I had the chance to interview for the ASE (Associate Software Engineer) position at Accenture through an on-campus recruitment process.

Interview Process Overview

Aptitude & Coding Assessment

Aptitude Assessment

• Conducted in the college lab using the.
• The 90-minute test covered Quantitative, English Ability, Reasoning, Pseudo Code, Networking, Cloud, and MS Office.
• It was a medium-difficult-elimination round.

Coding Assessment

• The results of the aptitude assessment are given immediately, if cleared, we should appear for coding assessment immediately, or else you are out of the process.
• This 45-minute test included Two array problems.
• Clearing this round was crucial for proceeding to the next stage.
• Problem 1
  • Given an array “arr” of size n. A number in an array let’s say ‘Z’ is said to be good if there exists two different positive integers X and Y such that X^Y = Z and X&Y = 0.
  • Intuition
    • Any number ‘Z ‘in which the count of set Bits is ≥ 2 then there always exists X and Y such that X^Y = Z and X & y = Z.
    • In Y make only the first set bit location in Z as set and remaining unset. And for X make all the set Bits in Z as set except the first set Bit location.
    • So, X^Y = Z and X&Y = 0. To hold the condition X and Y are different and positive, there should be at least 2 set Bits in Z.
• Problem 2
  • Given an array “arr” of size n. Find count of pairs such that i < j and arr[i]^arr[j] > arr[i]&arr[j]. The size of arr is 1e5. Expected O(N) solution.
  • Implemented the brute Force, couldn’t come up with optimal algo in given time.
• NOTE: To clear this round, one should solve at least 1 problem completely and 2nd problem partially.
• The results of the round are conveyed via WhatsApp to your registered mobile number immediately after finishing the test.

Communication Assessment

• Communication Assessment happend after 2 days.
• This 30-minute assessment had six sections including Reading, Listening, Q & A, Jumbled Sentences, retelling a story, and speaking.
• It was not an elimination round.

Final Interview

• A combination of technical and HR questions based on my resume.
• Questions ranged from personal introduction to project details and co-curricular achievements.
  • Introduce Yourself.
  • What is Dual Degree. [ Mine is Integrated Degree]
  • You are from mechanical, why you want to join the IT Role.
  • Have you done any IT certifications.
  • Explain your Project.
  • Explain about any project you have done in group, and what is your role in it.
  • Explain about your internship experience.
  • What are your strengths and weakness.
• NOTE: The HR more interested in knowing how good team player you are, your co-curricular achievements [ sports, events etc.], your internship and projects.

Despite progressing through the rounds, I was not selected for the ASE role, as confirmed by the TP cell list and an official rejection email from Accenture.

Mistake I did in HR Interview:

• Didn’t take the HR interview seriously.
• Don’t have any extra curricular achievements.
• The HR don’t have development background. He is not interested in listening my project.
• Told irrelevant working in group experience [Mechanical Projects experience instead of internship experience].
• When asked for any IT Certifications I said No.