I started this as an exercise to help my juniors but recounting my whole interview experience was so enriching that I decided put it up here. The theme is not what I usually write but anyways here it is....
First of all my whole interview experience was totally weird. Things kept on happening around me
M- Me , P - interviewer
I had gone for IC design profile and took its paper
Interview 1: (20 minutes)
P1: So Rohan feeling nervous?
M: not at all Sir. (weird I had just entered the room. It was if that guy had reharsed the Q heh..so interviewers have goose bumps as well.)
P1: Its pretty cold out here in Roorkee. How are u managing with just a suit?
M: I am wearing more woolens inside sir.( Stupid answer..well the question was stupid as well..anyways it was purely a tech interview)
P1: So how have you done in your exam.?
M: decent sir since I got short listed.(trying to be smart heh...)
P1: lets see how you have done in your paper? (takes out my freaking paper..Noo)
M: …?
P1: now try solving this question?
M: Ok sir!
(The question was that of timing diagram in with propagation delay blah blah etc.)
[I try solving the question trying to correctly sketch the timing diagram. I think I failed badly, still I kept asking small questions.
Could not complete it .]
P1: Ok! So what have you done here?
M: I explain in detail. Spoke everything that I know of this which wasn’t much to begin with
P1: (that bloke was a young engineer..I guess he gets confused , unsure what to do) Okay! Rohan! What are the topics you are comfortable with?
M : (promptly) Sir! Boolean algebra, Counters design flip flops...
P1: Okay! Rohan! I think you are suitable for the other research group. Let me bring the guy who is representing the other group.
M: (okay! I am still not rejected..hope Rohan hope)
( I wait outside for a few minutes)
Interview 2 (25 minutes)
P2: hello!(looks at the paper) Rohan!
M: hello sir!
P2: (browses through the paper..come on man not that paper again.)
Why don’t you try this question?
M: yes sir!
( It’s a energy balance question with a whole lot of jargon of battery and ampere hours put in. I solve it after a few hassles)
P2: why didn’t you solve the question earlier Rohan?
M: did not get time sir!(as if time had to someting in it..the last guy told me the trick to it)
P2: ok! Then you can try this question as well?
( A CMOS question)
M : I try this question and thankfully solve it after a few minutes. It was an easy one.
P2: Okay..Rohan lets try another question.
( gives a new Q – asks me to solve a circuit containing buffer, op-amp, current source and CMOS element).
M : (never been so stumped on a tech Q like this)
P2: (He also realizes that) – No idea, Rohan!
M : None sir!
P2: But these are necessary skills to be in IC design
M: (I try my best to convince him that nobody knows that much CMOS at bachelors level, even E&C people which was true by the way. I would learn stuff on the way and big fattaes like that)
P2: (remains unconvinced) You are a Electrical engineer(Damn!). Seeing your course structure I suggest why don’t you try for embedded design?
M : (already stumped, I jump the gun!) Ok! Sir! Can I still try for it?
P2: wait ! let me see!
( I again wait outside for a few minutes)
Interview 3 (come on line up you ppl – 20 minutes)
P3: hello! So you want to try for embedded design?
M : yes sir! ( I did that a lot of times that day)
P3: are you interested in embedded?
M : ( I had to know that was coming)
Gave some futtaes like embedded is a field where both the knowledge of hardware and software are required. Good for me as electrical engineer. IC design on the other hand requires too much CMOS which is out of my current scope . did not know that at the time of taking test.
P3: (slightly convinced) asks me a few factual questions on C++.
M: did not know them ( later came to know it was slightly advanced Q)
P3: Sorry Rohan! Continuing further would be unjust to people who have taken the exam and have been short listed. Sorry!
M: (despo mode..Run rohan beg do something DONT GIVE UP) Sir! From what I have heard the questions that you gave in exam were simpler. Why don’t you try me with one of those?
P3: (puzzled by my doggedness) Okay!
( gives me a Q on DS – linked list )
M : I give the algo promptly( it was a simple delinking linking algo)
P3: gives another Q extending the previous question on improving the efficiency.
M : I do that as well taking a bit longer time.
P3: ( seems interested)
Further extends the question
M : ( I m trying to solve it)
P3: Rohan! You have GPA of 8.8 ( while going through my paper)
M : yes sir!(oooh! maaan!!)
P3 : you wait here and try solving the question!
(He actually went to talk to his HR guy/head of panel.
GOD bless the past Rohan who worked hard to get that CGPA)
(Mean while I desperately try to solve the problem and am successful partially.)
(He comes back after a few minutes)
M: Sir! This can be done in this way.( never before I spoke with such pace)
P3: (listens absent mindedly) Ya! That’s good.
come with me.
M : (what the heck is going to happen now? Lord, not another interview)
We got into a side room.
P3: fill up this form.
M : ( somewhere beside the skinny shades of his hand I read those letters on the form: FOR EMPLOYMENT)
(Oh lord so here is the place where the story titled Rohan unfolds...)
EMPLOYMENT FORM :
HR form
Strengths , weaknesses, biggest achievement , principles.
Interview 4 (20 minutes)
P4: So, Rohan tell me about yourself?
M:
P4: You mentioned, you become ‘over focussed’ . How is that a weakness?
M : (had it coming) Sir, I believe that one should have proper balance in life(yaaaawn!!) . Balance between work and entertainment don’t get too much too much involved (guess this is wat ppl call HR, speak the obvious in a not so obvious way Nd you sail through).
P4: your best achievement?
M : To have been able to stand up to the expectations of my parents.
(a guess that’s a new one in the cliches of best achievement. Would never know what forced give me this answer, never before that very moment such a though came to my mind. )
P4: how?
M : academic(cliché) support to be there in need etc.( may be that time it was not a cliche I was using it was a CLASSIC..after all a classic is a classic for a reason)
P4: (seems satisfied) Rohan, as an electrical engineer you are slightly weaker in programming than E&C people?
M : (took a defiant attitude) I don’t think that E&C people are better than us, atleast at IIT Roorkee. If you are talking in general then I can only say that I am used to working harder and longer than most people.
P4: Do you want to ask something?
( very tricky and open ended Q)
M : (totally frustoo after 4 rounds of interviews)
What are my chances of getting a job@freescale? (Never ask such a stupid question..purely suicidal)
P4: The selection process is still going on. I cannot tell you now.
Okay. Rohan thank you we’ll declare the results in a few minutes.
But I.
yes I
still remember the way he was holding the paper , the wrinkles on his old face, the wry smile on the tech interviewer man ooh! man it was surely the moment of my life.
There ,,, right then people
Rohan Dayal met his destiny.
In case you were wondering what is this blank space for,
well there is still lots more I have to do. Its just a start.
