Interview...overview

Interview Section
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After clearing the written test, companies usually interview the candidates to gauge his/her capabilities and personality. Basically there are two kinds of interviews, the techincal one, where stress is laid on checking your fundamentals in your core subjects and the HR one , where your communication skills and personality is put to the test.

Check out the following sections for more details.

Technical Section
Human Resources (HR) Section
General Tips for the Interview
Group Discussion (GD)

Technical Section

As you are from computers and electronics branches, so for the moment you have information regarding core subjects of these fields only. As most of the companies coming to the campuses are from the IT industry hence you may expect them to probe your computer skills regardless of your stream. Knowledge of C is always an added advantage.

For Computer Students

knowledge of C is essential. Other important topics include

Data Structures
Operating Systems
Some students have also been grilled on Object Oriented Programming,C++ ,Microprocessor Architecture, Networking,
Database Management, Automata, Compiler Design and Computer Graphics depending upon subjects covered till the most recent semester.

Some Commonly Asked Questions

Usage of pointers and their fundamentals in C?
What is the difference between structures and unions in C?
Basic concepts about data structures like trees,linked lists,circular lists,queues, arrays

Sorting Methodology
(you may be asked to make an algorithm/program to implement a sort method)

What is an finite algorithm?

Basic concepts of Operating Systems such as multitasking, multithreading, real time systems, CPU scheduling algorithms, deadlocks, memory management etc.

Difference between one pass and multipass compilers, compilers and interpreters, parsing etc.

For Electronics and Communication Stream
The important subjects are

Digital Circuits and Logic Design
Microprocessor Architecture of 8085
Electronic Design and Circuits
Communication and Networking
Some Commonly Asked Questions
Difference between a latch and a flip flop
What is sampling theorem and why is it needed
Internal architecture of 8085
Comparison between OpAmps and transistors
Modulation techniques (AM ,FM , PAM etc.)
Transistor biasing methods ( fixed bias , emitter bias etc.)

HR Section

In your HR interview ie human resources interview the main effort on the part of the interviewer will be to bring forth your true personality.They may ask you some routine questions , few of which have been mentioned below, but be expecting questions of varied type regarding sexuality ,music , authors etc. ; anything to get to know what you really are.

Some Commonly Asked Questions



Describe yourself
Why are you better than the next person
Your strengths and weakness and what you are doing to rectify your weaknesses
Information regarding what kind of work your parents do
The magazines and newspapers you read , their cost and at times their editors ; and that days headlines
You prefer a team sport to an individual sport
Why you want to join this particular company and not some other one.
What are your career objectives ( long term and short term )
Why you plan to switch over to software field
(for those who are from streams besides computers)
At the end of the interview they ask whether you have any questions to ask them. It is better to stick to one or two questions regarding the company and not dwelve into how you performed or the pay package or any personal questions to the interviewer.

General Tips for the Interview

The Essentials

a) Fundamental principles pertaining to his academics ( most important )
b) Essentials of past life and clear cut career objectives
c) General awareness of world around him
d) In depth knowledge of your extra curricular activities

Apart from these in general keep the following in mind

Always remember its a sort of formal occassion and never get too informal , like accepting interviewers offer for a smoke or drink

Smart and clean turnout. Neat clothes and polished shoes with tidy hair.

Be cool and don't get nervous.Try to be pleasant , alert and mantain eye contact. If u cant hold your own in technical questions try to remain composed ;your confidence may do the trick.

Try to maintain a good rapport with the interviewer and get him to ask questions regarding the subjects you are strong in.

Maintain eye contact from the begining and dont act in a manner so that the interviewer is distracted which for example can be caused by flashy dresses ,exaggerated arm movements or you shifting in your chair.

Give them the impression that you are going to stay with the company for atleast 3 to 5 years. Never mention anything concerning GRE or CAT .

Never try to bluff your way through an interview. The interviewers would be able catch on to it fast.
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References

For Computer Students

C
Let Us C
(Y. Kanetkar)
Kernighan & Ritchie
Gottfried (Schaum Series)
Exploring C
(Y. Kanetkar)
C++
Waite Groups' Turbo C++

Data Structures
Data Structures
(Tannenbaum)
Horowitz & Sahni
Sorenson & Tremelay

Operating Systems

Galvin & Silberschatz

DBMS
Silberschatz
Ullman
Date

Microprocessors
Gaonkar
Barry B Brey
Douglas V Hall
Mathur

Automata & Compiler Design
Aho & Ullman
Hopcroft & Ullman
Computer Organisation & Hardware
Hayes
Hamascher
Peter Norton's computer guides

For Electronics Students

Communication
Kennedy
Simon Haykins

Electronic Devices & Circuits
Boylestead
Millman & Halkias
Mitchell et al.

Digital Circuits & Logic Designs
Malvino & Leach
Floyd
Taub & Schilling

Computer Networks
Tanenbaum
Antennas & Propogation
K D Prasad
Control Systems
Ogata
Kuo

Aptitude Section
Aptitude Series by R S Aggarwal
Barron's GRE and GMAT preparation books
Shakuntla Devi's Puzzle books
MBA entrance prep material
Norman Lewis for Word Power
George W Summers Brain Teasers

ALL THE BEST...