50+ Unstop Interview Questions and Answers

I would invest Rs.100 in a diversified mutual fund to minimize risk and maximize returns.

• Investing in a diversified mutual fund allows for spreading the risk across multiple companies and sectors.

• Mutual funds are managed by professionals who have expertise in selecting the right investment opportunities.

• By investing in a mutual fund, I can benefit from the power of compounding and potentially earn higher returns over time.

• Some examples of popular mutual funds include HDFC Equ...read more

Java 8 introduced several new features including lambda expressions, functional interfaces, and streams.

• Lambda expressions allow for more concise and functional programming style.

• Functional interfaces enable the use of lambda expressions.

• Streams provide a powerful way to process collections of data in a functional manner.

• Default methods in interfaces allow for adding new methods to existing interfaces without breaking compatibility.

• Optional class helps to handle null values m...read more

The relationship between the price of gold and equity price is generally inverse.

• Gold is often considered a safe haven investment, so when the equity market is performing poorly, investors tend to flock to gold, driving up its price.

• Conversely, when the equity market is performing well, investors may shift their focus away from gold, causing its price to decrease.

• There can be exceptions to this relationship depending on various factors such as economic conditions, geopolitica...read more

I am proficient in multiple computer languages including Java, Python, and C++.

• Java

• Python

• C++

Swaps, equities, bonds, MBS, RMBS, CMBS, ETFs, and valuations are all financial instruments used in investment management.

• Swaps are agreements between two parties to exchange cash flows based on a notional amount.

• Equities are ownership shares in a company.

• Bonds are debt securities issued by companies or governments.

• MBS, RMBS, and CMBS are types of mortgage-backed securities.

• ETFs are exchange-traded funds that track an index or a basket of assets.

• Valuations are the process of ...read more

A company needs a bank for various financial services and support.

• Banks provide a range of financial services such as loans, credit facilities, and overdrafts to help companies manage their cash flow and fund their operations.

• Banks offer secure and convenient payment solutions like checking accounts, online banking, and electronic fund transfers, which are essential for businesses to receive and make payments.

• Companies can benefit from banks' expertise in managing investments...read more

After failing to secure a job, I took up a freelance project and built my skills. Eventually, I landed a better job.

• Took up a freelance project to build skills

• Networked with professionals in the field

• Continued to apply for jobs while working on the project

• Improved skills and gained confidence

• Landed a better job eventually

Handle out-of-memory exception by analyzing heap dump and optimizing code.

• Analyze heap dump to identify memory leaks

• Optimize code to reduce memory usage

• Increase heap size if necessary

• Use memory profiling tools like JProfiler or VisualVM

• Avoid creating unnecessary objects

• Use caching to reduce object creation

• Implement garbage collection strategies

Approximately 70-80 students would be hired by the 7 banks across top 10 b-schools.

• The number of students hired by each bank may vary depending on their requirements and the quality of candidates available at each campus.

• Assuming an average of 10 students per bank per campus, the total number of students hired would be around 70-80.

• However, this is just a rough estimate and the actual number may be higher or lower depending on various factors such as competition from other re...read more

Operational issues to check after placing banners in banking

• Ensure banners are placed in compliance with regulations and policies

• Check if banners are visible and readable from a distance

• Ensure banners do not obstruct any important information or signage

• Check if banners are securely fastened and will not fall or cause harm

• Ensure banners are placed in appropriate locations to reach target audience

• Check if banners are properly lit and visible during all hours of operation

Shallow and deep comparison in Strings with code example

• Shallow comparison checks if two String variables refer to the same object in memory

• Deep comparison checks if two String variables have the same sequence of characters

• Shallow comparison can be done using the '==' operator

• Deep comparison can be done using the 'equals()' method

• Example: String str1 = 'hello'; String str2 = 'hello'; str1 == str2; //shallow comparison returns true

• Example: String str1 = 'hello'; String str2 = ...read more

Considerations and strategies for moving from monolithic to Microservices platform

• Identify and decouple independent components of the monolithic application

• Implement API gateway for managing communication between microservices

• Use containerization tools like Docker for deployment and scaling

• Implement service discovery mechanisms for dynamic service registration and discovery

• Implement fault tolerance and resilience mechanisms like circuit breakers and retries

• Implement monitorin...read more

I have worked with various tools and technologies including Java, Python, SQL, and Tableau.

• Proficient in Java programming language

• Experience with Python scripting and data analysis libraries

• Skilled in SQL for database management and querying

• Familiarity with Tableau for data visualization and reporting

Maintain message sequencing in Kafka at Consumer side

• Use a single partition for the topic to ensure messages are consumed in order

• Set 'enable.auto.commit' to false and manually commit offsets after processing each message

• Implement a custom message handler to handle out-of-sequence messages

• Use message timestamps to reorder messages if necessary

I believe the coding profile suits me because of my strong analytical skills, problem-solving abilities, and passion for technology.

• I have a strong background in mathematics and logic, which are essential for coding.

• I enjoy solving complex problems and finding efficient solutions.

• I have experience in programming languages such as Python and Java.

• I have successfully completed coding projects in the past, demonstrating my ability to write clean and efficient code.

• I am constantl...read more

Design a weather app using the Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) design pattern.

• Use MVVM design pattern to separate the presentation layer from the business logic and data access.

• Model: Represents the data and business logic.

• View: Represents the UI components.

• ViewModel: Acts as a mediator between the Model and View, handling user interactions and updating the UI.

• Use data binding to automatically synchronize the View with the ViewModel.

• Implement a repository pattern to handle data r...read more

A company needs various financial services and support from a bank.

• Access to capital for business expansion and investment

• Cash management services for efficient handling of funds

• Credit facilities for working capital and financing needs

• Trade finance services for international transactions

• Risk management solutions to mitigate financial risks

• Expert advice and guidance on financial matters

• Access to digital banking platforms for convenient banking

• Relationship management and person...read more

Challenges faced during code releases

• Ensuring all code changes are thoroughly tested

• Coordinating with different teams for a smooth release

• Handling unexpected issues during release

• Ensuring minimal downtime for users

• Managing rollback plans in case of failures

Java 17 introduces Sealed Classes to optimise multithreading.

• Sealed classes restrict which classes can be subclasses, allowing for better control over multithreading.

• By limiting the subclasses, developers can ensure thread safety and prevent unexpected behavior.

• Example: 'sealed class Shape permits Circle, Rectangle, Triangle;' restricts the subclasses of Shape to only Circle, Rectangle, and Triangle.

Sort and sum numbers from two arrays based on their sequence.

• Sort both arrays in ascending order.

• Iterate through both arrays simultaneously and compare the elements.

• If the elements are equal, add them and move to the next element in both arrays.

• If the element in the first array is smaller, move to the next element in the first array.

• If the element in the second array is smaller, move to the next element in the second array.

• Repeat until all elements have been compared and adde...read more

A Spring Boot application follows a predefined flow of execution.

• Application starts with main() method

• Spring Application Context is initialized

• Beans are created and dependencies are injected

• Application starts serving requests

• Requests are handled by Controllers and Services

• Responses are returned to the client

The data flow of my last project involved collecting, processing, analyzing, and visualizing data from multiple sources.

• Collected raw data from various sources such as databases, APIs, and user inputs

• Processed the data using ETL tools to clean, transform, and integrate it for analysis

• Analyzed the processed data using statistical methods and machine learning algorithms

• Visualized the results through interactive dashboards and reports for stakeholders

• Implemented data governance ...read more

Cost centers and profit centers are divisions within a bank that either incur costs or generate profits respectively.

• Cost centers are divisions within a bank that incur costs, such as administrative departments, IT infrastructure, and compliance teams.

• Profit centers are divisions within a bank that generate profits, such as lending departments, investment banking, and wealth management.

• Examples of cost centers include back-office operations, human resources, and legal departm...read more

Return top 5 largest numbers from a list of random integers

• Sort the list of integers in descending order

• Return the first 5 numbers from the sorted list

ArrayList is a dynamic array implementation, while HashMap is a key-value pair data structure using hashing.

• ArrayList internally uses an array to store elements, and automatically resizes when needed.

• HashMap uses hashing to store key-value pairs, with keys being unique and values being accessible through the keys.

• ArrayList allows duplicate elements and maintains insertion order, while HashMap does not allow duplicate keys and does not maintain any order.

• Example: ArrayList lis...read more

Banking offers diverse opportunities, stability, and the chance to contribute to economic growth.

• Banking provides a wide range of career opportunities in various departments such as corporate banking, investment banking, and retail banking.

• The banking industry offers stability and job security, even during economic downturns.

• Working in banking allows individuals to contribute to economic growth by facilitating financial transactions, supporting businesses, and providing finan...read more

Valuation formulas in credit analysis

• DCF calculation formula is used to estimate the value of an investment based on its future cash flows discounted back to present value

• Ratios formula includes Debt-to-Equity ratio, Current ratio, and Interest Coverage ratio to assess a company's financial health

• Interpretation of ratios involves comparing them to industry benchmarks and historical data

End to end technical project management involves overseeing the entire project lifecycle from initiation to closure.

• Developing project plans and timelines

• Managing project scope, budget, and resources

• Coordinating with cross-functional teams

• Identifying and mitigating project risks

• Ensuring project deliverables meet quality standards

• Communicating project status to stakeholders

• Facilitating project meetings and decision-making

• Closing out the project and conducting post-project eval...read more

Yes, I am comfortable working in a 24*7 environment and have experience doing so.

• I have previous experience working in a 24*7 environment and have successfully managed my work schedule.

• I am adaptable and can handle working during odd hours or on weekends if required.

• I understand the importance of being available round the clock in certain IT roles, especially for critical systems maintenance or support.

• I am willing to work in shifts to ensure continuous coverage and support f...read more

NAV stands for Net Asset Value, which is the value of a fund's assets minus its liabilities.

• NAV is calculated by subtracting the total value of a fund's liabilities from the total value of its assets.

• The formula for NAV is (Total Assets - Total Liabilities) / Total Number of Outstanding Shares.

• NAV is used to determine the price at which investors can buy or sell shares of a mutual fund or ETF.

NAV stands for Net Asset Value. It is the value of a mutual fund's assets minus its liabilities.

• NAV is used to determine the price of a mutual fund's shares

• It is calculated by dividing the total value of the fund's assets by the number of shares outstanding

• NAV is calculated at the end of each trading day

• Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of securities

• They are managed by professional fund managers

• In...read more

Earnings of a bank refer to the profits generated by the bank through its various operations and activities.

• Earnings are typically derived from interest income, fees and commissions, and trading gains.

• Interest income is generated from loans and investments made by the bank.

• Fees and commissions are earned from services provided to customers, such as account maintenance fees or advisory fees.

• Trading gains are the profits made from buying and selling financial instruments.

• Earnin...read more

Money laundering involves three stages: placement, layering, and integration.

• Placement: The initial stage where illegal funds are introduced into the financial system.

• Layering: The process of disguising the source and ownership of the funds through multiple transactions.

• Integration: The final stage where the laundered funds are reintroduced into the legitimate economy.

• Examples of money laundering include purchasing expensive assets with cash, using shell companies to transfer...read more

Loan forecasting is done by analyzing historical data, market trends, economic indicators, and risk factors to predict future loan performance.

• Analyze historical loan data to identify patterns and trends

• Consider market trends and economic indicators that may impact loan performance

• Evaluate risk factors such as borrower credit history, loan amount, and interest rates

• Use statistical models and machine learning algorithms to forecast future loan performance

• Adjust forecasts based...read more

Going the extra mile in customer service means exceeding customer expectations and providing exceptional service.

• Anticipating customer needs before they ask

• Providing personalized service

• Offering solutions beyond the basic requirements

• Following up to ensure customer satisfaction

• Handling complaints with empathy and efficiency

Rollback and commit are database transactions used to manage changes made to the database.

• Rollback is used to undo changes made in a transaction and restore the database to its previous state.

• Commit is used to save the changes made in a transaction permanently to the database.

• Rollback is typically used when an error occurs during a transaction, while commit is used when the transaction is successful.

• Example: If a transaction to transfer money from one account to another fails...read more

A materialized view is a database object that stores the result of a query and can be used to improve query performance.

• Materialized views are precomputed and stored in the database, reducing the need for expensive query execution.

• They are updated periodically to reflect changes in the underlying data.

• Materialized views can be used to speed up complex queries or aggregate data for reporting purposes.

• They are particularly useful in situations where the underlying data changes ...read more

The impact was significant.

• The impact resulted in a decrease in profits.

• The impact caused a shift in customer behavior.

• The impact led to the implementation of new policies and procedures.

• The impact affected the overall reputation of the bank.

Transactions are a set of operations that are executed as a single unit of work, ensuring data integrity and consistency.

• Transactions help maintain data integrity by ensuring all operations within the transaction are completed successfully or rolled back if any operation fails.

• Transactions follow the ACID properties - Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability.

• Examples of transactions include transferring funds between bank accounts or booking a flight ticket where mul...read more

SUMIF is a function in Excel used to sum values based on a specific condition.

• SUMIF formula syntax: =SUMIF(range, criteria, [sum_range])

• Example: =SUMIF(A1:A10, ">10", B1:B10) will sum values in B1:B10 where corresponding value in A1:A10 is greater than 10

• Criteria can be a number, expression, or text

• Sum_range is optional and if omitted, the range is used for both sum and criteria

Inserting an element in a map using C++ code

• Use the insert() function to add a key-value pair to the map

• If the key already exists, the value will not be updated

• If you want to update the value for an existing key, you can use the subscript operator []

SQL joins are used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column between them.

• SQL joins are used to retrieve data from multiple tables based on a related column between them

• Common types of SQL joins include INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN, and FULL JOIN

• INNER JOIN returns rows when there is at least one match in both tables

• LEFT JOIN returns all rows from the left table and the matched rows from the right table

• RIGHT JOIN returns all rows from the right tab...read more

VaR measures the maximum potential loss within a confidence level, while ES measures the expected loss beyond VaR.

• VaR stands for Value at Risk and measures the maximum potential loss within a specified confidence level.

• ES stands for Expected Shortfall and measures the expected loss beyond the VaR.

• VaR is a single point estimate, while ES provides a more comprehensive view of tail risk.

• ES is considered more conservative and robust than VaR.

• Example: If VaR at 95% confidence leve...read more

List the difference between two arrays of strings

• Loop through each element in the first array and check if it exists in the second array

• If an element is not found in the second array, add it to the difference array

• Repeat the process for the second array to find elements in the first array that are not in the second array

Database design involves creating a structure that efficiently stores and organizes data for easy retrieval and manipulation.

• Identify the data requirements and relationships between different entities

• Normalize the database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity

• Choose appropriate data types and constraints for each field

• Create indexes to optimize query performance

• Consider scalability and future growth when designing the database

Managing rude customers involves staying calm, active listening, setting boundaries, and seeking help if needed.

• Stay calm and composed to avoid escalating the situation

• Practice active listening to show empathy and understanding

• Set clear boundaries and assertively communicate expectations

• Seek help from a supervisor or manager if the situation becomes too difficult to handle

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is derived from an underlying asset or group of assets.

• Derivatives can be categorized into options, futures, forwards, and swaps.

• Options give the holder the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a specific price within a specific time frame.

• Futures are contracts to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price on a specified date in the future.

• Forwards are similar to futures but are customized contracts bet...read more