SDE On campus Interview Experience — Avaya

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Process Overview:

• Stages:
• Online Test
• Interviews: 1 Technical Round, 1 HR + Technical Round

Online Test

The test featured time-bound sections and included two easy coding questions, primarily involving greedy algorithms and sorting.

Interview Rounds

Technical Interview — Round 1

• Interviewers: Two interviewers were present.

Questions:

1. Introduction: “Tell me about yourself.”
2. OOP Concepts: Covered basic OOP principles.
3. Puzzle: Solved the classic “two-beaker” puzzle, focusing on measuring a specific amount of water.
4. SQL Query:

• Asked to find the second-highest salary. Initially, I used LIMIT and OFFSET. The interviewers then challenged me to provide an alternative solution without LIMIT, so I wrote a subquery (although with a higher time complexity). Later, I explained the optimal subquery version.

1. Project-Based Questions:

• Detailed discussion on a project, covering the full Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), including tools, deployment, and CI/CD practices.

1. Cloud Knowledge: Asked if I was familiar with cloud technologies.
2. Other Technical Questions:

• SQL: Find the 3rd highest salary by joining two tables on account ID.
• Systems Design: How Google Search works internally.
• Unlisted Skills: Discussed tech stack skills acquired outside my resume.
• Team Project Contributions: Explained my role and experience with documentation.

Takeaway: Computer Networks and Cloud knowledge are helpful in Avaya’s technical rounds, even at a high level.

HR + Technical Interview — Round 2

• Questions:

1. Introduction: “Tell me about yourself.”
2. Background: Family background, involvement in college clubs, technical societies, and leadership roles.
3. Academic Performance:

• Noted fluctuations in academic performance (10th grade above 90%, 12th grade below 90%, college CGPA above 9).
• Explained this variation, focusing on entrance exam preparation in 12th grade.
• Asked about my JEE Mains and CET percentiles and ranks.

1. Situational Question:

• “When you walk on stairs, do you take one step at a time or more than one?”
• I explained it depended on time availability: generally, one step at a time, Interview then asked “are you good at time management ?”
• Which led to a discussion about time management skills.

Verdict:

• Outcome: I was offered the position. However, due to a change in the company’s finances, Avaya revoked the offer after two months.

Reflection and Advice:

• Interview Focus: Avaya’s process balances technical fundamentals with adaptability and situational awareness.
• Suggested Prep Areas: Knowledge in Cloud, SQL, and general Computer Networks can be beneficial, as these topics were relevant.
• HR Round: Avaya values structured time management and adaptability, focusing on well-rounded candidates who balance technical skills with practical thinking.