I applied through a recruiter. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at IBM (Cochin) in May 2021
Interview
The interview went very smoothly and felt well-structured. The interviewer primarily focused on core Java concepts, covering topics such as OOP principles, collections, exception handling, multithreading, and Java 8 features. In addition to these, there were several data structures and algorithms questions, which tested my understanding of arrays, linked lists, trees, and basic graph problems. Some questions also involved time and space complexity analysis, requiring me to explain the efficiency of my solutions. Overall, the session was engaging and balanced, allowing me to demonstrate both my theoretical knowledge and practical problem-solving skills in Java and algorithmic thinking.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What happens if you call super() inside a constructor after a this() call? Will it compile? Why or why not?
If you insert the same object multiple times into a HashSet but its hashCode() changes after insertion, what will happen when you try to retrieve or remove it?
Can two threads accessing the same object with synchronized methods cause a deadlock? Explain a scenario.
Given a linked list, how would you detect a cycle without using extra space? What’s the time complexity?
If you have a nested loop where the inner loop doubles the index each time, what is the overall time complexity?
How does parallelStream() differ from stream() internally, and when can it actually degrade performance?
If you override equals() in a class but forget to override hashCode(), what issues could occur in collections?
Applied through the company portal, completed an online coding assessment, followed by a technical interview covering data structures, algorithms, OOP concepts, and project experience. Concluded with an HR discussion about the role, career goals, availability, and compensation expectations.
## IBM Interview Process
The process began with initial resume shortlisting, followed by competitive **DSA and coding rounds** to test core technical concepts. After clearing those, I cleared two comprehensive interviews with the **Hiring Manager/Tech Expert** and **HR**.
Describe the interview process: The process consisted of three rounds: an initial online assessment focusing on data structures and algorithms, followed by two technical video interviews. The technical rounds were intensive, covering system design, live coding, and deep-dive questions into previous project experience and database optimization.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Design a scalable URL shortener system and explain how you would handle high read/write throughput.
