ISTA Hotels Interview Questions and Answers

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: My resume had a couple of projects and a paper publication added to it, which was a part of my second year intern at TCS Innovation Labs.

Tips: I believe that the resume shortlist to appear for the test is just a formality and not a big deal to get through. Most of the students are allowed to appear for the test which is where, the main shortlisting occurs.
Although, the company does cut off people from certain departments. For example, none of the Agriculture and food engineering students were shortlisted for appearing for the test.
Also, from what I have heard, the company runs resumes through a program to take out the shortlist. Hence, certain key words such as "Scholar" or "Conference" may get you a good chance to get through the shortlisting.

Round: Test
Experience: The test is mainly quant based and how fast you can think and rationalize. They expect excellent speed; they ask you 20 questions to be answered in 30 minutes.
Tips: Normally, if a student is asked to appear for this right after his JEE examination, he would be able to get through it easily. But since our analytical thinking goes way down once we actually get in, it has to be worked upon again. I'd suggest you to solve all the quant questions of any CAT preparatory book for the American Express test. The test questions are quite similar to those that the CAT students prepare for.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: In general, the American Express interviews are considered to be pretty peaceful compared to the interviews of other companies. I was just asked about my work at TCS Innovation Labs and the paper I would be publishing based on that work and the courses I have done in Data Analytics and what all do I know in it. They do not test the knowledge you say you possess.
Tips: While I was preparing for my interview, I was told to read about Amex and its products. Secondly, and most importantly, I was aksed to read a lot about credit card frauds and suggest ways of preventing that. Even during my time, a lot of people were asked about this and judged severely on that. This is a must must if you would be appearing for its interview.

Also, you would do well if you are able to connect with the interviewer. For instance, if both of you have been a part of the same inter IIT or have the same tastes, etc.

Also, the interviews are that peaceful that you are able to direct the interview in your favour. There are certain parts of your CV that you can easily talk about and certain parts that you would want to avoid. If you are able to think on your feet, it is easy to re direct the interview in your favour and the things that you would like to talk about; in my case, it was my work at TCS.

Round: Puzzle Interview
Experience: The main decision whether you have to be taken in or not is decided in your first round of interview after which, the puzzle interview is just a formality and to find out whether you are able to think on your feet or not. Not a big deal, pretty easy.
Tips: Nothing to be worried about, the puzzles asked are pretty easy and most probably, you would have already heard them if you have a nag of solving puzzles.

General Tips: Do not worry or stress yourself much. The interview is pretty easy if you have an edge in the skills that the company wants. I had started studying Data Analytics in my second year summer vacations, just 1 hour a day for hardly about a month. Which gave me enough of an edge. The main hurdle lies in getting through the test round where about 300 people are simply cut off.
Skill Tips: You should be able to code efficiently. Knowledge in Python and SQL is a big plus.
Also, I had done a course on Coursera called "Machine Learning" of Stanford University. Today, the company does not expect a lot of knowledge in Data Analytics from students which is why this course gave me the edge I needed to get through the interview. It's a pretty easy course and not very demanding. I would recommend this if you want to find out even whether you'd be interested in Data Analytics or not.
I was asked about the things I know and whether I have ever implemented them.
Skills: Analytics And Coding
Duration: 2
College Name: IIT Kharagpur
Motivation: American Express is known to have a good working culture and is currently the third best company to work for in India. The internship stipend is largest compared to any other company in India along with accommodation and travel. The company has a well structured internship program and also has good challenging work to offer.
Funny Moments: After the test, I was not shortlisted for the interview round.. Which broke my heart.
Just after the presentation, I walked up to the person presenting and handed him a hard copy of my resume asking him to at least give me a shot at the interview if they think my profile is good enough.
I believe that this was a turning point of this entire experience. I believe, at that moment itself, I gained their favour to take me in. Which is probably why my interview was peaceful, which is probably why I could get through even though my interview was the last among a bunch of 25 students..

Skills: Java, Data Structures
College Name: Acropolis Institute Of Technology & Research

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: we entered. introduced ourselves. then given a task in which we need to know the nxt person sitting to us and then we have to describe them.
Tips: Here they check what kind of communication skills you are having and how much you can convince a person to gain knowledge
Duration: 5 minutes

Round: Test
Total Questions: 60

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Basic introduction. Some specific questions and you just need to make then understand who you are as a person

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Basic introduction. Some specific questions and you just need to make then understand who you are as a person

Skills: Communication And Confidence, Problem Solving Abilties
College Name: Lady Shri Ram College

Round: Test
Experience: Easy, time was sufficient, Mostly Quantitative Aptitude
Tips: Chill and steam on till the end
Duration: 45 minutes
Total Questions: 15

Round: Puzzle Interview
Experience: Question was simple I forgot to take into account a factor in my equation but was able to correct my answer immediately upon given a hint

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Nothing special routine HR Questions

General Tips: Relax know yourself and your resume back and front
Skill Tips: A programming background helps
Skills: Quantitative Aptitude
Duration: 2
College Name: IIT Madras
Motivation: To get PPO and pursue an MBA abroad also the stipend is not bad
Funny Moments: When he asked me how much I wanted AmEx I told him that I told the Microsoft Interviewer that I would take an offer from AmEx irrespective. This was before I got interviewed for Microsoft.

PS I got offers from both AmEx and Microsoft

Interview preparation tips for other job seekers - Prepare as per job description.

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: Resume's were selected out of the lot and the rest were sent back
Tips: Make your resume short and to the point

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: Had a discussion if a person's clothes like formals are more important than the whole personality of the individual
Tips: Opinion should be strong and no need to shout
Duration: 5 hours

Round: HR Interview
Experience: Gave a short introduction and then shared all the work experience
Tips: Again explain everything to the point and keep it short, interviewer has a lot of candidates to interview.

Round: Other Interview
Experience: Gave introduction, shared work experience and was asked about my hobbies
Tips: Be confident and say whatever you want with confidence

Round: Other Interview
Experience: Introduction, work experience, hobbies, was given a particular situation and how would i handle it
Tips: Be analytical and confident

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: 20 students were shortlisted on the basis of the resume.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: The interview was a mix of HR and technical interview.

The HR interview was based on simple HR questions – questions about me, my motivations in life. My strengths and weaknesses and work preferences. A major part of my interview focused on questions related to my internship.

In the technical round they asked me questions related to the bank reconciliation statement, effect of various entries on passbook and cashbook and questions related to contra entries.
Tips: My advice is that one should be prepared for any question about their resume. In case you have mentioned any subjects in your resume you should be prepared for the same.

College Name: Lady Shri Ram college