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

Data Scientist - 1

Simpl
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5 rounds | 10 Coding problems

Interview preparation journey

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Journey
I pursued my B.Tech in AI and Data Science, along with multiple internships and side projects. I got the opportunity by applying online through the company portal/form, as shared by HR on social media and job portals.
Application story
I started by applying through the job posting link, which I likely found on LinkedIn. After resume screening, HR called around 3–4 weeks after I submitted my resume.
Why selected/rejected for the role?
I believe my past internships, freelance projects, and research papers contributed significantly to my selection.
Preparation
Duration: 2 Months
Topics: SQL, Natural Language Processing, Python, Machine Learning, Data Science
Tip
Tip

Tip 1: Participate in Kaggle or other data science and ML competitions.

Tip 2: Freelancing can also enhance work experience.

Tip 3: Practice SQL questions, covering at least the basics.

Application process
Where: Linkedin
Eligibility: No criteria, (Salary Package - 12 LPA)
Resume Tip
Resume tip

Tip 1: Check and improve your ATS score, if possible.

Tip 2: Research papers can help you stand out from the crowd.

Interview rounds

01
Round
Medium
Video Call
Duration50 minutes
Interview date14 Aug 2025
Coding problem2

The virtual interview was in the morning on Google Meet.
The interviewer was friendly and patient.

1. Model Optimization

How can you address overfitting in an ML model?

Problem approach

Tip 1: Read basic ML concepts from Andrew Ng, NPTEL, IIIT, or IITM.
Tip 2: Have a basic understanding of linear algebra.

2. SQL Query

Write an SQL query to find all employees under each manager.

Problem approach

We can start with a normal join, but check if a left or right join could lead to a more optimal query.

02
Round
Medium
Video Call
Duration60 minutes
Interview date21 Aug 2025
Coding problem2

The round was in the morning on Google Meet, and the interviewer was quite supportive.

1. Matrix Calculus

Explain the use of Jacobian and Hessian matrices.

Problem approach

Tip 1: Read about linear algebra.

Tip 2: Have an understanding of mathematical concepts used in deep/machine learning (Jacobian, derivatives, etc.).

2. Model Regularization

Explain regularization techniques. L1 and L2 regularization exist, but why don’t we use L3, L4, … up to L20 regularization?

Problem approach

Tip 1: Provide answers or approximations instead of simply giving up.
Tip 2: Have confidence in yourself, and clearly explain related topics if you don’t know the full answer.

03
Round
Hard
Video Call
Duration60 minutes
Interview date28 Aug 2025
Coding problem2

The interview was in the afternoon on Google Meet.
The interviewer was highly experienced.

1. Deep Learning

Explain the working of LSTM and Transformers, along with their equations.

Problem approach

Tip 1: You can study transformers from online resources.

Tip 2: Practice making diagrams, as it will boost your confidence.

2. Loss Functions

Explain the different loss functions used in deep learning networks.

Problem approach

Tip 1: Have an understanding of the basics of neural networks.

Tip 2: Know the pros and cons of different models and approaches.

04
Round
Medium
Video Call
Duration50 Minutes
Interview date5 Sep 2025
Coding problem2

The interview took place during office hours on Google Meet and Google Docs.

1. Puzzle

A coin is tossed 1000 times, and it lands on heads 600 times. How can I determine whether it is biased or not?

Problem approach

Tip 1: Have an idea about different statistical distributions.

Tip 2: Ask for clarifications on assumptions if the problem statement is not clear.

2. Student Percentile Calculation

Moderate
0/80
Asked in company
Simpl

You are given an array of student marks. Your task is to calculate the percentile for each student based on the following rule:


The percentile of a student is the percentage of students having marks strictly less than their own. The denominator for this calculation should be the total number of other students (N-1).

The formula is:

Percentile = floor( (Number of students with marks < current student's marks) * 100 / (N - 1) )


Your function should return an array containing the percentile for each student, corresponding to their original order in the input array.


Problem approach

Step 1: Write the basic formula for calculating percentile.
Step 2: Option 1: Create a map of the students and sort it.
Option 2: Just create a map and perform the calculation during function calling.
Step 3: Identify the position or rank of the input student and use it to calculate the percentile.

Try solving now
05
Round
Easy
Video Call
Duration25 Minutes
Interview date12 Sep 2025
Coding problem2

The round was conducted in the evening on the Google Meet platform with the founder.

1. Platform Feedback

What do you think could be improved in our platform or service?

Problem approach

Tip 1: Have knowledge about the company.

Tip 2: Have an idea about the latest developments and products in your tech stack.

2. Recent Discovery

Tell me about something new or recent that you found amazing.

Problem approach

Tip 1: Involve discussion of competitors and recent startup ideas.

Tip 2: Discuss recent technologies and their possible inclusion in the product or service.

Here's your problem of the day

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

Skill covered: Programming

What is recursion?

Choose another skill to practice
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