Optum interview experience Real time questions & tips from candidates to crack your interview

SDE - 1

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4 rounds | 6 Coding problems

Interview preparation journey

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Preparation
Duration: 5 months
Topics: Data Structures and Algorithms, Object-Oriented Programming, Database Management System, Operating System, Computer Networks
Tip
Tip

Tip 1 : Practice DSA as much as you can, try solving medium level questions because a clear understanding of DSA is a must.
Tip 2 : Do concepts of DBMS theoretical as well as SQL query, keep reviewing along with OOPs concepts.
Tip 3 : Few days before the interview practice and review OS important concepts along with networking.

Application process
Where: Campus
Eligibility: Above 7 CGPA
Resume Tip
Resume tip

Tip 1 : Make good projects that cover object-oriented as well as database concepts ( web, android, ML, or any other technology), do at least 2 major projects for a good resume
Tip 2 : Make it simple and be honest, only mention what you know also it is good to mention both technical and non-technical skills.

Interview rounds

01
Round
Medium
Online Coding Interview
Duration90 minutes
Interview date5 Aug 2020
Coding problem1

It was around 4 pm in the evening and it includes both MCQs and coding questions. Hackerrank platform was user friendly and good.

1. Find a value whose XOR with a given value is maximum

Easy
20m average time
80% success
0/40
Asked in companies
OptumUrban Company (UrbanClap)American Express

You are given an integer 'X' and your task is to find an integer 'Y' such that the bitwise XOR of the integers 'X' and 'Y' give the maximum possible value. The integer 'Y' should not be greater than 2305843009213693951 ((2^61) - 1).

A bitwise XOR is a binary operation that takes two bit patterns of equal length and performs the logical exclusive OR operation on each pair of corresponding bits. The result in each position is 1 if only one of the bits is 1, but will be 0 if both are 0 or both are 1.

Note:

1. The maximum obtainable value can always be stored in 64-bit memory space.
2. The given number 'X' is always non-negative.
Problem approach

Solution Approach:
- iterate string and check index value whether it's 0 or 1
- check if maxi allowed bit is allowed and set the same index in the result as the opposite
- as if x ith index is 0 set ith index in y to 1 ( so as to get maximum value during xor)
- repeat the above steps till the length of string and if max set bits is over ( set remaining bits in y to 0)
 

Try solving now
02
Round
Medium
Video Call
Duration40 minutes
Interview date11 Aug 2020
Coding problem2

30-40 minutes interview round.

1. Kth largest element in the unsorted array

Moderate
10m average time
90% success
0/80
Asked in companies
FacebookUberMicrosoft

You are given an array consisting of 'N' distinct positive integers and a number 'K'. Your task is to find the kth largest element in the array.

Example:
Consider the array {2,1,5,6,3,8} and 'K' = 3, the sorted array will be {8, 6, 5, 3, 2, 1}, and the 3rd largest element will be 5.
Note:
1) Kth largest element in an array is the kth element of the array when sorted in non-increasing order. 

2) All the elements of the array are pairwise distinct.
Problem approach

By uisng Max Heap for finding the k’th smallest element.

1) Build a Max-Heap MH of the first k elements (arr[0] to arr[k-1]) of the given array. O(k)

2) For each element, after the k’th element (arr[k] to arr[n-1]), compare it with root of MH.
a) If the element is less than the root then make it root and call heapify for MH
b) Else ignore it.

3) Finally, root of the MH is the kth smallest element.

Try solving now

2. Puzzle

How to measure 9 minutes using only a 4 minute and 7 minute hourglass.

Problem approach

Tip 1: Think, listen and understand the problem well
Solution:
Start both timers together.
When the 4 minute timer is done, flip it. 7 minute timer will have 3 minutes left.
When the 7 minute timer is done, the 4 minute timer will have 1 minute left.
Now you can count to 9 minutes by simply leaving the 4 minute to expire (1 min), flip it and let it expire (4 min), flip it again and let it expire (4 min). 1 + 4 + 4 = 9

03
Round
Medium
Video Call
Duration40 minutes
Interview date12 Nov 2020
Coding problem2

Resume based round and some technical concepts were asked

1. Project Questions

Next, as I did python so these were questions were asked:

"Docstring, Lambda. Parse in python and Delete a file in python"

Problem approach

Be honest and explain well about your project.
Study in-depth whatever language you have learned.

2. DBMS Query

5th highest salary in a list of salaries.

04
Round
Easy
HR Round
Duration20 minutes
Interview date14 Nov 2020
Coding problem1

Easiest of all was the HR round.

1. HR Discussion

Problem approach

Tip 1: Be confident and speak clearly 
Tip 2: Be honest and show interest in the company 
Tip 3: Always ask questions at the end and Be friendly

Here's your problem of the day

Solving this problem will increase your chance to get selected in this company

Skill covered: Programming

How do you create a function in JavaScript?

Choose another skill to practice
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