I applied online. I interviewed at IBM (Hursley, England) in Nov 2020
Interview
Pre-interview: games meant to test cognition. Screening interview for basic competencies in software development (e.g. what is a class?) Assessment Centre combining containing standard group activities like budgeting or an escape room game. The “technical” interview was incredibly light and mostly consisted of an elevator pitch.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
All standard HR questions, why would you be a good fit e.t.c. The escape room clues lead to a question about who the CEO of IBM was at the time.
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.
