Arsh Gautam
Computer Science
Placements
Quadeye
Quantitative Strategist
Interviewed by:
A Arish Khan
Internships
Placements
20th September 2020
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When to start preparing for the Placement season?
Comparison between your intern and placement interviews?
Learnings from this placement season?
How did you decide your field of interest? What about backups?
Major problems that you faced?
Online vs Offline placements?
Does the higher studies application timeline and placement session go along easily?
Necessities for targeting your field?
If one aspires for Software Engineering work, I would advise to start coding from the first/second year itself. 1-2 years is sufficient time to get comfortable and achieve a level such that placement tests would seem easy. Moreover, this would also help with internships. The CS topics (OS, Networks etc.) can be done through the courses for CS students and for non CS students, 2-3 months is sufficient.
During the internship interviews, I felt that I was not prepared. Secondly, I did not have much idea of the nature of tests and interviews. All the tests were conducted within 2-3 days and there was no time to reflect on the mistakes of one test. It gave me enough experience which I profited from during my placement interviews.
I worked hard for the first time after coming to college XD. So yeah this was unique. In general, I spent 2-3 months on preparation of coding and quant skills. I took less load during this semester. I would advise to keep less course load during your placement semester so that you can focus on placements.
I was always interested in Mathematics. Infact having no coding experience till class 12th, the reason for me to choose CS was due to my interest in Mathematics and Logic. Thus Quant always interested me. I used to solve puzzles and challenging problems in my free time in college. I started serious competitive coding from my second year and I started loving it. As a backup, I did consider the Software Companies but nothing extra was to be done for that. I never considered any role outside these categories. Infact, I did not apply for any Data Science roles as I did not like that field much. I think one can have a backup but should also think about their interest as even if you get that job you won’t like doing it.
As such I did not face any major problems during preparation. Though the online semester helped me manage my time very well for preparations. I could watch the class any time throughout the day and thus I could be very flexible with my schedule.
Like I said, the online semester allowed me to have a flexible schedule. Being at home, the only thing I spent my time on was preparing for placements which would not be the case in the case of the offline semester. Although interviews were another story. Getting 3-4 calls simultaneously from placement coordinators for giving my current slot of interview at the company they are managing is a frustrating thing :p
I do not have much idea about this as I never had an intention to pursue higher studies.
For Quant roles, one should have be a good problem solver and should have a quantitative bent of mind. Two quant offers that I got in placements (from Graviton and Quadeye) had interviews focussed on solving some brain teasers and puzzles. Probability is also an important part of the interviews of these companies. So courses on probability
and books on puzzles and brain teasers, websites like BrainStellar are great sources of preparation. If combined with Competitive programming skills, you would be an ideal candidate for these companies. Although they mostly only consider CS, MnC and in some cases EE students.
and books on puzzles and brain teasers, websites like BrainStellar are great sources of preparation. If combined with Competitive programming skills, you would be an ideal candidate for these companies. Although they mostly only consider CS, MnC and in some cases EE students.
1. Improve your CGPA as much as possible as it is a very important criteria
2. Start coding as soon as possible, even if you belong to non CS branches as most companies across all categories conduct coding tests.
3. Have confidence in yourself, as you might face multiple setbacks during the
4 years of college but having self confidence will help you face all of that and as we all know, All's well that ends well.
2. Start coding as soon as possible, even if you belong to non CS branches as most companies across all categories conduct coding tests.
3. Have confidence in yourself, as you might face multiple setbacks during the
4 years of college but having self confidence will help you face all of that and as we all know, All's well that ends well.
Takeaways
Q
If someone does not get an intern via OCS in their 3rd year, what should they do?
My case is unique. I got a quant internship during the 3rd year internship season. I was not very happy with the internship. Later during Co-Vid time, they made the internship stipend less and asked us to only do a dummy project. I did not like it
and left the internship. Rather I searched on linkedin, and got an internship at a stealth startup. The internship was a good experience for me but was at a no-name company compared to my peers. Though, as I have experienced it did not had any impact on my placements and I got offers from at least 3 companies during placements including 2 of the best companies on campus. So, I would advise not to worry about not getting an intern (or not getting an intern according to your expectation) and focus on improving yourself for the placement season.
and left the internship. Rather I searched on linkedin, and got an internship at a stealth startup. The internship was a good experience for me but was at a no-name company compared to my peers. Though, as I have experienced it did not had any impact on my placements and I got offers from at least 3 companies during placements including 2 of the best companies on campus. So, I would advise not to worry about not getting an intern (or not getting an intern according to your expectation) and focus on improving yourself for the placement season.