Position: IBM CIIC Associate System Engineer
Interview Date: October 10th, 2023
Location: Kolkata, On-Campus Drive
I participated in the IBM CIIC Associate System Engineer interview process as part of an on-campus drive held on October 9th and 10th, 2023. The drive encompassed students from two colleges and featured a multi-stage evaluation.
Interview Process Overview:
Round 0: Shortlisting of Applications: The initial phase involved screening applications to identify candidates for subsequent rounds. The selection process was rigorous, aiming to filter applicants based on their qualifications and experiences.
Round 1: Coding Round: Following the initial shortlisting, candidates undertook a coding assessment on the Hackerrank platform. The round comprised two coding questions ranging from easy to medium difficulty, each with a time limit of 45 minutes. The tasks evaluated problem-solving skills, algorithmic proficiency, and coding efficiency.
Round 2: English Grammar MCQ Round: Subsequently, candidates navigated through a series of English grammar multiple-choice questions. This segment aimed to gauge language proficiency and comprehension, with a timer and negative marking employed to ensure prompt and accurate responses.
Round 3: Group Discussion: Candidates progressed to participate in group discussions designed to assess communication, collaboration, and critical thinking abilities. Topics varied, encompassing current affairs, technological trends, and industry-specific scenarios.
Round 4: Personal Interview (Technical + HR): The final phase involved a combined technical and HR interview conducted by panels.
Statistics:
Total Applicants: Approximately 1200 students expressed interest in the position.
Shortlisted after Coding Round: 300 candidates advanced to the subsequent stage following successful completion of the coding assessment.
Shortlisted after English Round: The pool narrowed down to 105 candidates post the English grammar MCQ round.
Shortlisted after GD: Following the group discussions, 90 candidates remained in contention for further consideration.
Hired Candidates: Ultimately, 17 candidates were hired from one college, while 37 were selected from our college, totaling 54 successful applicants.
Observations:
Difficulty Level: Overall, the interview process presented a moderate level of difficulty, effectively challenging candidates to demonstrate their competencies across various domains.
Time Management Concerns: Despite the structured format, there were notable instances of time mismanagement throughout the assessment process, resulting in prolonged wait times between rounds.
An interesting observation was the predominance of female candidates among the hired cohort.
Selection Considerations: While the selection process aimed to identify the most suitable candidates, there were instances where deserving candidates may have been overlooked or inadequately assessed, indicating potential areas for improvement in the evaluation criteria and decision-making protocols.
Personal Experience:
My personal experience throughout the interview process was both challenging and enlightening. While I appreciated the opportunity to showcase my skills and competencies, I also observed areas where enhancements could be made to streamline the process and ensure a more equitable and transparent selection outcome.
Results were published after 4 days post interview.