Placements is not something that you should start worrying about as it comes nearer, the preparation has to start much before that knowing your own weaknesses. There is a number of steps/rounds that one needs to face until it comes to the final selection step. In each round, different types of skills are judged. Given below is an explanation about the process that is generally followed in every placement drive. This shall help you to understand the number of effort you need to put to have the desired outcome. Remember, companies are interested in hiring smart candidates who face all these interview rounds confidently.
1. Aptitude tests
A skill assessment test, often in the form of an Aptitude is a formative first step in most of the campus placements.
a. Understand various topics of Aptitude Test
Generally, Aptitude tests cover the following areas:
- English Grammer
- Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Ability
b. Gather opinions
Talk to those who have already gone through these Tests for the company for the role that you have applied for. It should give you fare idea on the topics of Aptitude you need to brush up.
c. Practice..practice…practice..
Take practice tests for all of these topics, by accessing different mock tests. Go through your feedback reports and make a conscious effort in improving on recurring low score areas. Apart from online skill assessments, consider working with resources like Practice Set books, practice papers and sample papers.
d. Take Feedback seriously:
Most of the mock tests end with displaying scores and feedback guidelines. Go through yours in-depth, take notes and work on your weak topics. Re-attempt the same mock test and refine your answers accordingly.
2. Group Discussion:
In a group discussion round, interviewer gets to observe a group of candidates and see how they would react in given situation or communicate over their convictions in a problem-solving mode. Preparing for these requires work on various aspects:
a. Thought process:
It’s necessary to quickly think about all the points that one wants to convey and working through a logical argument and presenting it adequately are the three skills you need to showcase. It needs constant work on your thinking process and analysis-based approach towards the situation.
b. Communication :
Clear presentation of your ideas and thought process is of utmost importance in any group discussion.
You need to keep checking on:
- What is the problem you’re discussing
- What is the language tone that you’re communicating in
- How well your point is understood by others
- What are the salient points that everyone else is raising
c. Showcase your team skills :
Don’t think Group Discussion is just presenting your viewpoint and then taking a side seat. GD is aimed at coming up with the best possible solution to the situation at hand. You need to acknowledge that everyone has something important to say and add to the puzzle you’re working on. Take your clues from everyone else, including the interviewer and build on your responses instantly.
3. Panel Interview:
This is slightly tough round as here you face a set of interviewers, ready to interact with you. The approach is formal where interviewers are interested in testing your situational awareness, clarity in thought, communication and judgment skills. Preparing for Panel interview will include:
- Adequate research about Company, its Services and its Domain
- Proper body language & positive attitude
- Communication skills
- Personal presentation
4. Technical Round:
The Technical interview is also an interview format; which is conducted face to face, online, on video or telephonically. This round is a specific assessment of your core skill / technical skills. It will be focused on your Programming language skills as the interviewer wants to understand what you would exactly bring to the job at hand. It can be an interview with the project manager or supervisor, it can be an assessment of your core subject or a situational test. The best ways to prepare for a technical interview is to prepare through the following check-list;
a. Background research:
Be familiar with the areas/domains that the company works on and the common challenges it can face in terms of products/services and their execution. Search through Quora, Glassdoor and other sources for interview experiences with the company or its closest competitors. And always brush up on the products that the company offers.
b. Coding challenges:
In most cases, you will be asked to code or will be given a technical problem to come up with a solution. To get ready for such kind of evaluation, you should register yourself for sites offering Coding challenges. participate in Pair programming, mock whiteboard exercises. Ensure that you have mastered your core skill and able to showcase the same confidently through clear code execution.
5. HR Interview:
In this last round, you need to convince the HR personnel that you are the best fit for the role at hand. A day before the HR interview put together all your documents in sequence, decide on your attire, go through your notes. Face this round with a positive attitude, cheer and step in with your best foot forward.
Thanks for going through the entire article. At Profound Edutech, we give equal importance to Campus Preparation along with Technical Skill Preparation. With aptitude classes at Profound Edutech, students get Campus preparation sessions every week and go through numerous GD and HR rounds before they actually face the real one.
