Cognizant GenC Next Interview Experience | 2024 | Java Cluster

As part of my campus placement process, I interviewed for Cognizant, one of the leading global IT services companies. The selection process involved multiple rounds that tested both technical and interpersonal skills. Here’s a detailed overview of the eligibility criteria and my experience through each stage.

Eligibility Criteria

• 10th Grade Cutoff: Minimum 6 CGPA
• 12th Grade Cutoff: Minimum 60%
• College CGPA Cutoff: Minimum 6 CGPA
• Eligible Branches: CSE, IT, ECE, EEE

Job Roles and Packages:

• GenC: ₹4 LPA
• GenC Pro: ₹5.4 LPA
• GenC Next: ₹6.75 LPA

Round 1: Skill-Based Assessment

The first round was conducted on the MSB platform and consisted of 4 parts with a total duration of 3 hours. Each section had time constraints and hidden internal cutoffs.

1. MCQs (20 minutes):
   • Topics: Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, English, Programming, and CS subjects (OS, DBMS).
2. Coding/Programming (40 minutes):
   • Solved programming problems of moderate complexity.
3. Coding/Programming (60 minutes):
   • Worked on 2 lengthy coding problems of moderate difficulty.
4. SQL Queries (40 minutes):
   • Solved 2 SQL queries involving multiple tables connected through various joins:
     • 1 easy query.
     • 1 moderate query that required detailed analysis.

Round 2: Technical Interview

I was shortlisted for the GenC Next role’s technical interview. This round included both technical and HR elements.

Interview Highlights

• Interviewers: One offline and one online interviewer.

Java Basics:

• Questions focused on OOP concepts, and I was asked to explain them.

Coding:

• Wrote the code for the Fibonacci series.
• Solved two pseudocode questions involving try, catch, finally statements.
• Though I answered one incorrectly, the interviewers guided me to the correct solution.

Cloud Platforms:

• Discussed my preference for GCP over AWS and explained why GCP is my most used platform.

AI Discussion:

• Brief conversation on AI, focusing more on a discussion rather than a traditional Q&A.

HR Questions:

• Addressed relocation preferences and mentioned my willingness to move, supported by my love for travel.

Tips:

• Trust yourself and the interviewers—they understand how you feel and aim to bring out the best in you.

Final Verdict

After 15 days, I received the result: Selected.

Conclusion

The placement process at Cognizant was an engaging and rewarding experience. It tested both technical expertise and interpersonal skills, offering valuable insights into real-world problem-solving and communication. I am thrilled to have been selected and look forward to contributing to such a reputed organization.