Placement in MNNIT: An Experience
“Learn the Rules of Game and Then You Can Play Better Than Anyone Else”
MNNIT is the best thing that happened to me. Here my dreams came true and I got an opportunity to start my career with Oracle Corporation, which was nearly impossible for me without getting into here. I would like to share my placement and postgraduate program experiences with you all.
Oracle Corporation visited our campus on 18th November, 2009. I appeared for the process and got selected. It was the happiest moment in my life.
During my graduation, I witnessed the recession period in software industry so rather than focusing on getting a job, I started preparing for M.Tech. After completing graduation, I had no job but a good GATE score, which is the key for getting into a good institute.
I took admission in MNNIT with a dream of getting a good job and started exploring the opportunities. I knew that a good CPI as well as good preparation was mandatory to make my dream come true. So I decided to put forth all my efforts to both aspects and made myself ready for the rigorous effort. The schedule was very hectic but as time passes on, I brush up my skills for placement as well as for M.Tech.
In July, the placement process began. As such I didn't have a list of targeted companies but still my dream was to work with a company excellent in his domain. I appeared for Amazon, didn't clear the written round and happened same for Citrix and Cisco. It was a bit disappointing but I am an optimist. By appearing, I was getting to know my weaknesses and was continuously improving myself accordingly.
Two days before the campus visit of Oracle's Server Technology Group, we got a mail from TPO regarding same and surprisingly there was no written test. This was a good opportunity, as I had prepared hard for interview.
On November 18th, the process started at 11am with their presentation followed by shortlisting on the basis of CPI. I got advantage of having good CPI and was shortlisted for the interview. Soon, interview's timing-slot-list was announced. Being my first interview, I was a bit nervous. Since I was preparing much before the actual drive for placement, I had built the essential skills for interview. The interviewer scanned me (I maintained an eye contact), glanced my CV and started asking questions. After few questions, my interview turned into a cool conversation about latest technologies. We were discussing about non-responding plugin in a browser and suddenly he asked what if I don't wish to use any plugin to play a video in a browser, I answered it with adding words to see a demo on http://youtube.com/html5. My interview lasts for around 30 minutes, I enjoyed the conversation, answering all questions and he ended it up saying, "Thanks Yasir, It was really a nice a conversation".
I came back and within 2 minutes got another interview call. Since I asked a question during presentation to this interviewer, as I entered the room, he asked, "Are you the guy, who asked me........". I said Yes, It was me. He told that he got good words from past interviewer that's why he immediately called me and then started asking me problems. These problems were based on C, DBMS, DS and Unix. This lasted for around 25 minutes and I answered all the questions.
After 30 minutes, I got another call for HR round. This time my interviewer was a lady. She was quite impressed with my academic record as it was continuously increasing from 57% to 9.25 CPI. Firstly, she asked for the reason of such an improvement and then started asking HR questions. After 20 minutes, she offered me to ask a question and ended it up.
I knew that I had been selected, as my all 3 rounds were good enough. But still, I was eagerly waiting to hear my name among selected students. Finally at 10:15pm, my wait was over, the result was announced and I got selected. They offered all the selected students to go for dinner with them and we enjoyed it together at hotel Kanha Shyam.
If you want to travel in the same boat, you should have good knowledge about core subjects of computer science and awareness in latest technology. Also, programming language proficiency would be an added advantage. While doing preparation, first go for basics and then gradually move upward. Also take your project seriously, as this is always asked in an interview. Make your role and responsibilities clear in your project. For HR, the key point is confidence. Before going for any placement process/interview, judge yourself with your preparation by asking yourself- Are you ready to make it?.. If you can't satisfy yourself with your preparation, you can never satisfy an interviewer with it. Most of the times we hide our weaknesses and sometimes from ourselves. Don't hide it from yourself, always try to minimize it. And the most important point is to prepare for the whole process, not just for beginning rounds. I have seen people putting their efforts for the beginning rounds and saying - HR is simple, firstly Tech round should be cleared. Don't commit any such mistake! Rejection at HR will more disappoint you. Don't forget that in placement scenario the result is binary; selection or rejection. Make your preparation accordingly.
CPI plays an important role in campus placement. It gives you opportunities to make a difference. Higher the CPI, more companies you get to appear for. But it just makes you shortlisted for the first round, rest you need to perform.
All the subjects being taught in M.Tech have wide application area and are of advanced level. By going through such subjects, we get a deep knowledge about it. Sometimes we get confuse with opting for a subject of our interest where we may not get good CPI. In such a case, we should look for short term and long term benefits of choosing or not choosing that subject and then decide accordingly.
“Don't only dream, but also work hard so as to make your dream come true.”
Good Luck.
