My First Interview at SAP Labs-HR Round

When I came out from interviewer’s room after second technical I was so happy and confident that I will be going for HR round.Actually I was happy because now no more technical stuff.In second technical also I thought that it was just like HR round for me.It was Allah’s grace on me that he asked almost all questions which I could answer.Even I didn’t use pen or copy for more than half page.I knew that if I would use pen and copy then he would have screwed  me.Because I know my limits of  technical knowledge.I was happy after clearing technical rounds even I was surprised how can it possible.Now it was the time for HR round.

Ma’am asked vineeth (our PR) to send Arif as a next candidate which I was also expecting.We were only 3 from B.Tech who had chance to go for HR round.I was begging from my Allah (s.w.t.) that please my Allah this is just last round. When I came up to this moment just because of you. I Know you only can help me to make it .Please help me in this final round also as you did in last 2 rounds.Now I entered into interviewer’s room for HR round.

Now she started conversation with “So Arif,Tell me something about your family?”

This kind of question we usually prepare.So I started giving same intro as a part of my real introduction of first round.

“My father is a crane operator.My mom is a house wife.I have one younger brother and one sister.He is studying in nursery and my sister is studying in 7th class.” I replied with clearing my throat.

Now she scanned my resume as usual as an interviewer does so many times.

“So which sports do you play? Cricket? ” she asked.

I replied “yeah ma’am.” again cleared my throat.

“So you are a batsman or bowler?” Now she again continued the conversation.

“I am an opener bowler and second order batsman.In Willow cup (NITC cricket tournament) we were runner up.That I included in my resume too.” I told.

“OK. Did you face any kind of problem while taking decision in your cricket team?Just take an example you are a team captain.You want to bat at no. 4 but your teammates don’t want that.They are saying that you should bat at no. 6 or 7.What will you do?” She added.

“Ma’am, As we know in the world everyone has their own thoughts in his mind.If all are thinking in the same way then how it is possible to get different ideas? So everyone will be having different ideas.In cricket we are having 11 players So if more than are 6 are saying same than I should think over it. But I will talk to all of them If majority are saying that I should bat at no. 7 than I should consider their request rather than using only my mind.”

“But sometimes we know that majority is wrong and we are right” she added one more condition.

“Ma’am in cricket we also have different situations.For that we have to use different batting order.Just say in slog overs we want pitch hitters.Normally I don’t hit too much and if I can hit well then in slog overs I  will convince to my teammates that I can bat well in this condition so I should bat .” I gave different alternative but with confidence.

Because we know in HR nothing is exact answer and they even don’t want exact answer.What they want is to check our positive thoughts in every situation.I want to thank my friend Suhail for making my thinking positive.

Now she continued with next question “What kind of responsibilities do you have in your family ?”

“Ma’am, My father also gave me some responsibilities like I am elder brother so responsibilities about marriage of my sister and my brother he is also studying in nursery so I should guide him.When I was child nobody was to guide me but now I am an engineer so I can guide him”  I replied.

She nodded showing that she was also agree with me.This kind of conditions in interview gives us confidence that whatever we are saying is right.In between she got a call and she sent me out.She said that I have an urgent call.After then I waited for around 5-10 minutes outside the room.I was thinking  about the incident that why I was clearing my throat again and again in front of Ma’am.I should avoid this.

Now she came outside and told me “Arif Now come in.Sorry for call but it was important.”

I replied “It’s ok Ma’am.”

Now she continued with interview questions.

“Just think you are a project leader.You have 4 project mates also.You have one project which you are going to complete in next 6 months.But now your customer demands it in only next 2 months.What will you do? How will you complete in next 2 months?

I used same strategy which I learned from Ved while bioinformatics class while he was sharing his interview experience with me.

“I will take one diary.First I will write down only necessities then possibilities then I will go for exceptions.I will divide my all work in 3 parts necessities, possibilities and exceptions.So I will try to do it step by step.”

Now she agreed with my solution.I got confidence and thought that something which I learnt from Ved worked here. Now she added one more condition to get one more alternative.

“Okay I agreed.You have reduced your project time from 6 months to 4 months.Your project mates are saying that even if we are doing like this then also it’s not possible to complete in less than 4 months.Now how will you reduce this time to 2 months.”

Now I thought but couldn’t get any Idea.I said “Ma’am we can’t extend our work hours up to 5 or 6 months.But we can extend one hour no? So just think like we have duty from 8 to 5.So 5-6 we can extend and can work only for project related work.”

Now she passed a smile and nodded “OK,OK” which gave me more confidence.I don’t know how I was fluent in English but I was.I didn’t hesitate while sharing my ideas.I thanked my Allah (s.w.t.) that whatever was going it was really nice just make it for next 20-30 minutes more.

Now she asked the most common question but in confusing words.” What are your expectations from our company? I didn’t reply. I thought is she asking about salary? If it is then I should  remain silent.

But she now changed the question saying “Why should I hire you?”. Most common question.

I prepared last night only that whenever I will get chance I will speak this answer only.I had mind set about some questions.

“Ma’am I will not say that I will not make any mistake.Because we all are human beings we may make mistake.But I will say I will not disappoint you means I will give my best and second thing (now again started saying about my idea about free computer education in my village)  your interest and my interest is almost same.I mean I also have the same idea in my mind.Sir was telling in PPT that you are having one project “lakshya” where you want to give computer basic knowledge to 1,00,000 students.

             I also want to do this work in my village.I am from village.During Summer Vacation this time I am going to start Free Computer Education in my village.where I can teach website development, software development using programming languages like C,C++. So those students who has passed 10th and 12th and having laptop or PC and wasting their useful time just watching movies or doing Facebook.So I think I should  spread free education in my village to students who has caliber can get benefit from this and may be will do something good for my village.”

Now she agreed with me on this common question.Now I was on level of high confidence.I was sharing my ideas not only replying HR questions. Again she asked most common question to check your general knowledge about their company. “What do you know about our company?”

Yesterday night I checked their website so started giving data about their company which I by hearten last night. “Ma’am your headquarter in Germany.You are having world wide network across 120 countries of the world.As sir was talking in PPT more than 70% of chocolate customers use your software.More than 72% beer customers use your software.You are having one project called “Lakshya” in which you want to give free computer basic knowledge to more then 1,00,000 students.”

“Did you go through our website yesterday night?” she asked.

I replied with confidence.”Yeah”. When we are true we are always confident saying yes.

“So what did you find there?”

again started saying “your headquarter in Germany.You are having world wide network across 120 countries of the world.Your “Lakshya” project too was there on your website.That you are having one project called “Lakshya” in which you want to give free computer basic knowledge to more then 1,00,000 students.”

“So you didn’t check our website before yesterday night? Why you checked only yesterday night?”

“Ma’am actually I checked your website before 4-5 days also.When I got to know that SAP is preponed and coming on 13th itself instead of 14th.” I replied clearing her doubt.

She asked “So Arif,Just think you have to organize one event or festival where you can have different events like sports,dance etc.I gave you 50 members how will you organize them?”

Now used a new term “Bottom -up”  saying “Ma’am I will use bottom up strategy here.I will form groups based on their interest rather than forcing them to choose anyone which even they don’t like.I will make group interest wise like people who are interested in sports will be in sports committee and same for dance,songs too.”

Now she was also satisfied I guess with my answer.

“So Is it your first interview? but I heard that till now 25-26 companies has been visited to your  NIT. What happened? You couldn’t clear written? Why do you think that you could clear SAP’s written but not others.”she asked a series of questions.

I replied or may be you can say just I had to give an excuse why I couldn’t clear. “Ma’am actually my pointer is 6.95. Mostly companies are putting their cutoff as 7.I cleared one written before SAP also for MU-Sigma but they had GD. I couldn’t clear GD so couldn’t reach up to interview.Ma’am actually I sat mostly for consultancy companies and only few Core companies.You can say I am not good in helping verbs of English. Now a days I started blogging but till now I am not good in helping verbs.They had separate part for English but in written you had only 3 parts basic coding skills,Software aptitude and Basic computer knowledge.You didn’t have separate English part.”

Ma’am was fully agreed with me.These things motivated me at time of interview.Whenever interview passes a smile or nods we get confidence that whatever we are saying is correct.

This much I remembered may be 1 or 2 question more would be there that I forgot now.I think this is also to much to remember but any how it was my first interview so I could remember I think.

In the last she said “OK Arif. Do you have any question?”

Even though I didn’t ask any question but  I could repeat same question third time.Because they didn’t meet after my every round so they didn’t know what did I ask  to last interviewer?

I said “NO Ma’am. Thank you Ma’am.”

Thank you Arif. Ma’am again passed a smile.

“Can I go now?” I replied with smile too. she nodded “Yeah”.

I left the room but was so happy and thanked my Allah that you only helped me.I was thinking that I was abnormal when I was speaking fluently and with high confidence .I was happy because I shared my Idea too with ma’am.  I never had this much confidence and I was very very happy that InshaAllah I will get selected.

After about  2 hours they announced our names and most interesting thing first name was mine.May be its just because of alphabetical order but it was.At last 3 B.Tech guys got selected.

SAP ->Srujith Arif Pankaj .What a coincidence.

After that they invited us for dinner.It was happiest moment when I got selected in first chance of interview.So I wanted to share with my friends and those who are not placed till now can get benefit from this.

A snapshot just after getting placed with SAP recruiters.

New Blog

guys now you can check me on my new blog.I have put HR Round also there in " My First Interview Experience " here is my new blog.

http://arifnitc.wordpress.com/

My First Interview experience at SAP Labs- Second Technical Round

When I went for Zummah prayer,I thought it is a golden opportunity for me that today is Zumma.I can beg to my Allah that if this company is good for me then placed me today itself.I begged again and again that please my Allah you help me.I know I am not the best but if you want to give me no one can take it from me and if you don't wanna give me than no one can give me.After I came from Zumma prayer I went directly to TnP department where I met with our PR Vineeth.He told me that they have selected you for second round you fill this form.I filled the form and he asked me "Do you have photo with you?"

I nodded "yeah".

he told you just give me photo and form after filling this I will staple it.

 He again asked "Had your lunch.?"

I said "No."

He told that go and have your lunch and come back before 2 o'clock.
I nodded "OK".

When I was going for my lunch what were the feelings in my heart you can't even imagine.I was selected for second round.I was so happy.I went directly to my mess and had lunch.After that I went to TnP department again.Then we had to wait in GD room.I sat in GD room and were discussing about second round.

              Now my turn came. I went for second round.Sir who has taken our PPT yesterday he was sitting on a chair.I entered in interviewer's room after asking "May I come in sir?"

 He nodded "Yeah, Please come in".

"Can I sit sir?" I added.

"Yeah sure" he replied.
"So how was  your written test and first interview?" He continued.
I answered "More than average Sir."

Now he asked next question which was common for me "Tell me something interesting about yourself? 

I prepared yesterday night only this question when I was checking their website where I found one project "Lakshya".which currently targeting 1,00,000 students to give them free computer education. 

So I started "Sir your interest and my interest is almost same.I mean I also have the same idea in my mind.You told in PPT that you are having one project lakshya where you want to give computer basic education to 1,00,000 students.

                  I also want to do this work in my village.I am from village.During Summer Vacation this time I am going to start Free Computer Education in my village.where I can teach Website development, Software Development using Programming Languages like C,C++. So those students who has passed 10th and 12th and having laptop or PC and wasting their useful time just watching movies or doing Facebook.So why should not I spread free education in my village to students who has caliber can get benefit from this and may be will do something good for my village. "

Then he asked "If after that they will waste their time then?"

I replied "Sir,I will give them some home work.So they will be doing their homework rather than watching movies. If after that they are not doing it and wasting their time then it is not my fault.I tried my best."

Then he started asking question from my resume.

He asked "Why did you write basic of C++ here?"

I replied "Sir if I would write I am efficient in C++ then you will be asking some question but I am not efficient in C++."

He interrupted in between "efficient means?"

I replied "Sir,actually I didn't solve so many problems in real life.I read some basic concepts.But I am not much confident on it."

He nodded "OK".

I was surprised that how I am so confident.I was so fluent in English too.I was surprised but something was happening very nice.I made eye contact every time when I spoke.

He asked next question "Why do we use CSS?"

I replied "Sir,in CSS we can style our webpage.we can do coloring."

He interrupted "That I can do in HTML too.Why CSS?" 
I replied “Sir in HTML we have to write a long code for doing this. In CSS we can write it in a short manner. “

Sir again denied my effort saying “But I have enough time I can write long code. Even if I will learn CSS in 2-3 days that I can use in HTML so I can complete it in same time or even faster.” 

“Sir In CSS we can make separate file. So if we want to change in code separately we can do in a file.” I tried a new alternative.

“But I have search and replace. I can use search to find out the exact code and I can replace directly.Why CSS?” again he denied my answer to check how many alternative I have.

“Sir, then I don’t know” I surrendered.

“Think a little.”  He wanted to get at least one more alternative.

I lowered my gaze and tried to get one more alternative but couldn’t get it.

I told “Sir, I don’t know”. But I was confident to saying even I don't know. Because if we don’t know then we should directly accept it.

That I learned a day before from my friends.

Now he scanned my resume once again and asked "What was your contribution in your mini project?"

I started explaining about my mini project which I by hearten last night only. 

he interrupted me and again gave stress on his question.    "What was your contribution?" 

"Sir,we all were sitting together and did coding." I tried to save myself.

But he again stressed on same question."What was your contribution?"

Sir,I was not leader.Leader was Syed meraj.

He asked "who?" I said " Sir,Syed meraj Ashraf. He was leader."
"So what was your contribution?"

I thought now he want some specific answer.So I replied with full confident.

"Sir,In project sometimes we got stuck at some point.We also got stuck in next button.(I remembered the scene when our project leader meraj was saying that yar it took 15-20 days to implement next button. We were not getting idea how to implement next button.)

I used that point here and told with full confidence "Sir I solved that problem."

He asked with surprise "You solved that problem? What was the solution?"

I read code.So I knew this thing.I told "Sir,If we want next song then we can do song = song+1;

if we want to repeat the song then there is one class repeat() we have to put song name in to it.It will repeat the song."

Now he was satisfied with my answer or may be with my confidence. He said  "OK".

Now he asked "What do you think about DBMS?"

"Sir,Actually I did 2 out of my 3 projects in DBMS itself.But recently I didn't study." I replied.

He again asked a very nice question whose answer was not with me. "But you have written DBMS in your area of interest? If you have interest than you should keep in touch with this.right?"

I started giving excuse.He stopped me in between and asked "just say Yes or No?"

I replied "Yes sir. sure"(I don't know why I added this "sure" in last but I remember I added )

"what about this ShareFile.com?" He continued.

"Sir,I was leader in this project."

"Is this hosted?"

"Yeah sir but on our NITC server not on internet.Actually sir we have athena server in NITC where we can host." He didn't ask more question from this may be because he has asked questions related to HTML and CSS.

He asked "Have you heard about stored procedure."

I forbade directly "NO,Sir." 

Now he again scanned my resume.He started this time with Postgres SQL.

"Who founded Postgres SQL.?" He added.

"Sir,I don't know.Actually in our college we are using Postgres SQL." 

"So you never checked license or terms ?"

"NO, Sir.I don't know.But if you will give me chance to guess.Then It's Oracle." I replied.

May be one or 2 question I forgot but then in last he said. 

"Do you have any question?" 

now I was confident and repeated same question.

 "Sir tell me what are the areas which I can improve?"

"That I won't tell you.Just ask your faculties and colleagues. Any Other question?"

"Sir,I don't want to ask any question I want to say you some thing that your PPT was nice.May be it was because our interest matches that's why." I appreciated his work.

"OK,Thanks and best of luck." He ended with these words.
 When I heard these words I thought that I am going to next round.

Then I left the interviewer's room. But I was so happy at that time.

My First Interview experience at SAP Labs-First Technical Round

Yesterday it was memorable day for me.I had my first interview of my life and got placed at SAP LABS. When I cleared the written I don't know why I was confident that I will be shortlisted but I was. You can say it was my faith on my Allah (s.w.t.) that I will be shortlisted. I was at no. 12 out of 16 who were selected for interview round. In starting they told that they will be having only 2 interview rounds technical round followed by HR.But after that they told there are 3 rounds 2 technical followed by HR round.
         I thought even it was also difficult to get in 2 rounds how can I will be able to clear 3 rounds. First round was little bit difficult and I was also thinking that I will be thrown out from this round itself.Second technical and HR round were ultimate.I was much confident after HR round that I will be selected and I got selected. But it was surprise but expected because of my faith on Allah s.w.t. that I cleared 1st round and got into 2nd round.I went for JUMMA Prayer after 1st round and asked or I should say I begged from my Allah that if this company is good for me than place me today itself. because I have concept "Never wait till tomorrow which you can do today itself".So if I can get it today than why should I wait till tomorrow for any other company.

when I entered in the room I asked permission "May I come in Sir". He told "Yeah come in". Then normally surprised for students but truth that I take one more step and shook hand with interviewer saying "Sir,I am Arif." He replied" myself N****". Usually in college's interview this thing doesn't happen with students.It was my first interview so I shook hand even I didn't know that it was right or wrong but I did.

In first round he asked me first question" Introduce yourself".I was ready for this kind of question. I prepared my brief intro from "indiabix.com". Then I replied "first of all thanks to you sir giving me such a nice opportunity to introduce myself. I am Arif from Jhunjhunu Rajasthan.I did my schooling from village itself.Actually I am from village.After that I went to city jhunjhunu and upto 12th I studied there.After that I went to Kota. I was in Resonance coaching.After that I got selected for AIEEE and I went to NIT Jamshedpur.Then I got upgraded to NIT Calicut and I came here.Now I am pursuing My B.tech. degree in NIT Calicut.Currently I am in forth year.My father is a crane operator.My mother is a house wife.I have one brother and one sister.She is studying in 7th class and my bro is studying in Nursery."
He said "ok."
 2nd question he asked "tell me something interesting about yourself? "
"Don't relate to studies" he added.
I said" usually I make people to laugh".(my English was wrong but he understood what I meant)
He said in hindi "ohh to logo ki tang khinchte ho?"
I said in mix language "It's not tang khinchna sir."
but whenever I am there people usually laughing or if I am silent then they will ask why are you so silent today? may be I make some joke or kind of comment which make them laugh"
he said "ok"
then he started asking some technical questions.some question I remembered are he gave me one scenario between  colleges and companies and asked me to draw an ER diagram.
    Next question he asked related to two tables he gave me two tables and asked now make primary key and foreign key between these tables. Next one as I remember he asked me what is 2nd normal form? then 3rd normal form.actually I by hearten all  normal forms but only definition.
          Now he gave me one question that you have attributes A,B,C,D,E. A is dependent on B,C,D,E. Now B is dependent on C and D. which normal form will you use? I told 3rd one because Transitive dependency is there.He asked me to remove transitive dependency.I tried again and again and told him something but he was not satisfied with me.
In between he asked me in hindi "kuch padh ke aaye ho ya nai?"
 I replied "yes sir I studied but only definitions I read".
He again added " we don't want definition.you should have basic knowledge so you can apply it".
 I told "sir actually DBMS we had in S4 (fourth semester ). recently I didn't study."
Then he asked "what did you study recently?"
I replied "sir OS and DS."
Then he started asking me question related to Data Structure.
first question he asked "reverse the linked list".
I knew the complete code actually. I did this question in my room itself before 2 or 3 days.So I started writing the code even if could write code without making diagrams of linked list.but I made some rough diagrams to showing him that this question is new for me and replied correctly.
        Now he asked 2nd question. check if there is any loop in linked list. I told and then he asked 2 more coding questions.He asked me to find nth  element from last end in linked list. I did with taking total no. of nodes as N. now he again asked now do without using total no. of nodes in linked list.then I tried but couldn't satisfy him.
 Now he told that use two simultaneous pointers and increment simultaneously both. Those who know programming very well got the cleared Idea.
After that he asked me  "Do you wanna solve puzzle?"
I replied "Sir,If you will give me I  will try my best."
He gave me one puzzle.There are 16 rooms in a jail.He draw a square and divide it into 16 parts.On one corner one jailer is standing on door and the opposite corner one made person is there.whenever he see a prisoner he kills him and if he see a killed man then he kills himself.All other room having one prisoner each.Now he has to cross the all rooms and want to go out but he can go out only after killing all prisoner and jailer. just try it out. After that he went out from room.
After  about 5 mins he came and asked" Have you solved?".
I nodded " Sir, I am solving."
After that he told me one hint that I will not share here.Because I want to give this puzzle to all my readers.Solve it if you are not able to solve than ask me.
In last he asked me "Do you have any question?"
"Yes sir" I nodded.
It was the moment when I thought that I will be thrown out from this round.But expecting good from my Allah.Because in starting in DBMS I couldn't answer properly any question but I told coding question almost right.But that was also not enough.
Then I asked that Sir tell me what are the areas which I can improve?
He started giving my feedback " You are week in practical knowledge.We don't want definition you should have basic knowledge so you can apply it.You were telling that you are from Hindi medium but your English is ok.I don't think that there is any problem in communication skills.I felt proud first time and nodded my head saying  "Thanks sir" .
 Then he continued "and your confidence level is also good."
I again said "Thank you sir". 

Edit:- This interview has so many grammatical mistakes as I was not good at English. Some of them now I can easily correct but I don't want to correct them now. I love it,  the way I wrote just after my interview. So please pardon me for my english and try to understand the feelings. Lol 

My Dream Sharefile.com

http://andromeda.nitc.ac.in/~dilshad/sharefile/
  description will be put up soon.