100+ IBM Interview Questions and Answers

Find and print the longest substring with k unique characters in an array of strings.

• Iterate through the array of strings and keep track of the longest substring with k unique characters.

• Use a sliding window approach to efficiently find the longest substring.

• Keep a hashmap to store the frequency of characters in the current window.

• Update the window boundaries based on the number of unique characters.

• Return the longest substring found.

I am proficient in JavaScript, Python, and Ruby scripting languages.

• JavaScript is commonly used for web development and can be used for both client-side and server-side scripting.

• Python is known for its simplicity and readability, making it a popular choice for scripting and automation tasks.

• Ruby is often used for web development and automation, with a focus on developer productivity.

I am proficient in Java, Python, and SQL.

• Java

• Python

• SQL

Fashion is a form of self-expression through clothing, accessories, and lifestyle choices.

• Fashion is constantly evolving and influenced by various factors such as culture, media, and technology.

• It is a way for individuals to showcase their personality and creativity.

• Fashion can also be used as a means of social status and identity.

• Examples of fashion include haute couture, streetwear, and vintage clothing.

• Fashion designers play a crucial role in shaping the industry and setti...read more

I will shape the future of fashion by promoting sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation.

• Introduce sustainable materials and production methods

• Create designs that cater to diverse body types and identities

• Incorporate technology and new materials into fashion

• Collaborate with other industries to push boundaries

• Educate consumers on the impact of their fashion choices

Identifying trends and gaps in the market involves analyzing data, conducting market research, monitoring competitors, and staying updated on industry news.

• Analyze sales data to identify patterns and trends in consumer behavior

• Conduct market research to understand customer preferences and demands

• Monitor competitors to identify gaps in the market that can be capitalized on

• Stay updated on industry news and developments to anticipate future trends

• Utilize tools like surveys, focu...read more

To grow a brand in E-commerce with 4 Ps, focus on product, price, place, and promotion strategies.

• Product: Ensure high quality, unique products that meet customer needs.

• Price: Offer competitive pricing and promotions to attract customers.

• Place: Optimize online presence through strategic partnerships and platforms.

• Promotion: Utilize digital marketing, social media, and influencer collaborations to increase brand visibility.

Testing is necessary to ensure the quality and reliability of software applications.

• Identifies defects and bugs in the software

• Verifies that the software meets the specified requirements

• Ensures the software functions correctly in different environments

• Enhances user experience by identifying and fixing usability issues

• Reduces the risk of software failures and downtime

• Saves time and money by detecting issues early in the development cycle

Find the missing smallest positive integer in an array of integers

• Sort the array to easily identify missing integers

• Iterate through the sorted array to find the smallest missing positive integer

• Return the missing integer

Design a distributed queue similar to Kafka.

• Use a distributed architecture with multiple brokers and partitions.

• Implement a publish-subscribe model for producers and consumers.

• Ensure fault tolerance and high availability through replication and leader election.

• Use a log-based storage system for messages and offsets.

• Provide support for message ordering and retention policies.

• Implement a scalable and efficient message delivery system.

• Provide APIs for producers and consumers to ...read more

Current trends in ecommerce include increased mobile shopping, personalized recommendations, and social commerce.

• Mobile shopping is on the rise, with more consumers using smartphones and tablets to make purchases.

• Personalized recommendations based on browsing history and purchase behavior are becoming more common.

• Social commerce, where products are sold directly through social media platforms, is gaining popularity.

• Subscription services and curated boxes are also growing tren...read more

Engines in MySQL are the underlying software components that handle storage, indexing, and querying of data.

• MySQL supports multiple storage engines, each with its own strengths and features.

• Some commonly used engines in MySQL are InnoDB, MyISAM, and Memory.

• InnoDB is the default engine in MySQL and provides support for transactions and foreign keys.

• MyISAM is known for its simplicity and speed but lacks transaction support.

• Memory engine stores data in memory for faster access b...read more

Triggers in MySQL are database objects that are automatically executed in response to specified events.

• Triggers are used to enforce business rules, maintain data integrity, and automate tasks.

• They can be defined to execute before or after an INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE operation.

• Triggers can be written in SQL or in a programming language like PL/SQL.

• Examples of trigger events include inserting a new record, updating a record, or deleting a record.

• Triggers can be used to perform...read more

Indexing in MySQL improves the performance of database queries by creating a data structure that allows for faster data retrieval.

• Indexes are created on one or more columns of a table.

• They help in speeding up the search, sorting, and joining of data.

• Indexes can be created using the CREATE INDEX statement.

• Common types of indexes include B-tree, hash, and full-text indexes.

• Indexes should be used judiciously as they consume disk space and require additional maintenance.

LRU cache is a data structure that stores the most recently used items, discarding the least recently used items when full.

• Use a combination of a doubly linked list and a hashmap to efficiently implement LRU cache.

• When an item is accessed, move it to the front of the linked list to mark it as the most recently used.

• When adding a new item, check if the cache is full. If so, remove the least recently used item from the end of the linked list and hashmap.

• Keep track of the size o...read more

Generate all possible subsequences of a given string.

• Use recursion to generate all possible combinations of characters in the string.

• At each step, include or exclude the current character to form subsequences.

• Store each subsequence in an array of strings.

Social commerce is the use of social media platforms to facilitate online shopping and purchasing.

• Social commerce integrates social media and e-commerce to create a seamless shopping experience for consumers.

• It allows users to discover, research, and purchase products directly within their social media feeds.

• Examples include Instagram Shopping, Facebook Marketplace, and Pinterest Buyable Pins.

• Influencers play a significant role in driving sales through social commerce by prom...read more

Sort an array of strings containing only 0, 1, and 2.

• Use a three-way partitioning algorithm like Dutch National Flag algorithm to sort the array in a single pass.

• Keep track of three pointers - low, mid, and high to partition the array into three sections.

• Swap elements based on their values to achieve the sorted array.

Running sum can be found by iterating through the array and adding each element to the sum of all previous elements.

• Iterate through the array and add each element to the sum of all previous elements

• Keep track of the running sum in a separate variable

• Example: For array [1, 2, 3, 4], running sum would be [1, 3, 6, 10]

Insan bag and load by following proper procedures and techniques.

• Ensure the bag is properly secured and stable before loading.

• Use proper lifting techniques to avoid injury.

• Distribute the weight evenly to maintain balance.

• Follow any specific guidelines or protocols provided by the organization.

• Consider the size and weight of the items being loaded to determine the best approach.

• Example: When loading heavy items, use a team lift technique or mechanical aids if available.

I have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.

• I am able to convey complex information in a clear and concise manner.

• I am an active listener and able to understand the needs of my clients.

• I am able to adapt my communication style to suit different audiences.

• I am proficient in using various communication tools such as email, phone, and video conferencing.

• I am able to build strong relationships with clients and colleagues through effective communication.

• For exam...read more

There is no accurate data available on the number of WhatsApp users in Bangalore.

• WhatsApp does not release city-wise user data

• Estimates suggest that there are around 200 million WhatsApp users in India

• Bangalore is one of the major cities in India, so it can be assumed that there are a significant number of WhatsApp users in the city

The Dutch Flag problem involves sorting an array of strings with three possible values in a specific order.

• Create three pointers to keep track of the boundaries of each color group

• Iterate through the array and swap elements to group them in the correct order

• Time complexity of O(n) can be achieved by a single pass through the array

Reverse a linkedlist

• Iterate through the linkedlist and change the direction of the pointers

• Use three pointers to keep track of the current, previous and next nodes

• Recursively reverse the linkedlist by calling the function on the next node and changing the direction of the pointers

An end-to-end Ad platform that connects advertisers with publishers and provides analytics.

• Create a user-friendly interface for advertisers to create and manage their ads

• Develop a system to match ads with relevant publishers based on audience demographics and interests

• Provide real-time analytics to advertisers to track the performance of their ads

• Implement a payment system for advertisers to pay publishers for ad space

• Ensure compliance with privacy regulations and provide tra...read more

Slow growth can be attributed to various factors such as market saturation, economic conditions, and competition.

• Market saturation limits the potential for new customers and sales

• Economic conditions such as recessions can lead to decreased consumer spending

• Competition can make it difficult to gain market share and increase sales

• Lack of innovation or failure to adapt to changing market trends can also hinder growth

I am planning to attend to your CV to evaluate your qualifications and experience for the Business Analyst role.

• To assess your skills and knowledge relevant to the job

• To understand your work experience and achievements

• To determine if you are a good fit for the company culture

• To compare your qualifications with other candidates

• To make an informed decision on whether to invite you for an interview

A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of characters that reads the same forward and backward.

• Use dynamic programming to solve this problem efficiently.

• Iterate through the string and expand around each character to find the longest palindrome.

• Consider both odd and even length palindromes.

• Example: Input 'babad', Output 'aba' or 'bab'.

To scale up a brand, focus on increasing brand awareness, expanding distribution channels, improving product quality, and enhancing customer engagement.

• Increase brand awareness through targeted marketing campaigns and partnerships.

• Expand distribution channels by entering new markets or partnering with retailers.

• Improve product quality to attract more customers and build brand loyalty.

• Enhance customer engagement through social media, customer feedback, and loyalty programs.

The process of joining typically involves submitting an application, attending interviews, and receiving an offer letter.

• Submit an application online or in person

• Attend interviews with hiring managers

• Receive an offer letter outlining job details and start date

The right view of a tree shows the nodes that are visible when looking at the tree from the right side.

• The right view of a tree can be obtained by performing a level order traversal and keeping track of the rightmost node at each level.

• Example: For a tree with nodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, the right view would be 1, 3, 5.

There are two main types of motors: AC and DC motors.

• AC motors are used for high power applications and are more efficient than DC motors.

• DC motors are used for low power applications and are simpler in design than AC motors.

• Examples of AC motors include induction motors, synchronous motors, and servo motors.

• Examples of DC motors include brushed motors, brushless motors, and stepper motors.

A program for stack operations

• Create a stack using an array or linked list

• Implement push() and pop() functions

• Check for stack overflow and underflow

• Implement peek() function to view top element

• Example: stack.push(5), stack.pop(), stack.peek()

Lambda functions are faster due to their ability to execute code without the overhead of defining a function name or structure.

• Lambda functions do not require a function name, making them quicker to define and execute.

• They are often used for simple operations or as arguments to higher-order functions.

• Lambda functions are more concise and can be written in a single line of code.

• They are particularly useful in functional programming paradigms.

To send a return bag, follow these steps:

• Contact the shipping carrier to arrange for a return pickup or drop-off

• Pack the items securely in the bag, ensuring they are protected during transit

• Attach the return label provided by the seller or shipping carrier

• Follow any additional instructions provided by the seller or shipping carrier

• Hand over the bag to the shipping carrier or drop it off at the designated location

STR can be calculated by dividing the current period sales by the previous period sales and multiplying by 100.

• Calculate STR by dividing current period sales by previous period sales and multiplying by 100

• Formula: (Current Period Sales / Previous Period Sales) * 100

• Example: If current period sales are $10,000 and previous period sales are $8,000, STR = (10,000 / 8,000) * 100 = 125%

Women empowerment is the process of enabling women to have control over their lives and make their own decisions.

• Women empowerment involves promoting gender equality and providing opportunities for women to participate fully in society.

• It includes ensuring access to education, healthcare, employment, and political representation for women.

• Empowering women can lead to positive social and economic outcomes for individuals and communities.

• Examples of women empowerment initiative...read more

Fashion e-commerce market analysis involves studying trends, competitors, consumer behavior, and online platforms.

• Analyze current trends in fashion e-commerce such as sustainable fashion, influencer collaborations, and personalized shopping experiences.

• Research competitors in the market to understand their strategies, pricing, and target audience.

• Study consumer behavior in online shopping, including preferences for mobile shopping, social media influence, and customer reviews...read more

Longest Common Subsequence is the longest sequence of characters that appear in the same order in both strings.

• Use dynamic programming to solve this problem efficiently.

• Create a 2D array to store the lengths of longest common subsequences.

• Iterate through the strings to fill the array and find the longest common subsequence.

The largest area in a histogram refers to the rectangle with the maximum area that can be formed within the histogram bars.

• Identify the largest rectangle that can be formed by considering each bar as a potential height and calculating the area based on the width of the rectangle.

• Use a stack data structure to efficiently find the largest area in a histogram by keeping track of the indices of the bars in non-decreasing order of heights.

• The largest area in a histogram can be fou...read more

Design a Price Tagger System

• Identify the products to be tagged with prices

• Determine the pricing strategy (e.g. cost-plus, value-based, etc.)

• Choose the appropriate tagging technology (e.g. barcode, RFID, etc.)

• Develop a user-friendly interface for tagging and updating prices

• Implement a database to store product and pricing information

• Integrate with point-of-sale systems for accurate pricing at checkout

Designing a parking lot involves considering factors like size, layout, capacity, accessibility, and efficiency.

• Consider the size and layout of the parking lot to maximize space and ease of navigation.

• Include designated spaces for different types of vehicles (e.g. compact cars, motorcycles, disabled parking).

• Implement efficient traffic flow patterns to reduce congestion and improve overall user experience.

• Incorporate features like lighting, signage, and security measures to e...read more

Window functions are used in SQL to perform calculations across a set of table rows related to the current row.

• Window functions are used to calculate cumulative sums, averages, ranks, and more.

• They allow for calculations to be performed on a specific subset of rows within a larger result set.

• Examples include ROW_NUMBER(), RANK(), DENSE_RANK(), and NTILE().

The rain water problem involves calculating the amount of rainwater that can be trapped between buildings or structures.

• Calculate the maximum height of water that can be trapped at each position

• Subtract the height of the building at each position to get the water level

• Sum up the water levels at each position to get the total amount of trapped rainwater

I have extensive fleet work experience, including managing vehicle maintenance schedules, coordinating driver schedules, and optimizing routes for efficiency.

• Managed vehicle maintenance schedules to ensure fleet readiness

• Coordinated driver schedules to meet delivery deadlines

• Optimized routes to reduce fuel costs and improve efficiency

The aim is to ensure efficient and effective operations while meeting organizational goals.

• To optimize processes and workflows

• To minimize costs and maximize profits

• To maintain high levels of customer satisfaction

• To motivate and develop team members

• To continuously improve performance

• Example: Increase production output by 20% within the next quarter

GST updates include changes in rates, return filing, and e-invoicing.

• GST Council has revised rates for various goods and services.

• New return filing system has been introduced to simplify the process.

• E-invoicing has been made mandatory for businesses with turnover above Rs. 50 crore.

• Late fee for non-filing of GSTR-3B has been waived for taxpayers with nil liability.

• GST revenue collection has been consistently above Rs. 1 lakh crore for the past few months.

Creating a positive and enjoyable work environment for employees.

• Encourage open communication and collaboration among team members

• Recognize and appreciate employees' hard work and achievements

• Organize team-building activities and events to boost morale

• Provide opportunities for professional growth and development

• Celebrate successes and milestones as a team

Designing search systems involves creating efficient algorithms and data structures to quickly retrieve relevant information.

• Understand the data structure of the search system (e.g. inverted index, trie)

• Implement efficient search algorithms (e.g. binary search, hash tables)

• Consider scalability and performance optimization techniques (e.g. caching, indexing)

• Include user-friendly features like autocomplete and spell correction

• Utilize ranking algorithms to display most relevant ...read more

ESI stands for Employee State Insurance.

• ESI is a social security and health insurance scheme for Indian workers.

• It provides medical and cash benefits to employees and their dependents.

• ESI is funded by contributions from both employers and employees.

• The scheme covers various benefits such as medical, sickness, maternity, disability, and more.