Cognizant Big Data Analyst Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

I am a Senior Data Engineer with experience in building scalable data pipelines and optimizing data processing workflows.

• Experience in designing and implementing ETL processes using tools like Apache Spark and Airflow

• Proficient in working with large datasets and optimizing query performance

• Strong background in data modeling and database design

• Worked on projects involving real-time data processing and streaming analytic

Decorators in Python are functions that modify the behavior of other functions or methods.

• Decorators are defined using the @decorator_name syntax before a function definition.

• They can be used to add functionality to existing functions without modifying their code.

• Decorators can be used for logging, timing, authentication, and more.

• Example: @staticmethod decorator in Python is used to define a static method in a class.

SQL query to group by employee ID and combine first name and last name with a space

• Use the GROUP BY clause to group by employee ID

• Use the CONCAT function to combine first name and last name with a space

• Select employee ID, CONCAT(first_name, ' ', last_name) AS full_name

Constructors in Python are special methods used for initializing objects. They are called automatically when a new instance of a class is created.

• Constructors are defined using the __init__() method in a class.

• They are used to initialize instance variables of a class.

• Example: class Person: def __init__(self, name, age): self.name = name self.age = age person1 = Person('Alice', 30)

Indexing in SQL is a technique used to improve the performance of queries by creating a data structure that allows for faster retrieval of data.

• Indexes are created on columns in a database table to speed up the retrieval of rows that match a certain condition in a WHERE clause.

• Indexes can be created using CREATE INDEX statement in SQL.

• Types of indexes include clustered indexes, non-clustered indexes, unique indexes, an...read more

Spark works well with Parquet files due to its columnar storage format, efficient compression, and ability to push down filters.

• Parquet files are columnar storage format, which aligns well with Spark's processing model of working on columns rather than rows.

• Parquet files support efficient compression, reducing storage space and improving read performance in Spark.

• Spark can push down filters to Parquet files, allowing f...read more

Different types of joins available in Databricks include inner join, outer join, left join, right join, and cross join.

• Inner join: Returns only the rows that have matching values in both tables.

• Outer join: Returns all rows when there is a match in either table.

• 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 table and the matched rows ...read more

Implementing fault tolerance in a data pipeline involves redundancy, monitoring, and error handling.

• Use redundant components to ensure continuous data flow

• Implement monitoring tools to detect failures and bottlenecks

• Set up automated alerts for immediate response to issues

• Design error handling mechanisms to gracefully handle failures

• Use checkpoints and retries to ensure data integrity

AutoLoader is a feature in data engineering that automatically loads data from various sources into a data warehouse or database.

• Automates the process of loading data from different sources

• Reduces manual effort and human error

• Can be scheduled to run at specific intervals

• Examples: Apache Nifi, AWS Glue

To connect to different services in Azure, you can use Azure SDKs, REST APIs, Azure Portal, Azure CLI, and Azure PowerShell.

• Use Azure SDKs for programming languages like Python, Java, C#, etc.

• Utilize REST APIs to interact with Azure services programmatically.

• Access and manage services through the Azure Portal.

• Leverage Azure CLI for command-line interface interactions.

• Automate tasks using Azure PowerShell scripts.

Linked Services are connections to external data sources or destinations in Azure Data Factory.

• Linked Services define the connection information needed to connect to external data sources or destinations.

• They can be used in Data Factory pipelines to read from or write to external systems.

• Examples of Linked Services include Azure Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database, and Amazon S3.

I can join within two weeks of receiving an offer.

• I can start within two weeks of receiving an offer.

• I need to give notice at my current job before starting.

• I have some personal commitments that I need to wrap up before joining.