Candidate Information:
- Status: Undergraduate student of CSE department of NIT Srinagar actively seeking Software Engineering Internship opportunities, Target position: Software Engineer Intern
- Location: Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
- Interview Date: 12 March 2026
Overview of Interview Process:
Initial Screening
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Platform: Online (HackerRank)
- Focus: Data Structures & Algorithms, SQL
Key Questions:
- 2 coding problems (DSA-focused)
- 1 SQL-based problem (comparatively difficult)
Obstacles:
- SQL question was challenging
- Solved 2/3 coding problems completely
Technical Round
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Method: Zoom meeting along with Hackerank
- Focus: Problem-solving, coding, system understanding
Key Questions:
- Solved Trapping Rainwater problem
- Implemented Brute Force approach
- Then optimized using Two Pointer approach (without stack)
- Discussed about the edge cases and what if same is implemented for a 2d grid.
- Follow-up discussion on optimization and edge cases
Basic questions on:
- Low-Level Design (LLD)
- High-Level System Design (HLD)
Obstacles:
- Needed to clearly explain transition from brute → optimal
- LLD/HLD questions required structured thinking beyond DSA
Managerial / Hiring Manager Round:
- Duration: 30 minutes
- Method: Video (Zoom)
- Focus: Projects, real-world understanding, communication
Key Questions:
- Explained UPI Fraud Detection ML Project
- Discussed a backend project and its realted technicalities.
- Detailed explanation of Airtel Internship (LTE, RAN concepts)
- Real-world system question:
- “Where do companies like Amazon use SQL vs NoSQL?”
Obstacles:
- Could not give a fully strong real-world SQL vs NoSQL explanation
- Minor communication slip (brief Hindi usage, corrected immediately)
Additional Information:
- Cleared OA → Technical → Hiring Manager Round
- Process was well-structured and insightful
- Awaited final result after interviews
Closing Note:
In the end, I was not able to convert this opportunity into an offer. But honestly, I gave it everything I had. From solving problems under pressure to explaining my projects with full confidence, I truly tried my best at every stage.
Coming from a college where opportunities are limited, moments like these mean a lot. This journey was not just about getting selected, but about proving to myself that I can compete at that level.
Even though the result wasn’t in my favor, the experience, the learnings, and the confidence I gained are something no rejection can take away. I know this is just one step in a much bigger journey, and This Jammu guy will come back stronger.
This wasn’t the end — just the beginning. 🚀