Posted by How do I crack the Cisco apprenticeship program interview?
Coding Test Round at Cisco:
This round contains both MCQ related networking, OS and aptitude questions and 1 coding.
Hey connection, I want to share my interview Experience at Cisco:
Round 1: Technical Interview
The first round of the Cisco interview process delved deep into technical aspects. I was bombarded with questions related to operating systems, focusing particularly on topics like paging, virtual memory, and JavaScript. The interviewer also posed a challenging DSA-based binary search question. It was a rigorous session that tested my core knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
Round 2: Managerial + Technical interview
The second round was a blend of managerial and technical questions, conducted by a senior software engineer at Cisco. This round turned out to be interesting as the interviewer presented a real-life problem based on my hobby, badminton. I was tasked with designing a data structure to facilitate efficient searching of players across different leagues. After suggesting a hashmap and discussing class implementations, the interviewer probed deeper, trying to challenge my ideas. Eventually, I proposed assigning unique player numbers, which met the interviewer’s approval. The conversation shifted to topics like Concurrency, DBMS, and methods to prevent deadlock. I managed the managerial questions confidently, and in the end, I inquired about the interviewer’s own journey at Cisco, leaving a positive impression.
Round 3: HR/ETR-Connect Round:
The HR round seemed like a formality, focusing on practicalities such as preferred job location and internship stipend. I shared my campus involvement, detailing the various clubs and events I was part of. The conversation was cordial, and I left the room with a sense of confidence, thinking I had made it to the next stage.
The Outcome:
However, after enduring two weeks of anticipation, the results were not what I had hoped for. Despite my best efforts and the knowledge I gained from the interview experience, my name was not on the list of successful candidates.
Reflection and Moving Forward
Though the outcome was not what I expected, this interview experience was invaluable. It taught me the importance of not only having technical expertise but also being able to apply it to real-world scenarios. I realized the significance of staying calm under pressure and thinking critically during challenging situations.
This setback served as a motivation to further enhance my skills. I pledged to practice rigorously, filling gaps in my knowledge and gaining practical insights. With this determination, I aimed to not only reattempt such interviews but also excel in them. Every rejection, I realized, was an opportunity to learn and grow.
Despite the disappointment, I was grateful for the experience and the chance to interview with a prestigious company like Cisco. I was determined to turn this setback into a stepping stone toward my future success.
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