BNY Mellon Interview Experience

Entering my third year of college, the prospect of landing a job post-graduation began to feel more tangible. It was during this time that I encountered my first real opportunity—an on-campus interview with a renowned company, BNY Mellon, kicking off the recruitment season.

First Round

The anticipation leading up to the interview day was palpable. Armed with a mix of excitement and nerves, I prepared myself to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The first round was an online assessment round that included three questions: easy, medium, and tough.

I successfully solved the easy and medium-level questions, earning myself a spot in the next round. However, the journey was far from over.

Second Round

The next phase involved a technical round, which lasted 60 minutes, where I was presented with a problem to solve. The first question was about the three-sum problem. I explained the brute, better, and optimal solutions. Then, the interviewer asked one more question about finding the maximum path sum from a binary search tree. I took some time to understand the test case, but I explained the approaches and also wrote the pseudocode. After that, he asked two puzzles, which I explained very well.

HR Interview

Following the technical round was the HR interview, which lasted 30 minutes, where I had the opportunity to showcase my experiences, achievements, and projects. I delved into my resume, sharing insights into my academic and extracurricular endeavors with confidence and clarity. The interviewer seemed engaged and satisfied with my responses, which left me hopeful about the outcome.

However, despite my best efforts and what felt like a promising interview, I ultimately received the news that I hadn’t been selected. The disappointment was profound, and I couldn’t help but wonder what had gone wrong. The uncertainty lingered, leaving me searching for answers and contemplating my next steps.

In the aftermath of the interview, I chose to view the experience as a valuable learning opportunity rather than a setback. Reflecting on the encounter, I recognized areas where I could improve—whether it was refining my technical skills or enhancing my interview techniques.

While the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped for, I emerged from the experience with a newfound determination to grow and develop professionally. Armed with lessons learned and a resilient spirit, I continued to prepare myself for future opportunities, confident that each setback was merely a stepping stone toward success.

In hindsight, I may never know the exact reason behind not being selected for that particular role. However, I’ve come to realize that every experience, whether positive or challenging, contributes to my growth and journey toward achieving my career aspirations. As I embark on new endeavors, I carry with me the lessons learned from my first interview—a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence.