Cracking the IT Interview: Preparation Tips for Freshers and Aptitude Exams
IT companies often use aptitude tests to assess your problem-solving skills and quick thinking, as these abilities are crucial in the fast-paced coding environment they provide. These tests are designed to identify candidates with strong mental capabilities and a methodical approach to problem-solving. While you may have a basic understanding of aptitude from your education, it's important to familiarize yourself with the specific requirements and question formats of the company you are applying to.
The Significance of Aptitude Tests in IT Interviews
Aptitude tests in IT mainly evaluate your logical reasoning, verbal ability, and numerical skills. Unlike regular exams, these tests often do not have negative marking, which means you can guess or estimate the answers without penalty. This is exactly what distinguishes these exams from general aptitude tests, as in IT companies, what matters is not just the right answer but also your ability to solve problems quickly and logically.
Recommended Study Material for Aptitude Preparation
Hoping to better understand the aptitude tests for IT company placements? ProPrepInsIsaPrepInstaPrepI nsIsa Royal Pass is a highly recommended resource. This study material offers a comprehensive guide tailored to the specific patterns and requirements of major IT companies like Wipro, Deloitte, and Infosys. Selected from this resource, you can gain in-depth knowledge of the question patterns, thereby helping you not only to prepare but also to develop your time management skills.
Company-Specific Preparation for IT Interviews
The preparation strategy might vary slightly between different companies, but the core concepts remain the same. For instance, the Cognizant recruitment process in 2019 involved three stages: an online aptitude test, a technical interview, and an HR interview. Below is a detailed breakdown of each stage.
Online Aptitude Test
The online aptitude test conducted by Cognizant through Aspiring Minds (AMCAT) covered four main sections: Verbal Ability, Quants, Logical Ability, and Automata Fixing. Verbal Ability mainly tested English grammar and comprehension, Logical Ability included puzzles, series, and logical reasoning, while Quants focused on basic mathematics, and Automata Fixing involved programming logic.
Verbal Ability: 22-25 questions, 18 minutes - focusing on grammar and comprehension.
Quants: 15-18 questions - covering basic mathematics up to class 10.
Logical Ability: 16-18 questions - including puzzles, series, and logical reasoning.
Automata Fixing: 7 programming questions to complete in 20 minutes - focus on identifying and writing missing lines of code for specific problems.
Technical Interview
The technical interview focused on your knowledge of specific topics and your ability to solve problems. For example, a Cognizant technical interviewer might ask you to:
Introduce yourself and mention your favorite subject. Explain database management systems (DBMS) and solve JOIN problems on a whiteboard. Discuss your favorite programming languages and solve coding problems like finding prime numbers or implementing bubble sort. Elaborate on any areas for improvement and discuss your training period expectations.The interviewer may also ask you about your project experience, certifications, and preferred shift timings, among other HR questions.
HR Interview
The HR interview typically involves discussing your past and future career interests, relocation preferences, and why you want to join the company. The questions aim to assess your fit with the company culture and your career aspirations.
Conclusion
By preparing thoroughly with the right study material and understanding the specific requirements of your desired company, you can greatly enhance your chances of success in both aptitude exams and technical interviews.
Feel free to leave a upvote if this guide has been useful to you and good luck with your IT interviews!