Eligibility Criteria
You must complete courses from NetAcad provided by the college and then register for the Ideathon.
Round 1 (Online Test)
Registered students received the test link. My test was on 25th June 2025. The test consisted of 51 MCQs and 1 coding question. The MCQs were on the topics of Python, CCNA, and aptitude. The coding question was a hard dynamic programming question. The platform for the test was HackerRank.
The result was announced after 15–20 days, on 12th July 2024. We received the results via email from the college. A total of about 360 students from across India were selected for the further rounds of interviews.
Round 2 (PPT Submission)
We were provided with 3 problem statements by Cisco on the 12th of July. We had to create a PPT solution for one of the topics. The solution did not need to be implemented; we just had to provide the solution to the problem. The PPT had to be submitted within 5 days using the link provided by Cisco in the email. The submission deadline was the 18th of July.
The next interview was scheduled for the 22nd of July.
Round 3 (Technical Round TR) (Elimination Round)
This was a virtual round on the Webex platform. The interview lasted for 1 hour. First, they asked me about myself, and then they started with questions about my projects.
Questions on Project:
1. Explain the project.
2. Why did you create this?
3. What challenges did you face?
4. Is this a team project?
5. Why didn’t you create the project with a team?
6. How is it different from other similar projects available on the internet?
Networking Questions:
1. What is the OSI model?
2. Explain each layer one by one.
3. What are the protocols of the OSI in each layer?
4. Why are both MAC and IP addresses needed?
5. How are MAC and IP addresses related?
6. What is ARP?
7. DHCP, UDP vs TCP.
8. Use of the session layer.
9. How do you rate your CCNA skills?
10. Protocols of routing.
11. Routing table.
12. How does a router work?
After that, they asked me to rate my coding skills. I said 8.
Coding Questions:
1. What is sorting and different sorting algorithms with time and space complexity?
2. What is the main function?
3. Some OOPs questions.
4. Operations of a linked list.
5. Hash map.
6. Some more questions I am unable to recall.
7. Asked me whether I was comfortable with trees or linked lists.
Then they told me to share my screen and write code. I opened the online GDB compiler.
1. Code for factorial.
2. Linked list code for implementation and operations.
After that, they told me to open my PPT that I submitted in Round 2. I presented my PPT, and they asked me many questions about it:
1. Will it work?
2. How will you do it?
3. Tech stack.
4. Many questions about the PPT.
After that, the interview was over. I asked 2 questions to them.
Out of 350 students, 200 were selected for the further rounds.
Round 4 (Manager Round MR) (Elimination Round)
The interview started with problem-solving as I had written on my resume that I have a 5* rating on HackerRank and good problem-solving skills.
Questions:
1. What problem have you solved in the real world?
2. Explained my projects .
3. Why did you create the project if the same is available on the internet? Who is the grandmaster of chess (as one of my projects is about chess)? Do you play sudoku?
4. Have you read the documentation?
5. What is the budget about (Indian budget)?
6. How will you convince someone?
7. Told me to convince him to make a project with me.
8. How will you solve a problem?
9. Have you worked with a team?
10. Why are your projects not with a team?
11. How do you stay updated with new technology?
12. Difference between a switch and a router.
13. Layers of the OSI model.
14. One more networking question that I was not able to answer.
The interview lasted for about 30 minutes.
After that, I asked some questions.
Out of 200 students, approximately 160 were selected for the HR round.
Round 5 (HR Round)
This was just a formality round, lasting only 5 minutes for me.
1. Introduction about me.
2. If I am willing to relocate.
3. Bangalore or Pune.
4. Day or night shift.
5. Availability for internship or not.
Then they told me about the salary and the pay.
After that, I asked 2 questions and the interview was over.
Result
The results were announced 20 days later, and unfortunately, I was not selected. Out of all the candidates across India, only 22 students were chosen.