A Web log of my Life..

What I learnt from my interviews?

2010-11-19T18:16:00.001-08:00

Alrite, well, it had been quite sometime (actually long time ;P 3 years) since I wrote something in my blog, so after a break, here it is. With a total of 13 phone interviews and 30 onsite interviews :P, I think now I gained enough experience, that I can blog about it ;P

So, What did I learn from my interviews?

First thing you need before attending an interview is CONFIDENCE. "You are what you think you are". You have to tell to yourself, that you are really capable of doing the job (whatever it may be -Software Design/Development Engineer / Technology Analyst/Associate) and interview is just a place where you show your capabilities. There is no point in being nervous in an interview which would mean that you yourself is not convinced that you would get this job. Being confident means you think or say to yourself that you know answers to ALL the questions that the interviewer might ask you. Of course, there are sometimes you might not know the answer for a given technical question (say, some feature in Java or C++), in that case, ADMIT that you don't know the answer in a nice way saying that you are always ready to learn, instead of giving some crappy answer.

As I said, first thing we need to crack an interview is confidence, but how do we get it?

Of course, Confidence comes with PREPARATION. Prepare for not only technical questions, but also for behavioral ones. Organize yourself. There is a saying "For every minute spent organizing, one hour is gained". This is the truth. Create a list of topics that you would want to prepare - say, Linked Lists, Binary Trees, Dynamic Programming, Graphs, String manipulation, Data Structures especially HashTables, Java language features, C++ language features, OOPs concepts, Threads, Mutexes, Synchronization, OS concepts and whatever there is in your resume - academic and professional projects. Once the list is created, allocate time for each topic - say Dynamic Programming - 3 hrs, Java Threads - 2 hrs, etc. Create a timetable for next few weeks and target to complete these topics. I would definitely recommend topcoder.com for anyone preparing for coding interviews. Also, visit interview questions websites like careercup.com and glassdoor.com, they really give you an insight on what to expect in a particular company's interview. Allocate time for these websites too in your timetable. Also, practice writing code in white paper or notepad without eclipse or any fancy IDEs. This will help you in Whiteboard problem solving interviews.

Also, learn about algorithm complexities - the notations - O(n), omega(n), etc. Understand what each really means and how to compute them for a given algorithm. Almost in every coding interview they would ask you about the time and space complexity for your solution. When given a problem, never jump in solution and never start writing code! - This is really really important! If you start writing code for a given problem immediately, that would leave a really bad impression on you. Ask as many questions as possible before giving your solution. For e.g., lets say the interviewer asks a question, "given an int array and sum, find 2 elements in array that would add up to the sum" - We can ask questions like, Is the array already sorted? Can it contain -ve elements? Can I use extra space? Generally, we would start with O(n^2) algorithm and end up in O(n) or O(logn) algorithm. The interviewers might ask the pros and cons of each approach too. Important thing I learnt is before answering any question, take a moment to repeat the question to the interviewer, and in that way you would actually get some extra time to think solution for the question while repeating it.

In addition to above optimization questions, there might even be questions like how would you solve a question in most inefficient way possible! :P For e.g., for the well know cycle in a linked list problem, how would you solve it if you don't know the slow-fast-pointer approach?

I understood that interviewers expect us to know both inefficient and efficient solutions for the same problem.

To be continued.....

Outing @ Runway 9

2007-08-20T05:04:00.000-07:00

Well, this is one of the good outing Our Gang -- THE STUV went,
wondering what is STUV - it is the hyderabad gang of CS2k1CD batch :)

Before reaching Runway9, we planned to make a mess @ Veki's house :) - We went to his home and stuffed the norukku theeni and icecream that his mother brought for us :)
Then we started off from there to Runway9, not knowing the route and having a route map in hand :)
Somehow we traced the route correctly - thanks to D! good that M didn't guide the route ;-)! - otherwise we would have ended up somewhere outside Hyd!!

After reaching Runway9, we didn't know what game to start with. Finally decided that we shall start with go-karting first as we thought it may rain soon.Go-Karting was really thrilling :-) I raced all the ppl who were with me and also completed the laps first :) especially raced M ;-) who is supposed to be the fastest driver as my friends say.. After that me,S,Vq and M decided to go for skating - eventhough me,Vq and S didnt know skating :) Good that I didnt fall down so many times :)

Then, we went to the Pool Parlour and took rest for few mins and started Ice Hockey- As usual I lost and S won :( . D, Veki, Vwar and Viki were playing Pool..and then these ppl went to play TT - paying for it eventhough it is available for free in our offices :) . Me, S, Vk ,Vr and Vq then decided to go for 'Rock Climbing' - This is the best part of all the games played! - I reached the top and pressed the green button - completed the game, the others tried climbing the left side which is little more complicated than the side which I climbed but didnt complete it. Here the person to be specially praised is Veki, he didnt even make it to 2 blocks! Congrats Veki! ;-)

Finally, we went to Laser Combat - one of the worst games :( . We split into 2 teams ; Team 1 = Me, M, Vr, Veki and Vq; Team 2 = S, D, Vk, Vwar; In this game,each one is given a gun and a cap which has Laser Sensor and the opponents should shoot each other. Unfortunately our team chose a wrong position and me the worst position, becos of which we lost. I really didnt know from which side the opponents are shooting - due to which I lost all my lives in frist few mins :(.

After the koothu @ Runway9, we ended our day with Dinner @ Deewaan Dhaba on NH7.

PS: The outing @ Runway9 was the treat of Vr and S :)

Friendship......

2007-07-12T02:44:00.001-07:00

Well, I am updating my blog after a very looong time..probably years.[my last blog post was in 2006!!]...becos till now I was busy and now in the height of vettiness..

This post is dedicated to my friends. The most difficult things in the world are not the things/events done in guinuess world records but to handle relationships. I know people change with time, but never know that they change so quickly. Some are ready to even throw away their friendship even for small silly reasons. Then is that called friendship? Then what is the meaning of being together for years and throwing it away for simple fights..Are we going to live forever? We donno what will happen in the next moment. We know our present and thats it. We have just one life and that too short life..why do we want to make it like a battle field? Can't we just erase the egos, possessiveness, prejudices...out of this world? It is very easy to throw away your words but it is really hard to take it back.........One should always remember "Words and hearts should be handled with care because words when spoken and hearts when broken are the hardest to repair".......
Ppl say "Friendship is the only ship that never sinks", but that is not the case nowadays..It is the only ship that always sinks... There is a saying "In prosperity your friends know you, In adversity you know your friends". and that is really true. Also, some say..A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities ; Do any of you have a true friend? If so, you are truely gifted..

Back From Home :(

2006-08-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

Back from the South Trip! It was really superb! Went to all our relatives homes...in just 4 days!! Kanyakumari , Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur too... :) ....Had nice time...nice veetu saapadu...

Now back to Hyd...and work too ... :(

Going Home! :)

2006-08-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

I am going home (Chennai) tomoro after a looooong time(2 months) ..for some this may appear as a small period but for me ...2 months away from home is really very difficult......

Taking one week off!!

Here is the plan: (Hope it works fine!)

11-Aug : Board Train(Chennai Express) in Hyd
12-Aug : Reach Chennai :)
12-Aug (evening) : Board Train to Kanyakumari
13-Aug : In Kanyakumari
14-Aug : Board Train/ Bus to Thiruchendur
15-Aug : In Thiruchendur
16-Aug : Board train to Chennai
17-Aug : Chennai
18-20 Aug : Meet friends in Chennai, Watch some Tamil movie, Do some shopping
20-Aug : Board Train (Charminar Express) to Hyd
21-Aug : Back to Hyd & work :(

Corporate World

2006-08-09T05:51:00.000-07:00

This monday (7-aug) I saw this movie "Corporate" , Bipasha Basu was the heroine - a very good role for her in that movie.
This movie really impressed me.......it tells the ultimate truth! never work with heart in corporate world..becos we donno when we need to stand against them in the corporate world and when we should stand with them!!..... any person working in a corporate should watch this movie.....
it has too many characters nicely woven like a neat thread...... :)
a good movie worth to be watched :)

Tree-Leaf-Wind...........

2006-06-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

After a loooooooooongggggg time i am updating my blog becos i felt like updating.........:))

I read the following forward somewhere.........so thought of posting it........

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Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay......

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Tree

People call me "Tree".

I had dated 5 girls when I was in Pre-U. There is one girl who I love a lot but never dared to go after. She didn't have a pretty face, good figure or an outstanding charm. She was just a very ordinary girl. I liked her. I really liked her. I liked her innocence, her frankness, her intelligence and her fragility. Reason for not going after her was that I felt somebody so ordinary like her was not a good match for me. I was also afraid that after we were together all the feelings would vanish. I was also afraid other's gossip would hurt her.

I felt that if she were my girl, she'd be mine ultimately & I didn't have to give up everything just for her. The last reason, made her accompanying me for 3 years. She watched me chase other girls, and I have made her heart cry for 3 years. She was a good actor, and me a demanding director. When I kissed my second girlfriend, she bumped into us. She was embarrassed but smiled & said, "Go on!" before running off.

The next day, her eyes were swollen like a walnut. I did not want to know what caused her to cry. Later that day, I returned from soccer training to get something & watched her cry in the classroom for an hour or so. My fourth girlfriend did not like her.

There was once when both of them quarreled. I know that based on her character she is not the type that will start the quarrel. However, I still sided my girlfriend. I shouted at her & ignored her feelings and walked off with my girlfriend. The next day, she was laughing & joking with me like nothing happened. I know she was hurt but she did not know deep down inside I was hurt too.

When I broke up with my fifth girlfriend, I asked her out. Later that day, I told her I had something to tell her. I told her about my break up.

Coincidentally, she has something to tell me too, about her getting together. I knew who the person was. His pursuit for her had been the talk of the School. I did not show her my heartache, just smiles & best wishes.

Once I reached home, I could not breathe. Tears rolled & I broke down.

How many times have I seen her cry for the man who did not acknowledge her presence?

During graduation, I read a SMS in my hp. It said, "Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay"

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Leaf

People call me Leaf.

During the 3 years of Pre-U, I was on very close terms with a guy as buddy kind. However, when he had his first girlfriend, I learnt a feeling I never should have learnt - Jealousy. Sourness to the extreme limit. They were only together for 2 months. When they broke up, I hid my happiness. But after a month, he got together with another girl.

I liked him & I know he liked me. But why won't he pursue me? Since he loves me why he didn't he make the first move? Whenever he had a new girlfriend, my heart would hurt. After some time, I began to suspect that this was one-sided love. If he didn't like me, why did he treat me so well? It's beyond what you will normally do for a friend. I know his likes, his habits.

But his feelings towards me I can never figure out. You can't expect me a girl, to ask him. Despite that, I still wanted to be by his side. Care for him, accompany him, and love him. Hoping that one day, he will come to love me. Because of this, I waited for him. Sometimes, I wondered if I should continue waiting. The pain, the dilemma accompanied me for 3 years.

At the end of my 3rd year, a junior pursues me. Everyday he pursues me.

He's like the cool & gentle wind, trying to blow off a leaf from a tree.

In the end, I realized that I wanted to give this wind a small footing in my heart.

I know the wind will bring the leaf to a better land. Finally, leaf left the tree, but the tree only smiled & didn't ask me to stay.

Leaf's departure is because of Wind's pursuit. Or cause Tree didn't ask her to stay.

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Wind

Because I like a girl called leaf. Because she's so dependent on tree, so I have to be a gust wind. A wind that will blow her away. When I first met her, it was 1 month after I was transferred to this new school. I saw a petite person look ing at my seniors & me playing soccer. During ECA time, she will always be sitting there. Be it alone or with her friends, looking at him. When he talks with girls, there's jealousy in her eyes. When he looked at her, there's a smile in her eyes. Looking at her became my habit.

Just like, she likes to look at him.

One day, she didn't appear. I felt something missing. I can't explain the feeling except it's a kind of uneasiness. The senior was also not there as well. I went to their classroom, hid outside and saw my senior scolding her.

Tears were in her eyes while he left. The next day, I saw her at her usual place, looking at him. I walked over and smiled to her. Took out a note & gave to her. She was surprised. She looked at me, smiled & accepts the note.

The next day, she appeared & passes me a note and left.

It read, "Leaf's heart is too heavy and wind couldn't blow her away."

"It's not that leaf heart is too heavy. It because leaf never want to leave tree." I replied her note with this statement and slowly she started to talk to me & accept my presents & phone calls. I know that the person she loves is not me. But I have this perseverance that one day I will make her like me. Within 4 months, I have declared my love for her no less than 20 times.

Every time, she will divert away from the topic. But I never give up. If I decide I want her to be mine, I will definitely use all means to win her over. I can't remember how many times I have declared my love to her.

Although I know, she will try to divert but I still bear a small ray of hope.

Hoping that she will agree to be my girlfriend. I didn't hear any reply from her over the phone. I asked, "What are you doing? How come you didn't want to reply?" She said, "I'm nodding my head". "Ah?" I could n't believe my ears. "I'm nodding my head" She replied loudly. I hang up the phone, quickly changed and took a taxi and rush to her place & press her doorbell. During the moment when she opens the door, I hugged her tightly.

Leaf departure is because of Wind pursuit. Or because Tree didn't ask her to stay...

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Moral

In love, we win very rarely, but when love is true, even if you lose, you still win just for having the tingle of loving someone more than you love yourself. There comes a time when we stop loving someone, not because that person has stopped loving us but because we have found out that, they'd be happier if we let go....

Why do we close our eyes when we sleep? When we cry? When we imagine?

When we kiss? This is because THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD ARE UNSEEN.

There are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind, but keep in mind that letting go isn't the end of the world.

It's the beginning of a new life. Happiness lies for those who cry those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of the people who have touched our lives.

A great love? It's when you shed tears and still you care for them, it's when they ignore you and still you long for them. It's when they begin to love another and yet you smile and say, "I'm happy for you." If love fails, set yourself free, let your heart spread its wings and fly again.

Remember you may find love and lose it, but when love dies, you never have to die with it.

The strongest people are not those who always win but those who stand back up when they fall. Somehow, along the course of life, you learn about yourself and realize that there should never be regrets, only a lifelong appreciation of the choices you've made. Loving is not how you forget but how you forgive, not how you listen but how you understand, not what you see but how you feel, and not how you let go but how you hold on.

It's more dangerous to weep inwardly rather than outwardly. Outward tears can be wiped away while secret tears scar forever...

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It's best to wait for the one you want than settle for one that's available.

It's best to wait for the right one because life is too short to waste on just someone.

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Just a placeholder now

2006-04-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

Just a placeholder now......May expect something in future...(wait and see) :-)