JCAPCPL Interview Questions, Process, and Tips

Round: Test
Experience: Though we did not have a written round for JCAPCPL, while preparing for other written tests I practiced a lot of aptitude and verbal ability questions. I appeared an online aptitude test every day, to increase my calculation speed. Technical questions in the written rounds are very fundamental. Make a note of all the important equations and definitions when you read a subject. Pay extra attention to the subjects that concern the recruiting company, for example study Steelmaking and Iron making thoroughly for a steel company like Tata Steel. Talk to your seniors, and friends in other institutes and search for previous year questions if you can.
Tips: I had not cleared the written rounds for the first few companies (Future First, EXL and Affine) that visited our campus. I had made it through to the 2nd round of Mu Sigma (Video Synthesis) and GD round of Honda Cars Ltd., but was not selected. The primary reason I couldn’t clear the written rounds was my lack of practice of general aptitude questions. I was too slow and that does not help in a time bound test.

Round: Group Discussion
Experience: I have only been in one GD (for Honda Cars Ltd.) but did not get through. The experience, however, taught me a lot. It is very important that you speak English fluently. Stay updated on current affairs. Do not start a verbal argument in a GD. Being a good listener is as important as being a good speaker. Do not be diplomatic and try to back your stand with some stats if you can.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: PI rounds can be very unpredictable and one can never be too prepared. The first question in every interview is “Tell me about yourself”, so prepare a  strong but brief introduction. Be witty. Try to learn every tiny detail about the company before the interview. Revise your internship and final year project reports too. A lot of questions are asked about them. Interviewers are also very critical of your actions and reactions during an interview. Always sit straight and maintain eye-contact with the interviewers. Smile through the interview and don not let them know you are nervous.
Tips: Never bluff! If you do not know an answer; you can politely say that you don’t. For technical interviews, prepare at least 2 subjects thoroughly. Make sure that these subjects concern the company for which you appearing. Finally, prepare a couple of relevant questions to ask the interviewer in the end, but never ask about the salary or working hours

General Tips: Placement season can be tough, both mentally and emotionally. Do not be disheartened by rejections. Learn from your mistakes and work on them.Do not solely depend on campus placements and apply for off-campus recruitments too. You should always be prepared, campus dates are unpredictable. Practice a lot of questions and appear online mock tests regularly. Work on your body-language and speaking skills, you might not realize it now, but it is very important.
Skill Tips: Honestly, I have had a very challenging placement season. I had only one job offer, from TCS, in my 7th semester and it was not where I saw myself after graduation. It was frustrating. I was placed very early in the 8th semester and it was a big relief. The PCs have done a good job this season. Even though there was a lack of core companies for branches like Meta, Mining and Ceramic, there was an outpour of new IT, Analytics and startups that provided everyone with descent job opportunities, unlike previous years.
College Name: NIT ROURKELA
Motivation: Yes, I’m very satisfied with my placement. I had made up my mind to join a core company from the beginning of the placement season. Metallurgy placements, especially in core companies, have not been very satisfactory in the last couple of years. So, getting recruited by JCAPCPL, which is a joint venture of TATA Steel and Nippon Steel, is very relaxing.

Round: Resume Shortlist
Experience: The company directly shortlisted the top 10 students from our class for the interview round.
Tips: Try to maintain a decent CGPA. It is important.

Round: Technical Interview
Experience: I had a good technical interview. I was able to answer most of the questions. There were also a few questions I did not know the answers to and I told them that. They asked me to draw and explain a stress-strain curves and also write the steelmaking reactions. There was also a discussion on my summer internship project and my final year project, which I explained properly. They enquired about our department facilities and lab courses.
Tips: PI rounds can be very unpredictable and one can never be too prepared.

For technical interviews, prepare at least 2 subjects thoroughly. Make sure that these subjects concern the company for which you appearing. Never bluff! If you do not know an answer; you can politely say that you don’t. Do not be nervous; the questions are usually very fundamental.

Round: HR Interview
Experience: The HR questions were very common and easy. I had answers prepared for each of them. The HR interviewers seemed much more friendlier than the technical interviewers.They asked me about my childhood and my family background. They made me feel very comfortable and relaxed. It was part of the reason why I had a very good HR interview compared to my technical one.
Tips: The most common and the first HR question you are asked is “Introduce yourself.” Prepare a strong but brief answer for this. Interviewers are also very critical of your actions and reactions during an interview. Always sit straight and maintain eye-contact with the interviewers. Smile through the interview and don not let them know that you are nervous. Also avoid making gestures with your hands and sit still. Most importantly, read everything about the company, its work culture, its projects, partners and products.

General Tips: Do not be afraid to take up new challenges. Your every experience, good or bad, will teach you something new and prepare you to face even the worst adversity. Get diligently involved in extra-curricular activities, but at the same time do not neglect your career. Many may tell you that your CGPA does not matter but in reality it does. Try to explore new fields. You don’t have to succeed but experience it.
Skills: Fundamental Concepts of the branch, Good communication skills, Fluency in English
College Name: NIT ROURKELA
Motivation: I was interested in a core job and was really excited when I learnt that JCAPCPL is a joint venture of 2 of the largest steel producing corporations: Tata Steel and Nippon Steel.