Deutsche Bank Intern-Oncampus: Surviving My First Campus Interview
On July 24, 2023, I had my very first interview with Deutsche Bank, which visited our campus for internship hiring. It was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement!
ROUND 1:
The journey began with an online assessment that included 20 multiple-choice questions and 2 coding problems. I managed to crack one coding question completely and made a decent attempt at the other. Despite the pressure, I was thrilled to be shortlisted among 20 other students for the interview process. The next steps included two technical rounds followed by an HR round.
The First Technical Round:
I remember walking into the interview room, feeling like a bundle of nerves. My first interview ever! Thankfully, the interviewer was incredibly friendly and had a knack for putting me at ease. We started with a casual introduction, and she quickly made me feel comfortable.
She asked about my favorite subject, and I eagerly mentioned Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA). This opened the floodgates to a series of questions that ranged from the straightforward to the tricky.
First up was a question about finding duplicates in an array from Striver’s sheet. I nailed it. Then came the challenge of rotating an array by ‘d’ places. I got part of the way there but couldn’t quite complete it. Next, she asked me to find all possible subarrays and then the subarray with the maximum sum. My brain was working overtime, but I managed to hold my ground.
We then shifted gears to sorting algorithms. I had to code them on the spot, which felt like a mini coding marathon!
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The interview then took a turn towards Object-Oriented Programming (OOPs). I was asked about the pillars of OOPs and to provide real-world examples. I tried my best to explain it in a way that made sense and hopefully impressed her.
The discussion then moved to Database Management Systems (DBMS). I was asked about RDBMS, different queries, and the concept of normalization. I gave it my best shot, but it was clear that my nerves were still holding me back.
Throughout the interview, I was nervous, which, unfortunately, may have affected my performance. Despite the friendly and supportive demeanor of the interviewer, I didn’t quite make it past this round. But hey, it was a learning experience and an opportunity to grow.
Suggestions for Future Interviewees:
- Master Computer Fundamentals: A strong grasp of basic computer science concepts is crucial. Make sure you’re comfortable with core topics like algorithms, data structures, and object-oriented programming.
- Focus on Basic DSA: Even if you’re unsure about more complex problems, be solid on basic Data Structures and Algorithms. This will help you tackle a variety of questions and show your problem-solving skills.
- Stay Confident: Don’t let nerves get the best of you. Interviewers are not just looking for correct answers but also assessing your problem-solving approach and logic. If you can’t answer a question fully, try to demonstrate your thought process and approach.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: Regularly practicing coding problems and technical concepts will help build your confidence and prepare you for unexpected questions.
- Take Feedback Positively: Use feedback to identify areas for improvement. Even if you don’t succeed, each interview is a chance to learn and refine your skills.
Looking back, it was a mix of anxiety, excitement, and a dash of humor as I navigated through my first big interview. Even though I didn’t get through this time, I walked away with valuable insights and a renewed determination to tackle future challenges.
