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

SDE - 2

Walmart
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4 rounds | 12 Coding problems

Interview preparation journey

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Journey
Hello !! My name is Divya; I am a 2023 batch BTech graduate in Information Technology from the KIET Group Of Institutions (Ghaziabad). My journey from being a beginner to securing a job interview at an IT company as a fresher has been a challenging yet rewarding experience. I started by immersing myself in programming and computer science basics, learning languages like C and Java. I didn't just stick to textbooks; I actively worked on personal projects to apply what I learned. To complement my technical skills, I explored data structures, algorithms, and software design principles. I engaged in coding competitions and collaborated on open-source projects to sharpen my problem-solving abilities. Internships played a pivotal role, providing hands-on experience and a glimpse into the real-world IT landscape. I faced challenges along the way, but I never gave up. I adapted to new technologies and remained committed to learning. As I prepare for this job interview, I reflect on my journey with gratitude for the lessons learned and the growth achieved.
Application story
In March 2022, Walmart organized an off-campus drive called "Walmart CodeHers" on the Unstop platform, focusing on diversity hiring. I registered for the event, which comprised four levels. Level 1 - MCQ Challenge: Participants took a Multiple-Choice Question challenge on the Unstop platform. Level 2 - Coding Challenge: Successful candidates from Level 1 proceeded to a coding challenge. Level 3 - Profile Verification: Shortlisted individuals underwent profile verification, submitting additional information. Level 4 - Interviews: Selected candidates, including myself, were scheduled for interviews. However, interviews for the 2023 batch were not conducted initially. Nearly a year later, in September 2023, Walmart reached out for interviews. The process included two technical rounds and one HR round. The interview difficulty was moderate, and I successfully secured the position of SDE-2.
Why selected/rejected for the role?
I was selected for this role due to my strong educational background in computer science, technical knowledge, effective communication, and passion for technology. Previous rejection emphasized the importance of thorough interview preparation.
Preparation
Duration: 3 months
Topics: Data Structures,Algorithms,OOPS,Java,OS,SQL,DBMS.
Tip
Tip

Tip 1:Ensure a strong foundation in data structures and algorithms. Walmart places importance on fundamental computer science concepts.
Tip 2: Practice coding regularly on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal to improve your problem-solving skills.
Tip 3: Brush up on your communication skills, as effective communication is key in a collaborative environment.

Application process
Where: Campus
Eligibility: Only candidates with a 7+ CGPA are eligible to apply (2022 and 2023 batch).
Resume Tip
Resume tip

Tip 1: Keep the resume to one page in length.
Tip 2: Create a dedicated section for technical skills. Include programming languages, software tools, and technologies you're proficient in.
Tip 3: Showcase personal coding or tech-related projects.

Interview rounds

01
Round
Medium
Online Coding Interview
Duration32 minutes
Interview date22 Mar 2022
Coding problem2

Round 1- 
The MCQ Challenge, the first round after registration, was conducted on the Unstop platform. 
Candidates faced 25 objective questions covering topics like C, Data Structures, Algorithms, Machine Learning, Java, DBMS, and Object-Oriented Programming. 
The test, accessible only via Desktop/Laptop, required solving questions within a specified time of 1 minute and 15 seconds each. 
Evaluation included separate marks for accuracy and speed, with speed marks calculated based on the percentage of time remaining, encouraging a balance of correctness and efficiency in answering. Example: If a question had a 4-mark value and a timer of 120 seconds, answering correctly in 30 seconds would yield 2 marks for accuracy and 1.5 marks for speed, totaling 3.5 marks.

1. MCQ

1. ____________ offers the ability to query the data and insert, alter, and delete tuples.

a. Transaction Control Language (TCL)

b. Data Control Language (DCL)

c. Data Definition Language (DDL)

d. Data Manipulation Language (DML)

2.Assume a relation X (M, N, O, P, Q) that has the following functional dependencies:

MNO -> PQ and

P -> MN

The total number of superkeys of X would be:

a. 12

b. 10

c. 7

d. 2

Problem approach

1-The correct option is:

d. Data Manipulation Language (DML)

2-The correct option is:
b.10

2. OS Question

1. In the case of the index allocation scheme of various blocks to a file, the maximum size (possible) of the file would depend on :

a. the total number of blocks that have been used for the index, size of all the blocks

b. the actual size of all blocks, the size of the blocks’ address

c. the of the blocks’ size, the blocks’ address size, and the total number of blocks that have been used for the index

d. None of the above

2.Out of these page replacement algorithms, which one suffers from Belady’s anomaly?

a. LRU

b. FIFO

c. Both LRU and FIFO

d. Optimal Page Replacement

Problem approach

1-The correct option is:
c. the blocks’ size, the blocks’ address size, and the total number of blocks that have been used for the index

2-The correct option is:
c. Both LRU and FIFO

02
Round
Medium
Online Coding Test
Duration90 minutes
Interview date24 Mar 2022
Coding problem2

The Coding Round, following the MCQ shortlisting, presented participants with two problems (P2) to solve within 90 minutes, allowing them to use their preferred programming language. The assessment involved ranking based on the maximum score and submission time. In case of tied scores, the participant or team finishing earlier received a higher rank. The difficulty level was deemed medium, with the first question revolving around Fenwick Tree, and the second being a greedy problem. Successfully solving both questions led to qualification for the subsequent profile verification round. Overall, this round tested participants' coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and time management under a constrained timeframe.

1. Minimum Swaps To Make Identical Array

Moderate
0/80
Asked in companies
WalmartThought WorksAmazon

Problem Statement :Given are two sequences of length  N each:  A=(A  1 ​  ,A  2 ​  ,A  3 ​  ,…,A  N ​  ) and  B=(B  1 ​  ,B  2 ​  ,B  3 ​  ,…,B  N ​  ). Determine whether it is possible to make  A equal  B by repeatedly doing the operation below (possibly zero times). If it is possible, find the minimum number of operations required to do so.  Choose an integer  i such that  1≤i<N, and do the following in order: swap  A  i ​   and  A  i+1 ​  ;add  1 to  A  i ​  ; subtract  1 from  A  i+1 ​.Constraints :2≤N≤2×10  5  0≤A  i ​  ≤10  9   0≤B  i ​  ≤10  9  All values in input are integers.

Problem approach

Step 1-Input Reading:
Read the length of the sequences, n.
Create vectors a and b to store the sequences.
For each element in sequence a, calculate aa + i and store the pair (aa + i, i) in vector a.
Similarly, for each element in sequence b, calculate bb + i and store the pair (bb + i, i) in vector b.

Step 2-Sort Vectors:
Sort both vectors a and b based on the first element of each pair.

Step 3-Check Equality:
Iterate through the sorted vectors and check if the first elements of corresponding pairs are equal. If not, set ok to false.

Step 4-Inversion Count using BIT:
If the sequences are equal, iterate through the sorted vector b.
Use a Binary Indexed Tree (BIT) to count the number of inversions needed to transform a into b.
Update the BIT and calculate the total inversion count.

Step 5-Output:
If the sequences cannot be made equal, output -1. Otherwise, output the total inversion count.

Try solving now

2. JUMP GAME

Moderate
40m average time
35% success
0/80
Asked in companies
WalmartGrowwPolicyBazaar.com

Given an array of non-negative integers ‘ARR’ of length ‘N’, you are initially positioned at the array's first index.

Each element in the array represents your maximum jump length at that position.

Return the minimum number of jumps required to reach the last index.

If it is not possible to reach the last index, return -1.

Example:
Input:

‘N’ = 3
‘ARR’ = [ 2, 1, 1 ]

The shortest way to reach index 2 is
Index 0 => Index 2
that requires only 1 jump.
Problem approach

To find the minimum number of jumps to reach the end of an array with a maximum of k jumps allowed at a time, use a greedy approach. Initialize maxReach and steps to the first element, and jumps to 1. Iterate through the array, updating maxReach and decreasing steps. Increment jumps when steps reaches 0, setting steps to the difference between the current index and maxReach. Continue until the end or beyond. Handle corner cases: return -1 for an empty array, 1 if k is larger or equal to the array size, -1 if the first element is 0, and -1 if the array contains 0 with no other element allowing jumping over it. This approach efficiently utilizes a greedy strategy to navigate through the array while considering the maximum jumps allowed.

Try solving now
03
Round
Easy
Video Call
Duration60 minutes
Interview date17 Oct 2023
Coding problem7

I had my first technical interview on Zoom, which started at 11 am and lasted for approximately 1 hour. The interviewer started by introducing himself and then delved into my background by asking about my internship and projects, focusing particularly on my experience with APIs. The conversation smoothly transitioned into technical questions covering a range of topics

I did well in the interview, and it was of moderate difficulty. After a few hours on the same day, I got an email inviting me to the next round (at 3 pm).

1. Reverse Linked List

Moderate
15m average time
85% success
0/80
Asked in companies
WalmartHCL TechnologiesInfo Edge India (Naukri.com)

Given a singly linked list of integers. Your task is to return the head of the reversed linked list.

For example:
The given linked list is 1 -> 2 -> 3 -> 4-> NULL. Then the reverse linked list is 4 -> 3 -> 2 -> 1 -> NULL and the head of the reversed linked list will be 4.
Follow Up :
Can you solve this problem in O(N) time and O(1) space complexity?
Problem approach

Step 1-Initialize Pointers:
current points to the head of the list.
previous and next are initially set to NULL.

Step 2-Traverse the List:
While traversing:
Save the next node (next) of the current node.
Update the current node's next pointer to point to the previous node.
Move previous to the current node.
Move current to the next node (next).

Step 3-Update Head:
After the loop, update the head to point to the last node.

Try solving now

2. Implement deadlock in java.

Problem approach

Step 1- Create Resource Classes:
Define two resource classes, e.g., ResourceA and ResourceB.

Step 2-Create Deadlock Scenario:
Create a class (DeadlockExample) with two resources (resourceA and resourceB).
Create two threads (thread1 and thread2) that lock the resources in a different order.

Step 3-Run the Code:
Start the threads to observe a deadlock.

Step 4-Understanding the Deadlock:
Both threads acquire one resource and wait for the other, causing a deadlock.

3. DBMS

1-Explain ACID properties.(Learn)
2-What is Commit and rollback.(Learn)

4. Operating System

1-What is Inter process communication and context switching .(Learn)
2-What is multithreading .(Learn)
3-What is deadlock.(Learn)
4-Process vs thread.(Learn)

5. DSA Questions

1-Difference between Tree and graph 
2-Sorting algorithms complexities.
3-Difference between stack and queue.

6. OOPs

1-Explain OOPS principles
2-Implement all OOPS principles with one program

7. SQL

5 SQL queries were asked based on my project data that I could solve by using having ,where and group by clauses.

04
Round
Medium
Video Call
Duration20 minutes
Interview date17 Oct 2023
Coding problem1

In the second technical round, which turned out to be more of a managerial discussion led by a manager. The interview started with a brief introduction, then talked about my resume, like my internships and projects. Then 2-3 theoretical questions on Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) were asked along with some HR questions such as :
What do you know about Walmart.
Why do you want to join Walmart .
What are your strengths.
Overall difficulty level was moderate, and I managed to handle all questions well. The next day brought good news - I received a call confirming my selection for the SDE-2 role at Walmart.

1. Data Structures

1-Give some real life use cases of singly linked list and circular linked list.(Learn)
2-Which sorting algorithm is faster and why?(Learn)
3-Difference between array and linked list.(Learn)

Here's your problem of the day

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

Skill covered: Programming

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