Hello,

I am a Electronics & Communication Engineering student of 2019 batch and I attended the Cognizant recruitment drive (Off-campus) interview round on 15th June 2019. From our year there had been a small change in the exam pattern for Cognizant.

The recruitment consists of 3 steps:-

1. Online Aptitude Test.
2. Technical Interview.
3. HR Interview.

--------- Remember all of the above rounds are eliminating rounds -------------

For Example: You have to secure the cutoff marks in the Aptitude test to qualify for the Technical Interview.

1. Aptitude Test.

This test is taken by Aspiring Minds (commonly known as AMCAT). This test is taken online. All will be MCQ type and **there will be NO NEGATIVE MARKINGS**.

This test will contain 4 sections namely-> Verbal Ability Test ; Quants; Logical Ability; Automata Fixing.

Okay, Let me Explain this ------

Verbal Ability:- This part contains mainly English Grammar and Comprehensions. Just go through any basic English grammar books and follow Indiabix, m4math websites verbal section and the previous AMCAT papers verbal questions to score good and clear the cutoff of verbal section.

This section will contain questions from Prepositions; Articles; Synonyms; Antonyms Idioms; Phrases; Jumbled Sentences; etc. Regarding Comprehension, see there will be 3-4 paragraphs based on which 4-5 questions will be asked. Total questions will be 22 and time will be 18 minutes.

Quantative Aptitude :- This part will be the most time consuming section according to me. For preparation go through INDIABIX , AMCAT previous year papers, Faceprep and RS Agarwal Quantitative Aptitude Book.

This section mainly contains Profit & Loss; Percentage; Pipes & Cistern; Work & Time; Boats & Streams; Basic Algebra; Basic Trigonometry; Mensuration; and few others. This section will contain 16 questions and time duration is 16 minutes.

Logical Ability:- This part will contain various types of questions like Puzzles; Jumbled words; Series; Comparison; Analogy; Blood Relationship; etc. This will be a little tough section if you have not practiced enough.

Again refer INDIABIX and FACEPREP for this section also and RS Agarwal verbal and non-verbal reasoning book. This section will contain 24 questions and time will be generally 35 minutes.

Automata Fixing:- So this is the NEWLY ADDED SECTION from our year. In this section there will be 7 programming questions to complete in 20 minutes. But this section will not be MCQ type.

Now Listen very Important. You do not have to write the full code of the program. Rather you just need to write the missing lines in the code given for that specific problem. There will be 3-4 test cases for each problem statement and you have to pass all of them.

Among the 7 questions 4-5 questions are about to debug the error and fill the missing lines. Normally 2 questions are to write the functional part of the given coding problems to satisfy the test cases.

I got selected for Technical Interview clearing all the sections.

2. Technical Interview.

I was waiting in a room and the volunteer called my name. I entered the Technical Interview room and then sat in front of the interviewer and i got the questions like this.

(TR - Technical Interviewer)

TR - Introduce yourself.
Me - Told about my schooling; hobbies; stream; college; certifications.

TR - What's your favorite subject?
Me - Told C and Java

TR - Solve this. (He gave me a sheet of paper where there were 20 unsorted integer elements written and he told me to sort the element.
Me - Solved. (I used Bubble Sorting Technique)

--- (After checking the codes he again asked me a question)

TR - Can you find the 2nd max Element from the array.
Me - Wrote the logical part of the code and explained him.

(Then again from that code he threw a question towards me)

TR - Find the frequency of the array elements (As the array contains some repetative elements)?
Me - Again wrote the logical part of the code and explained him.

(After checking all these he told that you have written Java as your Skillset and again asked me questions like this)

TR - Can you explain the concept of Abstraction with an example?
Me - Told and Explained. (For this question i refer to read the java abstraction concept from GeeksForGeeks Website and its example)

TR - What is Class and Object?
Me - Explained.

TR - Can you find any object in the code of sorting you have wriiten?
(It was a Tricky Question to check your basics)
Me - I explained that C is a procedural language and java is object oriented language. As object is a real world entity so its only applicable in the object oriented language like Core Java not in the procedural language like C.

(After that he smiled and did a handshake with me)

TR - Any Questions?
Me - Asked him about my areas of improvement..

TR - Thank you. Wait for the result?
Me - Thank you sir.

After Some time the volunteer declared the result that I have cleared the TR.

3. HR Interview

HR - How's your day?
Me - Good mam.

HR - Introduce yourself apart from what written in your CV.
Me - Told.

HR - Can you told me some sentences why Listening Skills are important in our life?
Me - Told.

HR- Tell me something about our country India?
Me - Told

HR - Do you have any Relocation problem and the shift timings of Cognizant?
Me - No.

HR - Sign here. (It was a declaration about timings, relocation)
Me - Signed.

HR - Thank you.
Me - Thank you maam.

Finally!! It's over.
------- For HR Round i advised to be confident and be clear what u are telling --------

On 19th June 2019 I got the SELECTION STATUS mail about my selection in Cognizant.It was one of the best days in my life.

Thank you and I wish you best of luck..

It was a day where Cts conducted the pool campus drive in BBIT... The drive was held for 2 days and was much strainous one.......... usually cts conducts 3 rounds online aptitude, technical round and hr round. But there were about 5000 students so it was not possible for them to conduct online aptitude as the cannot provide huge no of systems. so that day group discussion was held first which was a major elimination round
Round 1: Group Discussion

The hr people divided into groups of 25 people from where only 7-8 were selected from each group... My topic was whether love marriage is better than arrange marriage? It was much easy and simple topic so I said for the motion. They check your fluency,confidence,points u told and the idea behind that topic how you express them. So they announced the name after that and I was selected

Round 2: Online aptitude

After group discussion we were taken to computer labs where we have to fill some details before exam. Then the exam started . It was 1 hour exam . There was mainly reasoning and english and very few aptitude... The exam finished at 7:30 pm. We were told that the results of online aptitude will come through our mails and those who have qualified will be reporting next day at 8 a.m. for personal interviews. Then I went back home and kept on checking my mail but it was too late and I lost some of my hope as it was 11 pm but still I didn't receive my results. But my online aptitude round was pretty well so I had some hope somewhere in my mind. Finally I received my mail at 11:30 pm and I qualified for the interview round!!! If u practice from m4maths and indiabix and know the basics its more than enough to qualify aptitude round because its very easy..

Round 3: Technical Round
I was quite nervous for this round because earlier in TCS I qualified aptitude round but failed to qualify in Technical round. But I gathered strength because nervousness killed me and I lost all my strength so I didn't want this time that the same thing happens with me. as I am a student of information technology its natural that they will ask me from depth. Finally my call came ... I entered the room took a seat. First he said good morning I also wished him. He told me to take a seat then told me to introduce my self.. I introduced myself and he was so friendly that all my nervousness had gone .. He went through my cv and then asked what are my favorite subjects. I told them but this time I was honest and replied that 2 days before my 8 semester exams finished so I didn't get much time to prepare for interviews. So he started asking me from 8 semester subjects like cryptography and cyber law and I told the answers as they were fresh in my mind. Then he asked me from my final year project there implementations. Then he asked me my favorite subject I told Dbms . He gave me some joining to do on a piece of paper and write some sql queries . Then he finally said I am done with you... And sir asked me whether I have any queries. I asked him about my drawbacks then he smiled and told me that "I think you are qualifying for the hr round so they will tell you about that" I was at cloud 9 as I finally qualified the technical round!!! He was so much impressed That he stood up and told me it was nice to meet you and again handshaked with me. again I was at cloud 9!!! Then i waited outside the room for 1 minute and then the co-ordinater came smiled and told me that I have qualified for the hr and then they led me outside the hr room. Then they announced lunch break and told me that for hr rounds the reporting time was 2 p.m.. I had half an hour in my hand and utilized that lunch break by studying about cts its history its projects going on as I thought that I may face this question and I didnt knew the answer so I studied them from google then went back at hr room from 2 p.m.

Round 4: Hr round
There were 2 persons who were taking my hr round. The mam asked me the questions and the sir sitting beside mam was continuously watching my postures and body language The mam smiled and asked me whether I had lunch I answerd than she told me to introduce my self then about cts. Then she asked me Why cts?? why not tcs wipro or infosys? I was quite honest and gave straight forward answers .Mam was quite cross questioning me but I kept my confidence and answer them . Then she gave me a paper in which there where some terms and conditions . She told me to read it loudly and explain them the terms and conditions. I explained them. Then she told me whether I am ready to work in shifts and at any place? I said a big yes . Again she cross questioned me that my parents may not allow me I explained the that my parents are very supportive and my answer was yes . They will try to confuse you but you should never deviate from your point. They just check your confidence,your conversation style , your way to approach , your fluency . So don't get nervous!! I f u get nervous you are gone. Cts rarely eliminates candidates from Hr round unless you do a blunder!!!Then they told me to sign the terms and conditions paper . and told me best of luck and the final results will be conveyed through mail and I told Thank you and came out from the room.

It was 3rd july 3:45p.m. sat when I finally completed my 4 rounds . I didn't knew the results but some where I was happy that I completed 4 rounds successfully which went for 2 days. though I didn't sleep for 42 hrs and didn't even have adequate food but I was not feeling tired even a bit .. I was thankful to God for giving me strength without which it was impossible and also my parents who supported me and were beside me .
Somewhere I was feeling satisfied. Then I was waiting for the results anxiously finally I received the mail after 2 days that is 5th july 7p.m.. and yes tears rolled down my eyes in happiness because finally 180 candidates where selected and my name was in that list....
It was my most memorable day in my life because earlier I was rejected by TCS , Tech Mahindra, Mu sigma,amazon and 5 more in on and off campus drive. But finally made through and got placed in Cognizant!!! So the great lesson learnt that failures are great teachers!!! You may get disheartened for a moment of time but accept it and just note down your drawbacks after each failure which will help you to rectify in future. Its very important have fluency as they are hiring for a mnc company so fluency in english is must, moderate level of technical knowledge and along with that your faith ,confidence and strength and honesty!!! Because hr are clever people so if you give false answers you will fall in their trap so its better to be honest. Always remember they are there to hire you so always try to give your best. !!!

It was a day where Cts conducted the pool campus drive in BBIT... The drive was held for 2 days and was much strainous one.......... usually cts conducts 3 rounds online aptitude, technical round and hr round. But there were about 5000 students so it was not possible for them to conduct online aptitude as the cannot provide huge no of systems. so that day group discussion was held first which was a major elimination round
Round 1: Group Discussion

The hr people divided into groups of 25 people from where only 7-8 were selected from each group... My topic was whether love marriage is better than arrange marriage? It was much easy and simple topic so I said for the motion. They check your fluency,confidence,points u told and the idea behind that topic how you express them. So they announced the name after that and I was selected

Round 2: Online aptitude

After group discussion we were taken to computer labs where we have to fill some details before exam. Then the exam started . It was 1 hour exam . There was mainly reasoning and english and very few aptitude... The exam finished at 7:30 pm. We were told that the results of online aptitude will come through our mails and those who have qualified will be reporting next day at 8 a.m. for personal interviews. Then I went back home and kept on checking my mail but it was too late and I lost some of my hope as it was 11 pm but still I didn't receive my results. But my online aptitude round was pretty well so I had some hope somewhere in my mind. Finally I received my mail at 11:30 pm and I qualified for the interview round!!! If u practice from m4maths and indiabix and know the basics its more than enough to qualify aptitude round because its very easy..

Round 3: Technical Round
I was quite nervous for this round because earlier in TCS I qualified aptitude round but failed to qualify in Technical round. But I gathered strength because nervousness killed me and I lost all my strength so I didn't want this time that the same thing happens with me. as I am a student of information technology its natural that they will ask me from depth. Finally my call came ... I entered the room took a seat. First he said good morning I also wished him. He told me to take a seat then told me to introduce my self.. I introduced myself and he was so friendly that all my nervousness had gone .. He went through my cv and then asked what are my favorite subjects. I told them but this time I was honest and replied that 2 days before my 8 semester exams finished so I didn't get much time to prepare for interviews. So he started asking me from 8 semester subjects like cryptography and cyber law and I told the answers as they were fresh in my mind. Then he asked me from my final year project there implementations. Then he asked me my favorite subject I told Dbms . He gave me some joining to do on a piece of paper and write some sql queries . Then he finally said I am done with you... And sir asked me whether I have any queries. I asked him about my drawbacks then he smiled and told me that "I think you are qualifying for the hr round so they will tell you about that" I was at cloud 9 as I finally qualified the technical round!!! He was so much impressed That he stood up and told me it was nice to meet you and again handshaked with me. again I was at cloud 9!!! Then i waited outside the room for 1 minute and then the co-ordinater came smiled and told me that I have qualified for the hr and then they led me outside the hr room. Then they announced lunch break and told me that for hr rounds the reporting time was 2 p.m.. I had half an hour in my hand and utilized that lunch break by studying about cts its history its projects going on as I thought that I may face this question and I didnt knew the answer so I studied them from google then went back at hr room from 2 p.m.

Round 4: Hr round
There were 2 persons who were taking my hr round. The mam asked me the questions and the sir sitting beside mam was continuously watching my postures and body language The mam smiled and asked me whether I had lunch I answerd than she told me to introduce my self then about cts. Then she asked me Why cts?? why not tcs wipro or infosys? I was quite honest and gave straight forward answers .Mam was quite cross questioning me but I kept my confidence and answer them . Then she gave me a paper in which there where some terms and conditions . She told me to read it loudly and explain them the terms and conditions. I explained them. Then she told me whether I am ready to work in shifts and at any place? I said a big yes . Again she cross questioned me that my parents may not allow me I explained the that my parents are very supportive and my answer was yes . They will try to confuse you but you should never deviate from your point. They just check your confidence,your conversation style , your way to approach , your fluency . So don't get nervous!! I f u get nervous you are gone. Cts rarely eliminates candidates from Hr round unless you do a blunder!!!Then they told me to sign the terms and conditions paper . and told me best of luck and the final results will be conveyed through mail and I told Thank you and came out from the room.

It was 3rd july 3:45p.m. sat when I finally completed my 4 rounds . I didn't knew the results but some where I was happy that I completed 4 rounds successfully which went for 2 days. though I didn't sleep for 42 hrs and didn't even have adequate food but I was not feeling tired even a bit .. I was thankful to God for giving me strength without which it was impossible and also my parents who supported me and were beside me .
Somewhere I was feeling satisfied. Then I was waiting for the results anxiously finally I received the mail after 2 days that is 5th july 7p.m.. and yes tears rolled down my eyes in happiness because finally 180 candidates where selected and my name was in that list....
It was my most memorable day in my life because earlier I was rejected by TCS , Tech Mahindra, Mu sigma,amazon and 5 more in on and off campus drive. But finally made through and got placed in Cognizant!!! So the great lesson learnt that failures are great teachers!!! You may get disheartened for a moment of time but accept it and just note down your drawbacks after each failure which will help you to rectify in future. Its very important have fluency as they are hiring for a mnc company so fluency in english is must, moderate level of technical knowledge and along with that your faith ,confidence and strength and honesty!!! Because hr are clever people so if you give false answers you will fall in their trap so its better to be honest. Always remember they are there to hire you so always try to give your best. !!!