I recently interviewed for the role of Associate Software Engineer at Telstra as a fresh graduate in October 2024. The selection process took place virtually and consisted of three rounds. It was a campus placement drive.
How I Received the Interview Call
It was a campus placement drive where I applied for the Associate Software Engineer role. After an initial screening, I was shortlisted for the technical rounds.
Recruitment Process Overview
- Online Assessment
- Technical Interview
- Behavioral Round
Round 1: Online Assessment
The first round was an online assessment comprising aptitude, technical questions, and coding. This round consisted of two coding questions (basic to medium level). In the MCQs, core concepts were tested, such as topics on computer networks, operating systems, DBMS, and SQL. This round was basic to medium level and lasted for 105 minutes.
Round 2: Technical Interview
The second round was conducted virtually and focused on technical skills. It began with a brief introduction about myself. This was a difficult round, comprising DSA questions, and it was important to have a solid grasp on the topics listed in your resume (the basics should be fully clear). There were many questions asked, and you should be comfortable with the languages you listed.
Additionally, two DSA questions were given to solve, and one question was given to debug. This round was of medium to hard difficulty. It is also important to have a very strong understanding of the projects listed on your resume, as many questions were asked about them, including the coding aspects. Questions on cloud computing were also asked.
Round 3: Behavioral Round
More than a behavioral round, this was a technical round with only a few managerial questions. Most of the questions were technical, focusing on core topics such as CN and OS. Typical managerial questions were also asked.
More than anything, it is important for students to have a clear understanding of the basics to pass through the rounds. For DSA, it’s crucial to have knowledge of better and optimal approaches. Overall, the interview experience was medium to hard.
Final Outcome
The interview process was challenging yet exciting, and the best part was that I successfully cracked all three rounds and got placed as an Associate Software Engineer at Telstra.