Efftronics Interview Experience for Software Engineer

Application Shortlisting

The process started with submitting the resumes of the candidates and shortlisting the students whom the team prefer are a match as per the job description.

Online Coding Test

The shortlisted candidates were provided with an online coding assessment link which had a dedicated time. It was an aptitude based round which included coding section as well.

Sample Questions:

• Implement a function to check if a given string is a palindrome.
• Write a program to find the lowest common ancestor in a binary search tree.
• Solve a problem involving array manipulation, such as rotating an array to the right by k steps.
• Design an algorithm to merge two sorted linked lists.

Technical Interview (First Round – Medium Difficulty)

The first technical interview was scheduled within few days of the coding assessment. It was of medium level difficulty focusing on DSA and basics of Java. The topic ranges from arrays to linked list to trees. For each and every implementation, the panel was keen on looking for the complexity and optimizing the same.

Sample Questions:

• Explain the difference between depth-first search (DFS) and breadth-first search (BFS).
• Solve a problem involving binary tree traversal (in-order, pre-order, post-order).
• Implement a function to detect a cycle in a linked list using Floyd’s cycle-finding algorithm.
• Discuss your experience with sorting algorithms and solve a related problem, such as quicksort or mergesort.

Technical Interview (Second Round – Medium Difficulty)

The second technical interview was a bit difficult than the earlier one as it was focused on the main domain instead of the basics. Different technologies were focused into this round.

Sample Questions:

• Describe the architecture of a RESTful API and how you would implement it.
• How do you ensure data consistency in a distributed system?
• Write a function to paginate database query results and discuss optimization techniques.
• Explain how you would design and implement a caching mechanism to improve the performance of a web application.

Competency-Based Interview

The final round was a competency-based interview where the individual’s judging skill was assessed. The challenges were provided and the candidates were asked to handle the situation. This was more of a formal discussion rather than an interview.

Sample Questions:

• Describe a time when you worked as part of a team to complete a project. What was your role, and what challenges did you face?
• Tell me about a situation where you had to learn a new technology or skill quickly. How did you approach it?
• Discuss a time when you encountered a significant problem during a project. How did you resolve it?
• How do you prioritize tasks when working under tight deadlines?