Tips For Placement

Tips for Preparation

1.      Starting now is the best time.

2.     Brush up your coding skills. Don't solve problems just in your head. Code everything, starting from "hello world" to "Toughest dynamic programming problems". ( problems on stack, queue, link-list, trees, graphs, DP, Greedy etc.) 

3.    Don't forget what you studied for GATE. (Later you will need to take out time to brush up that too.)

4.   Try to finish Karumanchi 2 months before interviews (till sepember, you won't get much time later). But it's not everything (have mistakes and doesn't have many good questions). In addition to this Geeksforgeeks (really good stuff) and "Google interview questions from CareerCup" are also necessary.

5.  Along with technical questions most of the companies ask questions of verbal and numerical aptitude. (related to boats, streams, trains, age, percentage, ratio, divisibility etc). Good aptitude is very helpful in clearing written exams. You can use R.S. Agarwal for it.

6.      Project is very important. A good project alone can give you a good job. Some companies take whole interviews only on project. Don't let it become a weakness in your Resume.

7.      For Coding, if you are a C lover, consider moving to C++ at least for the sake of using STL.

Tips For Resume Making

1.  Write only relevant things and things which you can justify well. (Eg. If you have done something in php or java a long time ago but don't have a clue about it now, avoid it).

2.      Don't exaggerate things. (may lead into trouble while interview).

3. You are confident about something even if it a little uncommon, mention it. (like i mentioned "Solving Puzzles" as a hobby, helped me in almost all the interviews).

4.    Do generate multiple CV's for different type of companies. Companies recruiting other than technical domain want to know how are you suitable for them. (How interested are you and what have you done in that field.)

5.      Mention your projects clearly and precisely. 

6.    Don't flood your resume with your technical skills, write things in which you are confident and have adequate knowledge.

Tips For Interviews

1.  Prepare your Resume: Almost half of the questions asked will be from your own resume. You need to prepare every single line of it very well.

2.    Know your Company: The first or second question you will be asked could be, "What do you know about the Company?" or in HR they may ask "Why should we select you?" or "What you can give to the company?". So spent a little time to know about the company's work area, recent project and how you can be effective for it.

3.    Communication Skills: Good communication skills give a good impression and help to boost your confidence level. If your communication skills are not adequate try to improve them and practice what to say in interview a day before. It will remove your hesitation.

4.    Tell me about yourself: An open ended ice-breaker, asked in most of the interviews weather its Technical or HR. Prepare it in advance. It should of about 1 minute until the interviewer asks you to elaborate. It's your chance to get the wheel in your hands and drive the interview your way. Tell him your educational and technical background followed by your strength and hobbies. Do mention something in which you are confident. It will give him/her a starting topic and you a good start.

5.  Be Confident and Calm: Interviews is the time when you easily get nervous and stressed which can easily ruin chances of getting selected. You need to be confident, calm and patient. Speak loud and clear, without any hurry. It shows your confidence and clarity about the topic.

6.    Be Company Specific (when its less than a month) : Every company asks different types of questions depending upon the work of the company and the job profile they are recruiting for. Know in advance what type of questions asked in previous year interviews and prepare accordingly.

7.   Do you want to ask something: At the end of the interview, interviewer usually asks this question. Ask a couple a questions about the work of the company or about your profile and work in the company, it shows your interest in the company.

Other Tips (Last but not the least)

1.   Try to maintain your CGPA above 8 but more importantly prepare well. A person with 7.5 CGPA with good preparation will have better changes then a person with 8.5 CGPA but under prepared. 

2.     Try to take lighter courses in your 3rd semester it will give you good time for preparation.

3.  Keep in touch with friends at other IIT's and NIT's at the time of written tests and interviews.

4.  Don't lose confidence seeing your friends getting placed and not yourself. Believe me you will definitely get a good job (even if your CGPA is not good).

5.    Help your friends after you get placed. Placement process is cumbersome and stressful. You may have 5-6 interviews in a day followed by written exams. Motivate your friends, never leave them alone, help them find interview venues and get necessary documents. You will be really happy seeing them placed too.