Cognizant interview experience Real time questions & tips from candidates to crack your interview
Senior Software Engineer
Cognizant
3 rounds | 7 Coding
problems
Selected Interview preparation journey
Journey
In the lockdown period, I developed an interest in coding and started coding regularly on Leetcode and codechef, this helped me a lot when I applied for various jobs in my placement year.
Application story
I got a google form to apply for this job from my college placement cell, I applied through it and later various rounds of interviews took place along with a coding round.
Why selected/rejected for the role?
I think I had the appropriate skills and a good amount of knowledge to prove that I was the right man for the post.
Preparation
Duration: 5 months
Topics: Data Structures, Algorithms, OOPS(C++ & Java) , DBMS, Operating Systems, Aptitude, Resume(Projects)
Tip 1 : Do at least 2 good projects and make an attractive resume mentioning all your skills in the best possible way(Don't include any False commitments)
Tip 2 : Practice easy to medium level coding questions from geeks for geeks or Leetcode.
Tip 3 : Prepare everything mentioned in your resume properly including Java, SQL.
Application process
Where: Campus
Eligibility: 7.5
Tip 1 : Include projects and experiences in detail.
Tip 2 : Make an eye-catching resume clearly mentioning all your skills including subjects like data structures, JAVA, SQL, etc. The database is a very important skill if you have its knowledge.
Interview rounds
01
Round
Medium
Online Coding Test
Duration60 mins
Interview date6 Dec 2022
Coding problem2
It was coding round consisting of two dsa problems
1. Ninja And Fibonacci Numbers
Easy
15m average time
85% success
0/40
Asked in companies
Ninja has been given a number ‘SUM’. Ninja has to print the minimum number of Fibonacci numbers whose sum is equal to ‘SUM’.
As Ninja is busy at work, he assigns this task to you. Can you help Ninja to solve this task?
Note :
1. Ninja can use the same Fibonacci number any number of times.
2. It is also guaranteed that there are always some Fibonacci numbers whose sum is equal to ‘SUM’.
2. Count vowels, consonants, and spaces
Easy
10m average time
90% success
0/40
Asked in companies
Given a string, write a program to count the number of vowels, consonants, and spaces in that string.
EXAMPLE :
Input: ‘N’= 25, ‘s’ =”Take u forward is Awesome”
Output: 10 11 4
Problem approach
I simply created one set of vowels and then start matching from the set and incrementing the count if not matched
02
Round
Medium
Face to Face
Duration45 mins
Interview date7 Dec 2022
Coding problem2
They asked questions from btech syllabus
1. DBMS and SQL Questions
DBMS and SQL
Three DBMS questions were asked: -
1. Difference between delete, truncate, drop commands
2. Explain the concept of various types of keys used in DBMS along with examples
3. Queries including group by and order by clauses.
Problem approach
Good knowledge of DBMS and SQL will help you clear this kind of questions
Problem approach
Tip 1: Justify your answer with proper examples
2. Merge Two Sorted Linked Lists
Moderate
15m average time
80% success
0/80
Asked in companies
You are given two sorted linked lists. You have to merge them to produce a combined sorted linked list. You need to return the head of the final linked list.
Note:
The given linked lists may or may not be null.
For example:
If the first list is: 1 -> 4 -> 5 -> NULL and the second list is: 2 -> 3 -> 5 -> NULL
The final list would be: 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4 -> 5 -> 5 -> NULL
Problem approach
Try to solve this problem in linear time complexity and constant space complexity.
03
Round
Easy
HR Round
Duration30 mins
Interview date8 Dec 2022
Coding problem3
HR round consisting of questions related to your thinking skill
1. Basic Hr Question
What is the most difficult decision you had to make and how did you make it?
Problem approach
Your communication skills and confidence matters a lot.
2. Basic Hr Question
A situation that frustrated you and how did you deal with it?
Problem approach
The way you think and the way you deal with various situations.
3. Basic Hr Question
When did you feel a great sense of achievement and why?
Problem approach
Good presentation of your thoughts is very important. Do practice the same with some friends before the interview.
Here's your problem of the day 
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Skill covered: Programming
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