Interview preparation roadmap · General
Rounds that many campus drives commonly include: an online aptitude test, a coding test, a technical interview and an HR round. The exact process varies by company and year.
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0%Start here
- 01Foundations
- 02Aptitude round
- 03Coding round
- 04Technical interview
- 05HR round
- 06Company & final prep
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01Foundations
Before the drive opens.
01.1Resume
A one-page resume you can defend line by line.
What this covers
- One-page format — Reverse-chronological, clean fonts, no photos or tables that confuse parsers.
- Project bullets — Action + what you built + a number (users, speed, accuracy).
- Skills section — Only skills you can answer questions on for two minutes.
- ATS readability — Export a text-based PDF and check it with a parser.
- Working links — GitHub, LinkedIn and a live project link that open.
- Tailoring — Reorder bullets to match the job description.
What to practise
- Run your PDF through a parser test
- Rewrite each bullet as action + result
- Remove any skill you can't explain for 2 minutes
Common questions
- Walk me through your resume.
- Which project here are you most proud of, and why?
- Why is this skill on your resume?
Free resources
- OpenResume — Free ATS-friendly resume builder and parser test (Free)
- Jake's Resume (Overleaf) — The LaTeX resume template most SDE freshers use (Free)
- Resume Worded — Resume and LinkedIn scoring (Free plan)
- Jobscan — Match your resume against a job description (Free plan)
Free courses
- Professional Resume Writing — Alison (Free course)
- Resume, Networking, and Interview Skills — Fullbridge (Free to audit)
01.2Tell me about yourself
A 60–90 second answer: present, past, why this role.
What this covers
- Present — Who you are now: degree, year, focus.
- Past — One or two proof points: a project, internship or result.
- Future — Why this role and this company next.
- Length — 60–90 seconds; stop before you list everything.
- Delivery — Calm pace and eye contact, not a memorised script.
What to practise
- Write it, then say it out loud 5 times
- Record yourself and cut anything over 90 seconds
Common questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- Why should we hire you?
- Where do you see yourself in a few years?
Free resources
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- BBC Learning English — Structured free English lessons and podcasts (Free)
Free courses
- English@Work: Basic Job Interview Skills — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Free to audit)
- Job Interview Preparation For Tech Professionals — University of Cape Town (Free to audit)
01.3LinkedIn & online presence
A profile that matches your resume and shows your work.
What this covers
- Headline — Role you want plus your strongest skill.
- About section — Three lines: what you do, proof, what you want next.
- Featured work — Projects, GitHub, portfolio or writing links.
- Consistency — Dates and titles match your resume.
- Clean public footprint — Check what a search of your name shows.
What to practise
- Rewrite your headline and About section
- Ask one senior for a review of your profile
Free resources
- LinkedIn — Job alerts and, more importantly, referrals (Free)
- OpenResume — Free ATS-friendly resume builder and parser test (Free)
Free courses
- Building a Professional LinkedIn Profile - 2022 — Alison (Free course)
- Create Your Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Profile — Aptly (Free to audit)
02Aptitude round
Usually the first filter in mass drives.
02.1Quantitative aptitude
Arithmetic and data questions in many campus online tests.
What this covers
- Percentages & profit-loss — Fast mental conversions and successive changes.
- Ratios, averages, mixtures — Common shortcuts and when they break.
- Time, speed, distance & work — Relative speed, pipes and cisterns, work rates.
- Number system — Divisibility, remainders, HCF and LCM.
- Permutations & probability — Counting basics and simple probability.
- Data interpretation — Tables, bar and pie charts under time pressure.
What to practise
- One timed set of 20 questions daily
- Keep an error log with the shortcut you missed
Common questions
- A shopkeeper marks up 25% and gives 10% off. What is the profit?
- Two pipes fill a tank in 6 and 8 hours. How long together?
Free resources
- IndiaBix — Aptitude, reasoning and verbal practice questions (Free)
- PrepInsta — Campus placement aptitude and company-wise practice (Free plan)
- Khan Academy — Maths and science from scratch (Free)
Free courses
- Quantitative Aptitude Basics — Great Learning (Free course)
02.2Logical reasoning
Puzzles and reasoning sections common in placement tests.
What this covers
- Series & patterns — Number, letter and figure series.
- Arrangements — Seating, scheduling and ordering puzzles.
- Blood relations & directions — Draw it before you solve it.
- Syllogisms — Venn diagrams for "some", "all" and "none".
- Coding-decoding — Letter shifts and substitution patterns.
- Data sufficiency — Decide what is enough without solving fully.
What to practise
- Solve two arrangement puzzles a day with a timer
- Practise syllogisms with Venn diagrams
Common questions
- If A is B's brother and C is A's mother, how is B related to C?
Free resources
02.3Verbal ability
Reading, grammar and vocabulary sections in online tests.
What this covers
- Reading comprehension — Read the questions first, then skim for answers.
- Grammar & error spotting — Subject-verb agreement, tenses, articles.
- Sentence correction & ordering — Look for linking words and pronouns.
- Vocabulary in context — Synonyms, antonyms and fill-in-the-blanks.
- Email or essay writing — Some tests include a short written task.
What to practise
- One reading passage a day under time
- Read one English news article daily and note new words
Common questions
- Spot the error: "Each of the students have submitted their work."
Free resources
- IndiaBix — Aptitude, reasoning and verbal practice questions (Free)
- BBC Learning English — Structured free English lessons and podcasts (Free)
- LanguageTool — Grammar checking that isn't Grammarly (Free plan)
Free courses
- Fundamentals of English Grammar — Alison (Free course)
- English Grammar - Comparisons & Word Order (Intermediate level) — Alison (Free course)
- English Grammar - Present Tense (Intermediate level) — Alison (Free course)
03Coding round
Online coding tests under time.
03.1Programming fundamentals
One language you know well: syntax, memory, complexity.
What this covers
- One language deeply — C++, Java or Python: syntax, standard library, quirks.
- Time & space complexity — Big-O of loops, recursion and common operations.
- Recursion — Base cases, the call stack, when it overflows.
- Memory basics — Stack vs heap, references vs values, garbage collection.
- Strings & arrays — Immutability, copying and slicing costs in your language.
- Debugging — Reading errors, dry runs, using a debugger.
What to practise
- Solve 10 easy problems without an IDE's help
- Explain the complexity of each solution aloud
Common questions
- What is the time complexity of your solution?
- What happens in memory when you call a function?
- Difference between an array and a linked list?
Free resources
- Harvard CS50x — The best first CS course there is (Free)
- HackerRank — Where many campus tests actually run (Free)
- GeeksforGeeks — Company-wise questions and theory (Free plan)
Free courses
- CS50's Introduction to Programming with Python (CS50P) 2022 — Harvard University (Free video)
- MIT 6.100L Introduction to CS and Programming using Python, Fall 2022 — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Free video)
- Programming in Modern C++ — IIT Kharagpur (Free course)
03.2Data structures & algorithms
The core problem-solving topics commonly assessed in software interviews.
What this covers
- Arrays & hashing — Frequency maps, prefix sums, duplicates.
- Two pointers & sliding window — Pairs, subarrays and substrings in O(n).
- Stacks & queues — Brackets, monotonic stacks, BFS queues.
- Linked lists — Reversal, cycle detection, merging.
- Trees & BST — Traversals, height, LCA, validation.
- Graphs — BFS, DFS, topological sort, shortest paths.
- Binary search — On sorted arrays and on the answer.
- Dynamic programming — 1D and 2D DP, from climbing stairs to knapsack.
What to practise
- Follow one list end to end, not five
- Say the brute force first, then improve it
- One timed problem a day
Common questions
- What is the difference between BFS and DFS?
- How does a hash map handle collisions?
- Find the first non-repeating character in a string.
Free resources
- NeetCode 150 — A curated ordered list instead of 3000 random problems (Free)
- Striver's A2Z DSA sheet — India's most-followed DSA sheet (Free)
- LeetCode — The default interview practice set (Free plan)
- GeeksforGeeks — Company-wise questions and theory (Free plan)
Free courses
- Data Structures and Algorithms Design — IIT Kanpur (Free course)
- MIT 6.006 Introduction to Algorithms, Spring 2020 — Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Free video)
- Neetcode 150 Course - All Coding Interview Questions Solved — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
03.3Timed coding practice
Solving under a clock, the way online tests run.
What this covers
- Reading the problem — Inputs, outputs and constraints before any code.
- Edge cases — Empty, one item, duplicates, negatives, overflow.
- Test platforms — Online editors, hidden test cases and their quirks.
- Time management — Skip and return; passing some cases still counts.
- Testing your code — Three quick tests before you submit.
What to practise
- Two 90-minute mock tests a week
- Do one contest to feel the pressure
Common questions
- How would you test this function?
- What edge cases did you consider?
Free resources
- HackerRank — Where many campus tests actually run (Free)
- LeetCode — The default interview practice set (Free plan)
- Codeforces — Competitive programming contests (Free)
Free courses
- 10 Common Coding Interview Problems - Solved! — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
- Getting Started with Competitive Programming — IIT Gandhinagar (Free course)
- Fundamental Coding Interview Prep with Python — CodeSignal (Free to audit)
04Technical interview
Fundamentals and your projects.
04.1CS fundamentals revision
Quick revision of OOP, DBMS, OS and networks for campus technical rounds.
What this covers
- OOP pillars — Encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction with examples.
- DBMS basics — Keys, normalisation, joins, ACID.
- OS basics — Process vs thread, scheduling, deadlock, memory.
- Networks basics — OSI layers, TCP vs UDP, DNS, HTTP.
- Your strongest language — Common output-prediction and syntax questions.
What to practise
- Make a one-page revision sheet per subject
- Answer 10 rapid-fire questions per subject aloud
Common questions
- What is the difference between a process and a thread?
- What is normalisation?
- Explain polymorphism with an example.
Free resources
- GeeksforGeeks — Company-wise questions and theory (Free plan)
- InterviewBit — Guided interview prep path (Free plan)
- Harvard CS50x — The best first CS course there is (Free)
Free courses
- Operating System Fundamentals — IIT Kharagpur (Free course)
- Fundamentals of Database Systems(Course sponsored by Aricent) — IIT Kanpur (Free course)
- Fundamentals of Object Oriented Programming — IIT Roorkee (Free course)
04.2Projects & resume defense
Explaining what you built, why, and what you would change.
What this covers
- The problem — What it solves and for whom.
- Your role — Exactly what you built yourself.
- Architecture — A simple diagram: frontend, backend, database.
- Hardest bug — What broke and how you found it.
- Trade-offs — Why this stack; what you would change now.
- Scale questions — What happens with 10x the users.
What to practise
- Prepare a 2-minute walkthrough per project
- Be ready to draw its architecture
Common questions
- What was the hardest part of this project?
- Why did you choose this tech stack?
- How would it handle 10x more users?
Free resources
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
- Pramp / Exponent peer mocks — Free peer-to-peer mock interviews (Free plan)
Free courses
- Software Engineering Concepts — MIT OpenCourseWare (Free course)
- Build community-driven software projects on GitHub — Microsoft (Free course)
05HR round
Fit, attitude and practical questions.
05.1Common HR questions
The questions almost every HR round asks, answered honestly and briefly.
What this covers
- Why this company — Specific reasons from your research, not praise.
- Why should we hire you — Match two needs of the role to your proof.
- Gaps and changes — Explain gaps, backlogs or a branch change without excuses.
- Relocation, shifts, bonds — Know your real answer before the interview.
- Career goals — A realistic next step, connected to this role.
- Notice period and joining — Facts you should have ready.
What to practise
- Write short answers to ten common HR questions
- Say them aloud to a friend and cut anything over a minute
Common questions
- Why do you want to join us?
- Where do you see yourself in five years?
- Are you open to relocation?
- Why did you choose your branch or degree?
Free resources
- Indeed career guide: interviewing — Articles on common interview questions and answers (Free)
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- AmbitionBox interviews — Interview experiences and company reviews from Indian candidates (Free)
Free courses
- Software Engineering Job Interview – Full Mock Interview — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
- A Complete Job Interview Skills Guide — Alison (Free course)
- Interview Preparation Skills for Accountants — Alison (Free course)
05.2Behavioral & STAR
Stories about teamwork, conflict and failure, told with STAR.
What this covers
- STAR structure — Situation, task, action, result. Spend most of the time on action.
- Story bank — 6–8 real stories you can reuse across questions.
- Teamwork & conflict — Disagreeing respectfully and what you changed.
- Failure & weakness — A real one, what you learned, what you do now.
- Ownership — Times you took initiative without being asked.
- Common HR questions — Why us, why you, strengths, relocation.
What to practise
- Write 6 stories in STAR form
- Map each story to 2–3 common questions
- Practise one story with a friend
Common questions
- Tell me about a time you failed.
- Describe a conflict in a team and what you did.
- What is your biggest weakness?
Free resources
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- Pramp / Exponent peer mocks — Free peer-to-peer mock interviews (Free plan)
Free courses
- Master Behavioral Interviews (for Software Engineers) — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
- Behavioral Interview Practice for Computer Science Students — CodeSignal (Free to audit)
- Soft Skills For Tech Professionals — University of Cape Town (Free to audit)
05.3Strengths & weaknesses
Honest strengths with proof, and a real weakness you are working on.
What this covers
- Strengths with proof — Pick 2–3 and back each with one short example.
- A real weakness — Not a disguised strength; something you are actively improving.
- What you are doing about it — The habit, course or system that shows progress.
- Fit to the role — Strengths that matter for this job, not any job.
What to practise
- Write three strengths with one example each
- Practise the weakness answer until it sounds calm, not rehearsed
Common questions
- What are your greatest strengths?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- How would your friends or teammates describe you?
Free resources
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
- Indeed career guide: interviewing — Articles on common interview questions and answers (Free)
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
Free courses
- Software Engineering Job Interview – Full Mock Interview — freeCodeCamp (Free video)
- A Complete Job Interview Skills Guide — Alison (Free course)
- English@Work: Advanced Job Interview Skills — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Free to audit)
05.4Group discussion
Some campus drives and MBA-style processes include a GD round.
What this covers
- Opening well — Define the topic and give one clear angle.
- Adding value — Facts, examples, and building on others' points.
- Listening and inviting — Bring quieter people in; it is noticed.
- Summarising — A fair summary at the end can stand out.
- Current topics — Read news on tech, economy and education weekly.
What to practise
- Do three mock GDs with friends on current topics
- Keep a one-page note of facts on five common topics
Common questions
- Is AI a threat to jobs?
- Should India have a four-day work week?
Free resources
- BBC Learning English — Structured free English lessons and podcasts (Free)
- Indeed career guide: interviewing — Articles on common interview questions and answers (Free)
06Company & final prep
Read the company's own instructions.
06.1Company research
The product, the role, the job description and recent news.
What this covers
- The business — What it sells and to whom.
- The role — What the job description really asks for.
- Recent news — Launches, results, announcements.
- Interview format — The rounds, if the company shares them.
- Your fit — Three reasons, matched to the job description.
What to practise
- Write 3 reasons you want this role
- Match 3 JD lines to your experience
Common questions
- Why do you want to work here?
- What do you know about our product?
Free resources
- GeeksforGeeks — Company-wise questions and theory (Free plan)
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
06.2Questions to ask
Two or three good questions for the end of the interview.
What this covers
- About the team — How work is planned and reviewed.
- About growth — Mentoring, learning, the first 90 days.
- About the product — What is hard right now.
- What to avoid — Questions a quick search answers.
What to practise
- Write 5 questions, keep the best 3
- Prepare one question about the team's own product
Common questions
- Do you have any questions for us?
Free resources
- Tech Interview Handbook — Free guide to coding and behavioral interviews (Free)
06.3Final checklist
Logistics, documents, setup and a calm night before.
What this covers
- Logistics — Time, timezone, link or address.
- Documents — Resume copies, ID, certificates if asked.
- Tech check — Camera, mic, internet, charger.
- Night before — Sleep, light revision, no new topics.
What to practise
- Do a 5-minute tech check the day before
- Lay out documents and clothes the night before
Free resources
- Google Interview Warmup — Free spoken mock interview that prints your transcript (Free)
06.4Job & interview safety
Spot fake offers, payment requests and fake interview links.
What this covers
- Payment requests — Real employers don't charge for jobs or training.
- Email domains — Check it matches the company's own site.
- OTPs & logins — Never share them with anyone.
- Fake interview links — Care with unknown chat apps and downloads.
- Reporting — The 1930 helpline and cybercrime.gov.in.
What to practise
- Check one recent offer against these rules
- Confirm the opening is listed on the company's own careers page
Free resources
- National Cyber Crime Portal — Report online fraud and job scams (Free)
- Have I Been Pwned — Check if your email appears in a data breach (Free)