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Cisco Associate Software Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Updated 18 Oct 2024

Cisco Associate Software Engineer Interview Experiences

1 interview found

Interview experience
4
Good
Difficulty level
Moderate
Process Duration
Less than 2 weeks
Result
Not Selected

I applied via Company Website and was interviewed in Apr 2024. There were 2 interview rounds.

Round 1 - Coding Test 

One questiuon on dp longest increasing sub sequences

Round 2 - Technical 

(2 Questions)

  • Q1. Question on binary search on answers
  • Q2. Question on routing devices and alogorithms

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - strong networking skilla sand core subjects

Interview questions from similar companies

Interview Questionnaire 

3 Questions

  • Q1. Why do you want to join this company?
  • Ans. 

    I am excited to join this company because of its reputation for innovation and commitment to employee growth.

    • I am impressed by the company's track record of developing cutting-edge software solutions.

    • I appreciate the emphasis on professional development and growth opportunities for employees.

    • I am excited about the prospect of working with a talented and dedicated team.

    • I believe that this company's values align with my ...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Who is your role model?
  • Ans. 

    My role model is Elon Musk.

    • I admire his innovative thinking and determination to push boundaries.

    • His ability to lead multiple successful companies is inspiring.

    • His focus on sustainable energy and space exploration aligns with my values.

    • I strive to emulate his work ethic and passion for making a positive impact on the world.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. What extra-curricular activities have you been involved in?
  • Ans. 

    I have been involved in various extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, sports, and music.

    • Volunteered at local animal shelter

    • Played on intramural basketball team

    • Participated in school choir

    • Attended coding workshops and hackathons

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: I consulted my seniors for preparation of my resume. I believe that seniors provide the best possible insights in this regards. I had a standard resume for all the companies.

Round: Test
Experience: I had prepared for the CAT examination which helped me in these written tests. The first round was the written test. The criterion for the written test was to have a CGPA more than 6.0. There was an aptitude test and a technical test. The technical test consisted of programming questions based on C++ and data structures. From data structures they asked a lot questions based on tree traversals and from C++. A large number of questions from pointers and arrays were also asked.
The aptitude test was slightly easier than the CAT examination standards. Majority of the questions were related to data interpretation and some were of based on logical reasoning. The total duration of the both the tests combined was 90 minutes.

Around 50 people appeared for the first round and nearly 13 got shortlisted for the next round.
Tips: For the written tests, particularly the aptitude section, if would really help if you have prepared for the CAT examination. There is a book written by an author named R.S. Agarwal which would prove to be beneficial from the point of view of these written tests.
Duration: 90 minutes

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: I did not prepare much for the GD’s. However I did keep myself abreast with certain latest happenings.There were no group activities conducted in the recruitment process of Century Link.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: For HR interviews I prepared answers to some frequently asked HR questions. I found these questions on the internet. Generally the questions asked in the interviews are related to the profile on offer; for instance in A2Z interview I was asked a lot of questions from power systems since it was a core company and in Century Links I was asked questions from C++ and data structures since they had come to recruit for a software engineering profile.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: In this interview I was questioned on my C++ and data structure knowledge. They asked me questions on pointers and further asked me to explain the concept of dangling pointers. They did not want me to write down the complete code with proper syntax's of the problems asked to me. They only asked me to write the algorithms of the various problems.
They also asked me some puzzles. Unfortunately, I was not able to solve any of them. During the course of the interview they asked me to specify the reason for my keen interest in joining an IT company.
At the end of first interview some candidates were shortlisted and called for the second round of interview.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: The second interview was conducted by a senior company official. He enquired about my project and again, like in the first interview, asked me to state the reason for my interest in joining an IT company.This interview round was an elimination round.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: The interview was an HR interview. Candidates who reached till this interview were all selected; basically this interview was like a formality to check the candidate’s fit with the company.

College Name: IIT ROORKEE
Motivation: I had never heard of the company before the recruitment season. I attended the PPT organised by the company, I found the company to be a well reputed/established company and thus applied to it. The profile was open for Electrical, Computer Science, Mechanical and Electronics engineering students.

I appeared for an interview before Jan 2016.

Interview Questionnaire 

7 Questions

  • Q1. Give a brief description about your education, past job profile and other questions.
  • Q2. Why did you quit your last organization after just 2.5 years?
  • Ans. 

    Seeking new challenges and growth opportunities.

    • I felt that I had reached a plateau in my role and was no longer being challenged.

    • I was interested in exploring new technologies and wanted to work on more innovative projects.

    • I wanted to work in a more collaborative and dynamic environment.

    • I left on good terms and have maintained positive relationships with my former colleagues.

    • I am excited to bring my skills and experie...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Why do you want to join Centurylink?
  • Ans. 

    I am excited to join Centurylink because of their reputation for innovation and commitment to customer satisfaction.

    • Centurylink has a strong focus on developing cutting-edge technology solutions

    • The company values customer feedback and strives to provide excellent service

    • I am impressed by Centurylink's dedication to diversity and inclusion in the workplace

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. Why did you relocate to Noida?
  • Ans. 

    Relocated to Noida for better career opportunities and growth.

    • Noida is a hub for IT companies and offers a lot of job opportunities in the software development field.

    • The city has a good work-life balance and a lower cost of living compared to other metropolitan cities.

    • I was also attracted to the diverse culture and the opportunity to work with people from different backgrounds.

    • I did my research and found that Noida has...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. Are you ok to work in US shift?
  • Ans. 

    Yes, I am comfortable working in US shift.

    • I have prior experience working in US shift.

    • I am flexible with my work timings.

    • I understand the importance of meeting project deadlines.

    • I am willing to adjust my personal schedule to accommodate work requirements.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q6. Where do you put up?
  • Ans. 

    I currently reside in New York City.

    • I live in an apartment in Manhattan.

    • My neighborhood is known for its diverse food options.

    • I have easy access to public transportation.

    • I enjoy exploring the city in my free time.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q7. Solve 12 Mainframe Puzzles

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Technical + HR Interview
Experience: I told them all about the previous companies and my past job profile as a Mainframe Developer.
I gave a valid reason for quitting the previous company.
I cited that the reason to relocate to Noida was my wedding.
I was not okay to work in shifts, hence I denied.
I was putting up in Noida itself back then.

Round: Puzzle Interview
Experience: I was given a list of 12 Mainframe puzzles with questions from Cobol, DB2 and JCL.

I could solve 8 of them correctly.
Tips: Prepare puzzles as they give just 1 minute per question and not more.

Interview Preparation Tips

Skills: Networking, OS, Linux kernel
College Name: NA

I applied via Campus Placement and was interviewed in Dec 2016. There were 3 interview rounds.

Interview Questionnaire 

10 Questions

  • Q1. Write a program to reverse a n integer
  • Ans. 

    Program to reverse an integer

    • Convert the integer to a string

    • Reverse the string

    • Convert the reversed string back to an integer

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Explain me about your projects
  • Ans. 

    I have worked on various projects including a web application for inventory management and a mobile app for task tracking.

    • Developed a web application using React for inventory management, allowing users to track stock levels and generate reports.

    • Created a mobile app using Flutter for task tracking, enabling users to create, assign, and track tasks in real-time.

    • Collaborated with a team of developers to integrate APIs an...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. Are you interstedoing in studying further
  • Ans. 

    Yes, I am interested in studying further to enhance my skills and knowledge in software engineering.

    • Interested in pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science

    • Enrolling in online courses to learn new technologies and programming languages

    • Attending workshops and conferences to stay updated with industry trends

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. Reverse a linked list without using extra memory
  • Ans. 

    Reverse a linked list without using extra memory

    • Iterate through the linked list and change the next pointers to reverse the list

    • Use three pointers - prev, current, and next - to keep track of the reversed list

    • Start with prev and current pointing to null and the head of the linked list respectively

    • While traversing the list, update the next pointer of the current node to point to the previous node

    • Move prev and current po...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. Explain me about all the data structures you know, tell me their advantages over others and applications
  • Ans. 

    Data structures are fundamental concepts in software engineering that organize and store data efficiently.

    • Arrays: Simple and efficient for storing and accessing elements.

    • Linked Lists: Dynamic and flexible, efficient for insertion and deletion.

    • Stacks: LIFO structure, useful for managing function calls and undo operations.

    • Queues: FIFO structure, ideal for managing tasks and scheduling.

    • Trees: Hierarchical structure, used ...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q6. What is the difference between into arr [5] and malloc (5*sizeof (int))
  • Ans. 

    The difference is that 'int arr[5]' creates an array on the stack, while 'malloc(5*sizeof(int))' allocates memory on the heap.

    • int arr[5] creates an array of 5 integers on the stack, which is a fixed-size memory allocation.

    • malloc(5*sizeof(int)) dynamically allocates memory on the heap, allowing for variable-size memory allocation.

    • The memory allocated with malloc must be explicitly freed with free() to avoid memory leaks

  • Answered by AI
  • Q7. Tell me about yourself.
  • Ans. 

    I am a passionate software engineer with a strong background in computer science and experience in developing innovative solutions.

    • Completed a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from XYZ University

    • Proficient in programming languages such as Java, Python, and C++

    • Worked on various projects including a mobile app for tracking fitness goals

    • Familiar with Agile development methodologies and version control systems like Gi

  • Answered by AI
  • Q8. Where do you want to see yourself in 5 years
  • Ans. 

    In 5 years, I see myself as a senior software engineer leading a team of developers on innovative projects.

    • Continuing to enhance my technical skills and knowledge through ongoing learning and certifications

    • Taking on more leadership responsibilities and mentoring junior team members

    • Contributing to the development of cutting-edge software solutions for the company

    • Possibly pursuing opportunities for advancement within the...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q9. Mention two weakness es
  • Ans. 

    I tend to overthink details and can be overly critical of my own work.

    • Overthinking details can lead to delays in completing tasks

    • Being overly critical can hinder progress and confidence

  • Answered by AI
  • Q10. Are you intersted in studying further
  • Ans. 

    Yes, I am interested in studying further to enhance my skills and stay updated with the latest technologies.

    • I believe continuous learning is essential in the fast-paced tech industry

    • Further studies can help me specialize in a specific area of software engineering

    • Advanced degrees or certifications can open up new career opportunities

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: Asked me few simple questions related to OS and Network security

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: Asked me few simple questions related to OS and Network security

College Name: IIT Madras

Skills evaluated in this interview

I appeared for an interview before Apr 2021.

Round 1 - Face to Face 

(7 Questions)

Round duration - 60 minutes
Round difficulty - Easy

Technical Interview round with questions on OOPS and OS mainly.

  • Q1. What are Little Endian and Big Endian in the context of computer architecture?
  • Ans. 

    Little Endian and Big Endian refer to the order in which bytes are stored in computer memory.

    • Little Endian stores the least significant byte first, while Big Endian stores the most significant byte first.

    • Little Endian is commonly used in x86 architecture, while Big Endian is used in architectures like SPARC and PowerPC.

    • Endianness can affect data transmission between systems with different byte orders.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. Write a program to determine if your system is little-endian or big-endian.
  • Ans. 

    Program to determine system's endianness

    • Check the endianness by storing a multi-byte integer and checking the byte order

    • Use bitwise operations to extract the least significant byte

    • If the least significant byte is at the lowest memory address, it's little-endian

    • If the least significant byte is at the highest memory address, it's big-endian

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. What is the volatile keyword in programming?
  • Ans. 

    The volatile keyword in programming is used to indicate that a variable's value can be changed unexpectedly.

    • Volatile keyword is used in multithreaded programming to prevent compiler optimizations on variables that can be changed by other threads.

    • It tells the compiler not to cache the variable's value in a register, ensuring that every access is made to the variable's memory location.

    • Commonly used in embedded systems pr...

  • Answered by AI
  • Q4. What is the use of a function pointer in C?
  • Ans. 

    Function pointers in C are used to store the address of functions, allowing for dynamic function calls and callbacks.

    • Function pointers can be used to implement callbacks in event-driven programming.

    • They can be used to switch between different functions at runtime.

    • Function pointers are commonly used in implementing data structures like function pointers in an array of function pointers.

    • Example: void (*funcPtr)(int) = &a

  • Answered by AI
  • Q5. Design a data structure to implement multi-threading.
  • Ans. 

    Design a data structure for multi-threading

    • Use a thread-safe queue to manage tasks for each thread

    • Implement a lock or semaphore to control access to shared resources

    • Consider using condition variables for synchronization

    • Use atomic operations for shared variables to prevent race conditions

  • Answered by AI
  • Q6. What does a kernel do?
  • Ans. 

    The kernel is the core component of an operating system that manages system resources and provides a bridge between software and hardware.

    • Manages system resources such as CPU, memory, and I/O devices

    • Provides a bridge between software applications and hardware components

    • Handles tasks such as process scheduling, memory management, and device drivers

    • Controls communication between hardware and software layers

  • Answered by AI
  • Q7. What is a storage class in programming?
  • Ans. 

    A storage class in programming defines the scope and lifetime of variables.

    • Storage classes include auto, register, static, and extern.

    • Auto variables are created when a function is called and destroyed when the function ends.

    • Register variables are stored in CPU registers for faster access.

    • Static variables retain their value between function calls.

    • Extern variables are declared outside of any function and can be accessed

  • Answered by AI
Round 2 - HR 

Round duration - 30 minutes
Round difficulty - Easy

HR round with typical behavioral problems.

Interview Preparation Tips

Eligibility criteriaAbove 7 CGPANVIDIA interview preparation:Topics to prepare for the interview - Data Structures, Algorithms, Operating Systems, Aptitude, OOPSTime required to prepare for the interview - 6 monthsInterview preparation tips for other job seekers

Tip 1 : Must do Previously asked Interview as well as Online Test Questions.
Tip 2 : Go through all the previous interview experiences from Codestudio and Leetcode.
Tip 3 : Do at-least 2 good projects and you must know every bit of them.

Application resume tips for other job seekers

Tip 1 : Have at-least 2 good projects explained in short with all important points covered.
Tip 2 : Every skill must be mentioned.
Tip 3 : Focus on skills, projects and experiences more.

Final outcome of the interviewSelected

Skills evaluated in this interview

I appeared for an interview before Mar 2021.

Round 1 - Face to Face 

(3 Questions)

Round duration - 40 minutes
Round difficulty - Easy

Technical round with questions based on DSA.

  • Q1. 

    Reverse a Number Problem Statement

    Create a program to reverse a given integer N. The output should be the reversed integer.

    Note:

    If a number has trailing zeros, their reversed version should not inclu...

  • Ans. 

    Reverse a given integer while excluding trailing zeros.

    • Create a program to reverse the given integer by converting it to a string and then reversing it.

    • Remove any trailing zeros from the reversed string before converting it back to an integer.

    • Handle the constraints of the input integer being between 0 and 10^8.

    • Example: For input 1230, the output should be 321.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. 

    Reverse a Linked List Problem Statement

    You are given a Singly Linked List of integers. Your task is to reverse the Linked List by changing the links between nodes.

    Input:

    The first line of input contai...
  • Ans. 

    Reverse a given singly linked list by changing the links between nodes.

    • Iterate through the linked list and reverse the links between nodes.

    • Use three pointers to keep track of the current, previous, and next nodes.

    • Update the links while traversing the list to reverse it.

    • Return the head of the reversed linked list.

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. What is the difference in C++ between 'new int[5]' and 'malloc(5 * sizeof(int))'?
  • Ans. 

    new int[5] is C++ specific and initializes the array with default values, while malloc(5 * sizeof(int)) is a C function and does not initialize the array.

    • new int[5] is C++ specific and calls constructors for each element in the array.

    • malloc(5 * sizeof(int)) is a C function and does not call constructors, leaving the array uninitialized.

    • new int[5] returns a pointer to the first element of the array, while malloc(5 * siz...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Eligibility criteriaAbove 7 CGPAJuniper Networks interview preparation:Topics to prepare for the interview - Data Structures, Algorithms, OS, Networking, Aptitude, OOPSTime required to prepare for the interview - 4 monthsInterview preparation tips for other job seekers

Tip 1 : Must do Previously asked Interview as well as Online Test Questions.
Tip 2 : Go through all the previous interview experiences from Codestudio and Leetcode.
Tip 3 : Do at-least 2 good projects and you must know every bit of them.

Application resume tips for other job seekers

Tip 1 : Have at-least 2 good projects explained in short with all important points covered.
Tip 2 : Every skill must be mentioned.
Tip 3 : Focus on skills, projects and experiences more.

Final outcome of the interviewRejected

Skills evaluated in this interview

Interview Preparation Tips

Round: PRE placement
Experience: Was accepted through the pre placement offer after a satisfactory internship during the summer.
There was a small test after the internship. Work done in the internship in co-ordination with mentor, employees and manager has more weight-age.

General Tips: Just brush up on your fundamentals. The questions asked will just be a direct or indirect applications of what you have learnt. Good programming practice is also needed.
Good knowledge about Operating systems, Data structures, Networking and Programming is what they generally look for while hiring.
A good internship project helped in securing the PPO.
Skills:
College Name: NIT Surathkal

I appeared for an interview before May 2021.

Round 1 - Coding Test 

(1 Question)

Round duration - 60 Minutes
Round difficulty - Medium

Timing: Morning
How was the environment? It happened in the Computer Lab of my institution
All students were assigned a computer and we had to solve questions on hackerrank

  • Q1. 

    Order of People Heights Problem Statement

    Consider 'N' individuals numbered from 0 to N-1 standing in a queue. You are provided with two arrays: Height and Infront, each consisting of 'N' non-negative int...

  • Ans. 

    The task is to find the actual order of people in a queue based on their heights and the number of taller people in front of them.

    • Iterate through the given arrays and create a list of tuples containing the height and number of taller people for each person.

    • Sort the list of tuples in descending order of height and ascending order of the number of taller people.

    • Create an empty result list and insert each tuple into the r...

  • Answered by AI
Round 2 - Face to Face 

(1 Question)

Round duration - 60 Minutes
Round difficulty - Medium

Round was a mix of concepts from OOPS, OS and Problem Solving

  • Q1. 

    Binary Search Tree Value Finder

    Given a Binary Search Tree (BST) and a key value 'X', determine if there exists a node within the BST containing the value 'X'.

    Example:

    Input:
    Consider the tree represe...
  • Ans. 

    The task is to find if a given value is present in a Binary Search Tree (BST).

    • Start from the root node and compare the value with the target value.

    • If the value matches, return true.

    • If the target value is less than the current node value, move to the left child.

    • If the target value is greater than the current node value, move to the right child.

    • Repeat the process until a match is found or a leaf node is reached.

    • If a leaf...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Eligibility criteriaAbove 7 CGPANVIDIA interview preparation:Topics to prepare for the interview - Data Structures, Algorithms(basic), DBMS, Operating systems, basics of web development.Time required to prepare for the interview - 8 monthsInterview preparation tips for other job seekers

Tip 1 : Try to code the data structures that you have learned to understand things better
Tip 2 : Try to solve the problem even if it is the worst possible solution you think and then try to optimize don't jump to get the
best possible solution
Tip 3 : Discuss things among peers it helps to improve the understanding, even try to teach someone anything new you learn, this is very helpful during the interviews as you will have habit of explaining things

Application resume tips for other job seekers

Tip 1 : Try to be honest in the resume don't write something you don't know, most of the time it backfires.
Tip 2 : Try to make 2 good projects for cv and know about the challenges you can face on the project and think about how you can solve that challenge.

Final outcome of the interviewSelected

Skills evaluated in this interview

I applied via Naukri.com and was interviewed before Dec 2020. There were 3 interview rounds.

Interview Questionnaire 

3 Questions

  • Q1. What is OOPs concept?
  • Ans. 

    OOPs concept stands for Object-Oriented Programming concepts which includes encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.

    • Encapsulation is the process of hiding the implementation details from the user.

    • Inheritance allows a class to inherit properties and methods from another class.

    • Polymorphism allows objects to take on multiple forms or behaviors.

    • Abstraction is the process of hiding unnecessary details from

  • Answered by AI
  • Q2. What is lazy loading?
  • Ans. 

    Lazy loading is a technique used to defer the loading of non-critical resources until they are needed.

    • It improves page load time and performance.

    • It is commonly used for images, videos, and other media files.

    • It can be implemented using JavaScript libraries like LazyLoad or Intersection Observer API.

    • Lazy loading can also be used for modules and components in web applications.

    • It helps to reduce the initial load time of th

  • Answered by AI
  • Q3. What is eager loading?
  • Ans. 

    Eager loading is a technique used in software development to load related data in advance to avoid multiple database queries.

    • Eager loading is used to optimize database queries and improve performance.

    • It loads all the required data in a single query instead of making multiple queries.

    • It is commonly used in Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) frameworks like Hibernate, Entity Framework, etc.

    • Eager loading can be used with var...

  • Answered by AI

Interview Preparation Tips

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Clearing Test is the key

Skills evaluated in this interview

Cisco Interview FAQs

How many rounds are there in Cisco Associate Software Engineer interview?
Cisco interview process usually has 2 rounds. The most common rounds in the Cisco interview process are Coding Test and Technical.
What are the top questions asked in Cisco Associate Software Engineer interview?

Some of the top questions asked at the Cisco Associate Software Engineer interview -

  1. question on routing devices and alogorit...read more
  2. question on binary search on answ...read more

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Cisco Associate Software Engineer Interview Process

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Cisco Associate Software Engineer Salary
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₹5.1 L/yr - ₹24.4 L/yr
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