And Offshore Engineering Company Ltd
Reliance Industries Ltd.
Tata Steel
Tata Steel
IRS
Mahindra And Mahindra
Wipro
Wipro
Wipro
Wipro
Deloitte
General Motors
Snapdeal
Tata Motors Limited
Tata Motors Limited
Tata Motors Limited
Tata Motors Limited
IBM (ISL)
Coal India Ltd.
Coal India Ltd.
Hero Motocorp
Infotech Enterprises
IBM (GBS)
Rajiv Gandhi University Of Knowledge Technology
Shimizu Corporation
69
71
72
74
76
78
79
81
83
84
86
87
88
89
90
92
93
95
96
98
99
101
102
103
104
105
107
108
110
112
114
115
116
117
118
3
INTRODUCTION
It is that time of the year when shorts and football cleats are exchanged for suits
and ties, when the buzzwords on campus become resume, and package, and
when the calm and soporific life of the average final year KGPian is derailed by a
slew of tests, group discussions and interviews. It is the time when some of lifes
biggest decisions are made and careers are finalised through a rigorous process of evaluation, where the academic knowledge, IQ and overall personality of
an individual comes to the fore. Yes, it is placement season - the culmination of
your stay in this institute and your stepping stone to the professional world that
lies beyond.
To help you in your pursuit of making the right choice and getting the ideal
placement, The Scholars Avenue presents TnPedia 2012-13. This document
is a complete guide to the eligibility criteria, specific requirements and modus
operandi of selection of the multitude of companies that will be visiting the campus in the days to come. You will also find suggested preparation strategies and
general tips for each, all provided by the students of IIT Kharagpur who have
already gone through the experience. We hope that this document will serve as
a great help to you during the placement season.

DISCLAIMER:
These are actual responses from the students of IIT Kharagpur. We are not responsible for any factual errors in any of the entries.
Note: This document is for Internal Circulation only
Best of Luck to all those sitting for the Placement season
PREFACE
Hear it from the Placement Committee Head:
With the imminent onset of the placement season, The Scholars Avenue caught
up with Professor S. K. Barai to gain some insight into the challenges faced by
him at the helm of affairs of the TnP cell. Over the course of a video interview,
Professor Barai talked about the various methods he has devised and the courses of action he has taken to streamline the process of placing a rapidly burgeoning student population. Despite contacting an increasing number of companies
every year, many cannot turn up for campus recruitment owing to the fact that
the other IITs also conduct their placements at the same time. Another major
problem that has particularly been seen this year is the refusal of PPOs by a
large number of students. With the job market getting more competitive with
each passing day, it is highly recommended that a student accepts a PPO and
settles himself early on without having to go through the rigours of multiple tests
and interviews to get placed.
There are also cases of companies shying away from KGP or holding the institute in poor light due to unethical and improper actions of students who have
already gotten placed in the last few years. Also, students sometimes put inaccurate information in their CVs without realising that a proper checking system is
in place for most companies. While there are bound to be problems when dealing with the task of shaping the careers of so many students, such problems can
be avoided by a heightened level of integrity.
Professor Barai wishes everyone the very best of luck and urges all students to
maintain that level as befits a student of one of the primary technical institutions
in the country.
Index
Day
1
Deutsche Bank
Departments open to | Open to All
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Academic Credentials:
Yes
CGPA > 8.0, the more the better, finance courses/economics background
What are the sources of

information available?:
Extra-Academic involvement:
Economic Times, puzzles

and brainteasers, CAT material (for test), online articles
about current affairs in
finance
Fair amount of involvement
Specific skills required:
Department and course

of candidate:
Finance related internships would help
MA
Package notified:
21.5 lakhs
Probable places of posting:

Mumbai
your preparedness level
Math and quantitative ability, good communication skills
Projects and internships completed:

Suggested preparation strategy:
Test: CAT material is ideal. Prepare as if youre going to give CAT
Interview: Finance - read up articles and discuss with someone who is
well versed with fundamentals in the field. Being knowledgable enough
to hold your own in a conversation would help
Puzzles: Make sure to go through standard puzzles available on several websites (such as google puzzles)
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Test
Quantitative test, very similar to CAT
Quick computing, same as those required for CAT
DO prepare for CAT and take their tests, practice solving questions
quickly and accurately
Dont rely on cheating
Stage 2: CV based selection

Stage 3: Interviews
3-4 rounds of interview
Good communication skills, good knowledge of all the current affairs in
finance with enough idea about issues around them to hold a conver
Index
Deutsche Bank
The
selection
process
sation and give your own views on them. Department specific knowledge for maths and economics students
DO sit for mock interviews, take your mentors advice seriously, be
confident about what you know (this will come through as rigorous
preparation on whats mentioned above). Dont try to bluff.
Stage 1:
Test
Stage 2:
CV based selection
Stage 3:
Interviews
Index
Day
1
ITC
Departments open to | Chemical, Mechanical, Agricultural and Food, Electronics. Electrical Engg
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
A CGPA of above 8 is important.

of candidate:
Chemical Engineering, Dual

Degree
Package notified:
Munger / Guntur / Haridwar
/ Bangalore / Chennai / Kolkata / Sahranpur / Pune
ITC generally looks at the balance between academics and extra-academics. If the CGPA is in the lower range of 7.5 - 8.5, there should be
sufficient extra-academics and extra-curricular efforts in the CV ( Core
Team / Inter-IIT / Inter-halls/ Start-ups/ Papers or any other position of
responsibility ) .

ITC does not test quantitative skills / programming knowledge. Which
ever department you are from, there should be at-least one area of
expertise. They generally ask technical questions based on the internships/academic work done in your CV.

Internships in companies will definitely help. Especially some experience of working in a factory / leading a team in a project would be
good. Other than that, any impactful intern ( FT too ) will surely add
value.

It always helps in the interview if the candidate has done a lot of research on the company. Normally people do not research much and
stumble when questions like Why ITC specifically are asked. Do
research about ITC. ITCs CSR initiatives, products, divisions etc.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Round I
Candidates are grilled with technical and HR questions. The technical questions are picked from your CV based on the work done during internships / projects / BTP / MTP etc. Other than that the panel
might ask questions from your area of expertise like Thermodynamics,
Pumps, Compressors, Design etc. After the technical grilling,some HR
questions are also asked based on your extra-academics.
Mostly HR questions, but some interviews can get technical too.
During the technical round, it might happen that you are not be able
to answer all the questions. Just try to be inquisitive and work out
the problem at hand. Leaves a very good impression on the interview
panel.
Index
ITC
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Round I
Stage 2: Round II
Only candidates who clear round I give this final interview. Interview is
generally taken by the head of a division .
Since the candidate has cleared round I, round II is a much simpler
round. So just be confident about your answers .
Stage 2:
Round II
Index
Day
1
Microsoft IDC
Departments open to | CS (B.Tech, M.Tech, Dual degree), IT
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
Above 7.0.

You can collect every information about microsoft idc

at http://careers.microsoft.
com/

of candidate:
CS
Package notified:
16.5L

Hyderabad
Details of bond, if any:

No bond
Past recruitment history:

I know only about M.Tech
CS, they took only 1 candidate last .
Not needed.

Master of C, C++, Dynamic programming, Data structures (Linked List
and Tree).

No

http://www.geeksforgeeks.org/ and http://www.careercup.com/ are the
best sites for preparation.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Written
Written test contains 2 papers - one subjective and one objective, each
of 30 marks. Objective contains 10 questions each of 3 marks and
there is negative marking. Subjective contains 3 questions each of 10
marks.
In objective, there will be questions on algorithms, operating system
and predicting the output of C codes (this time they gave python code)
and a few questions on aptitude.
In subjective, one question will be to write a full working code in C. The
next will be to write on test cases for the problem specified and last
one will be a design problem.
Coding questions, mainly data structure problems in linked list and
trees (code to be written on copy). Question will be from your area of
interest. It will last upto 45 minutes-1 hours.
In objective, never ever attempt a question, if unsure, as there is
negative marking. In subjective, cross check the code for any logical
or syntatic error. Please write a working code. If you have time, write
comments. While writing test cases, cover each and every possibility
specified in the problem. Write in a neat and clean manner. In a design
problem, study the question carefully. Dont miss any design issue or
point.
10
Index
Microsoft IDC
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written
Stage 2:
Interview-1
Stage 3:
Interview-2
Stage 4:
Interview-3
Stage 2: Interview-1
It will be the first round of interview and each round is an elimination
round.
Dont jump to a solution immediately. Accept it if you have seen the
problem earlier. Think before you speak, pay attention on complexity
of the problem in terms of space and time, review your code by yourself and only then, show it to the interviewer. Dont make logical errors
in code, otherwise it will be a problem. Look for better solutions with
good complexity. Most important think aloud, which means speak while
thinking. so that interviewer may know what you are thinking and he
can give you help. MOST IMPORTANT :- Whatever you say, you must
be able to prove it.
This round will also focus on your coding skill.
Again, question will be from your area of interest and coding in C. The
problems toughness level will increase. The expected question will be
from dynamic programming and back tracking.
While solving dynamic programming question, dont make any assumptions. Ask a lot of questions, get your doubts cleared and then
start solving the question. Think aloud, if you get stuck, you may ask
for a hint to solve the problem. Never give up, keep on trying to solve
question.
This will be the last interview, with the senior most member of team.
In this round, one or two coding questions are given but the main one
will be the design question. Design question means the problem statement will be given to you. You have to design the solution to it and then
code it.
Ask a lot of questions in the design part. Get your doubts cleared
about the scenario. Dont land up with any solution which is impossible
to code there.
11
Index
Day
1
Microsoft IDC
Departments open to | CSE, MA
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
GPA does not really matter as long as you can answer the interviewers
questions correctly/properly/intelligently. They selected students with
varying GPAs.. 7 pointers, 8 and 9, all were selected. But generally try
to maintain good grades in core courses.

of candidate:
CSE, Dual Degree
Package notified:
16.5 LPA CTC

Hyderabad

None

Always been a Day 1 company.. Usually selects 6-10
students.
None what-so-ever.

Programming skills matter a lot. The way you approach a problem and
devise an algorithm is important. So, math and quantitative abilities are
always helpful. Programming language is not a concern as long as you
can write the pseudo-code. But which ever language you choose, be
very through with its syntax.

Any internship with a decent component of coding/designing/debugging/testing software is fine. You should be able to explain your project, what the problem was, how your solution worked and how you
implemented it.
Any other critical factors?:

Having good coding skills helps a lot.Being able to write a perfect code
at the first go leaves a good impression!

Google for Microsoft Interview Questions and youll probably get
tonnes of pages with relevant information. Majority of the questions
are on pointers, linked-lists, queues which most KGPians manage to
ace. Prepare the core-courses nicely. At-least know the fundamentals
properly, something many KGPians miss. If you clear the written tests,
then its only a question of demonstrating that you can think, learn and
adapt to given problems and constraints. So be clear in your head
and think aloud. They give a lot of hints so consider them too. A good
grasp on fundamental concepts will make you life much easier. Good
Luck!
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Written Test

Written test taken was around mid October. 10 multiple choice questions, 3 subjective questions for (developer, product manager, testing)
profiles [all compulsory].
12
Index
Microsoft IDC
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
Interview 1
Stage 3:
Interview 2
Stage 4:
Interview 3
Stage 5:
Interview 4
Data-structures, algorithm analysis and complexity. Basic syntax of

common languages like C/C++/Java/Python. Fundamental concepts of
core courses. Coding skills to handle pointers, linked lists, queues and
stacks. Ability to find bugs/loop-holes in codes.
Ability to write a clean code taking into account the boundary cases
correctly. Identify potential bugs/common mistakes so as to write good
test cases.
Prepare pointers/linked-lists questions extremely well. These are the
bread and butter for any Microsoft test or interview. Learn to analyse
codes quickly and correctly. Go through the core concepts of Operating Systems, Networks and Databases. In subjective part, be as simple
and clear as possible, so that the checker doesnt have to re-read your
solution to understand it.Carefully plan it in your mind before starting
to write.
Stage 2: Interview 1
One-to-One interactive interview with 1-2 questions. Coding a solution
for a problem, and writing test cases for it. Given a problem, tell various approaches to solve it.
Always think aloud what ever you are writing or planning to do. Never
be silent for too long. Keep telling the interviewer what you are thinking
about and how you are about to approach the solution. Why you are
discarding other possible/obvious solutions.
Another one-on-one interview discussing core-concepts related to
systems
Good hold of fundamental concepts in operating systems, networks,
database system and distributed systems. I was first asked to design
a distributed system to handle several requests at once, and then calculate the maximum throughput. These can be solved using classical
concepts in OS/Distributed Systems.
Know the core courses properly. Definition of small things/concepts
from operating systems and networks.
Another one-on-one interview focusing on past internships, projects
etc. Ability to describe your projects properly. Describing the problem
statement, a high level overview of your approach, and how you implemented it.
Dont go into very fine details unless the interviewer specifically ask for
them.Give a high level overview of everything so that he gets a feel for
what you have done.They usually ask you to justify the decisions you
took during the project, and introduce new constraints and ask you reconsider your solution.
Small coding problem, with HR question
Basic coding skills, and test cases identification. Be ready to give a
nice answer when the person asks Why join Microsoft?
Nothing much, just act natural.
13
Index
Day
1
Microsoft IDC
Departments open to | CS, MA
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
A CGPA cutoff of 7.0

of candidate:
CS
Not essential, but can earn you brownie points. I used my robotics
background to very good effect during the interviews.
Package notified:
No
Good computer programming skills are required. Knowing C++/Python

is a bonus.
Hyderabad

Not aware
It is highly beneficial to mention exceptional achievements, if any. Also

if the BTP/MTP is unique, they are ready to listen to you talk about it
for several minutes.

Imagination is the key criteria to crack Microsofts interviews. You have
to understand the problem at hand from the customers point of view
and but also keep implementation costs in mind.

Question pattern of Microsoft written test is pretty standard and that
will consist of at least one design question and one programming
question among others. For objective questions, emphasis is almost
always on finding test cases for the model/code designed. Neither the
written test questions nor the interview questions are algorithm intensive, unlike Google or Facebook. The websites below can be very helpful in preparing for the Computer Science related interviews in particular: http://www.mytechinterviews.com/ http://sameerbsws.blogspot.in/
http://www.geeksforgeeks.org/ http://classic-puzzles.blogspot.in/
Stages
of selection

It was a written test held during the Autumn semester used for shortlisting candidates for the personal interviews in December.
Some 10-20 MCQs testing your basic Computer Science skills ranging
from programming, graph theory to networking and operating systems.
One computer program to reverse a linked list from its kth element to
the last element was to be written. A design question was asked as
well.
14
Index
Microsoft IDC
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
Technical round 1
Stage 3:
Technical Round 2
Stage 4:
HR Round
1. Write code for multiplying two numbers without using the * operator and list all the test cases. 2. Design a vending machine for kids of
age group 5-16 years.
1. Practice linked list, binary tree, bitwise operation, array related
programs. You can find many of them on the internet. 2. Practicing
design questions from the internet can also help in thinking in the right
direction and help solve a given problem quickly. 3. Put great emphasis
on taking care of any boundary conditions while writing code. It has a
lot of weightage in getting you selected for the PIs. 4. Be as elaborate
as possible when doing the system design problem. It is a measure of
your understanding of the problems.
Stage 2: Technical round 1

This was a one-on-one interview.
Think aloud. The interviewers are also interested in your approach
besides the end result.
Stage 3: Technical Round 2

1. Write C code to implement atoi() and itoa(). List out the test cases.
2. Most senior citizens do not know how to use a smartphone. Make
design changes to help them. how will you convince your team if it opposes your proposal?
Same as in Phase II
Stage 4: HR Round
1. A long discussion about my MTP. 2. Was asked to estimate the
number of Maruti 800s in Kolkata. I tried to put in as many parameters
as possible into deriving the solution. The more elaborate your analysis
is, better are you chances of getting through. The end result does not
matter much. 3. A discussion about my team leadership skills.
1. Try to cite examples from your past to support your answers in the
HR round. Standard answers practiced from the internet alone may not
help much. For a technical company, try to be as technical as possible
even in the HR rounds.
15
Index
Day
1
Microsoft IDC
Departments open to | CS, MA(Mathematics and Computing)
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
Excellent Programming skills

www.careercup.com, www.
geeksforgeeks.org

of candidate:
No
Stages
of selection
CS, Dual Degree
Package notified:
Around 16.5L
10 objective questions followed by 3 subjective questions. Subjective

questions included coding (like reversing linked list), designing a software and testing a software.
Also, Level order traversal, String manipulation, etc
Software Development
Engineer
Stage 2: Interview
3-6 rounds of interviews. I was selected just in 3 rounds of interview.

Practice writing codes on a piece of paper.
No
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
Interview
16
Index
Day
1
Rio Tinto
Departments open to | Mining, Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical Engg
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Good academic credentials, but you dont require a very high CGPA.

Team involvement is encouraged.
Company website and

alumni.

of candidate:
Mechanical Engg, Manufacturing Science and Engg
Package notified:
Not available.

Australia
Internships and projects in your own department subjects is encouraged.

Good communication skills
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Online application

Recruiting for the past 2
years
The
No
selection
process
Stage 1:
Online application
Stage 2:
Telephonic Interview
Simple HR questions.
Specifics of the company. Why do you want to join the company? What
do you understand about safety? These were some of the common
questions asked to applicants
Dont upload information that you cannot justify.
Stage 2: Telephonic Interview

Stage 3: Online Test
Pretty easy test (Focused areas: math ability, verbal ability, and a psychometric test)
Stage 4: HR and Technical Interview at campus
The technical questions are pretty tough, one should prepare a lot. HR
questions are pretty standard and easy.
Stage 3:
Online Test
Stage 4:
HR and Technical Interview at campus
Simple HR questions and questions related to your department
17
Index
Day
1
Rio Tinto
Departments open to | Electrical, Chemical, Mining, Mechanical, Geology, Industrial Engg
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
They gave preference to people with higher CGPA. Almost all the students selected by Rio Tinto had CGPA > 8. However a low CGPA can
always be compensated. My CGPA is considerably less than 8 but I did
very good in the application process and interviews.

Company website and
alumni. Go through the career section in the website
for all the details about their
graduate program, this will
help you a lot in the interview.

of candidate:
Mining Engineering, B.Tech
Package notified:
Not clear.
Extra academic activities will definitely help you in the selection process and HR interview. How much they matter depends on your profile.

No. The online tests conducted by Rio Tinto are relatively very easy
and can be cleared by almost everyone.

International internships help you a lot in the selection process. As the
place of posting is overseas, they tend to prefer people with international work experience. Internships in core companies will be given
more weightage as compared to other fields.
Projects involving simulation, numerical modelling might be given
importance.
Australia ( Most Probably )
For Rio Tinto, its your overall personality that matters. A low CGPA can
always be compensated with a good application. You need to be very
fluent with English, your communication skills matter a lot.
N/A

Last year the company recruited 5-6 students
Having a good balance between academics and extra academics will

give you an edge over others.

For Rio Tinto your personality matters a lot. So be very thorough with
HR questions. Whatever happens during the interview, just dont lose
your confidence. Prepare a list of all the activities you did during your
stay at Kgp and write down what you learnt from them.
Also be prepared when asked about your failures. Start preparing for
interviews well in advance. Go through your internship and project
reports, itll help you in the interview. Talk to alumni, they are usually a
great resource of information about the company. Show some excitement during the interview,interviewers should know that you are very
keen to join their company.
Finally, Dont LIE anywhere in the application or CV.
18
Index
Rio Tinto
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Application process
Stage 2:
Phone interview
Stage 3:
Online tests
Stage 4:
First Interview
Stage 5:
Second interview
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Application process

You need to answer 3 questions as a part of application process.
Spend a lot of time answering those questions. Youll also be sending
your CV in this stage.
I was asked various questions like why Rio Tinto, what are the products of Rio Tinto, where is it operating in India, etc. There was also a
question based on sustainability development in mining companies.
The last thing you would want in your application is a spelling mistake.
Review those 3 questions as many times as possible. Be very specific
in your answers. Go through the company website, wikipedia and other
material for information about the company. Your answers should show
that you are genuinely interested in the company and that you have
done research about them beforehand.
Stage 2: Phone interview

All the questions were HR oriented.
Be very loud and clear during the call. If you dont understand anything, dont hesitate to ask the interviewer to repeat the question. Give
an alternative phone number along with your mobile number and make
sure you have that mobile also with you during the stipulated time of
the interview.
Stage 3: Online tests

They are very easy when compared to other companies. You need not
worry about them.
There will be a big personality questionnaire that you need to answer.
Dont lie much but make sure that your personality that you are projecting matches with the companys requirement.
Stage 4: First Interview

Almost all the questions were HR oriented. My interview lasted around
45 mins, though it was quite less for others.
A few questions are the same as the phone interview. Most of the
questions asked were test the personality of the candidate.
Dont be nervous and shy during the interview. Be honest, dont lie. Try
to show that you can adopt to new environments very easily. Talk about
your foreign intern or any other international experience you have had.
Mention your leadership and team work skills wherever possible. Prepare for HR questions. Talk to as many alumni as possible and make
sure that you mention it during the interview. The interviewer might ask
you if you have any questions about the company or job profile. Prepare a few smart questions for this. Have some sense of humor. In my
case the interviewer was laughing for almost all the time.
Stage 5: Second interview

This is the final stage and a few students will be shortlisted based on
performance in the first interview. This interview is very short. The
interviewer told me that they just want to take a 2nd opinion on the
candidate before confirming the offer.
19
Index
Rio Tinto
There might be some technical questions along with questions based on your resume. A few questions
asked in the first round might be repeated.
20
If you make it to this round it means you did good till now. So be confident and show the same enthusiasm during this interview also. Be very thorough with each and every line in your resume. Dont exaggerate too much about the projects and interns in your CV. I know someone who got rejected as he
exaggerated about his work in the internship and could not explain that during the interview. Youll need
to ask some questions about the work profile in this round as well. So prepare some good number of
questions.
Index
Day
1
Rio Tinto
Departments open to | Chemical Electrical Mechanical Industrial Engg
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Even though they did not mention any weightage to CGPA, most of
the successful candidates had a CGPA > 8.0 (not sure for GG & Mining
though)

Reading about the company
is a must, as it will certainly
help in form filling, telephonic interview & PI. Sites
I referred are : Rio Tintos
Global website Careers Rio Tinto Along with that I
also talked with friends in
the company.

of candidate:
Chemical - Dual
Package notified:
30.65 lac/annum (it may
increase depending on your
posting location)

Australia

None

It came in 2011 as well Day-2
Any leadership position, entrepreneurial activity would make candidature strong

none

Projects related to field work, foreign exposure,etc would help

Candidate should have decent knowledge about Rio Tintos activities.
And be prepared to face some questions on the same.

Think of the possible questions and make some points well in advance,
That would help (certainly no need to mug up everything, but make
them as guidelines, so that you do not miss any important points). Be
confident while answering questions, be cheerful and well dressed. Be
prepared to substantiate every point mentioned in your CV ( by citing
situations, examples, etc) All the Best !!
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Initial Shortlisting

Based on your answers in application form and CV
Study about the safety considerations taken in the industry. There will
definitely be a couple of questions on it.
Try to highlight leadership skills and team activities.

Mainly HR questions like your goal, why Rio Tinto, which industry you
would like to work, etc. Some questions might also be about your internships and your learning from it.
21
Index
Rio Tinto
The
selection
process

Quantitative & Verbal Tests
Stage 1:
Initial Shortlisting
Stage 2:
Stage 3:
Written Test
Stage 4:
Personal Interview
22
Be at ease, and do not panic. Try to sound natural, and not as if you
are reading it out from somewhere.
Stage 4: Personal Interview

Two rounds of interview, depending upon your performance in 1st one.
Interviews in general were not very stressful, they usually start off with
a few general questions tell me about yourself, competency based
questions, etc. Then they ask: Why this industry and why Rio Tinto
everyone has different answers and theres no right or wrong but you
should be convincing enough, while answering these questions. Expect
some questions on what you have mentioned in your CV - internship,
projects and extra curricular activities.
Do not bother for the exact answer. If you are not very sure, just let
them know. Be loud enough in your thought process. If CGPA is very
high ( > 9.0) or research type internships, then be prepared to face
questions like why not going for higher studies, why this particular sector, etc.
Index
Day
1
Rio Tinto
Departments open to | MI, ME, CH, EE, GG, EX, CE, IM
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Although no CGPA cut off was mentioned, it might play a role in the
final selections.

Rio Tinto website http://

www.riotinto.com/index_careers.asp

of candidate:
MI
Package notified:
30.65 LPA

Pilbara, Australia

No bond

Previous recruitments: 2010
and 2008
Team work, social involvement and sports
Nothing in particular

Exposure to mining and machinery is important. Any project with dedicated work is appreciated. Foreign internship or conferences can add
to the cross-cultural experiences

Adventurous in nature, confidence and a willingness to work at remote
locations

Rio Tinto is a global mining company and is the best option if one is
ready to work in a mine. If you do not have significant achievements in
the past, building up your CV is good idea. Even third year isnt too late
to do so.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Online application

Register on the website and fill up the essay questions.
Take your time to answer all the questions with patience. Do a little
research on the background of the company
Be slow and clear while talking. Be prepared with the standard questionnaire related to the resume/application filled previously.
Stage 2: Telephone interview

A list of people selected from the applications was sent and slots allotted for telephonic interview. It was an HR interview and no technical
questions were asked.
Do not read out the answers written in the application form
23
Index
Stage 3: Online test
Rio Tinto
The
selection
process
Basic quantitative questions. Fill the personality questionnaire patiently
Stage 1:
Online application
Stage 2:
Telephone interview
Stage 3:
Online test
Stage 4:
Personal Interview
24
Numerical Reasoning test Verbal Reasoning test Logical Reasoning

test Personality questionnaire
Check that the internet does not get disconnected in between the test

Campus Interview (2 rounds)
1. Confidence 2. Appropriate attire (formal wear) 3. Brush up all the basics related to your department subjects 4. Be thorough with the work
done at internships and projects 5. Being a girl adds to the probability
of getting selected (but it also depends upon their requirements)
Do not be nervous, the interviewers were very friendly. Ask relevant
questions when given an oppurtunity to know more about the company
Index
Day
1
Rio Tinto
Departments open to | Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Mining
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
CGPA > 8 is usually preferred though not mandatory, Must have a clear
idea of the basic engineering principles.

Website and Friends

of candidate:
ME Dual (Specialization in
Thermal)
Package notified:
65K AUD/year

Perth, Australia

Regular recruiter at IIT
Kharagpur
Ability to work in a team is essential for the company. The company

often asks for prior experience of managing multiple tasks and meeting deadline.

Quantitative Language and Non-verbal skills are checked in the online
tests

Internship in the Core industrial field are highly preferred. The candidates are often selected on the basis of the work performed in their
internships.

The company looks for motivated candidates to work for the company.
Aspiring students should have a clear idea of the work environment
and the safety precautions it entails, the potential dangers of field
work in a remote area. Go though the responses in the previous editions of Tnpedia and get the details from seniors who got placed.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: CV Submission
Prepare on the basis of your resume and gather company info. Be
sure of why you want to join the company and how can you handle the
rigors of field work in a core job. No technical questions.

Preliminary check of the candidate.
Check for tips on how to appear in a telephonic interview in a calm and
relaxed state of mind.
Stage 3: Online Assesment 2

Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning test and
Personality questionnaire. (about 1.5 hours total)
25
Index
Quantitative skills and general verbal and non verbal skills.
Rio Tinto
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
CV Submission
Stage 2:
Stage 4: Personal Interview (Prelims)

Interview by an engineer related to your core field, checks for the candidates technical proficiency and team work skills.
Questions are usually straight forward and some technical questions

will be asked. The candidates must remember specific details of his
internship experience as it usually decides the interview outcome
The usual preparation for appearing in an interview should do.
Stage 3:
Online Assesment 2
Stage 4:
Personal Interview (Prelims)
Stage 5:
Round 2 (Final)
26
Preparing from the CAT study materials helps a lot and the website
provides sample question and answers for preparation. Answers in the
personality questionnaire are checked for any inconsistencies. So try
to be natural.
Stage 5: Round 2 (Final)

Interview by a senior engineer. Interview is usually informal in nature
and any doubts regarding work life are explained. He may check the
candidates software skills.
Index
Day
1
Rio Tinto
Departments open to | It usually states open to all, but theyre more interested in MI, CH, ME and EE
and GG and EX
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
A CGPA of over 7.6 is reasonable, but anything over 8 is considered

safe. Any kinds of distinctions and merit awards in olympiads and talent examinations will prove to be beneficial

Company website www.
riotinto.com. Seniors who
are currently working for the
firm, wikipedia and a few
other internet sources.

of candidate:
MID
Any kind of extra academic activity is good, but dont mention something like NCC or NSS. Being in Kgp calls for more.

None of these were specifically asked for, nevertheless, testing of the
quantitative skills is done in the preliminary rounds.
$63,500 Basic pay
Any normal academic project and internship is good. Dont list too
many projects though, recruiters might assume you are interested in
research. A foreign internship would help here, because the interviewers are interested in judging whether you can adapt in foreign cultures
Stages
Package notified:
of selection
Australia

None

4 students were placed in
the 2010 recruitment process from IIT Kgp
Stage 1: Application process

Giving in all details about yourself and answering a few questions.
Speak clearly and convey what you want. Keep to the question, dont
beat around the bush.
Be frank, it keeps things simple and easy.
Stage 2: Telephonic interview

They essentially ask the same questions as in the application form plus
a few more HR ones. It goes on for about 15-20 minutes.
Stage 3: Online testing

Verbal, quantitative, logical reasoning and data interpretation
Time yourself well. Its not a tough one.
Stage 4: First round of interview

Again, general HR questions. Plus a few unexpected ones which you
have to answer cleverly. Very few technical questions were asked (for
27
Index
me, just one). The session goes on for about 20 minutes.
Rio Tinto
The
selection
process
Keep your cool. Enjoy the session. Dont be nervous.
Stage 1:
Application process
Stage 2:
Telephonic interview
Stage 3:
Online testing
Stage 4:
First round of interview
Stage 5:
Second round of interview
28
Keep the answers to the point and simple. The questions will be the
same as in the telephonic interview, and a few more.
Stage 5: Second round of interview

More HR questions. Theyll repeat around half of the questions they
asked earlier. Slightly technical.
Index
Day
1
Rio Tinto
Departments open to | Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Mining
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
CGPA > 8 is usually preferred though not mandatory, Must have a clear
idea of the basic engineering principles.

Website and Friends

of candidate:
ME Dual (Specialization in
Thermal)
Package notified:
65K AUD/year

Perth, Australia

Regular recruiter at IIT
Kharagpur
Ability to work in a team is essential for the company. The company

often asks for prior experience of managing multiple tasks and meeting deadline.

Quantitative Language and Non-verbal skills are checked in the online
tests

Internship in the Core industrial field are highly preferred. The candidates are often selected on the basis of the work performed in their
internships.

The company looks for motivated candidates to work for the company.
Aspiring students should have a clear idea of the work environment
and the safety precautions it entails, the potential dangers of field
work in a remote area. Go though the responses in the previous editions of Tnpedia and get the details from seniors who got placed.
Stages
of selection
Prepare on the basis of your resume and gather company info. Be
sure of why you want to join the company and how can you handle the
rigors of field work in a core job. No technical questions.

Preliminary check of the candidate.
Check for tips on how to appear in a telephonic interview in a calm and
relaxed state of mind.
Stage 3: Online Assesment 2

Numerical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning test and
Personality questionnaire. (about 1.5 hours total)
29
Index
Quantitative skills and general verbal and non verbal skills.
Rio Tinto
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
CV Submission
Stage 2:
Stage 4: Personal Interview (Prelims)

Interview by an engineer related to your core field, checks for the candidates technical proficiency and team work skills.
Questions are usually straight forward and some technical questions

will be asked. The candidates must remember specific details of his
internship experience as it usually decides the interview outcome
The usual preparation for appearing in an interview should do.
Stage 3:
Online Assesment 2
Stage 4:
Personal Interview (Prelims)
Stage 5:
Round 2 (Final)
30
Preparing from the CAT study materials helps a lot and the website
provides sample question and answers for preparation. Answers in the
personality questionnaire are checked for any inconsistencies. So try
to be natural.
Stage 5: Round 2 (Final)

Interview by a senior engineer. Interview is usually informal in nature
and any doubts regarding work life are explained. He may check the
candidates software skills.
Index
Day
1
Schlumberger
Departments open to: For Field Engg (FE) profile they are open to all except AGFE & CS (B.Tech and
Dual). For the Petrotechnical Expert (PTE) profile they are open to M.Sc(5 & 2 year prog.). The following
information is for the Geophysics and Geology profile.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Usually a CG of 8 and above is preferred since they are hiring for a

technical role. If your CG is too high, you might end up justifying the
reasons for not wanting to pursue a Ph.D!

Company Website and
Alumni

of candidate:
GG
Package notified:
15 lakhs

Mumbai, Gurgaon, and
Abroad

N.A

Last year they interviewed
all applicants directly without any GD. Prior to that,
they have been conducting
either GD or group tasks
followed by a PI for shortlisted students.
I dont think it carries too much weightage but it surely helps! Most of
the work in Schlumberger is carried out in teams, so if you have experience of working in a team be it a Placecomm, Core Team Member or
in hall events it helps.

Its always a plus point to know the following: Some experience of
programming in MATLAB, FORTRAN, C, Shell etc. as your research/intern projects. Also, knowledge of commercial software such as Petrel,
Geoframe, Paradigm etc. as a part of your industrial experience can
also help.

They ask in details about projects and internships from whatever you
have written on your CV. They value if you have interned with a good oil
& gas company and have some industrial exposure. I think its the most
important factor for them under this category. Tangible results of the
project- in form of a research paper, 3D models are appreciated. They
are mostly interested to know if you have worked in Seismics, Seismology, Well logging and interpretation.

Some international exposure can be useful (Total Summer program,
Paris was very beneficial for my interview)

Revise subjects like Geophysical signal processing, seismic methods,
sequence stratigraphy and general inversion. They will like to know
that you are very clear in your basics because they can teach you the
advanced stuff! I personally enjoyed each stage of the selection process and I would suggest applicants to do the same. Talking to alumni
at Schlumberger prior to the interview is a great idea.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: GD
There will be an initial shortlist for GD. Its a simple GD, with probably
8-10 people and there will be 2 or 3 co-reps judging you
31
Index
Schlumberger
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
GD
Stage 2:
Group activity
Stage 3:
PI
My topic was something like: Whether a consumer is the dominating

force in the market (I dont remember it exactly but basically you had
to justify if consumer was the ultimate deciding factor in the market. It
was simple.
Skills Reqd: General communication skills and some general knowledge to give examples for supporting your arguments. You should be
able to function in a group under stressful conditions. Too much jargon? What I mean to say is that just stay calm and show some leadership in dividing work and prepare some answers together.
Questions: While marketing your car you need to mention some salient
features in agreement to you.
Dos: The general GD rules apply, sit straight, talk clearly, look pleased
and pretend youre enjoying the discussion! On a serious note, give
others a chance to speak and try to moderate the discussion
Donts: Dont start babbling something without thinking, dont be argumentative rather justify why you wouldnt agree with some point. Your
opening sentence should not be conclusive: I agree or disagree with
this topic.
Stage 2: Group activity

People shortlisted for Phase 2 were divided into groups of 5. In each
set, 2 groups of people entered the interview room and were seated
in opposite corners. It was a 1+1+10+5 minute round and they handed
us a Mechanix play set with its manual. In the first minute, we had to
choose a car design, in second min we had to decide among ourselves
who will make which car parts. We had 10 mins to complete the design
and then we had to market our car to the other group in the remaining 5 minutes. They were allowed to ask questions on our designs and
express their opinions about our answers.
Dos: Its important to be heard by the interviewer hence make valid
points through out the activity. Be nice to your team members, decide
on certain points which you are going to talk about with your team, try
to help out those who are fitting in the parts if you are done with yours.
Try to remember your role and stay calm - You are not designing an
Audi!
Donts: Dont argue with your team mates when the interviewer questions your group and you dont agree with the answer of one of your
team members. Dont be aggressive but make sure you have raised
valid points.
Stage 3: PI
Finally the shortlisted students appeared for a PI and the panel was
of about 6 people. My interview lasted for about 35-40 mintues. Usually they will ask you about yourself and probably crack a few jokes to
make you feel comfortable. Laugh along!
After they have asked you some general HR questions like: Tell me
something about yourself, they will scan your CV. My interview was
mostly about my internship at Cairn Energy, details about the project,
skills, outcomes and loads of technical questions related to the same.
They will ask a lot of quick questions like the range of sonic log, reservoir development or exploration problem etc. and at one point almost
everyone (except the HR) was questioning me simultaneously. Then
there were a lot of specifics asking my preference of working in a team
or working alone, whether I enjoyed Selling or pitching in clients,
which segment I would prefer, why a job over PhD etc.
Dos: Answer honestly and be yourself! Dont be pretentious - They will
32
Index
Schlumberger
judging for themselves your knowledge and skills. Revise your projects thoroughly and basics of seismic prospecting, well logging, data processing and inversion. Try to stress on your achievements and
positive points on your CV. They want to see if you will be fun to work with (I tried not to be too serious
and joked with them on many occasions!)
Donts: Dont be nervous and if you are just take a couple of seconds to compose yourself. If they ask
you something you dont know try not to guess.
33
Index
Day
1
Schlumberger
Departments open to | open to all
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
A decent CGPA is good enough. Company is not very specific about

CGPA.

General searches, Company

website

of candidate:
CH
Package notified:
18

Could Be Anywhere

Regular campus recruiter
A good extra academic involvement is good for this company. Some

sports and games credentials is not necessary but can help. They
basically look for a person who has a strong mind to work in the future,
and can also work under stressful mental and physical conditions.

Nothing as such.

A research background, or a good CGPA which indicates research
interest could be a problem as the company focuses a lot on selecting
people who would stay for some good amount of time in the company.

Overall developed personality.

Be mentally strong at least at the time of interview. Show the capability
to work with people of diverse backgrounds and different age groups.
Display the capability to work on field. Placements are uncertain so
dont worry. Keep in mind that you will get the job which is best for
you.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: GD
Abstract topics like red, apple, orange etc. topics could be changed in
between GD, so a GD can be on 2 topics. First one is for 5 mins followed by the 2nd.
Good GD skills. creativity, ability to think on the spot, flexibility.
Team Work: Working with others as a team.
Involvement in the activity: Take a lead if possible Think before you
start speaking.
General tips for GD: Attending the mock session conducted by communique can help.
34
Index
Schlumberger
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
GD
Stage 2:
Team Activity
Stage 3:
PI
Stage 2: Team Activity

It was asked to build a car with a given mechanics set ( the childhood
one) and advertise it to the other group. Slight changes were there for
different groups.
Participate as much as you can, dont sit idle, help the group in whatever way you can.
Stage 3: PI
Could be a stress interview, answers could be cut down in between.
Binary answers are sometimes expected, as well as rating types of
questions.
Know as much as you can about the job profile. Why you want to do it
should be clear. They will go on penetrating on whatever you speak, so
keep in mind whatever you speak.
Be prepared with your CV, know the job and why you want to do it. Prepare the Tell me about yourself question beforehand.
Be confident. give crisp answers. They really like straight answers.
Also, dont get stressed as it could be a pressure interview. Be careful
about mentioning anything that shows your research interest.
35
Index
Day
2
Bank Bazaar
Departments open to | Open to all
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Good performance in CS/related courses (in addition to 1st year PDS

course) is important. If you didnt take any such courses, you should
study at least some core CS theory and mention it honestly during the
selection process.

1. Bankbazaar.com 2. A
B.Tech. batchmate (CS
dept) who was placed at
Bankbazaar the previous
year (though he didnt join).

of candidate:
MT, Dual degree.
Package notified:
12 LPA (confirmed) + ESOP
worth 2 lakhs (not confirmed)

Chennai (First 2 Mothns),
Followed By Bangalore

N/a

Im not sure of this, but I
think they have been recruiting from KGP for past 2
years or so as the interviewers were alumni 2-3 years
senior to me.
In my case, I had taken Operating systems theory and lab (CS dept 6th
sem depth) as breadth subjects in my 8th sem scoring B and A respectively.
1. GSoC participation is a big advantage.
2. Interhall tech events especially Opensoft are important.
3. Overnite (ktj) and similar participation in any fest.
4. Certifications from LPI, Sun, Microsoft etc.
5. Qualifying Maths Olympiad might help too, though Im not sure how
much it counts unless you have been to the International Maths Olympiad.
Note that these will certainly help but you wont be at any significant
disadvantage if you dont have these qualifcations. I only had one
certification - I had done Microsofts MCSE course in class 8th but only
took one of the seven required exams, so my certificate was just MCP
and not MCSE.
I had qualified RMO (1st level of Maths Olympiad) but failed INMO (2nd
level). I was AIR 1 in National Cyber Olympiad in class 10th (honestly
its easy and not really prestigious). I doubt this counted for much. I did
not participate in GSoC, interhall tech events or overnite.

Maths is very important. Programming skills are required, although no
specific language or software has special preference.

Projects involving significant programming will also help.

Bankbazaars selection process tests for the right funda. If you have
programming skills and know algorithms and some graph theory, youll
probably be selected.
Your CV need not have much because once you get shortlisted, only
your performance in the ongoing phase matters and the CV loses its
importance.
36
Index
Bank Bazaar
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Online test (for students
shortlisted by CV)
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Online test (for students shortlisted by CV)

2 hours @ Takshila PC labs. 4 programming questions to be solved in a
language of your choice (C or C++ or Java). Internet usage and reference books are allowed.
Fast programming and algorithmic analysis is needed. You must break

down the problem into smaller steps and write efficient code because
there is a time limit on compile and execution time.
Analytical skills - algorithms and graph theory are needed.
Stage 2:
Common problem
Stage 3:
Technical interview
Stage 4:
Personal interview
Break down the questions into parts and write code for as many parts
as possible. Your code, even if its incomplete for a question, must
be free of syntax errors and every part must be algorithmically correct. You need not finish every question. I attempted only 1 out of
4 questions. I managed to write the input and processing parts but
not the output. So, my code compiled and executed in time but did
not produce any output. Despite this, it appears they personally read
the code, so they liked it and thought I was good enough for the next
round.
Stage 2: Common problem

A question is displayed on a projector screen. Everyone is required to
solve it individually in an hour or so. When you solve the question (or
any part of it), discuss it with any of the interviewers.
You are allowed to ask doubts or discuss your problem-solving method
with the interviewers whenever you want. They may give you hints, so
tell them as much as you understand. I had not studied graph theory
so I could only solve 2 out of 3 parts and not the most important (3rd)
one. I mentioned this while discussing the problem and also let him
know that I was aware my solution for the 3rd part works but is not the
optimal one.
Stage 3: Technical interview

You are assigned to one of the interviewers. He will ask you 1-2 questions at a time and move to the next student (sitting some distance
away from you so you cannot hear them). Hell return to you some time
later, ask more questions and continue this process. Only 2-3 questions about the CV followed by all technical questions. I was asked to
solve Olympiad-level maths problems.
Probability, number theory and a general puzzle-solving ability.
Be honest when asked questions about the CV, since the interviewer
will be a KGP alumnus. Take your time to solve the questions. Note that
the same questions may be asked to others so be on the lookout, you
just might overhear their answer. As is true of the entire selection process, your problem-solving method counts more than the final answer.
Stage 4: Personal interview

This interview is conducted by the senior VP of the company. He will
ask general HR questions. This phase may be optional, Some students
were selected without going through this phase. I must mention here
that in the previous year, a telephonic interview with difficult technical
questions was conducted instead (as I heard from a B.Tech. batchmate
37
Index
Bank Bazaar
who was selected that year).
38
Why do you want to join Bankbazaar instead of big companies like Google, Microsoft, IBM etc.? My
answer - I will face better challenges in such a new company and will have more freedom to work in my
own way. What qualities will you bring to Bankbazaar? My answer - I am hardworking, and a quick
learner. Also, having been the governor of a society here, I know how to be a team leader. (Because of
this answer, I was asked the following questions). So what qualities does a team leader have? Also give
an example where you needed to step up as a leader. What are your weaknesses? Give an example
where this weakness cost you something.
Read a little about Bankbazaar online. You dont need to know any details. Show a LOT of interest in
working at Bankbazaar. Think of your strengths and weaknesses (with real-life examples) before the
interview. At the end, you are allowed to ask him any question. Think of something good. I wasnt expecting an HR round and wasnt prepared, so I couldnt. I also told him that I really liked the selection
process because they tested for the right things without any bullshit, especially the online test which
gave me the tools and I was allowed to use them in my own way to solve the problem (this was how I
truly felt and he really seemed to like this).
Index
Day
2
Bank Bazaar
Departments open to | open to all
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Good Programming skills.

Involvement in coding related work is beneficial, But is not a necessity.
Mainly the ppt. Referred to

internet news about it.

of candidate:
EC
Package notified:
Good knowledge of Data Structures and Algorithms.
Things related to coding will be good.
12 lacs + stocks
Try to be good at whatever you know. Dont try to learn everything at a

superficial level. Less knowledge but more depth is useful.
Stages
Chennai Or Bangalore
(Choice After Initial Training)

No bond.

Dont have an exact idea.
But large number of Kgpians are in the comapany.
of selection
Stage 1: CV submission and initial shortlisting

Students with good grades in the lab mentioned by them would have
an edge. Also, students involved in open-soft, BIT Wise etc. have an
advantage.
4 questions, totally coding based. Skills: Aptitude for coding.

Coding related online test. Try to write efficient codes
Stage 3: 2nd written test

Only one question was asked. It was important to solve the question
quickly and as efficiently as possible.
Dos : Try to do them as fast as possible. Try to be efficient
Stage 4: Tech interview

Totally technical. All questions were coding based.
Data structures and algorithms.
Dos : Try to involve the interviewer.
39
Index
Stage 5: HR Interview
Bank Bazaar
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
CV submission and initial
shortlisting
Stage 2:
Online test
Stage 3:
2nd written test
Stage 4:
Tech interview
Stage 5:
HR Interview
40
Interview with one of the VPs.
Index
Day
2
Bank Bazaar
Departments open to | Open to all Departments.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Good Problem Solving Skills. Able to design some complex systems.

Data Structures. Algorithms Programming.

http://www.bankbazaar.
com/ http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/BankBazaar.
com http://articles.
economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-18/
news/29141735_1_insurance-products-global-fundinvestments

of candidate:
CS
No

Algorithmic Skills are needed to crack the interview. Good understanding of Data Structures is needed. Finally ability to code in limited time
to clear the online test.

Masters Thesis on Data De-duplication Systems. Summer Intern at
IBM India Storage Labs, Pune.

http://www.careercup.com/ http://www.geeksforgeeks.org/
Package notified:
12L CTC
Stages
Chennai Or Hyderabad
of selection
Came for 2010-11 session.
4 programming questions are given.

Programming skill.
Design skills
The
Dont waste time thinking about efficient solutions. Even Brute force
solution will make you clear the test.
selection
process
Stage 1:
Online Test
Stage 2:
Design Round
Stage 3:
Face to face Interview
Round 1
Stage 2: Design Round

Given a specific Design problem.
Stage 3: Face to face Interview Round 1

Asked a lot of questions on Data structures and Algorithms.
Problem based on Greedy solution is asked. Asked a lot of questions
on Binary Trees. Given a matrix which sorted both column wise and
row wise and an integer X, find whether two elements A and B are
present in the matrix such that A + B = X.
41
Index
Day
2
Epic
Departments open to | CSE, BTech, Dual Degree & MTech
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
The CGPA does matter. It is advantageous to have a CGPA of more

than 8, specially when you are applying for software companies in this
field.

Companys website

of candidate:
Extra academic activities help you in the interview stages mainly. They
boost your image as an all-rounder, apart from lending you a lot of
confidence.
Computer Science and Engineering, B Tech
Package notified:
80,000 USD
For CSE companies, good coding skills certainly provide an edge.
Projects and internships undertaken are generally the first things that
the interviewer asks about. So a good internship or a project in your
record is advantageous.
Madison, Wi, Usa
For CSE companies, participating in coding competitions such as

Overnite, Bitwise, Codechef etc. helps a lot in the written tests of various companies.
No

Came for the 1st time
Stages
of selection
The
2 tests - Logical Analysis and Writing Codes on paper

Good algorithm development and coding skills help.
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
Interviews
42
Stage 2: Interviews
2 interviews - HR and technical HR interview mainly focuses on your
personal strengths and weaknesses and how you react to various situations Technical interview mainly involves questions about internships
and projects. Some puzzles are also given sometimes.
Index
Day
3
Ebay
Departments open to | B.Tech: CS / EC / EE Dual Degree: CS M.Tech: CS/ IT
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
CGPA > 7.5, decent algorithmic skills and coding skills, good analytical
skills. No computer science in-depth knowledge is required.

ebay.in and wikipedia. Anyway, I think everyone knows

already about Ebay.

of candidate:
CS B.Tech.
They didnt consider any extra-academic involvement.
Maths ability such as probability was required. Quantitative ability was

required in Written Test. Proficiency with any programming language
was enough.
Package notified:
13 lakhs

Chennai
You should be able to explain your BTP project in full details. For
internship, apart from project related technical knowledge, you should
have an idea of the business relevance of the project.

Try to prepare with people giving CAT. This will help enormously.
Stages
This is the first time Ebay

has recruited from the
campus
of selection
There were around 10 MCQ questions and 3 coding questions.

Quantitative ability was tested in MCQs and programming and algorithmic skills were tested in coding questions.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
Interviews
Dont try to over-optimize your algorithms if time doesnt permit. First

write a pretty decent algorithm. You will get through the written test.
After that, try to optimize your algorithm only if time permits.
Stage 2: Interviews
Questions on basic data structures of Computer Science. Basic treealgorithms with coding. Some analytical questions.
In all the interviews, try to be as confident as possible. Sometimes they
will just see your confidence and they will take you through that round.
So be confident and be happy.
43
Index
Day
3
Paypal
Departments open to | Open to most Engineering branches
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Academic Credentials
Yes
Not really.

Not really.
Company website

of candidate:
CS Dual Degree
Package notified:
10.5 lakhs

Chennai

First time on campus
The
Math ability, C, C++,Java, Communication skills.
Anything related to coding and CS in a reputed company.

Theres this book on called Programming Interviews Exposed which I
read for a month and found a question bank that turned out to be really
helpful.
Stages
of selection

Written Test based on quant and programming skills.
Quant and Programming skills.
Good Communication Skills.
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
HR Interview
They run you through your answers and ask the basic HR questions.
Just stay confident and cool.
Stage 3: Technical Interview

30 minute interview on coding and quant skills.
Basic coding skills.
Stage 4: 60 minute interview on advanced coding skills
Questions on algorithms, databases, operating systems and networks

were asked and code had to be hand written.
Stage 3:
Technical Interview
Stage 4:
60 minute interview on
advanced coding skills
Knowledge on the important subjects like databases, Operating Systems, Networks and Algorithms
Stay confident as before.
44
Index
Day
3
Paypal
Departments open to | B.Tech. : CSE / ECE /EE Dual Degree : CSE M.Tech: CSE/ IT
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
As far as i get it, Students with CGPA between 7.5 and 8.5 are preferred.

of candidate:
Electronics and Electrical

Communication Engineering
Data structures and C would be enough to clear all the rounds.
Package notified:
One project with coding would be of great help. The work in paypal
would be on Data base management, Java and C++
8 lakhs + 3 lakhs bonus (for

a period of 1 year)

Chennai

No bond

This is for the first time PayPal has visited IIT Kharagpur

Be strong in C. Course on data structures and data base management
systems would be of great help.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Baisc
Your answers on the written tests will be discussed i.e how did you
solve this question etc. So prepare your answers well and also know
the answers for your wrong and unattempted questions.
Decent CGPA ( above 6.5 for CS ) and above 7.5 for non CS.
Good knowledge on C and Data structures would be enough for a non
CS student and knowledge on JAVA would be more helpful for a CS
Student
Dont tell them that you have any other interview. I mean some of my
friends with a CGPA above 8 told them that they also have to attend
other interviews on the same day. They were advised to continue with
the same and are not proceeded to the next round. Make them understand that you are completely interested in this company.
Stage 2: Technical
Your knowledge on C will be tested. Most probably they would ask
questions on pointers linked lists sorting algorithms and trees etc
Put your thought process before them. You dont have to give them the
final answer just explain them how you are trying to solve the problem
step-wise. Let the interview know your thought process.
45
Index
Stage 3: HR cum Technical
Paypal
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Baisc
Stage 2:
Technical
Stage 3:
HR cum Technical
46
Questions on your CV will be asked, e.g. on your project and internship. HR questions like Tell me about yourself, What are your strong
points?, What type of work do you expect in Paypal?, Any suggestions for Paypal or Ebay website? are asked.
Index
Day
3
Qualcomm India
Departments open to | EC,EE and CSE
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Good academic records. CGPA criteria for Qualcomm was 8 and they
were very strict about CG cutoff

Company website, But PPT

helped more than any other
sources. I had key points
noted down from PPT.
Tech events, Leadership qualities like positions in Hall, Gymkhana etc.

in Tech committees would help a lot for these Technology companies.
Qualcomm HR clearly mentioned they need candys who can take initiative, self motivated and more inclined to technology leadership and
achievements.

of candidate:
Electrical and Electronics

communication Engg,VIES
Package notified:
12.75pa for first year

Bangalore/hyderabad

No bond

Regular recruiter
I appeared for VLSI written test. They expected very basic knowledge
in Digital, analog, communication subjects. CAT type of questions and
very basic Computer programming questions (Three sections each
about 15-20 questions). Online test was very easy, so I think cutoff was
high.

No, I have only M.Tech VLSI project.

Technology initiative and leadership. Good Academics really help a
lot in the interview (There was no CV submission till we qualify Written test) Most important is a thorough preparation: Start as early as
possible atleast in Mid of Oct./first week of Nov. starting from good CV
preparation to brushing up and thorough understanding of all important subjects for Technology companies you are targeting.

A thorough subject preparation. https://mobileelectron.wordpress.
com/2012/02/01/placement-preparation-vlsi-profile-jobs/ Be mentally
prepared for HR questions. Be focused till you actually have offer in
your hand.
Stages
of selection

Three sections: 1. VLSI(basic analog,digital and communication)/CS/
EC(More of DSP and communication) 2. Basic Computer programing
skills: C-language funda(loops execution), sorting algorithms and their
complexity 3. General ability (CAT questions very simple which we
solve with Venn diagram and keen observation)
47
Index
Qualcomm India
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Online test
Stage 2:
Technical Interview
Stage 3:
Tech Interview
Stage 4:
HR interview
Tell me about yourself: tell something special about yourself and make
yourself proud. Setup time and hold time Digital design, Combinational
and sequential circuits design(thorough understanding of design steps)
Be calm, relaxed and answer questions thoughtfully Attention to instructions is important

Interview was completely oriented on Job profile: digital VLSI and
some personal questions like: digital design by Rabey CMOS design
by Kang are very important for your preparation check for more here:
https://mobileelectron.wordpress.com/2011/12/04/qualcomm-interview-questions/
Be confident. Be clear in your answers and proper explanation to it.
Take your time to think and act. If you dont know something accept it.
More importantly wear smile on your face. This automatically brings
confidence within you.
Stage 3: Tech Interview

Some more VLSI design questions. Personal questions too
CMOS circuit power, Computer architecture: Pipelining and Parallelism
Verilog basic knowledge: Language to H/W mapping. What is your passion and what is that you did for it.
Think and answer. Both Interview panels were very cool and calm. Take
your time to think and answer.
Stage 4: HR interview
This was very formal interview. Not much to say
Show your keen interest to know more about the company and activities, corporate life, your work in company
48
Index
Day
3

Departments open to | CS,MA, EE and ECE
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
You have to study and be aware of the concepts very clearly. Your
fundamentals must be very strong. Apart from the usual such as Algorithms, Data Structures, you must also read vividly about Networking,
Operating Systems Concepts and DBMS. Start preparing from around
September. Plus you should be well prepared with C / C++ syntax, occasionally Python .

I looked over their webpage
and blog posts by current
employees of Yahoo. Their
facebook page https://www.
facebook.com/yahooindiacampus, about the Yahoo
India Campus was helpful
as well. I was particularly interested about Yahoo Labs,
and the work they do. so I
looked up that website as
well http://in.labs.yahoo.
com/.

of candidate:
MA, M.Sc
Package notified:
11.96 lakhs per annum

Bangalore

None

About 5 people selected on
average every year.
Try to engage yourself in sports such as football, cricket, tennis, swimming, or weight lifting. Physical exercises do help ease out stress. Play
some musical instrument like a synthesiser, a guitar or a harmonica.
Read good books and so forth.

There is one word that beats all is practice. Some guys have the innate
ability of performing very well in Quant problems. For the rest, including me, I would say, toil hard, get some CAT material from friends and
practise as often as you can. Keep a clear mind and try thinking fast.
Regarding programming, if you plan to join a software company, try
to program as much as you can. There is no other alternative. IITs do
not have good programmers, because we are made to focus more on
theory. NITs and other places fare much better when pure programming is concerned. So get your terminals running, and practise programming in languages such as C / C++ (which should be at your tips
ideally) and also get good at Java, Python and particularly crystal clear
about Object Oriented Programming Concepts .

Try to get relevant internships in areas of your research interest. If you
are interested in Data Mining or AI, try getting internships in them.
Work hard during internships.cf Turn up everyday at the workplace.
Occasionally you can take time off for your weekend escapades to
break the monotony. But dont make it a habit. In short give it your best
and make it count in your resume .

Have faith in yourself. Keep a steady head and do your best

What the interviewers complained about was that we were not reading
much about OS concepts, networking and DBMS.
These topics are equally important along with Algorithms and DS
concepts.
49
Index
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
Programming Round
Stage 3:
Technical Interviews
Stage 4:
HR interview
Stages
of selection

25 objective questions based on C / C++ syntax, networking, OS, Algorithms and Data Structures and DBMS. A list of about 25 candidates
was finally shortlisted for the next round .
Thorough knowledge on the CS topics mentioned above plus clear
concepts of C / C++ syntax
Think about the algorithm first. Get an outline of the brute force algo
first and then try to optimize it. Dynamic Programming is a hot topic
among interviewers. Be clear on it and how to use it . After thinking of
the pseudo code, use your favourite language ( I used Python ).
Read up as many blog reviews as possible from internet, you get
sample questions from there.
Stage 2: Programming Round

A problem statement was given and we had to write code on it in about
an hour. Marking was done on concept used, Optimal code and consideration of all possible boundary cases .
Take care of boundary cases.
Stage 3: Technical Interviews

Questions from the aforementioned topics in CS, coupled with a few
real life scenarios where you might have to use algorithmic concepts
to come up with an optimal solution. Occasionally, there can be some
puzzle in which you are not expected to solve it in a flash, but work it
step by step with your interviewer till you reach the solution.
Sound knowledge of all above mentioned CS concepts.
Keep a steady head, dont get bogged down by the comnplexity of the
problem. You are not expected to know everything. But suppose you
are given a choice to take a pick on some topic you want to be questioned on, make sure that you know it well. Dont say I dont know in
response to some question. Fight hard, make intelligent guesses.
Specifics about who you are, what kind of a person you are, your likes,
what you bring to the company. Give honest answers.
Stay honest .
50
Index
Day
5
Flipkart
Departments open to | All. It was initially not open to Integrated M.Sc courses, but eventually M.Sc.
guys were selected
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
CGPA was an initial cutoff. 7.75+ should be peace.

There was no PPT. Spoke

to friends who had faced
the selection process a few
days before at IIT- BBSR,
and did some research on
the net as well.

of candidate:
Biotechnology, B.Tech.
Package notified:
7.5 LPA+1L Performance
Bonus

Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata,
Bombay
Yes, extra-acads are definitely looked at. Be sure to list out your
achievements when you mention a particular position/activity.

Aptitude test requires basic CAT skills. No coding skills required for the
Management Trainee profile.

Decent internships will definitely help your case. You are asked questions on what your work was during the internships and how you
achieved goals.

Be prepared with some solid research on this growing company
(atleast I hope it keeps growing by the time youre reading this!),
and some basic HR questions/puzzles. Know your CV well, and appear confident and relaxed (pretty general funda I know but dont get
stressed). Theres nothing very specific you can do to prepare, so just
give it your best shot as yourself. All the best!
Stages
of selection

N.A.

First time on campus.
Stage 1: Aptitude Test

~200 people sat for the aptitude test, which was conducted after CGPA
based shortlisting for people who had submitted CVs.
Presence of mind, decent communication skills, creativity.
Its a long test, and each section has a separate cutoff. Manage your
time well.
Stage 2: Group Discussion

An interactively moderated GD Session on a general topic (We had
Buy one get one free, I and so on). Two people were chosen by the
mod to conclude at the end.
Take initiative, and make sense when you speak. Dont meander on be concise and choose your words wisely. A great way to get noticed
in this round is to make NEW points, points which give a new direc-
51
Index
Flipkart
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Aptitude Test
tion to the discussion. Only acting as a moderator may not be the best
idea. Bring new points to the table. Dont be intimidated by others at
the table. Dont be loud and incoherent. Be courteous to the others.
Remember that the aim is to contribute to a fruitful discussion, and not
to debunk points put forward by the other guys.
Stage 3: Personal Interviews
Two phases of interview - One general CV-based, quasi-stress-interview, and one HR interview
Be thorough with your CV, and be ready to defend against doubts

raised about what youve written. You should have a basic idea about
the company - you will be asked questions about the industry in general and Flipkart specifically.
Stage 2:
Group Discussion
Stage 3:
Personal Interviews
Be honest (atleast seem honest!) and be prepared for general HR

questions. Dont frame your CV in a way that shows that you might be
aiming for an MBA (like mentioning a high GMAT score) or an MS/Ph.D
(overloading with research projects and the like).
52
Index
Day
5
General Electric
Departments open to | This company recruits only Dual degree and M.Tech guys, departments namely,
Aerospace , Mechanical, Electrical and Civil
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes

CGPA > 8.0, Good knowledge in any of the fields namely, structures,
fluid mechanics, controls, tools and programming (tools - Ansys, fluent etc, programming - scientific programming C is a must, any other
known programming language would be an added advantage).
Companys website, Online

resources etc.

of candidate:
Aerospace Engineering &

Dual Degree
Package notified:
6.35

Bangalore, Hyderabad

No bond
Not much preference given.
Decent math & quantitative ability. Proficiency with core subjects. Proficiency with the scientific programming would be of added advantage.

Key stress is on these.

Written test isnt that hard .Its completely based on fundamentals of
the subject. What one has read in 4 years is enough, theres no need
for extra preparation.One should have command over the subjects
before turning up for the interview.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Common Exam

There is a preliminary exam comprising 5 papers following which one
has to write One Math and Quantitative paper and One or more Core
papers depending on the students interest. Core subjects: A. Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics B. Structures C. Controls D. Programming ( Based on C tricks etc )
Decent grasp over Math and Quant is good enough. Good knowledge
in core subjects mentioned above. Complete grip on knowedge imparted through projects and field work.
Dos: One is advised to take more than one paper in case One is unsure of which paper to take. In this manner, one has high probability of
getting shortlisted.
Stage 2: Tech interview I

Completely technical based questions depending on which profile they
have chosen you for.
53
Index
Stage 3: Tech interview II
General Electric
The
54
selection
process
Stage 1:
Common Exam
Stage 2:
Tech interview I
Stage 3:
Tech interview II
Stage 4:
H R Round
If they want to evaluate your knowledge in two or more fields they will
tell you to sit for one more round. This may not be compulsory for all.
If a person is interested to give tech interview in one more field they
conduct this.
Stage 4: HR Round
Frankly, this is fun. Same old questions regarding positives and negatives. Why GE ? tell us about yourself etc.
Just try and show yourself as an asset to the company in a respectful
manner.
Be confident. After clearing tech round, this should not be a problem.
Index
Day
5
NetApp
Departments open to | CSE, ECE , IT Dept. B.Tech. dual and M.Tech.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Its good to have 8+ CG although 7.5+ is fine too. One should have
thorough knowledge of CSE basics like C,data structures and Algorithms, One must also be good in problem solving (complex programming problems).

You can find it by just
googling, though its not
required

of candidate:
M.Tech. Computer Science
and Engineering
Package notified:
9.6 lpa + some RSU

Bangalore
You can find the type of questions on websites like careercup.
Good to have, but they dont really carry much weight .

Knowledge of C and good quantitative ability are a must. No software
pro required

They will just check if you are clear with it.

Good programming skills.Confidence

Just brush up concepts of C language and practice some coding
no

It recruits 5+ students every
year
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Written test

Objective paper with 4 sections, namely:
C, Data Structure, OS, Quant and C basics.
Only C

OS, Data Structures, Algorithm etc.
Dont lie or say that you are going to USA for MS or PhD.
55
Index
NetApp
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Interview 1
Stage 3:
Technical Interview
Stage 4:
HR Interview
Stage 5:
Interview 4
56
They see your enthusiasm towards joining the company
Index
Day
5
ZS Associates
Departments open to | Open to all, i guess, apart from AG, GG, etc.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
The company does look into CGPA much once you clear the cut-off.
This year they recruited students with CGPA ranging from 7.5 to 9.2.

I had a friend at ZS, who

had joined the previous
year. I gathered some informal tips from him about
case interviews, etc.
Some amount of extra academic involvement is advisabe. Inter-halls

are fine. They ask in detail about the participation, time management,
team work and leadership skills. Good participation in few events is
also good and can be defended well in the above mentioned areas.

of candidate:
No programming skills required. Ability to do mental calculations is

important. They ask for a quantitative case study ( 3o minutes time),
which involves some calculations. Quick arithmetic is fine.
EE, Dual Degree (Instrumentation)
Package notified:
9.05 lpa

Pune, Gurgaon

One can expect questions about the BTech Project. Apart from the
technicalities, the overall usage and commercialization of the project
is important, since ZS is more interested in those lines. Theyll also ask
about how to commercialize the technology behind the BTech project.
Good internships are of course handy to make an impression.
Stages
of selection

No bonds. Company says
the package is 9.05, but that
includes a 2 lakhs joining
bonus. It also has the policy
of deducting 25% of the salary and then reimbursing it
after two years. This makes
it around 42k per month in
the first two years.

Comes every year.
Stage 1: Screening Test

Online test with basic quantitative and verbal ability sections.
CAT preparation is more than enough.

Group size is 10 . Topic is mostly based on current affairs.
Knowledge of what is happening in the world is important. In my case,
the topic was whether Kingfisher Airlines should be bailed out or not.
Stage 3: Case Interview

30 minutes of quantitative case study to be solved individually. After
the time elapses, the interviewer will ask about the solution and the
approach behind it.
57
Index
ZS Associates
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Screening Test
Stage 4: Behavioral Interview

Simple HR questions about extra-acads, BTP (see above), personal
habits etc are asked. Focus is on time management. May ask a specific
situation where you faced a time crunch situation and managed it.
Stage 5: Interview with partner
Almost all the candidates who go through this get selected. The senior
partner asks some questions about the resume and basic HR questions.
Stage 2:
Group Discussion
Stage 3:
Case Interview
Stage 4:
Behavioral Interview
Stage 5:
Interview with partner
58
Quick arithmetic and being logically sound is important. Prepare from

any case book such as Kellogs etc.
Index
Day
5
ZS Associates
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
A decent CGPA - 7.5 to 8.0. Although it is not necessary to have an

in-depth knowledge of all the core subjects since it will consist of HR
interviews only. A fundamental idea of the concepts will always give a
good impression in the rare chance of the interviewer being from the
same stream. Expect a question on one of your projects or internships,
which will be asked mainly to test if you were committed to your task
in that particular instant. So, one should be conversant about all the
projects in his resume.

The company website, a
friend of mine working at
that company (the previous
years recruit)

of candidate:
AE, Dual Degree
Package notified:
9 lpa ctc

Pune, Gurgaon
Any extraordinary extra-curricular achievement is always an added bonus, but by Day 5, this might be seen as an overqualification. Involvement in different spheres of extra-academic activities will show the
interviewer that you are an outgoing person. ZS does not look for any
outstanding achievements like many Day 1 companies, but rather a
good balance in the resume. So, the extra academic involvement need
not just be an Inter IIT Gold or speaking in a global conference. It might
as well be captain of a hall team, G.Sec of the Department society, as
in my case.
N/A
No such skills were required in BAA profile but good quantitative and
analytic ability gives one an upper hand in the Case Interview round.
Recruited more than 10

each time for the past 2-3
years
As mentioned before, there is no need to have an extraordinary project

or internship; its enough if you know what you did.

A good resume is one regarding which you can converse freely with
the examiner and keep him occupied for at least 10 minutes. This is extremely important as there will be two rounds of HR interviews usually.

The best preparation would be to talk to the seniors or friends working
at the company. That is the best source of funda. Apart from that, no
special skills are required to clear all the rounds.
Stages
of selection

There were four sections: Quant, Verbal, Logical and Attention to detail. The total duration was around one hour.
59
Index
ZS Associates
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Online Test
Stage 2:
Group Discussion
Stage 3:
Personal interview
Stage 4:
Case interview
Stage 5:
Principal interview
All the sections are extremely simple and no special skill is needed to
sail through all of them.
The skills looked for in this round are leadership, communication, team
contribution and rational thinking.
It is extremely important not to get stuck on a particular question. The
system is such that the next question can only be seen if you answer
this. So, keep moving through the questions at a uniform pace and in
the unusual case of encountering a question taking more time than
expected, move on to the next one by filling in some random answer.

We had a group of 10-12 people and were given some non-abstract
topics. Our topic was Is it justified for the government to bailout private airline companies which are on the verge of bankruptcy?
Try to be voluble, but dont make senseless arguments. Be prepared
to listen, but interject if you feel that the discussion is going off track.
Try to be polite. And remember that it is a group discussion and not
a group argument, so blindly opposing every point being put forth is
not going to help as you will be asked to summarize the discussion at
the end. It is not necessary to start the discussion but try not to put off
speaking till the very end because it will be very difficult and awkward
trying to get a chance to speak halfway through the stipulated time and
the only way to get through is to make some contribution. Towards the
end when summarizing, dont just mention your points or your views.
Mention all the points discussed briefly and present the consensus of
the group even though it might not be your view.
Stage 3: Personal interview

An HR interview by one of the ZS executives. Will usually be a one on
one round consisting of questions on the resume and the usual HR
questions, a guesstimate/puzzle.
My questions were: - Tell me about yourself - A few questions on my
resume (regarding my projects) - Why non-core when you have a very
good GPA and projects? - Mention an instance where you have worked
in a team - Tell me an instance where you had to meet a deadline - Give
me an instance where you had to achieve something but found yourself among people lacking motivation and how did you handle it. - Was
asked to estimate the surface area of an Airplane (Boeing 747 to be
precise!!) - Why ZS? - After my answer, I dont know what you heard
but... Tried to disprove my answer and asked So why ZS? again .
Finally, Do you have any questions?
Maintain a level head. Be conversant about everything in ones CV.
Prepare for the usual HR questions.
Be consistent in your answers. The worst thing that can happen to you
during a PR is to let the interviewer find you contradicting or rather
not corroborating something which you said a couple of minutes ago.
When the interviewer tries to contradict something you said or convince you otherwise, like in my case, dont interject him. Listen to what
he has to say and at the end politely present your point. Be sure not to
change your stand about that, or youll be marked as easily persuadable. Apart from all this, try not to be nervous and do maintain a calm
composure as the interviewers will usually be very friendly
60
Index
ZS Associates
Stage 4: Case interview

You will be given a booklet containing information about a case and some questions and given 30
minutes to solve it. At the end of the 30 minutes, you will have a one on one case interview with one
of the executives where youll present the results of your analysis and the reasons for those. In our
case, we had a shoe company which supplies to warehouses, which in turn supplies to retailers. The
company has some fixed sales force and the sales representatives visit both the warehouses and the
retailers. Now the owner is considering splitting the sales force as reps who visit warehouses and reps
visiting retailers. So, you are given the task of deciding the optimum sales force distribution based on
some given data. The second problem was that the owner decided to give awards to managers having
outstanding sales figures. Some data is given and you are to decide what is the best parameter for the
prize and to how many people the prize is to be given and why. The third problem consisted of some
more data which had an inconsistency and we were supposed to single it out analytically.
Basic data interpretation and logical thinking. Although the case might sound complicated when presented without the data, rest assured that it is a fairly simple one with the kind of data provided and no
special practice or training is required to solve it.
Dont get psyched on reading the case, there are a lot of trappings and other outward decorations
designed to keep you entangled. Browse through them and get to the actual data. You will find that the
case is a fairly simple one. Dont start doubting yourself and go looking for a hidden nuance or some
invisible clue. To crack this round remember, as they so often say, that the simplest explanation is usually the right one.You dont actually need to write lengthy explanations at how you arrived at the answer
because the interviewer is not going read them anyway. At the end of the 30 minutes, the answer sheets
will be taken from you, but they will be given back to you during the one-on-one session, where you will
have to explain to the interviewer how you arrived at those conclusions. So, write only important numbers and calculations. Avoid writing anything which you cant explain later. Also, if you cant finish one
of the three questions in time, dont fret. Try and remember what was asked and think of an approach
to solve it. Youll have some time before you are called for the one on one, so if you have an approach
ready you can take another look at the data and answer that question.
Stage 5: Principal interview

Only the candidates who have cleared both Personal Interview and Case Interview will be called for this
round. It will be a one-on-one HR interview with one of the partners at ZS. The principal (that is what
they call the interviewer) will try and intimidate you with his attitude. It will almost be a repeat of the personal interview, but only this time the person at the other end of the table will not be so friendly.
The ability of the candidate to interact with people of higher status than himself is evaluated in this
round and also how he responds under pressure. So just maintain a level head and try not to look too
arrogant or timid. My questions were:
About yourself
Some questions on CV
Why ZS?
Tell me two of your strengths
Two things youd like to change about yourself (weaknesses)
Tell us an instance where you put in a hard effort for a prolonged period of time
Give us an instance where you got into something which you thought was simple, but found out
later needed much more effort than initially anticipated.
Where do you see yourself a couple of years down the line?
Do you have any questions for me?
He received a couple of phone calls during the interview, on his blackberry (both of which were wrong
numbers! :P) and on both those occasions there was an impatient attitude which can easily give an
impression that this impatience is pretty much a direct result of the interview :P
Dont lose your cool, keep a level head and dont get intimidated. At the same time, try not to give an
arrogant impression. It will be a rapid fire session, so it will be of great help if you practice a few HR
questions beforehand. Dont get psyched by this impatient attitude routine. It is just another intimidation
routine, so brace yourself and appear confident.
61
Index
Day
6

Departments open to | I can write about the departments but I am not sure of the specializations. The
company is open to post graduates only i.e. Dual Degree students and M.Techs. The departments it is
open to are:- Civil Engineering->Specialization Structural Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Aerospace Engineering; Material Sciences
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
Airbus is a core engineering firm. Academics are MOST important

here. At the same time, only a high C.G.P.A does not ensure your selection. A good C.G.P.A is a must to get short-listed in the first place but
you MUST have a good grasp of the fundamentals. This time the company short-listed students above 7.5. Once you get short listed, your
C.G.P.A is not a criterion from that point onwards. Also, it is not the onpaper intelligence that one carries on their grade sheets that will help.
Ones performance in the written exams and the interviews conducted
by the company will matter the most.

Airbus is already a big name
so I knew a lot about the
company before hand. Due
to some reason, the company could not conduct a
PPT but they sent a power
point presentation to the
TnP, which was uploaded
on the TnP online internal
notice board.

of candidate:
Civil Engineering( M.Tech
Structural Engineering)
Package notified:
7.25 Lakhs P.A. C.T.C

Bangalore

A bond is required only if
the company sends the
candidate overseas for
training. In that case, we
are supposed to enter into a
service agreement with the
company. If the training duration is up to 1 month, then
the duration of bond would
be 1 year and the bond
money to be reimbursed in
event of an early separation
is 3,00,000. For a training
duration above 1 month, the
bond period is 2 years and
bond money is 6,00,000.
62
For this particular company I dont think extra curricular activities play
an important role. I did not have any extra academic activities mentioned in my resume apart of some very basic ones like NCC, NSS etc.
I was not at all questioned about them in my interviews. I stress again
that being a G.Sec or an Inter IIT participation is of no help in this particular case.

I think almost all of the students here at IIT have the minimum math or
quantitative ability required for the selection procedure for this company. The aptitude test is easy and most of the students can do well.
it is just Class X mathematics that is asked. So that should not be a
problem. As far as the knowledge of software is concerned,there was
no such requirement but basic programming skills are always desirable
on a resume and I think most of the students here have it.

I was questioned a lot about by M tech project as well as my B tech
Project. So make sure one knows every small detail about their BTPs
and MTPs.No questions were asked regarding the interns.

Fundamental knowledge of your specialization.

The only material for preparation are your syllabus textbooks. People
generally think that academics capabilities are not required for future
success, and they tend to believe that if they are smart enough they
can crack interviews. Well, Airbus is not one of those companies. You
have to be academically sound no matter how uncool that sounds.
Rest just work on your communication skills. Study well during you
entire course of study and you will be confident and all set to go. All
the best to all the future aspirants.
Index

Last year the company
recruited 3 Students(1 dual
and 2 M techs) from Civil
Engineering(Structural Division). I am not aware of the
number of students recruited from other departments.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Technical written exam

It was a one hour technical written exam based on questions from solid
mechanics, structural analysis, continuum mechanics and finite element analysis.
The question paper is mixed with objective and subjective questions
with more than one options correct. I would emphasise on the fact that
the questions are HIGHLY conceptual which means that the questions
are not very demanding numerically nor are they lengthy. The questions primarily target the conceptual understanding of the student. The
questions are not about solving problem. For e.g theyll give a formula
and give 4 situations, and ask in which situation will the formula be applicable. The questions are mainly on the assumptions and the domain
of applicability of the various theories that we very frequently use in
our respective subjects. The structural division had negative marking
for incorrect answers.
Simple questions on geometry, area volume, work time, unitary method
etc . If one has good speed and accuracy, one can easily sail through
it.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Technical written exam
Also, it goes without saying Do not even try to use unfair means. Do
not cram up big formulas for the exam either. No one is interested in
testing the limits of your memory. The paper is analytical. If you have a
basic knowledge of your field there should not be a problem.
Stage 2: Written exam: aptitude
This is a 30 minute exam. Simple class 10th level questions on geometry , unitary method, work and time problems.
Dont get stuck on one problem. Leave it if you cant solve and move
on to the next. Keep track of time.
Stage 2:
Written exam..aptitude
Stage 3:
H R Interview
Stage 4:
Technical Interview
Stage 3: H R Interview
Single interview. One must clear this to move on to the technical interview.
General questions.Simple interview. Theyll ask some basic questions.
Be confident and sensible. Must have good communication skills.
Questions are like why do you want to join Airbus, which companies
have you applied for till now, what if you dont get selected etc.
Please respect the fact that the person interviewing you is much more
experienced than you. Do not try to outsmart him (trust me you cant),
that will only hurt your chances of selection. Do not give answers that
you cannot defend, and please do not give stupid answers that you
find on the internet. The interviewer is intelligent enough to make out .

Tough questions. Basically picked up from your CV and the courses
that you mention on your CV. They also grill you about the MTP and
BTP. Only the textbook knowledge of the subject will not suffice.Try to
have a knowledge of the practical applications of you area of study in
MTP and BTP. You must also be capable of expressing your answer in
a clear and a technical fashion.
63
Index
64
Again, dont try to outsmart them. Dont waste time in answering a question that you have no clue
about.Although the questions may be tough, they can be answered if you know the fundamentals. Work
hard in your MTP and BTP. Make sure you know each and every detail about it. Also no point in making
guesses if you dont know the true answer. Even if you guess right , they will keep questioning you until
you find yourself in a dead-end.
Index
Day
6

Departments open to | Dual Degree/ M.Tech: EE/IE, EC, MT, ME, CE, AE Int M.Sc: MA
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
Not important to have a high CG, but technical knowledge should be

good, both for written test and interview.

Presentation sent by company through TnP notice

board
A bit of involvement helps. Gives things to talk about in the HR interview!

of candidate:
Any technical skill is a bonus. As for programming, C, C++, MATLAB

knowledge is sufficient, but it is good to have additional knowledge.
IE, Dual Degree
Package notified:
7.25 lpa CTC

Bangalore

Bond only in case of training in Europe upto 1 month
training: bond of 1yr / INR 3
lakh above 1 month training:
bond of 2 yrs / INR 6 lakh

This year (2011-12) Airbus
took 7 students : 2 IE, 2 EE,
1 MT, 1 CE, 1 AE.
Very important from the point of view of Airbus. Technical interview is

based solely on questions about projects and internships.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: CV submission
Most probably, there is no shortlisting on the basis of CV. Everybody
can appear for next round. However, many questions based on CV are
asked in later phases.
Emphasis on technical skills and details of projects completed.
For the EE/IE/EC/MA technical test: NOT MCQ type. Mostly control
system based elementary questions.
Besides this there were some puzzles, some MATLAB based problems
and 2 programming questions.
There were also some questions on the fundamentals of aerodynamics. Mental ability test was a set of around 40 short numericals (MCQ
type).

Two written tests: First, a technical test (separate for different departments) followed by a common mental ability test.
Fundamental knowledge of control systems is required. Most probably
not many in the group could solve the aero questions. So, maybe being able to solve those would have been a plus.
65
Index
The
66
selection
process
Stage 1:
CV submission
Stage 2:
Written Test
Stage 3:
Technical Interview
Stage 4:
HR Interview
Based on performance in written test, shortlisted students are called

for technical interviews.
Asked in detail about all projects done, and told about job profile. Also
asked about interest in the aviation industry.
Also,try to bring out your contribution to the projects you have taken
part in.
Selected students were sent for the HR interview. Most students who
made it to this round were offered a job.
Be calm and confident. It was quite like a really long chat about my
background and other non-academic aspects of my CV.
Be cool. Dont be taken aback or over-apologetic if you dont know
something, or if you make a mistake.
Index
Day
6

Departments open to | Electrical, Aerospace, Civil, Meta
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Control Systems background mainly, and projects related to Simulation/embedded systems

of candidate:
EE-Instrumentation(Dual
degree with spl. in Control
Systems)
None really, maybe knowledge of the language French would be helpful

as it is a French company and this skill would definitely be a heads up
in the HR interview
Package notified:
7.25lpa

Bangalore(only)
MATLAB and SIMULINK, quant ability not that much required.Simple

mathematical calculations for the quant test. The other paper requires
extensive knowledge on control systems.

Projects ,if related to controls (application based and not theoretical)
or embedded systems, are definitely helpful.
None
This time AIRBUS was extremely happy with Kgp-ians.So they took
more people than they had originally planned. Good luck to the future
batches! :)
EE has been made eligible

for the 1st time. Earlier, only
aero and civil were allowed
(dont know about Meta)
Stages
of selection

Two papers: one core paper and the other on quantitative skills. EE
had a different paper than civil/aero and meta.
I dont remember questions clearly, but for core paper(EE) you should
revise your 3rd year control systems notes. That should be enough.
Quants has simple mathematical problems but computationally complex. Plus, you are not allowed to use calculator so be prepared for it.

Two interviewers, and they will mainly ask about your projects(BTP and
MTP). Clearly explain your work to them. They will just ask questions if
they have any doubts about your work. No funda asked in intervew.
You can have HR interview before technical or vice versa. If you clear
one, you will be called for the other.
67
Index
The
68
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Technical Interview
Stage 3:
HR interview
Usual stuff. They didnt ask whether or not I want to go for a PhD since
I have a high CGPA (this was asked in many companies in my case
atleast and others too with high CGPA).
Index
Day
6
Cisco Systems
Departments open to | CS,EC,EE,IE,MA (was opened up for them later)
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Selection is based purely on the interview. There is a written test which

you have to clear first though. Absolutely no emphasis on cgpa. Itll
neither be an advantage nor a disadvantage. Theyll take you if you
perform well in the interview.

I was interested in appearing for the CCNA certification exam.

of candidate:
E & ECE-Dual Degree
Package notified:
9.54 lpa CTC

Bangalore, Pune, Chennai

None
None.

Knowledge of C/C++ is sufficient.

My projects were related to computer networks so that was an advantage but they dont decide on basis of project. Theyll ask a few questions about the projects as all companies do

OS, CCN and data Structures should be read thoroughly..not just for
this company..most of the software/IT oriented companies ask questions pertaining to these topics
Stages
of selection

Most of the guys selected
have generally been from
CS and EC.

40 people were short-listed on the basis of this test. I think it was a one
hour test.
Objective type test. Main topics were C coding, operating systems,
data structures, quantitative skills and networking.
Theyll ask you about your strength and then ask you questions based
on that. Again knowledge of computer networks, operating systems,
algo and data structures will be handy in the 1st round . They asked
me questions on the working of a network from the user to switch to
router, about ARP and MAC address tables,about IP addresses and
subnets.Then there was a question on binary search trees and a few
questions on operating systems as well.
In the 2nd round, they asked me a question on memory management.
Gave me 5 mins to come up with an answer.
Knowledge of data structures and Operating Systems is needed and
maybe a bit of algorithms
69
Index
Cisco Systems
The
70
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Interview-technical
Stage 3:
Interview - HR
Stage 2: Interview-technical
30 min interview. I had 2 techincal interviews; the second was of 5
mins.
Dont give up on a question easily. Keep trying. Interviewers judge
you on your thought process and if you give up easily then it causes a
negative impact
Stage 3: Interview - HR
This round is held if they want to take you in. You will be asked if you
have any problem in relocating. They discuss the job profile and ask if
you would prefer working alone or in a team.
Index
Day
6

Departments open to | All Dual degree students and B.Arch.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
A decent CGPA(mine was exactly 8)

None in particular

of candidate:
CH Dual Degree
Package notified:
6.5LPA + 50k joining bonus

Gurgaon
I dont think much preference was given to Extra-acads

Quant and DI--CAT preparation will definitely help

Should be able to speak about your own projects and internships

As is the case for most companies, CAT preparation will definitely help.
I dont think much focus was was given on the essay but the other sections of the test are really important.
Stages
of selection

NA

Previously MarketRx, used
to have similar intake of
students from kgp
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
Personal Interview-I
Stage 3:
Personal Interview-II
65 questions and one essay. Separate time for each section( English,
Quant, DI and the essay)
Very basic(class 7 level) english, quant and DI from CAT preparation
will do. I was asked to estimate the number of newspapers I would buy
if I am a supplier for the campus. Then slightly complicated the problem four or five times.
Try to answer as many questions as possible--the test is the one major
criterion for selection
Stage 2: Personal Interview-I

One-on-one interview.Basic guess estimation and details about your
projects. Try to show you have some knowledge in mathematics
Stage 3: Personal Interview-II

HR interview--A panel of 4 or 5 people(who have taken the individual
interviews in round I).
Very Basic HR question(yes, only one)--Why should we select you?
Be confident and try not to tell something which you cant defend
71
Index
Day
6

Departments open to | All B.Tech. and Dual Degree students.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
8 to 8.5 GPA is ideal. Above this may be a positive for some companies, while negative for others. For mine it was a plus. Similar with
publications. Relevant publications for analytics consulting firms are
good. Good department rank helps.

I referred to their site. PPT
was quite informal, as they
gave the PPT after the initial
test. I had a small chat after
their PPT because of which
they recognized me during
the PI.

of candidate:
IM, Dual Degree
Package notified:
7 LPA

Gurgaon, Kolkata

No-
For Market Rx, it did not matter. They were looking for academically
good students, with smooth spoken English.

Case interviews are most important for these type of companies, especially guess estimates. All of the analytics firms ask atleast one guess
estimate, apart from puzzles and general math ability at the level of
CAT.

Very important to be clear on the objective and final conclusions of
your interships and projects. Quantifying your achievements would
greatly add.

They really check why you want to come to their company. So be very
sure of the purpose of joining such a firm. Also dont be hesitant to
mention any contacts inside the company, as this would add stability
to your candidature,.

Any good student with interest in analytics should be able to make it to
the company. Dont fumble at the interviews and be confident.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1:
This would be the most intense period with atleast one company everyday, which you may have to interview with, if you are above average
candidate. Dont get bogged down by rejects, or get desperate. Keep
your calm and make conscious choice.
This is no time to prepare for the tests. Just keep your cool and give
your best at the tests. Make sure you speak some valuable point at
the GDs. Get as much knowledge bout the nature of PIs and try to be
aware of the requirements.
72
Index
This is the phase in which the best of the companies come. So dont
put half hearted efforts, in the hope of some future company. Simultaneously, do not get desperate and make a wrong choice for which you
may have to regret for a whole year at the company. Take a calculated
risk and be firm in what you want.
73
Index
Day
6

Departments open to | All Dual Degree, All Int. M.Sc. & B.Arch
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
Decent academic profile should be sufficient. Contrary to popular belief, they do NOT discriminate against people with very high (>9) CGPA.
Couple of students with 9.xy CGPA also got selected among the 15 of
us.

http://www.marketrx.com/
Careers/why_marketrx.asp
& some other links on the
website were helpful. A Q &
A session by the company
followed the test.

of candidate:
Department of Geology and
Geophysics: Applied Geology
Package notified:
7 LPA

Gurgaon (Most Likely, Ho)
Or Kolkata (2nd Main Office)
Other Possibilities: Mumbai,
Bengaluru, Chennai

None

Cognizant or MarketRX (as
this particular division used
to be known as) has been
coming to KGP since long.
They recruit between 12-18
students each year and
comes between Day 6-8
usually.
Decent extra-acads is sufficient unless your CGPA is too low. If your
academic profile is excellent, you stand a chance even without extraacademic activities.

Good communication skills, quantitative skills & case solving skills are
required. No programming knowledge needed since its an anlytics
profile with no role of IT.

They do ask about your Masters project and internships. Foreign internships are more valued.

A balanced profile (both academically and otherwise) stands a better
chance.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Skills Test

All eligible applicants can appear for the test. There was a very, very
long skills test with a ~20 min Verbal Section, a ~65 min Quant, Data
Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Section & a ~10 min Essay Writing
Section. This was preceded by some formalities like filling of forms etc.
CAT preparation should be sufficient.
The interview included basic HR questions, small cases, puzzles etc.
An interesting question was asked to me, Give an example of analytics in your daily life.
Stage 2: Interview - Round 1

Based on the basic profile entered on the form, GPA & test scores,
about 60 people were invited for the first round of 1:1 interview the
next day. It was a very friendly interaction and relaxed process. Each
interview lasted between 20-35 min.
74
Index
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Skills Test
Stage 2:
Interview - Round 1
Stage 3: Interview - Round 2

A final shortlist of about 25 people were made for the final round of
Group/ Panel Interview where all interviewers of different panels were
present. It lasted for about 10 min per person. Finally 15 people were
selected from our campus.
It was mostly verification round/ small HR questions.
Stage 3:
Interview - Round 2
75
Index
Day
7
Symantec
Departments open to | B.Tech. : CSE Dual Degree : CSE M.Tech: CSE 5 Yr. Int. M.Sc. : Mathematics &
Computing / Statistics & Informatics
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Basic Knowledge in C, (Datastructure, specifically, linked list) In depth

Knowledge in Operating System, (specifically, file system)

website will be sufficient

of candidate:
M.Tech (CSE)
Package notified:
8.5

Pune / Chennai

No...

Last year 1 from CSDP
Not much important

Puzzle

Clear concept on the Project is needed and will be asked

If you have any specific subject or topic of interest, mention it.

prepare for System subjects and Project
Stages
of selection

Online Technical Aptitude test
Completely CS oriented, System related.
May need to write some small codes.
Negative marks are there, be cautious about that.

Questions from project, Basic programming Knowledge
Ask for help if you are having any difficulties, they will love to discuss
about the approaches you take or want to take.

Subject Knowledge Test
Operating System Systems subject Knowledge
if you are facing any problem in any area, you can request to change
the topic.
76
Index
Symantec
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
General Decision making questions
Be ready for some tricky questions
Be frank.
Stage 2:
Technical Interview
Stage 3:
Technical Interview
Stage 4:
HR Interview
77
Index
Day
8
IBM (ISL)
Departments open to | E&ECE, CS
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
A good academic record i.e a CGPA above 8.5 is required

PPT was enough
Not much required

of candidate:
Maths and quantitative skills helped me. You must know your data
structures and algorithms very well.
EC
Package notified:
INR 8.75 Lakhs

Pune
Theyll ask lots of questions about your projects, so be thorough with

them.
Stages
of selection

No bond
Itll be tough. For CS and ECE people, it will be a smooth ride if you
know algorithms and data structures.
Stage 2: Interview
IBM ISL has been recruiting

for a long time now - since
2008.
The
I was asked to solve puzzles. Mainly sorting algorithms; heap and

bubble. To sum up, a lot of programming knowledge and algorithm
analysis will be required.
Dont fumble, its very important to be confident. If theres something
you dont know, dont hesitate to accept it.
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Interview
78
Index
Day
8
I-runway
Departments open to | Open to all Departments
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
8+ CGPA in the respective department. The company is looking primarily for technology consultants and hence they are very particular
about the student having a good grasp of the concepts. He/She should
also be able to articulate his ideas/answers in a simple and easy-to-understand manner because thats the job of a consultant. So basically
good acads and good comunication skills.

The documents which were
posted on the TnP notice
board.

of candidate:
AE, B.Tech.
Package notified:
8 Lacs
They look for a well rounded personality, so involvement in any extracurricular activity is definitely a plus.

There is a puzzle round where they test your ability to think out of the
box to come up with solutions. Originality is always appreciated. Students are expected to be comfortable with reading and making sense
of long computer programs, as most of the patent litigation issues (in
which the company specializes) generally fall into this category.
Bangalore
Any internships/projects in the respective department adds to your CV

as a prospective consultant.
None

First visit to IIT Kharagpur

Good Communication skills are an absolute must. More than having an
in-depth knowledge of the field, the company is interested in students
who can explain what they know in lay man terms. For example, in the
last round, we were asked to describe any one project which we had
done during our stay in KGP in simple terms such that some one with
zero knowledge of the field could understand.

Develop good Spoken English skills and preferably Quant skills too.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Interview
Questions to test the students knowledge in his/her department are
asked. Questions are quite simple, so they are more interested in how
you express the answer.
Communication skills
Quantitative reasoning
79
Index
Stage 2: Interview
I-runway
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Interview
Stage 2:
Interview
Stage 3:
HR Interview
80
Questions to test the students knowledge in his/her department are

asked. Questions are quite simple since they are more interested in
how you express the answer. There is also an additional puzzle thats
asked. Its generally very open ended, so any justifiable answer is accepted.
First you are asked to describe your CV, which you should show as
being related. As in, you should tell them how each and every activity/honours/projects mentioned in your resume contributed to building your personality, and how these would enable you to contribute
positively as an employee of the company. In the last round, we were
asked to describe any one project which we had done during our stay
in KGP in simple terms so that someone with zero knowledge of the
field would understand it.
Index
Day
8

Departments open to | EE with Instrumentation / EC with Telecommunication/ IM/ ME with Manufacturing. Science & Engineering / Manufacturing Science with Industrial Engineering and Management / NA
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
A sound knowledge of your basics is a must. CGPA is not much of a

criteria but they consider it while shortlisting.

http://www.pipavavshipyard.com

of candidate:
Dual Degree in Manufacturing Science And Engineering with M.Tech Specialisation in Industrial Engineering
and Management
Package notified:
6 lakhs

Gujarat
They dont ask you anything about sports, social or technical events
you participated in. However, as they were looking for managerial
skills, they asked me to cite examples where I coordinated with a large
team and led them. Illumination and various inter-hall social activities
can be cited as examples of where you worked in a group.

Math or quantitative ability was not a factor they tested me on. But, as
I had strong knowledge about various languages and softwares, they
asked me some questions on automation.

Projects and internships showing your knowledge about a manufacturing firm and showing your managerial skills are the most required if
you want to clear it.

Just some basic heuristic and common sense based questions.
No Bond.
What most of the interviewers are looking for is the zeal and enthusiasm with which you want to join their company. For showing that, you
need to show them how much you know about them, who you are and
how much valuable you can be to them by citing examples from your
past experience. Just stay cool in the interview. Never panic in front of
them. If you dont know anything, jusy say NO humbly. They also look
for people who can stay calm under tough situations and work. Revise
you CV thoroughly and ask your friends to take your mock interviews
which will help you to remain cool, calm and focussed.

The company didnt come
last year but hired a few
guys in 2009.
Stages
of selection
Your CV should be written in an understandable form and try to keep it
short, laying focus on your projects, academics and your positions of
responsibilities.
They asked me: (1) What are my qualities? (2) My strengths? (3) My
81
Index
The
82
selection
process
Stage 1:
CV Submission
Stage 2:
Personal Interview
weaknesses? (4) What interests me to join Pipavav? (5) Why they

should hire me? (6) What are my short-term and long-term plans?
Then they asked me what is my area of expertise and gave me options
to choose from. They asked which department of the company would I
fit for and then questions shifted from HR to technical.

Face-to-face interaction
The interviewers were from IIT Kharagpur itself, so trying to bluff before them would not be a good idea.
Index
Day
8
Pipavav Defense And Offshore Engineering Company Ltd

Departments open to | MF,IEM(Management Trainee Profile) OENA(Some core profile)
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
-Internship in some core company or fields related to core

company(Their questions revolved around my internship at Bharat
Dynamics Limited, and it made a great impression) -Knowledge of the
practical life applications of Supply Chain, etc(I had not take

Do check out location details of Pipavav on Google
Map, so as to be sure that
you can stay there. They
made the job profiles pretty
clear in the ppt.

of candidate:
Mechanical Department,
Manufacturing Sciences
Package notified:
Not Significant

None

The interviewers were IIT KGP alumnus. They just checked your interest and background knowledge in the field.
Stages
of selection
6lakh, Cash in hand, with

acco(800/mth))
Stage 1: CV
CV selection
CGPA, and good academic record
Pipavav, Gujarat

None
Stay confident
Stage 2: Interview
They didnt care about the introduction, etc, They directly jumped into
internship related questions, and some very basic questions from core
subjects.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
CV
Stage 2:
Interview
83
Index
Day
8

Departments open to | CH, EE, IE, ME, MT
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Average academic record (CGPA > 7)

Just the official website of

RIL

of candidate:
B.Tech. Electrical Engineering
Package notified:
6 Lakhs per annum CTC

Jamnagar
They didnt look much at extra-academic involvement.

Good understanding of concepts of electrical machines and in general,
departmental subjects

Projects and internships would be discussed in detail during the interview but only if they are in the areas of electrical machines, power
electronics or power systems. The interviewer will then mostly ask
questions related to those topics. In my case, the internships were in a
totally different field and therefore were not much looked at.

As I mentioned earlier, revising departmental subjects in brief would be
good enough.
No bond
Stages
RIL comes to campus every

year for campus recruitment
of selection
Objective test with 2 sections: aptitude and departmental subjects

Aptitude section was easy. Subject was a little difficult and was based
on concepts as well as formulas.
1) Interviewer asked me how I can distribute load as desired between
two generators connected in parallel. Initially they were carrying equal
loads and now he wanted me to distribute the total load unequally. It
basically required the understanding of synchronous generator.
2) He asked me to name different switches and compare some of them
e.g. diode and thyristor. Also, he asked me to draw their characteristics.
3) Why Reliance?
Revise electrical machines, power electronics and power systems if
you want to score high. Simple formula based questions on topics like
transformers may be asked. Revise the materials used for different
components e.g. circuit breakers
84
Index
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Interview
Stage 2: Interview
Only one round of technical interview
Just revise department subjects in brief before the interview. Be ready
to answer questions like why Reliance and not MBA or PSU, etc.
Revise the work you did during internship. If your internships were in
different field e.g. say signal processing, be ready to answer why you
would like to go into power systems rather than signal processing.
Also, be prepared with some good questions to ask the interviewer
about the company, job profile, skills you would develop during the job,
etc. Show interest in the company.
85
Index
Day
8
Tata Steel
Departments open to | MTech and DD of ME(all), IM, MT and Electrical (not sure)
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
Although not specified by the company, all shortlisted candidates had a

decent CGPA of above 8.0 and were B.Tech. students of the Mechanical
Engineering stream.

Company website, seniors

of candidate:
Mechancial, M.Tech. in
Manufacturing Science
Package notified:
9 LPA

Kalinganagar, Orissa
Not required

Not specified but it depends on the job profile. Command over any software such as C or Matlab will be helpful.

Project work related to automation, coding, robotics etc

Basic knowledge of steel, metallurgy, casting processes etc.
Stages
of selection

None
Stage 1: Group discussion

Group was of 10 people. Topic was Automation in process industry.
The
Clear understanding of topic is essential. At first, each person was given

5 minutes time to think and given a chance to speak. Then there was
debate for about 10 min.
selection
process
Stage 1:
Group discussion
Stage 2:
Personal Interview
Basics of metallurgy, steel making, casting process etc. Basic HR questions such as strengths, weaknesses, BTech project, MTech project, term
project if relevant.
Clearly understand the topic and then make your argument. Carry a pen
and paper. Dont drop the pen/ paper/ any other stationary on the floor
in excitement while making your statements (one candidate did that). Be
cool and raise strong arguments but speak politely.

Mix of HR type and Technical questions.
Try to find out the job profile before hand. Give your answers in such a
way that you project yourself as a match for the job profile. Tell about
relevant subjects/ projects/ internships etc. Make a separate CV for Tata
Steel highlighting your relevant strong points. You may ask about your
job location etc at the end of the interview.
86
Index
Day
8
Tata Steel
Departments open to | M.Tech. in MME and Mechanical, Dual Degree in MME
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
Academic credentials mattered in case of Tata Steel as the interviewers glanced through my B.Tech. and M.Tech. marks and it seemed that
having CGPA > 8 mattered to them. This might be because they came
for positions in R&D and having good marks was a criteria for selection.

Newspapers, seniors

of candidate:
MT, M.Tech.
Package notified:
9.00 LPA C.T.C
It matters because almost every company asks about it, not just routine questions but also in some details.

If you are required to use a software in your job which you know then
it comes as an advantage, mathematical ability shows that the student
has good aptitude and companies normally like a student who has
good aptitude in maths and reasoning.
Jamshedpur

None
I was asked extensively about my B.Tech and M.Tech projects so I

would strongly recommend you to be thorough with your projects. I
wasnt asked any questions about my internship.
In 2010, they recruited 4

M.Tech. students .
To have a clear knowledge about the fundamentals of your branch and

not to give wrong answers to basic questions.

Mostly to read the basic textbooks about your engineering branch, and
make your fundamentals very clear about steel metallurgy.
Stages
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Interview
of selection
Stage 1: Interview
Questions about my B.Tech. and M.Tech. projects - what are your objectives, what you have done, what you need to do, what instruments
you have operated with, what field you would prefer to be placed in,
whether you can adjust to another field and lastly some questions
related to steel metallurgy. To be able to convince the interviewer that
you know your project thoroughly and show them that you have your
basics clear.
Dont try to convince them about things you have not done, you may
be caught in cross-questioning as the persons who are interviewing
you have sound technical knowledge.
87
Index
Day
9
IRS
Departments open to | NA, CE
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
An minimum CGPA of 7 for undergraduates and 7.5 or 8 for postgraduates. This organisation prefers IITians for R&D so they prefer PG
students.

of candidate:
NA
Package notified:
6.4 LPA

Majorly Confined To Mumbai, India But Posting Can
Be In Any Part Of The World

Basic knowledge of Naval Architecture, with sound idea of structural
design, ship design and hydrodynamics (for R&D). Knowing any analysis tool is an added advantage.

Projects related to hydrodynamics, structural reliability, fatigue analysis helps in securing R&D position.
Stages
of selection
None
Stage 1: CV shortlisting
CGPA and resume were considered.
Selected two people in 2010
Basic Naval Architecture (mechanics of floating bodies such as hydrostatics, resistance, propulsion), strength of materials, ship & offshore structures, Hydrodynamics (seakeeping and maneuvering ).
Questions were mainly concentrated on previous projects.
Stage 2: Personal Interview.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
CV shortlisting
Stage 2:
Personal Interview.
88
Index
Day
9
Mahindra And Mahindra

Departments open to | ME,AG
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No
Academics should be good.CGPA above 8 is preferred.

Company website and Auto

journals

of candidate:
ME
Package notified:
If you are good in extra-academic activities then its good, but company
does not give more importance to these.

Yes, General knowledge about automobiles, their brands, their products as well as some general knowledge about agriculture is necessarily .
6.50 lacks per annum
If your project is related to automobile like vibrations, IC engines or

FEM etc then that would be fantastic.
Chennai
In the interview your information about the company and your desired
job location option matters.
NO
1) For mechanical students, do stress and design basics properly for

interview as well as test. 2) Go through Wikipedia website for different
automobile brands and products such as cars etc. 3) Keep track of
current auto-news 4) Solve the aptitude questions as fast as possible.

Selected around an average 5 candidates from each
department
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Test
The
The test contains mainly 3 parts 1) Design and stress paper 2)Aptitude
paper 3)General knowledge paper
selection
process
Stage 1:
Test
Do basic questions related to above parts

Do the basics of your course, keep track of the automobile world. Have
some basic information about agriculture.
89
Index
Day
9
Wipro
Departments open to | Open to All
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No

of candidate:
A minimum CGPA of 8.0 was mentioned and later they relaxed it to 7.9.
They were giving quite some importance to the Internships and Projects undertaken and were trying to judge if you actually did something
new and genuine. They were dwelling deep into it.
MF - B.Tech and Dual Degree
Package notified:
7 lakhs

Projects and Internships completed:
Gurgaon, Banglore, Pune
As I said, prepare well for them just like you prepare for BTech Project
Viva. They do ask a lot of questions.
None

IIT Kharagpur
HR questions should be prepared thoroughly. A background check of

Wipro and IT sector companies is a must.

Prepare well for group discussions. Try to get background information
about the IT sector and the company. Prepare your CV thoroughly.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: CGPA based cut off

CGPA of 8 and above.
Stage 2: Case Study

No one would be eliminated in this round. They will provide you ample
time - around 40-50 minutes to write a response on a case study. The
topic would be new and unheard of, but you can think and write peacefully in that amount of time. Make sure you highlight the points made
and do remember them for the Group Discussion phase.
Do prepare well for Group Discussions

One-third of the guys will get selected for the interviews from each
group of 8-10 guys. The topic of the GD would be same as the case
90
Index
Wipro
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
CGPA based cut off
Stage 2:
Case Study
Stage 3:
Group discussion
Stage 4:
Interview
study. Now, its time for you to recall the points you made during the
writing section. The GD will last for around 15-20 minutes
Good communication skills, relaxed but expressive tone.
Dont be silent and try to speak up whenever you get a chance. Try to
bring new air into the discussion and think from all the different perspectives. You should speak at least 2-3 times, even if you just say
1-2 sentences each time. That will do. They also individually ask each
person to speak, specifically those who could not speak, but you had
better not be that guy or girl. There is no need to fight for summarizing
the GD. Try to show that you are involved throughout the GD.
Stage 4: Interview
There will be two guys, one from technical and the other HR. They both
ask questions at the same time and they discuss among each other as
well. They mostly try to detect any fraud or fake thing you did in your
project or intern. All the technical questions come from your CV. So,
your fate is kind of in your hands only. Again, prepare hard for Projects,
Internships etc.
Dont panic. They try to see how you react in a pressure situation and
actually behave as if you are not impressing them. Just be calm and
keep on speaking. If there is something you want to say and they interrupt you, its better you ask them to give you a chance to explain it in
details. Do have a few questions in mind to ask them about your job
profile and Wipro. That is the final nail in the coffin.
91
Index
Day
9
Wipro
Departments open to | Almost all I guess.(special preference to dual degrees)
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Must: minimum CGPA of 8. they reduced the gpa requirement to 7.9

but they maintain final gpa must be 8. Good to have: Some knowledge
of programming languages,databases,Algorithms.

tnpedia,wikipedia, the
companys official website,
newspapers etc.
Any extra-academic involvement helps ,but is not a requirement.

of candidate:
Be in touch with discrete math(not requirement). C++,Java programming.(may be a little bit of Python)
Dual Degree, Aerospace
Package notified:
Projects and internships with computer programming as major / critical part. Having lead a bunch of juniors or equals in a project.
Bangalore

No Bond!

One of my 2007 batchmate
got placed in wipro after his
btech, same profile
92
Decent communication skills.

KGPians have to be a little more in the know-how of latest trends in IT
and programming language landscape. KGPians dont do group projects much, specially group programming/software project. Be affirmative about your abilities and be more clear in your intent, in interviews.
Index
Day
9
Wipro
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
8 and above. Later it was lowered to 7.9, mine was 7.98

Wipro is an Indian company,

considered one of the IT giants of India, so have heard
and learned about the company from here and there

of candidate:
Department of Metallurgical
and Materials Engineering
Package notified:
INR, 7 lks

Bangalore, Hyderabad,
Chennai

None

Not that I am aware of.
They mainly ask HR questions, so being involved in Extra-academic

activities gives you more that you can talk of.

I had an eye for coding in C++. Helped me on this, but my extra-acads
list was enough. Coding was just a bonus.

If they are non core its better. But my both the internships were core
based. You just have to convince them why you are dropping from core
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Case study

Its not an elimination round, you can go with your informal clothes on.
Topic: Should Social Media technique be used for educational purposes. Something similar. Any one who has prepared for day 1 and day
2 companies will get through this round. Just read news papers and
learn to shoot graphs here and there even if it has got absolutely no
facts and definitely practice to write a lot.
Be prepared with both for and against the topic coz the interviewer
keeps changing the topic in between the GD.The topic was same as
that of the case study
Dont write bullet-ed points, this makes your cases look small. Try applying your vocabulary spectrum.
Try to give exhibits even if you dont know any facts.
Stage 2: GD
12 students on the table, one interviewer.
Play old school .But dont wait for your chance, just break into it, but
with a gentlemanly attitude. Try giving examples.
Throw arbitrary facts to prove your points, if you dont remember the
real figures.
93
Index
Wipro
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Case study
Stage 2:
GD
Stage 3:
Interview
94
Stage 3: Interview
Two interviewee
Mainly HR questions. --tell me something about youself --about the
company --who is the present CEO --Extra-acads related questions
--coding related questions(only if your CV shows you are a coding
studd) --situation based questions
Dont start with your brilliancein your core subject. Tell them you hate
your department. Convince them that you wont ditch them for a Ph.D
or an MBA. Tell them you have a friend at Wipro who keeps giving you
intel about how great the company is. Look confident and if at times
you can be funny, they will appreciate it!!
Index
Day
9
Wipro
Departments open to | Open to all JEE qualifiers who have a CGPA above 8
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Cut off is 8.

None

of candidate:
MF
Package notified:
7 lacs CTC
This company, as I understand, is looking for future managers. No

technical preparation is required as didnt ask a single question related
to academics. You just need to convince them that you are ready to
do whatever they want you to do in the company be it coding or data
entry and depending on your luck and soft skills you will get through.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Case study
The round was of 1 hour
Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune
Stage 2: GD on case study

10 people per group
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Case study
Stage 2:
GD on case study
95
Index
Deloitte
Departments open to | All
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Board exam percentages should be greater than 85%, and a high

CGPA is required. But try not to look too involved with the department.
They are scared of people who leave for pursuing higher studies, or for
admissions into the IIMs.

Two seniors were placed
in this company two years
earlier. Both have quit their
job now. I had not done any
company specific research
before the interview.

of candidate:
Agriculture and Food Engineering, B.Tech
Package notified:
6.27LPA

Gurgaon, Mumbai Or Hyderabad
They like diverse profiles, X factors, etc. Something new. Try sounding
confident and convincing.

Math abilities maybe.

They asked me a lot about my internships. I had only department specific ones though.

They want to be sure that the people they recruit will not leave them as
they have very high attrition rates. Show that you want to gain exposure in the industry, and that you are setting aside higher studies. High
GRE/GMAT scores scare them, so do not mention them at all.
Stages
of selection
none
Stage 1: Test
CAT based. Lame test.

Normal skills.
Last year they recruited a

truck load of people. This
year only 5 were taken.
Try being as organized as possible. Even if it does not make any sense,
Do things you shouldnt do. Cheat and stuff. It seems that works better.
Stage 2: GD
It is a case GD. (IIM GD/PI types)
Try showing team work abilities. My GD group had 100% conversion
for the PI. Thats because we worked together, divided the task into
equal parts, and were structured and organized.
We all had a very vague idea of what was going on in the GD, but the
team-work worked. Other GD groups had only one or two who quali
96
Index
fied per group.
Deloitte
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Test
Stage 2:
GD
Stage 3: PI
15 minute interview, CV based questions, some typical HR questions.
Know your CV. Department related questions are asked.
Try and be as amicable as possible. Smile a lot without looking creepy.
Shake hands after the interview is done. Show confidence. Be sure of
your answers. If you dont know them, say that you dont. Look smart.
Stage 3:
PI
97
Index
General Motors
Departments open to | ME All
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Much emphasis was given to the project which we did last year.

of candidate:
It is stressed upon a bit.
Mechanical engineering,
(Thermal science and engineering)
Package notified:
Stages
5.5 laks per annum
No such requirement.
of selection
Stage 1: CV shortlist
Bangalore
CVs were shortlisted based on the project undertaken. (B.tech and

M.tech)

no bond

Interview was based on the project and its relevant field of application.
Stage 3: H R Interview
Just convince them that you are willing to join the organisation.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
CV shortlist
Stage 2:
Technical interview
Stage 3:
H R Interview
98
Index
Day
10
Snapdeal
Departments open to | All entrants through JEE
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
1) CGPA doesnt matter 2) Good analytical skills and logical reasoning are all they look for (qualifying competitive exams like NTSE gives
you an edge) 3) Internships play a vital role 4) Knowledge of Business
Process Improvement methods is an add-on but not a necessity.

Company website (www.
snapdeal.com), Wiki page
for snapdeal.com, www.
freewebsitereport.org

of candidate:
AG
Package notified:
7+1 LPA

New Delhi
They dont exactly look for any extra academic involvement but if a
person has done some work it will be beneficial to show managerial
skills.

They tested quantitative ability in written test . In the interview for the
profile of Product Analyst all they looked for was your logical reasoning
ability and presence of mind.

Internships are crucial and your HR interview revolves a lot around
them.

If you like to solve puzzles, the interview will be a piece of cake.
None
If you are not in habit of solving puzzles, do read books like Heard on
Wall Street and solve problems on websites like www.techinterview.
org.
Visited the campus for first

time.
These will not only help you in this interview but will be very useful in
all the puzzles you face in such interviews.
Stages
of selection

There was a multiple choice test with 11 questions based on quantitative and analytical ability. Attempt all the questions as the cutoff was as
high as 9 out of 11.
You should have a good command over +2 mathematics and logical
and analytical problems.
You should have an explanation of whatever is present in your resume
with documents to back it up.
99
Index
Snapdeal
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
HR Interview
Stage 3:
Technical Interview
It was completely a profile based interview and questions were asked
directly from the resume.
Dont write false information in your resume as it is scanned thoroughly.

Technical interview contained- 1) Questions from the tests. 2) Logical
and analytical puzzles. 3) Real life problems like how to increase efficiency of the interview process and how to eliminate a defective pack
(empty) from a bunch of non-empty ones while loading for transportation.
Good puzzle solving skills and presence of mind are required.
100
Index
Day
10
Tata Motors Limited

Departments open to | ME, MF, MT, IM
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
No

Seniors

of candidate:
IM
Not required.

There will be a section on mechanical engineering. IM students need to
study for that

Not asked
Package notified:
30K in hand. CTC 5.67 in
TATA, 5.92 in Pune

Its better to have some managerial skills. Also be ready to write that
you will work for a period of 10-15 years in TATA motors.
For IM students, it is always

Jamshedpur
Stages

No bond.
of selection

1. Prepare well for the test.
2. Take exam in groups.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Online test
Stage 2:
Interviews.
Youll find it easy if you are already preparing for CAT.

It isnt too tough and they test only core Indutrial Engineering
knowledge.
1. Prepare for CAT and GRE.
2. Solve TIME test papers for speed.
Stage 2: Interviews.
1. Be confident.
2. Be clear about whatever you speak to them.
3. Memorise some real world example related to each topic. For example the use of the revolutionary algorithm and assembly line problems.
101
Index
Day
10
Tata Motors Limited

Departments open to | ME (all courses), EE and IE
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Students of mechanical engineering must possess basic knowledge of

automobile engineering. An average CGPA will be sufficient.

www.tatamotors.com, seniors

of candidate:
ME (M. Tech in mechanical
system design)
Package notified:
6.4 to 7.2 LPA

Pune, Jamshedpur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad,

No bond
1. The candidate should be very good in quantitative, reasoning skills

and should possess good English since time allotted for the test is
less.
2. Ansys, Pro-e, Catia knowledge will help
Stages
of selection

Online test
Quantitative aptitude - verbal, non verbal reasoning were asked.
Grammar and sentence correction questions were asked in the English
section.
Good knowledge of current topics of social, political, national and
international importance will be helpful.
1. Be patient
2. Concentrate on time managment.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Group discussion
Stage 3:
Personal interview
102

1. Dont repeat your point again and again.
2. Give others a chance to speak as well.
3. Listen to each and everyones points carefully (that will help you to
make new ones).
Stage 3: Personal interveiw

How can you use your project in the company.
1. Practice commonly asked interview questions
2. Be thorough with your projects
Index
Day
10
Tata Motors Limited

Departments open to | Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Industrial
Engineering and Management (MET, ME & IEM) Courses - B.Tech, Dual Degree, M.Tech
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
I think they do not matter, as I had a CGPA of 6.52 at the time of my

placement. The only criterion is that the applicant should not have a
GPA of less than 6.00 in any of the semesters.

Companys official website

of candidate:
MT
Package notified:
Not Relevant

No specific ability is required, they just require you to have a good
background in your field of study and you should be able to answer
some application based questions related to your core branch.
6.00 LPA
I think an internship in a core company will help you answer their questions, but it is not necessary. In my case they did not discuss anything
related to it and I did not do my internship in the field of Metallurgy.
Jamshedpur, Pune, Sanand,

Pantnagar
Stages
of selection

N/A

Regular, visits the campus
every year.
Day before the placement

Quantitative, Logical Reasoning, Verbal and one section related to your
branch.
Just be confident and answer the questions and try to be friendly.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Online Test
Stage 2: Interview
The Technical and HR interviews are held together.
They test your knowledge in your core subject and see whether you
are a worthwhile investment. They do not want people who will drop
out and opt to do an MBA.
Stage 2:
Interview
103
Index
Day
10
Tata Motors Limited

Departments open to | Mechanical, Metallurgy, Industrial, MF
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
CGPA above 6 without any backlogs

Im sure everybody has a

basic knowledge of Tata
motors and the cars(atleast)
it produces. These can be
found in various magazines
/news

of candidate:
ME
Package notified:
4.58-5.99 LPA

Uttaranchal
none in particular

Preferably anything related to controls, materials, dynamics, etc. (basically anything that is a familiar topic to someone studying automotive
engineering).
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: online test
The same quant/DI/verbal/etc..

Apart from the CAT questions, there is a section about automobile
engineering.
Again, Anything that might be a familiar topic to an automotive person
along with a basic knowledge about current (indian)cars and the technologies
Be cool and dont take it too seriously

Technical followed by HR interviews
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Online test
Stage 2:
Personal Interview
104
Be cool and dont take it too seriously; do take time to tricky questions
Index
Day
12
IBM (ISL)
Departments open to | E&ECE- Microelectronics & VLSI Design, VIBES, Fiber Optics, Telecommunications Comuter Science IT
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
CGPA Greater than 8 is a positive point. Mine is 7.8 so i got 1.75 lack
less salary than my colleagues.

I didnt refer other sources.

of candidate:
E&ECE, Microelectronics &
VLSI Design
Package notified:
6,75,000

Bangalore

No Bond
Social activity Any group activity in college

Math, quantitative,aptitude & reasoning abilities are required. Cadence/
verilog proficiency is required

Projects are required because it teaches us how to use our knowledge.
Also we get practical experience of theories. Internships, if done will
be much more beneficial.

One has to sell oneself so show them that you are better than others in
some fields and that will be beneficial for the company. How company
can utilize your strengths.

For written test R S Agarwaal aptitude and reasoning is sufficient.
For Technical, whatever is studied in curriculum is sufficient. Also
project and internship parts should be well known. At last One thing
one should keep in mind that one has to sell oneself so do whatever
you think can describe yourself and that will be beneficial for your
customer(company). All the best for all the participants from my heart
and soul.
Stages
of selection

Aptitude Reasoning Technical(basics, what is studied in the classroom)
Just practice from any book available in market for aptitude and reasoning book by R S Agarwaal is sufficent. try to solve some question
papers
Counter, types, difference, synchronous vs asynchronous Various
designs using logic gates like full adder, multiplexer, XOR, XNOR,
D-FF etc. Design of inverter with different rise and fall times. Anything
invented by company or any big achievement of company must be
known. eg- for IBM they asked me Who designed RISC microproces-
105
Index
sor as it was designed by IBM.
IBM (ISL)
The
selection
process
Be calm. Dont be nervous when questions are hard because the level
of questions will be same for everyone.

Stage 1:
Written Test
Stage 2:
Technical Interview
Stage 3:
HR Interview
Favorite Subject(at least 2), Project and Internships.

Be confident If you dont know say NO. However if possible try to
answer something and you may say that you forgot and if time will be
given you can solve. After getting the question, think and then reply.
At the end ask some questions which will show your enthusiasm to for
them. Smile. Sell yourself. Dont be nervous and get rejected by underperforming.
Introduction About Company, PPT etc.
About your hobbies/interests/home/parents/previous places you visited or stayed. Your extra curricular activities.
Say about your strengths, use the usual ones like hardworking, honest
and so on.Substantiate with examples which happened in your life and
you handled it properly. Any social activity will add much advantage.
106
Index
Day
13
Coal India Ltd.

Departments open to | Geology, Mining, Electrical.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
CGPA as well as results in secondary and senior secondary levels matter. Government companies do not prefer candidates who have gaps in
their academic career.

Companys website (http://
www.coalindia.in/)

of candidate:
Not significant.
GG, 2 year M.Sc. in Geology
Not necessary for students in Geology but good field knowledge and
intepretation capability of structural maps do play an important role in
the selection process.
Package notified:
6.97 lakhs
Not relevant but a mine visit can help a lot.
Anywhere In India Where

There Are Coal Mines Of
CIL.

Rs.1000 will be deducted
from the salary for 50
months and in case of
discontinuation of an employee, the amount will be
forfeited.

Unaware of.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Group Discussion
A bit of knowledge about the industrial scenario.
Many of the students could not even define dip and strike. So I think
a solid base in structural geology is required to join a mining company.
Stages
of selection

Good analytical ability and of course oratory ability.
Most of the questions were related to coal geology and structural
geology like coal grades, deposits in India, their main use, i.e. whether
coking or non-coking grade and sedimentology.
Dont hesitate to speak anything. Be brief and to the point.

Geological as well as some HR related questions can be asked.
Be confident and if you dont know an answer do not beat around the
bush.
Stage 2:
Personal Interview
107
Index
Day
13
Coal India Ltd.

Departments open to | B.Tech & M.Tech Mining Electrical Mechanical Geology and Geophysics
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Coal India specifies a CGPA cut-off for the eligibility for the selection
process. But 7 is a good CGPA. Good knowledge of rock mechanics
and mine legislation.

http://www.coalindia.in/
default.aspx?AspxAutoDete
ctCookieSupport=1

of candidate:
B.Tech Mining Engineering
Package notified:
6.9LPA

Remote Locations

Rs.1000 will be deducted
every month from the salary. After completion of 48
months, the total deducted
amount i.e. Rs.48,000 will be
given back to the employee.

It did not come in Dec 2010.
It used to come to kgp every year before that.
These are important, but Coal India doesnt ask for too much of extraacademic involvement.

Not required.

The interview panel asked me about my BTP, field trips and summer
training. say for example, what were the specialties of the mines I
visited during summer training, what was the annual production of the
mine etc. What my BTP is about?

Coal India sends new recruits to remote locations. They see whether
students are mentally ready to go to such a place and work there. They
see whether the student is actually interested in mining or not and how
much of a sense of belonging the student has towards mining.

CMR 1957 is available on www.dgms.net, in the downloads section.
Go through it once. Basic terminology in mining [ say for eg, fleet
angle, pit slope angle etc ] are important. All these things are available
in the CMR 1957. All the best.
Stages
of selection

Students are seated in a circle. A topic is given. The interview panel
co-ordinates the discussion. Everyone is given a time period of around
2 minutes. Everyone speaks when his/her turn comes. The topic is
straightforward and simple. [ In our case it was What would be the
emerging profession in near future ? ] One must be able to speak for
2 minutes on the topic. One may speak in hindi too.
General knowledge and Communication skills are important.
Core knowledge [ especially mining legislation ] Knowledge about
ones own B. Tech Project, Field Trip / summer training, Communica-
108
Index
tion skills.
Coal India Ltd.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Group Discussion
Stage 2:
Personal Interview
One should take a paper and pen with him/her. As the topic is given,
one should take down as many points as one can. The idea must be
communicated properly.

Questions related to extra academic activities. Core knowledge. [ esp
mining legislation, say for eg, maximum size of a UG pillar etc ] Questions were asked about the field trips/ summer training and B.Tech
Project.
It should not be told to the panel that one isnt interested in mining at
all. [ creates a negative impression, it will show that one isnt prepared
mentally to join a mine]. A sense of belonging towards mining must be
reflected in the student.
109
Index
Day
14
Hero Motocorp
Departments open to | Mtech with Mechanical Systems Design and Thermal and Intellectual Property
Rights
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Just 60% in class 10th, 12th and graduation is enough for getting
shortlisted for the company. There is no requirement of any extraordinary profile.

I had 2 seniors working in
the same R&D department
of the company to which it
came for recruiting.

of candidate:
I was not asked about them in my interview.

Based on my profile and interview experience, I believe at least one
CAD software and knowledge of Finite Element Method is required for
R&D job in Design Engineering in any automobile sector company.
Mechanical, MTech (Mechanical Systems Design)
Package notified:
8.1 LPA

Dharuhera (35kms From
Gurgaon)
I was not asked about them in my interview.
For aptitude test of any company, only basic R S Aggarwal book is

enough. For technical test by core companies, a sound knowledge
is required which cannot be achieved by overnight preparation. The
technical questions are quite easy but the number of questions is very
large compared to time given.
Stages
of selection
No bond whatsoever

As far as I know, Hero
Motocorp visits IIT-KGP
on regular basis for placements. Their requirements
for specific specialization
may vary from year to year
according to the vacancies.

Topics were based on current affairs. No specific preparation required.
Try to initiate the GD if possible. But if you are not able to do so, try
to atleast conclude it. Based on my GD experience, the points you
make are not very important. The only important thing is that you must
SPEAK. These HR guys from core companies dont know exactly
how to conduct a GD. I have seen people clearing GD round only by
shouting and making irrelevant points. A GD for an IIM is totally a different game but for core companies only speaking in a GD is enough.
We were given a sheet of paper on which adjectives were written on
both sides. On one side, we were asked to tick the adjectives which
described us according to our friends. On the other side we had to tick
the adjectives which we thought best described us.
I have appeared in about 10 GDs so far (during UG and PG placements), and I was not rejected in any one of them. The thing which was
110
Index
Hero Motocorp
The
selection
process
common in all the GDs was that I initiated in most of them and during
the GD, I wrote down the points spoken by each member on paper and
during the conclusion I spoke about each and everyones point. This
gave me an edge over all others.
Stage 2: Psychometric Test

Stage 1:
Group Discussion
Stage 2:
Psychometric Test
Stage 3:
Personal Interivew
This was not an elimination round.

Mark as many adjectives as possible but be honest at the same time.
Based on the adjectives I marked. I was asked to give some specific
real life examples for proving the same in the interview. As I had been
honest in marking the adjectives, this was a piece of cake for me.

The R&D head, HR head and a representative of Law department took
my interview. The Law Representative did not ask any questions.
About half of the total questions were asked by the R&D head. He
stressed only on the MTech project. The HR head asked questions
based on the psychometric test. She asked to give me real life examples and explanations for the adjectives that I had marked. Based on
my CV, questions were asked by both R&D and HR head.
As I already knew about the requirements through my seniors in the
company, I was able to shape my project according to their needs. It is
advisable to talk to any of the seniors in the firm beforehand to get an
idea of the type of requirements in the company and prepare for the interview accordingly. You must be very well prepared with your MTech.
project and you must know exactly what you are going to do. Speak
about your project according to the requirement of the company even
if it is very remotely related to the work of the company.
111
Index
Day
16
Departments open to | OE&NA, Aerospace, MF, ECE with VLSI
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Being a core design consultancy, more emphasis was on academic

performance. I think a CGPA above 7.5 or 8 is very ideal

Through their website http://

www.infotech-enterprises.
com/ Through some seniors
of Aerospace dept and a
friend of mine whose aunt
works there

of candidate:
Ocean Engg & Naval Architecture, Dual Degree
Package notified:
Nothing much was about it

Some department related software

They looked deep into my internship and project. Various questions
about what I had done there and how well I got practical exposure
were tested.
Stages
of selection
5 lakhs per annum
Two tests were there. One CAT type questions- maths, quant, verbal
Another related to the department. Both were objective type
Hyderabad

2 years and 1 lakh

I.T has been coming for
placements for the last 2
years
Even without any CAT preparation, you can clear it quite easily. For
the department related exam, a basic preparation of core subjects for
placements is enough
Regarding my internships, design project Ive done, BTP and MTP
Most of the questions were CV based.
No negative marks, I think. So fill all the questions.

It went on for about 20 mins. All were technical questions and most of
them were from the things Ive stated in my CV.
Write only what youve done in your CV, if not at least be prepared to
defend everything. Otherwise if you are confident with your basics it
should not be a big problem to clear this round.
By the time I got till here, I already knew that I almost got placed. So it
was very friendly and went on for about 10 minutes
112
Index
The
selection
Typical HR questions like why our company, what can you offer to our
company, you have a good CG why arent you going for higher studies,
etc.
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Technical interview
Stage 3:
HR Interview
113
Index
Day
20
IBM (GBS)
Departments open to | All departments, B.Tech, Dual degree, M.Techs
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
CGPA above 7

http://www-935.ibm.
com/services/in/gbs/
bao/?lnk=mhse
Quantitative ability
Stages
of selection

of candidate:
BT, Dual Degree
Online written test, consisting of quantitative and verbal ability.
Package notified:
3.75 LPA CTC (including a

one time joining bonus of
Rs. 25,000)
General topic group discussion.

Hyderabad, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ncr

No bond
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Group Discussion
Stage 3:
Personal Interview
114

Two-on-one interview. I was asked about projects and internships.
Nothing particularly challenging. (They were planning on mass recruitment. Selected 26 students out of the ~40 students shortlisted for GD.)
Index
Day
23
Rajiv Gandhi University Of

Knowledge Technology
Departments open to | MTECH(ALL),PHD(ALL)
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
M. Tech. degree and Ph. D. required with CGPA 7.5 (7.0 for S.C. and
S.T. candidates.)

We placed as a lecturer
based on the experience
promoted as assitant professor. In thiis university student come with background
of 10th standard other than
12 th standard.We have to
mould them as a engineer
so lots of work to do and
per year there must be 3 semesters.Coming to facilities
we get a separate cabin in
working hours and accomodation with net connection.I
am not sure about mess.
Package is tentative for
every placement year
Stages
of selection
Stage 1:
Basic knowledge of respective subjects.
Be confident and dont hesitate to ask any question to interviewer.

of candidate:
E& ECE dept.
Package notified:
5.89LPA

Andhra Pradesh(3 Centers)

2 Years of bond.We can
break the bond on specific
reasons.

This is 2nd consecutive
year. They recruit last time
around 10 to 12
115
Index
Day
23

Departments open to | CH,IM,MT and several others.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
(Gave his own credentials) CGPA-7.57 in M.Tech. at IIT Kgp. 77% at

B.Tech. in OU campus, 93.8% in 12th and 79.3% in 10th.

RGUKT website.

of candidate:
CH
Package notified:
5.88 LPA CTC

Basar, Vijayawada, Kadapa
(All In Andhra Pradesh)

No.

It has been recruting since
2010 and is expected to
recruit in large numbers for
at least two more years.
The
selection
process
Stage 1:
Interview
116
Nothing which I included in resume but, I participated in the hall council elections and came third. I have good interpersonal relations with
several persons from rickshaw pullers and security persons to professors in IIT KGP. I am interested in motivating students and I guided
peers in their areas of interest.

I am good at C programming, but I got a core chemical engineering job
which I deeply longed for.

Industrial training at NFC, Hyderabad after 3rd year in B.Tech.
My BTP involved simulating a chemical engineering process using
SPEN. plus
My MTP was related to heat integration of batch rectifier.

I think that academic credentials and others matter only 40% whether
we are indeed in requirement of a job or not and whether we are really
serious into getting into a particular company or not matters 60% to
get a job in that company.

Stay with the company for as long as you have told them you will.
Loyalty towards company in particular and humanity in general goes a
long way in shaping your career and life.
Stages
of selection
Stage 1: Interview
Selection criteria based on CG-cut offs
Ask yourselves if you really want this job or not. If you do, go get it
else, forget it.
Index
Day
23

Departments open to | BT,ME,EE and several others.
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Good CGPA in both B.Tech. and M.Tech. If you have published any
paper that will add an advantage to you.

http://www.rgukt.in/

of candidate:
BT (M.Tech BT AND BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING)
Package notified:
Publishing papers, Attending conferences.

RGKUT doesnt need any of these.

Project matters a lot. We should be in a position to explain our work
with confidence.
33,000 INR in hand (49k

CTC)
Stages
IIIt Nuzvid
Be thorough with the subjects.
of selection
Stage 1: Interview
No bond. The job is on contract basis.
The interview is conducted by our own dept professors.

The company regularly recruits from campus. But the
seniors who got recruited
to this company has a bad
impression about it.
The
1. What will you teach if you are given 48 hours to teach biotechnology
to second year B.Tech students?
2. What is a CSTR? What are the different parts?
3. How is a PFR different from CSTR?
4. Why do you like teaching profession ?
5. Why dont you join Phd even if you have excellent Academic Record?
6. Are you willing to do a Ph.D.?
selection
process
Stage 1:
Interview
117
Index
Day
24
Shimizu Corporation
Departments open to | B.Arch B.Tech - MF, IE Dual Degree - EE (all), ME (all), CE (all) M.Tech - EE (all), ME (all),
CE (all), MCP, Infrastructure Design & Management
Funda Bytes
Check
Was there a PPT?:
Yes
Surely CGPA matters to get shortlisted to Interviews.

Company website, Projects

they are handling in India
and abroad using Google.

of candidate:
Ranbir and Chitra Gupta
School of Infrastructure
Design and Management,
Infrastructure design and
management
Package notified:
Bangalore employment - 5
L, Singapore Employment
- 14 L

Bangalore/singapore

Not applicable
Yes, it matters but to a small extent.

Quantitative ability English proficiency Software like SAP 2000, ETABS,
Orion, Autocad, Revit in my case with Shimizu Corporation. For civil
engineering students, knowledge of programming languages like C,
C++ is not much likely to affect the selection process or the work they
would be handing in construction company but yes, having knowledge
of such languages opens doors for employment in software and consultancy companies.

Project and internship are most likely to have an impact during the
interview phase. Probably companies are more interested in students
who have done internships/projects in the similar areas of work matching with the company profile. Doing such a project, which is affecting
the society for some good reasons like project for water purification of
some locality, environment assessment would be appreciated.

Keep a strong academic knowledge of your field and show your interest in the company during the interviews as it helps a lot. And try to
improve your English proficiency.
Stages
of selection

Not aware
The
Subject paper related to the branch undertaken in UG/PG
selection
process
Stage 1:
Written test
Stage 2:
Interviews
Strong academic knowledge

Proficiency, confidence and having a clear idea about where you would
like to see yourself after 5 years with the company would help.
Try to be clean and specific about your answers.
Stage 2: Interviews
Face to Face interview with company officials.
118

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1

Best of Luck to all those sitting for the Placement season

Was there a PPT?:

What are the sources of

Economic Times, puzzles

Fair amount of involvement

Specific skills required:

Department and course

Finance related internships would help

Probable places of posting:

your preparedness level

Math and quantitative ability, good communication skills

Projects and internships completed:

Stage 2: CV based selection

Was there a PPT?:

A CGPA of above 8 is important.

Department and course

Chemical Engineering, Dual

your preparedness level

Specific skills required:

Projects and internships completed:

Suggested preparation strategy:

Was there a PPT?:

What are the sources of

You can collect every information about microsoft idc

Department and course

Probable places of posting:

Details of bond, if any:

Past recruitment history:

your preparedness level

Specific skills required:

Projects and internships completed:

Suggested preparation strategy:

Was there a PPT?:

Department and course

Probable places of posting:

Details of bond, if any:

Past recruitment history:

your preparedness level

Specific skills required:

Projects and internships completed:

Any other critical factors?:

Suggested preparation strategy:

Stage 1: Written Test

Data-structures, algorithm analysis and complexity. Basic syntax of

Was there a PPT?:

A CGPA cutoff of 7.0

Department and course

your preparedness level

Specific skills required:

Good computer programming skills are required. Knowing C++/Python

Probable places of posting:

Projects and internships completed:

Details of bond, if any:

It is highly beneficial to mention exceptional achievements, if any. Also

Any other critical factors?:

Suggested preparation strategy:

Stage 1: Written Test

Stage 2: Technical round 1

Stage 3: Technical Round 2

Was there a PPT?:

Excellent Programming skills