CME Group interview experience Real time questions & tips from candidates to crack your interview
SDE - Intern
CME Group
2 rounds | 2 Coding
problems
Rejected
Interview preparation journey
Journey
My journey started at a very basic level. I had an interest in coding but lacked direction and depth in concepts. Initially, I relied heavily on tutorials and built a few projects by following step-by-step videos. While this gave me exposure, I soon realized that I wasn’t truly understanding how things worked internally, which became a major turning point for me.
I decided to rebuild my foundation from scratch. I focused on strengthening my core subjects like Data Structures and Algorithms, Operating Systems, DBMS, and Computer Networks. Instead of just solving problems, I worked on understanding the “why” behind every concept. I maintained notes, revised consistently, and practiced problems daily to improve both.
Application story
The offered salary for this role was approximately 12 LPA.
I applied for the role through my college placement portal. After submitting my application, I was shortlisted for the interview process. The overall process was smooth and well-structured, with clear communication at each stage. It included an initial screening followed by technical and HR interactions. The entire journey was a great learning experience and helped me better understand industry expectations.
Why selected/rejected for the role?
I believe I was rejected for this role mainly due to my limited understanding of trading and marketing concepts, which are important for the domain. While I was comfortable with Data Structures, Algorithms, and core computer science subjects, I lacked sufficient knowledge of how financial markets and trading systems work.
This experience made me realize the importance of having domain knowledge along with technical skills, especially when applying to companies in the finance sector. It was a valuable learning experience, and it motivated me to start exploring basic trading concepts and improving my overall understanding of the domain.
Preparation
Duration: 2 Months
Topics: Data Structures, Algorithms, Dynamic Programming, Operating Systems, DBMS, Computer Networks
Tip 1: Practice DSA consistently and focus on understanding patterns instead of memorizing solutions.
Tip 2: Have in-depth knowledge of your projects and be ready to explain every component clearly.
Application process
Where: Campus
Eligibility: 9+ CGPA (Salary Package: 12 LPA)
Tip 1: Only include projects and skills that you can confidently explain in depth.
Tip 2: Keep your resume concise, well-structured, and tailored to the role you are applying for.
Interview rounds
01
Round
Medium
Online Coding Interview
Duration50 minutes
Interview date13 Aug 2025
Coding problem1
The online test was conducted during the daytime on a proctored platform. The environment was well-structured, and clear instructions were provided before the start of the test.
The overall experience was smooth, with no major technical issues. The platform was user-friendly, and there were proper guidelines regarding time limits and submission. The atmosphere felt slightly pressurized due to the time constraint, but it was manageable with good preparation.
1. Reverse Linked List
Easy
15m average time
85% success
0/40
Asked in companies
You are given a Singly Linked List of integers. You need to reverse the Linked List by changing the links between nodes.
Note :
You do not need to print anything, just return the head of the reversed linked list.
Problem approach
To reverse a linked list, we use three pointers: prev, curr, and next. Initially, prev is set to NULL and curr points to the head of the list. We iterate through the list, and for each node, we first store the next node in next, then reverse the current node’s pointer by making curr->next = prev. After that, we move prev to curr and curr to next. This process continues until curr becomes NULL, and finally, prev will point to the new head of the reversed linked list.
02
Round
Easy
Face to Face
Duration60 minutes
Interview date23 Aug 2025
Coding problem1
The interview was conducted online during the daytime in a well-organized and professional environment. The overall process was smooth, and I did not face any technical issues during the interview.
The atmosphere was comfortable yet slightly pressurized, which helped me stay focused. The interviewer was friendly and approachable, encouraging me to explain my thought process clearly. They were patient, provided hints when needed, and made the conversation interactive.
Overall, it was a positive experience and gave me good exposure to a real-time technical interview setting.
1. LCA Of Binary Tree
Moderate
10m average time
90% success
0/80
Asked in companies
You have been given a Binary Tree of distinct integers and two nodes ‘X’ and ‘Y’. You are supposed to return the LCA (Lowest Common Ancestor) of ‘X’ and ‘Y’.
The LCA of ‘X’ and ‘Y’ in the binary tree is the shared ancestor of ‘X’ and ‘Y’ that is located farthest from the root.
Note :
You may assume that given ‘X’ and ‘Y’ definitely exist in the given binary tree.
For example :
For the given binary tree
LCA of ‘X’ and ‘Y’ is highlighted in yellow colour.
Problem approach
• Start from the root node
• If the current node is NULL, return NULL
• If the current node matches either of the given nodes (p or q), return the current node
• Recursively search in the left subtree → store result in left
• Recursively search in the right subtree → store result in right
• If both left and right are not NULL → current node is the LCA
• If only one of them is not NULL → return the non-NULL value
Here's your problem of the day 
Solving this problem will increase your chance to get selected in this company
Skill covered: Programming
Which traversal uses a queue as its primary data structure?
Choose another skill to practice
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