HSBC Group Software Engineer Trainee Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

Round duration - 95 minutes
Round difficulty - Medium

Q1. 
Power Calculation Problem Statement
Given a number x and an exponent n, compute xn. Accept x and n as input from the user, and display the result.
Note:
You can assume that 00 = 1.
Input:
Two integers...read more
Ans. 
Calculate x raised to the power of n. Handle edge case of 0^0 = 1.
• Accept x and n as input from user

• Compute x^n and display the result

• Handle edge case of 0^0 = 1

• Ensure x is between 0 and 8, n is between 0 and 9
Answered by AI
Add your answer
Q2. 
Inversion Count Problem
Given an integer array ARR of size N with all distinct values, determine the total number of 'Inversions' that exist.
Explanation:
An inversion is a pair of indices (i, j) such t...read more
Ans. 
Count the total number of inversions in an integer array.
• Iterate through the array and for each element, check how many elements to its right are smaller than it.

• Use a merge sort based approach to efficiently count the inversions.

• Keep track of the count of inversions while merging the sorted subarrays.

• Example: For input [2, 4, 1, 3, 5], there are 3 inversions: (2, 1), (4, 1), and (4, 3).
Answered by AI
Add your answer

Round duration - 40 minutes
Round difficulty - Medium

This is the technical interview round.

The main focus of the interviewer was on the resume. He asked about everything that was mentioned in the resume whether it is the projects or the internships or extra skills or achievements.

Other questions were based on core computer subjects such as DBMS and Computer Networks.

One linked list coding question was also asked.

Q1. Explain the difference between the DELETE and TRUNCATE commands in a DBMS.
Ans. 
DELETE removes specific rows from a table, while TRUNCATE removes all rows and resets auto-increment values.
• DELETE is a DML command, while TRUNCATE is a DDL command.

• DELETE can be rolled back, while TRUNCATE cannot be rolled back.

• DELETE triggers ON DELETE triggers, while TRUNCATE does not trigger any triggers.

• DELETE is slower as it logs individual row deletions, while TRUNCATE is faster as it deallocates data pages.

• Exam...read more
Answered by AI
Add your answer
Q2. Define the 7 different layers of the OSI Reference Model.
Ans. 
The OSI Reference Model defines 7 layers that represent different functions in networking.
• Physical Layer - deals with physical connections and signals (e.g. cables, hubs)

• Data Link Layer - manages data transfer between devices on the same network (e.g. Ethernet)

• Network Layer - handles routing and forwarding of data packets (e.g. IP)

• Transport Layer - ensures reliable data delivery (e.g. TCP)

• Session Layer - establishes, m...read more
Answered by AI
Add your answer
Q3. What are private and special IP addresses?
Ans. 
Private and special IP addresses are reserved ranges of IP addresses used for specific purposes.
• Private IP addresses are used within a private network and are not routable on the internet.

• Special IP addresses include loopback address (127.0.0.1) and broadcast address (255.255.255.255).

• Private IP ranges include 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255, 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255, and 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255.
Answered by AI
Add your answer
Q4. 
Palindrome Linked List Problem Statement
You are provided with a singly linked list of integers. Your task is to determine whether the given singly linked list is a palindrome. Return true if it is a pali...read more
Ans. 
Check if a given singly linked list is a palindrome or not.
• Traverse the linked list to find the middle element using slow and fast pointers.

• Reverse the second half of the linked list.

• Compare the first half with the reversed second half to determine if it's a palindrome.
Answered by AI
Add your answer
Q5. What is meant by normalization and denormalization?
Ans. 
Normalization is the process of organizing data in a database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. Denormalization is the opposite process.
• Normalization involves breaking down data into smaller, more manageable tables to reduce redundancy.

• Denormalization involves combining tables to improve query performance.

• Normalization helps maintain data integrity by reducing the risk of anomalies.

• Denormalization can im...read more
Answered by AI
Add your answer

Round duration - 30 minutes
Round difficulty - Easy

This is a cultural fitment testing round. HR was very frank and asked standard questions. Then we discussed about my role.

Q1. What is something about you that is not included in your resume?
Add your answer