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...

Interview tips...1

General Tips To Overcome An Interview.

Campus So what if you are not a mountaineer. Or a keen hiker. You still cannot treat your interview like a careless morning trot along a jogger's path. Your jaw-jaw at the interview table is nothing less than a cautious climb up a mountain trail--which begins around your early childhood and meanders through the years at the academia before reaching a new summit in your career.And as you retrace your steps down memory lane make sure that you post flags at important landmarks of your life and career, so that you can pop them before the interview panel scoops them out of you. You don't want to be at the receiving end, do you?
Face the panel, but don't fall of the chair in a headlong rush-and-skid attempt to tell your story. Take one step at a time. If you place your foot on slippery ground, you could be ejecting out on a free fall.
So prepare, fortify your thoughts, re-jig your memory, and script and design your story (without frills and falsity). Without the right preparation and storyboard, you could be a loser at the interview. Here are a few preparation tips that books on interviews sometimes overlook.

Before the interview

1. Chronological Outline of Career and Education Divide your life into "segments" defining your university, first job, second job. For each stage, jot down :The reason for opting certain course or profession; Your job responsibilities in your previous/current job; Reason of leaving your earlier/current job. You should be clear in your mind where you want to be in the short and long term and ask yourself the reason why you would be appropriate for the job you are being interviewed for and how it will give shape to your future course.

2. Strengths and Weaknesses

You should keep a regular check on your strengths and weaknesses. Write down three (3) technical and three (3) non-technical personal strengths. Most importantly, show examples of your skills. This proves more effective than simply talking about them. So if you're asked about a general skill, provide a specific example to help you fulfil the interviewer's expectations. It isn't enough to say you've got "excellent leadership skills". Instead, try saying:
"I think I have excellent leaderships skills which I have acquired through a combination of effective communication, delegation and personal interaction. This has helped my team achieve its goals."
As compared to strengths, the area of weaknesses is difficult to handle. Put across your weakness in such a way that it at leaset seems to be a positive virtue to the interviewer. Describe a weakness or area for development that you have worked on and have now overcome.



3. Questions you should be prepared for

Tell us about yourself.
What do you know about our company?
Why do you want to join our company?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
How have you improved the nature of your job in the past years of your working? Why should we hire you?
What contributions to profits have you made in your present or former company? Why are you looking for a change?

Answers to some difficult questions


Tell me about yourself ?
Start from your education and give a brief coverage of previous experiences. Emphasise more on your recent experience explaining your job profile.
What do you think of your boss?
Put across a positive image, but don't exaggerate.
Why should we hire you? Or why are you interested in this job?
Sum up your work experiences with your abilities and emphasise your strongest qualities and achievements. Let your interviewer know that you will prove to be an asset to the company.
How much money do you want?
Indicate your present salary and emphasise that the opportunity is the most important consideration.
Do you prefer to work in a group?
Be honest and give examples how you've worked by yourself and also with others. Prove your flexibility.
4. Questions to ask?

At the end of the interview, most interviewers generally ask if you have any questions. Therefore, you should be prepared beforehand with 2-3 technical and 2-3 non-technical questions and commit them to your memory before the interview.
Do not ask queries related to your salary, vacation, bonuses, or other benefits. This information should be discussed at the time of getting your joining letter. Here we are giving few sample questions that you can ask at the time of your interview.

Sample Questions

Could you tell me the growth plans and goals for the company?
What skills are important to be successful in this position?
Why did you join this company? (optional)
What's the criteria your company uses for performance appraisal?
With whom will I be interacting most frequently and what are their responsibilities and the nature of our interaction?
What is the time frame for making a decision at this position?
What made the previous persons in this position successful/unsuccessful?

5. Do your home work

Before going for an interview, find out as much information on the company (go to JobsAhead Company Q and A) as possible. The best sources are the public library, the Internet
(you can check out the company's site), and can even call the company and get the required information. The information gives you a one-up in the interview besides proving your content company or position.
Clearing the interview isn't necessarily a solitary attempt. Seek assistance from individuals who are in the profession and whose counsel you value most. Be confident in your approach and attitude; let the panel feel it through your demeanour, body language and dressing.
Getting prepared for your interview is the best way to dig deep and know yourself. You will be surprised that it would breed a new familiarity become more familiar with your own qualifications that will be make you present yourself better.

All the best and get ready to give a treat.