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Interview at Progress Software

I have given a lot of interviews before however, this one was special. Let me start from the beginning.

I got a call from Progress Software and was scheduled for the first telephonic discussion.

Next day, I got a call from HR and she asked me questions on Java and a few basic puzzles. 

After clearing the previous round, I got scheduled for the second telephonic interview. This interview covered Java, design-related problems and algorithms.

After a week, I got a call from the HR for the onsite interviews in Hyderabad. This is the first time I googled about Progress Software. I said yes for the onsite interviews.

Journey to onsite started not as planned after my flight got delayed. Because of fog-related delay in Delhi, I reached the PSI (Progress Software India) office couple of hours late. 

HR introduced me to the first interviewer. The interviewer explained the first round. It was a coding round (I am not a big fan of coding rounds), the problem was well explained and I enjoyed solving it. The interviewer checked on me after every 30-45 mins. He asked about my understanding of the problem and approach I wanted to take. The round went well although I think I took more time than slotted for the problem.

The next round was the technical interview with the mix of algorithms, puzzles, Java and experience-based questions. The interviewer had a set of questions and she concentrated on covering the set. Generally, these interviews don't stretch but mine went for more than an hour.

After clearing the technical round, HR told me about one more technical round followed by another round with the HR. By now, I was exhausted. My day started at 4 am and it was 5 pm. I was fading and losing interest.

The next technical round was with a Director, I was thinking it will be the discussion on various pasts projects. However, I was asked algorithms, design-patterns and Java problems. The most interesting aspect was the level of questions. These questions were high-grade, I enjoyed solving them. They were based on your ability to solve the technical problems and tested my problem-solving. I also got a good overview of the company. 

The last interview changed my perception of the company. After this round, I was impressed and it's the first time I thought of actually joining the company. Immediately after this, I had 10 mins HR round and I was free for the day, it was at 8 pm on the clock.

However, I was super excited, I was planning to eat biryani in the dinner for which I travelled to Hyderabad.

Result: I cleared the interview and got the Joining letter from Progress in 1 week time for the position of SE-II.

I intentionally didn't mention the names and questions, firstly they won't make any difference secondly, they are rarely same for 2 candidates.

Hope this helps.

  

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Comments

  1. ahmed2 December 2011 at 02:33

    can u please share a few technical inteview question? at least it will give an idea?

    R u working in progress software?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Subodh Gupta5 December 2011 at 11:09

    Ahmed, give stress on data-structures, algo's and basics of what ever u have done till now...

    stay confident...

    best of luck

    ReplyDelete
  3. ahmed7 December 2011 at 23:44

    Thanks Bro....

    I searched the web and I found a few interview questions for Progress software, and most of them were on Java and Database.

    I don't have experience in java.
    I can deal with C,C++, is it fine?
    Is it compulsory to have database knowledge of complex queries etc?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Subodh Gupta8 December 2011 at 08:39

    You can code C/C++ but you should extremely good in language @your level of exp.

    No, not complex queries but you are supposed to know fundamentals of most of CS subjects including DB.

    P.S.: I left progress early this year bcoz of family commitments.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous27 January 2012 at 18:45

    Hi Subodh,

    For 6 years experienced how much do you think Progess can pay ?
    Currently my CTC is 10.5

    Please suggest.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Subodh Gupta29 January 2012 at 19:41

    Depends on your interview, college, position u r applying 4 etc...

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous29 March 2012 at 12:48

    hi i got the call from hr regarding intern position,

    what the questions i can expect ?

    can u help on this issue?

    i'm interested in java.

    looking forward for u r replay.
    thank u

    ReplyDelete
  8. Subodh Gupta29 March 2012 at 22:44

    Expect questions on DS, algo, language u know and projects u have worked on.

    best of luck...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous25 September 2012 at 09:55

    Hi Subodh,

    I am appearing for an interview with these guys in a couple of days, I am pretty much confident about the other things except for their coding round, because I am very poor remembering specs of various APIs....would it be just writing it on a paper or do we have to write a working program on a PC?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  10. Subodh Gupta25 September 2012 at 22:50

    Last I know, coding round was use to happen on machine i.e. working code. And i really loved that part of interview process because problem is really challenging and tests your coding and debugging skills.

    Hope this helps.

    best of luck...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous26 September 2012 at 11:14

    Thanks for your response. I actually asked the HR about it when she called me yesterday. She mentioned it will be on the PC & it will be an open book test, we can access the internet as well...thats actually cool.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Subodh Gupta26 September 2012 at 11:19

    Yeah. I hope you enjoy it..

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous10 October 2012 at 11:49

    Can you please let me know what concepts will be tested in programming round? does it include multi threading aspects? Also do we need to start writing code from scratch or do we need to code on existing code base? I heard there will be two to three features developed in two to three hours.

    Thanks in advance. Have a nice day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Subodh Gupta12 October 2012 at 09:56

      1. I think its hard to tell whats get tested because the test is to evaluate candidate in totality e.g. troubleshooting skills, code understanding, API knowledge and making improvement in existing code base.
      2. Multithreading wasn't there earlier hard to say what it will be now
      3. Already answered in first point.

      All the best...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13 October 2012 at 20:27

      Thanks Subodh.

      Delete
  14. Anonymous3 July 2013 at 02:19

    Hi Subodh

    I have given the Face to Face interview on 19th June 2013 .

    I have gone through 3 rounds
    1. Technical(Core Java)
    2. Debugging (I had solved the problem statement)
    3. Manager round(Core Java)

    After all the round , Manager told me to go for HR round .

    But due to time constraint ,that day HR suggested me to leave early , because might be i missed the flight.
    HR told that She will call me next day.

    But i couldn't get the call .
    Then i have sent her the thanks note and also called next day about the interview feedback and further update.

    She told me that Once she will have the feedback , she will call me back.

    Now its around 2 week , but i couldn't get the call.

    Please suggest , do i need wait more or do i need to call HR to get the status?

    ReplyDelete
  15. Subodh Gupta3 July 2013 at 08:29

    Drop a mail to HR or top on the mail you would have got for interview. Saying mentioning your concern.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous27 May 2015 at 23:33

    Frankly speaking if you can't give the questions asked then all this is of no help at all. Whatever you told was told to me by the HR on the very first day. Anyone giving an interview wants to solve some sample questions, and if you can't give that then there is no point to all this.

    ReplyDelete

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