Arista Interview Experience |on campus|SDE

Interview Process Overview:

Stages:

1. Online Test
2. Technical Interviews: 2 Rounds

Online Test

Many candidates found the online test challenging; however, those familiar with the Striver DSA Sheet found it manageable.

Questions:

• Question 1 (Greedy):
  • An easy greedy algorithm problem.
• Question 2 (Dynamic Programming):
  • A straightforward 1D DP question for those experienced in dynamic programming.
  • The task was to find the maximum sum in an array, with options to either move sequentially or jump to prime numbers ending in 3.
  • This solution involved memoization and establishing proper logic for jumps based on number properties.
• Question 3 (Graph):
  • A problem involving a directed cyclic graph.
  • Initially, I considered using Kahn’s algorithm due to the directed nature, but it turned out to be simpler to solve with a DFS-based approach since the graph was cyclic.
  • I partially solved the question, achieving 2.5 out of 3 correct solutions, which placed me 5th overall.

Observation: Some candidates were selected despite lower scores, likely influenced by diversity and inclusion considerations.

Interview Rounds

Technical Interview — Round 1

Resume Review: The interviewer had reviewed my resume but did not ask related questions, which is common among higher-paying companies that prioritize skills over resume details in initial rounds.

Questions:

• C Language Code with Pointers:
  • I was required to code using C pointers and memory allocation techniques with malloc and calloc.
  • I requested to use C++ due to my familiarity with its syntax, but I was asked to proceed with C, which negatively impacted my performance.
• Memory Allocation:
  • I explained the differences between static, dynamic, and register memory allocation in C/C++.
  • In a follow-up, we discussed the storage mechanisms for static and constant variables.
• Linked List:
  • I was tasked with reversing a linked list in k-sized parts.
  • I coded it from scratch and presented two approaches, although I encountered some issues.
• Copy Mechanisms:
  • I explained the concepts of shallow copy and deep copy.

Feedback: The interviewer indicated that my performance on the first question significantly influenced their assessment.

Verdict

Outcome: Not selected.

Result: Out of the candidates interviewed, five were selected, primarily based on their strong foundational skills.