Jun 27, 2008

Placements

Come fourth year and the most discussed and talked about topics are:
1. What to prepare?
2. Which companies to attend placements for?
3. How should I impress the interviewer?
We shall answer few such questions in this post. I shall keep updating it with more information. I have asked many of my friends (ex-bitsians) to help me for this post and many have responded with quite good amount of info. I am awaiting responses from many more. Meanwhile I am posting some of the responses:
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Discipline: Electronics and Instrumentation

Core companies(where core instru. is involved): NI, Honeywell, ABB, Agilent, Tektronics, Cement/ Oil& Gas related (control sys +IIC): L&T, ONGC, Schlumb etc.

Non-core -Technical companies (h/w): TI, Nvidia, Intel, Cypress, Qualcomm, Broadcomm, Freescale, Samsung, Cisco, Tejas Networks, Juniper etc.

Non-core - Technical companies(s/w): Samsung, Cisco, Tejas Networks, Motorola, Sasken, Covansys, HCL, Robert Bosch, etc.,

Non-core - Non-technial companies: Investment Banks...GS, Merrill Lynch etc.

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): Digital Electronics, Analog Electronics, Microprocessors and Architect., Micro-electronics, TMS, Control Systems.

Other courses (subjects to read for placements): CAS, Verilog, C/C++

Company in which you are working: Tejas Networks Ltd.

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

s/w –

h/w – Programmable Logic devices (PLA/ PAL), Knowledge abt CPLD/ FPGA’s Verilog-Digital design, State Diagrams—Sequence detection, Synthesis

ADVD basics(inverter characteristics, Oscillators)

Idea abt Memories: DRAM/ SRAM etc.

RLC circuits

Various logics: TTL, ECL, RTL, LVCMOS etc

Microprocessor basic arch.

DCN/ Compnet-CRC, spanning tree, subnet, bridges/ switches/ routers, Encodings etc.

Questions you were asked in the interview:

Digi – State diagrams, Logic levels, PLAs

Verilog – ( Basic circuit codes), Latches and flops – (Setup time and hold time based questions),

Design Flow, CPLDs, Microprocessor basic arch.

RLC circuits—Filters, DCN/ Compnet based

Projects

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Discipline: Mechanical

Technical companies: IOCL, BPCL, BORL, Schlumberger,Mahindra, Dr Reddys, Thermax, Ashok leyland,Caterpillar, BHEL and Altair etc.

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, Goldman sachs, PWC, Lehman Bros etc

Software companies: Oracle (Ebizz),Cerner,MPS tech, Infy, Wipro, TCS, CTS, etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): Prime movers and fluid dymanics, Design of machine elements, Mechanics of solids, CAD/CAM, Automotive vehicles

Other courses (subjects to read for placements): Computer Programming, OOP

Company in which you are working: Dr.reddys / Schlumberger
Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):Good knowledge of All compulsory discipline courses. Basic understanding of Computer programming. Need projects in Design and simulation softwares

Questions you were asked in the interview:

Dr.Reddys

1) what happens to the pump parameters if the impeller’s size is changed?

2) why do powerplants give more efficiency in colder countries?

3) Stainless steel material properties

4) boiling point, vapour pressure


Schlumberger

1) Project related questions at college and Drreddys

2) Manufacturing Science

3) Work and achievements at Dr reddys

Any other comments?

Do as many as formal projects under any instructor in your discipline and most important thing is the knowledge you have in your CDCs. Maintain a decent CGPA but keep in touch with your CDC books even during 4th year. Also do CP and OOP seriously as a backup.

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Discipline: Computer Science

Technical companies: Google, Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, MuSigma, PWC, Lehman Bros, TCS, Wipro, Infy, Satyam, De Shaw etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): Data structures and algorithms, Operating Systems, Computer Networks,

Other courses (subjects to read for placements): Object Oriented Programming, Network programming

Company in which you are working: Microsoft India R&D Pvt Ltd

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Data structures and algorithms, Awareness of important computer science concepts like Theory of Computation, Time and space complexity calculations etc

Questions you were asked in the interview :

Algorithms questions: sorting, calculation of complexities, program efficiency

Any other comments?

Take the first two years to read up lots of stuff and understand what interests you. Do not confine yourself to your discpline especially if it is CS or IS. CS and IS gel in brilliantly with any subject, and hence the more obscure and exotic your area of interest, the better. Identifying also implies learning and understanding atleast the very basics. At the end of two years, get ready to identify professors with whom you’d like to work, and talk to them. Plain coursework will not take a CS or IS student anywhere.

Very important note: For the uninitiated, *Computer Science is not out-and-out programming*. Learning C from NIIT is not learning Computer Science. Computer Science is the science (art?) of formalizing and modeling and problem using mathematics (which is most of the times as simple as sets and functions; no calculus and hifi stuff), and coming up with solutions. Next is using mathematics to compare multiple solutions under different conditions. The final part is the implementation part, which is programming. Even at this stage, simply learning C or C++ does not make you a perfect programmer. CS is very good for guys who are good at formulating problems and are eager to read books.

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Discipline: Electronics and Instrumentation

Technical companies: Nvidia, IOC, BPCL, BORL, Freescale, Motorola, Schlumberger etc.

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, MuSigma, PWC, Lehman Bros etc

Software companies: Cisco, Samsung, Philips, Infy, Wipro, TCS, CTS, HCL etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): Digital Electronics, Microprocessors, Microelectronics, Control Systems

Other courses (subjects to read for placements) : Electrical Sciences, Computer Programming

Company in which you are working: Cisco Systems
Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Cisco Systems
  1. Good knowledge of C, Digital electronics and Microprocessors.
  2. Basic understanding of Computer networking required.
  3. Knowledge of Operating Systems is desirable.

Questions you were asked in the interview :

  1. What is difference between switch and bridge?
  2. Explain the process when you execute a C-Program?
  3. Difference between synchronous and asynchronous systems?

Any other comments?

  1. Involve in extracurricular activities
  2. Do atleast 2 formal projects
  3. Select few non-technical courses as electives
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Discipline: Electrical and Electronics

Technical companies (VLSI and Communications): Nvidia, Freescale Semiconductor, Conexant,IBM (Hardware division), Red Pine Signals , Agilent Technologies (?)(as of September 2006)

Non-technical companies (Engineering): Schlumberger, Shell, L&T, IOCL and other Electrical companies GE, Philips

Software Engineering: Cisco, Samsung, Infosys, Satyam ,TCS, Oracle, IBM, Dell

Others: Evalueserve, MuSigma, PWC, Lehman Bros, Bain and Co., Mckinsey , others (last year)

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): ES1 (provides solid fundamentals), Digital Electronics, Micorelectronics , ADVD, MuP

For Electrical companies: ES2 and Emech

Other courses (subjects to read for placements): Analog electronics , Communication Systems, Data Communication and Networking

Company in which you are working: Freescale Semiconductor India Pvt. Ltd.

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Started with fundamentals of electronics (class 11 &12), ES1 , DIGI , MUE ,ADVD

Solved questions from previous papers of various Hardware companies.

An understanding of the company I applied for. Freescale works on memories, Networking, DSPs etc . A basic understanding of these helps.

Questions you were asked in the interview:

Questions on timing, memories , diff amps and basic electronics

Any other comments?

Electrical and Electronics Engineering at BITS is very challenging. The course work, assignments, tutorials and lab work make it the most hectic course in BITS. The competition is cut throat and the core companies visiting campus are limited to a small number. Having said that, it is one of the most interesting and well structured disciplines. The professors are good, fellow students even better and has one of the best labs for VLSI in India. At the end of 4 years , the options available for EEEites are very broad.

The only drawback being, VLSI taking all the limelight. Communications, Power electronics and robotics are other fields which don't enjoy the same benefits as VLSI (quality of professors and lab facilities) but things seem to be improving.

While the number of companies visiting campus is less, the PS stations available are large in number (including foreign PS stations).A EEEite with above average coding skill s can compete with compscites for a non top tier software company job. The top tier software companies don't entertain EEE applicants. Overall, the immediate opportunities are broad and good.

On a general note, try to have a balanced profile. Involving in Departments, clubs, Assoc and sports activities helps. The tangible benefit being the resume factor and the intangibles being the good network you build. Believe me, it is one of the important things that you carry back from Pilani. Pilani offers wide range of opportunities for all .Make the best use of your Pilani life.

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Discipline: Computer Science

Technical companies: Cisco, Microsoft, Yahoo, Oracle, etc

IT companies: Infy, Wipro, TCS, CTS, etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements):Data Structures and Algorithms, Operating Systems , Computer Programming(C and C++/Java), Networks

Other courses (subjects to read for placements) : Digital Electronics and Computer Organization, Database Systems

Company in which you are working: Cisco Systems

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Cisco Systems

  1. Good knowledge of C, Digital electronics and Microprocessors.
  2. Basic understanding of Computer networking required.
  3. Knowledge of Operating Systems is desirable.

Questions you were asked in the interview:

  1. What is difference between switch and bridge?
  2. Difference between paging and segmentation
  3. How pointers are handled by the operating system (i.e. how does the OS know where the pointer starts and ends)
  4. String related programs
  5. How would you design a cricket shoe/rocket for me?

Any other comments?

  1. Involve in few extracurricular activities
  2. Do few formal projects
  3. Select few non-technical courses as electives
  4. Participate in inter-college competitions and online competitions for college students
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Discipline: Electrical and Electronics

Technical companies: Nvidia, IOC, BPCL, BORL, Freescale, Motorola, Schlumberger etc.

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, MuSigma, PWC, Lehman Bros etc

Software companies: Cisco, Samsung, Philips, Infy, Wipro, TCS, CTS, HCL

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): Digital Electronics, Microprocessors, OOP.

Other courses (subjects to read for placements): Computer Programming.

Company in which you are working: Oracle (ST)

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Oracle India Pvt. Ltd

  1. Core Java is a must! Any knowledge of J2EE would be a plus.
  2. Basic understanding of J2EE architecture is required.
  3. AJAX knowledge would be a plus!

Questions you were asked in the interview:

N/A (Recruited after PS2)

Any other comments?

  1. Do few formal projects (PSD and ARCD projects would help, just to get an idea of how a Web Client/J2EE architecture works.)
  2. Select few non-technical courses as electives.
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Discipline: Electronics & Electronics Engineering

** Focusing more on the non-core companies which might interest.

*Engineering companies: Schlumberger, L&T, Shell, Agilent Technologies

*Companies related to consultancy/Sales/finance/marketing/Business Development: Evalueserve, L&T, PWC, Ernt & Young, Siemens, ABB, Schneider Electric, Bain Consultancy, Lehmann Bros., Reliance Communications, HCL, HUL

*Media/Advertising: Euro RSCG, Adlabs

Courses (subjects to read for placements, be perfect in at least two): Digital Electronics, Microprocessors, Microelectronics, EMEC, ES-2, ES-1, VLSI and Communication Systems.

Company in which you are working presently: L&T, Strategic Marketing Dept.,

Electrical & Electronics Business Group.

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

If you are good at talking about what you have done and what you want to be; everything will be fit and fine. Major preparation includes developing your aptitude skills by practicing more of mathematics (quant) and improving verbal (paragraph reading and sentence correction). Other than that you have to be well versed with at least two core subjects. More than that since non-core job needs a ‘special-in-me’ focus, concentrate more on the electives you do. The extra/co-curricular activities play an important role here. You should prove how different where you or what difference you made being in that particular position in a club/dept. Any company sees the technical side of you. Let it be marketing or consultancy or the core job itself, the prime need is being technical and that’s the difference that you make being an engineer. And that’s where you prove all your technical skills with your projects and course understanding.

Questions you were asked in the interview:

  1. What is the KW rating of a water heater?
  2. Difference between 3phase and single phase, quote examples.
  3. Difference between a FPGA/IC/MuC
  4. How does a ceiling fan function? What kind of motor is present in it?
  5. What is the function of choke in a tubelight?
  6. More questions on your projects.
  7. And the questions by HR.

Other comments:

EEE in Pilani, is a challenging course and it offers more than it looks. How to use the advantage of getting the class education and how to place the learning’s from it, depends on your ambitions and future career plans. Just to get into peoples heads a point; that we have a tag called BITS and until that is with us we are respected to be in the topmost talent of the country. Exploit the advantage of being in Pilani, its not just being in academics, all round development including involvement in extra/co-curricular activities should be of importance. Problem arises when people are not sure what they want to do in life. If you are clear on your career path, then any job you take or for that matter anything you do doesn’t matter.

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Discipline: B.E.(Hons.) Chemical

Technical companies: Vedanta, Dr.Reddy’s, IOCL, BPCL, Schlumberger, Invensys, Shell, Flour, L&T,

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, etc

Software companies: Infosys, Wipro, TCS, CTS, Oracle, I-Flex, Accenture, etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements. min 3): HTO, MTO, SCEO and Process Systems

Other courses (subjects to read for placements) : Computer Programming

Company in which you are working: I-Flex

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Cisco Systems

  1. Good knowledge of C and Data Structures.
  2. The rest you will be trained.

Questions you were asked in the interview:

  1. Lots of Puzzles
  2. To find out errors in C Programs
  3. What is a Binary Tree?

Any other comments?

  1. Involve in few extracurricular activities
  2. Do few formal projects
  3. Select few non-technical courses as electives
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Discipline: B.E (Hons) Mechanical

Technical companies: IOCL, BPCL, Schlumberger, L&T etc.

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, ANZIT, PWC, Dell etc

Software companies: Cerner Health, CSC, ADP, Accenture, Infy, Wipro, TCS, CTS etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): NA

Other courses (subjects to read for placements): Computer Programming, Object Oriented Programming, Projects or electives you have done.

Company in which you are working: Broadridge Financial Solutions (Spun off from ADP)

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Broadridge Financial Solutions.

  1. Good knowledge of C is essential.
  2. Knowledge in at least any one of the following is important: Java, .Net, Mainframes, UNIX.
  3. Basic understanding of SQL queries is desirable.

Questions you were asked in the interview:

  1. Asked to reduce the size of code of a simple Nested C program.
  2. Questions related to important concepts of OOP like polymorphism, Encapsulation and Inheritance.
  3. Difference between Abstract class and interface.
  4. Questions on Multi Threading.
  5. Basic .Net questions like purpose of IsPostback functionality etc.,
  6. Few questions on the projects you have done.

Any other comments?

  1. Involve in few extracurricular activities
  2. Do few formal projects
  3. Try to do any one CSD course like ASP.NET, Linux etc.,
  4. Select few non-technical courses as electives
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Discipline: Electronics and Instrumentation

Technical companies: Nvidia, IOC, BPCL, BORL, Freescale, Motorola, Schlumberger etc.

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, MuSigma, PWC, Lehman Bros etc

Software companies: Cisco, Samsung, Philips, Infy, Wipro, TCS, CTS, HCL etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): Digital Electronics, Microprocessors, Microelectronics, Control Systems

Other courses (subjects to read for placements) : Electrical Sciences, Computer Programming

Company in which you are working: Qualcomm India Pvt Ltd

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Qualcomm

  1. Good knowledge of C, Data Structures, Digital electronics and Microprocessors.
  2. Basic understanding of Computer networking required.
  3. Knowledge of Operating Systems is required
  4. Familiarity with CDMA concepts and terminology

Questions you were asked in the interview (min 3):

  1. Explain pre-processing, compile and linking process of a C Program?
  2. Few questions related to linked lists, file handlers, various types of sorts
  3. Design a NAND gate out of NOR gates or NOR out of NAND gates..can’t remember exactly
  4. Operating Systems basic concepts
  5. Questions from Subject of your choice
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Discipline: Civil

Technical companies: IOCL, BORL, Schlumberger, L&T, Gammon, Unitech etc.

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, MuSigma, PWC, Lehman Bros etc

Software companies: Infy, Wipro, TCS, CTS, HCL etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): Design of Steel & Concrete Structures, Transportation Engg, Construction planning, Control Systems

Other courses (subjects to read for placements) : Electrical Sciences, Computer Programming, Analysis of structures, mechsol

Company in which you are working: L&T

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

L&T

  1. Basic knowledge related to your discipline.
  2. Worldly knowledge like current issues to be kept track off.

Questions you were asked in the interview:

  1. What is CPM & PERT
  2. Basic questions related to design of structures
  3. Questions from analysis of structures
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Discipline: B.E.(Hons.) Chemical

Technical companies: Vedanta, Dr.Reddy’s, IOCL, BPCL, Schlumberger, Invensys, Shell, Flour, L&T,

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, etc

Software companies: Infosys, Wipro, TCS, CTS, Oracle, I-Flex, Accenture, etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): HTO, MTO, SCEO and Process Systems

Other courses (subjects to read for placements) : Computer Programming

Company in which you are working: I-Flex

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

  1. Good knowledge of C and Data Structures.
  2. The rest you will be trained.

Questions you were asked in the interview:

  1. Lots of Puzzles
  2. To find out errors in C Programs
  3. What is a Binary Tree?
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Discipline: Electronics & Instrumentation

Technical companies: National Instruments, Honey Well, Agilent Technologies, BORL, Tejas Networks, Texas Instruments, BPCL, Micro Chip, and Nvidia.

Non-technical companies: PWC, Boston Analytics, Evalue-serve, and Bain & Co.

Software companies: Cisco, CA, Samsung, CSC, HCL Tech, and RelianceComm.

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): ES1, Digital Electronics, and Microprocessors.

Other courses (subjects to read for placements): Computer Programming I & II

Company in which you are working: HCL Technologies

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

HCL Technologies

  1. Good knowledge of C and Data Structures.
  2. Knowledge in C++, Java or Computer Networks can be an added advantage.

Questions you were asked in the interview (min 3):

I don’t remember any of the technical questions J. Tech Qs were of medium level of difficulty. HR related Qs were a bit tougher than usual for a final year student.

HR related Qs:

  1. SWOT Analysis for BITS Pilani.
  2. How an IT firm works? Sources of revenue, verticals & horizontals, and many more fundas.
  3. Explain the concepts covered in SAPM. Detailed explanation for few concepts.
  4. All the points in the resume have been well-scrutinized and demanded explanation in some form or other. (ex: If you include ‘reading magazines’ (the most common one) as one of your hobby, you should be aware of the editors of famous mags, recent cover stories, etc.,)

Any comments?

  1. Good communication skills can be helpful but that alone can’t fetch you anything.
  2. Involve in few extracurricular activities.
  3. Realize your core competencies and focus on that.
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Discipline: Chemical

Technical companies: IOCL, BPCL, BORL, Schlumberger, L&T, UOP, Vedanta group (HZL), Grasim, etc.

Non-technical companies: Evalueserve, MuSigma, PwC, Lehman Bros etc

Software companies: Infy, Wipro, TCS, CTS, Satyam, etc

Core courses (subjects to read for placements): Fluid Flow Operations, Heat Transfer Operations, Mass Transfer Operations, Process Design Decisions

Other courses (subjects to read for placements): Computer Programming

Company in which you are working: Ernst & Young

Preparation for company placements (in which you are working presently):

Ernst & Young

  1. Good analytical and reasoning ability.
  2. Basic understanding of the world environmental problems and related business.
  3. Knowledge on United Nations – Clean Development Mechanism and Carbon business knowledge (carbon credits, etc).

Questions you were asked in the interview (min 3):

  1. What do you know about Clean Development Mechanism?
  2. What do you think are the key elements for a successful team?
  3. What difference can you make in the team environment that you work with?
  4. What was the most influential subject/course that you’ve come across and why?
  5. I was given few instances that one would face as a part of consulting and asked to tell what I would do then.

Any other comments?

  1. Involve in extracurricular activities not for the sake of certificates but for the spirit of taking the responsibility of the role you’re given.
  2. Do formal projects if you’ve decided for an MS
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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

great post there.
i had a query ragarding how r students selected for practice schools. do the companies come and select, or if u know someone at the company he refers u?
in case of the latter can we expect our seniors to help us by refering?

DeEpAk said...

The practice school division takes care of your practice school (internship) program.