American Express
Selection Process: Test, Personal Interview
Pattern of the Test
The initial test consisted of 2 coding questions and 60 multiple-choice questions (MCQs), which covered a mix of aptitude, English language, and coding.
The coding portion required knowledge of Java and SQL queries, with the questions designed to test basic understanding and use of utilities in C++ STL.
Group/Case Discussion
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Technical Interview
The first interview, lasting over an hour, was divided into sections focusing on programming concepts, data structures and algorithms, and database management systems (DBMS).
Questions ranged from discussing virtual functions, overloading and overriding functions, and comparing lists and arrays, to explaining sorting algorithms like merge sort and comparing BST and AVL trees.
The interviewer also probed into the candidate’s project work, particularly those involving security considerations, and posed a puzzle about the probability of horses colliding at the vertices of an equilateral triangle.
The second interview, which lasted about 20 minutes, included questions on ranking programming languages by preference, highlighting the advantages of C++ over C, and solving a guesstimate question on the number of cars in a city.
Additionally, there was a puzzle involving the correct labeling of pots containing oranges, apples, and a mix of both, where all initial labels were incorrect.
HR Interview
Although there was no dedicated HR interview, some HR-related questions were integrated into the technical interviews. These included inquiries about the candidate’s free-time activities, experiences with the Food Festival, and their job expectations.
Overall, the interview process at American Express was comprehensive, evaluating both the technical proficiency and personal attributes relevant to the role.