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Here is an informal description of my experience. For clarity and readability, I might need to revise the answer. Please do not reproduce the answer in whole or part without my permission.
Please don’t ask me how to prepare to take the interview or for the exam. The information provided below is based on my best knowledge and memory as of the date of writing. I disclaim all responsibility for inaccuracies found herein.
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Basic Information
I was interviewed for the Electronics field for OCES-2012. My time was limited to interviews with 200+ people. I believe less than 20 people were selected for interviews (including 5 for the training school at BARC, Mumbai). The interview level selection ratio is approximately 10%. Your exam score doesn’t affect your chances of being selected once you are shortlisted.
The Interview
The interview committee consisted of six people with one chairman. Along with my project dissertation, I had a document file that contained marksheets and other forms. Although the project dissertation was not necessary, I felt I had done a great project and would have been benefited if there was more discussion.
One person took my file and the other took my project report as I entered the room. After some pleasantries, the interview started.
I was asked to name my “favorite subjects” (either 3 to 5 or not, not sure). The interview consisted mainly of design questions based on the subjects or closely related. There were also some unrelated questions. One of the committee members, the chairman, went into depth about an equation in the Fourier domain or Laplace domain that related to the circuit being studied. I did not answer the question/s satisfactorily and, at one point, I replied to a specific query by saying that I didn’t know. I was furious and the person said something like, “yeh bi nahi ata tumhe” (you don’t even know this!). I said so and was asked to leave.
I was dejected and left the room. I was irritated and left the room. Finally, I was called back in and the Chairman directed me to another person and told me that he would quiz me about Microprocessors as well as Digital Design. After I answered the questions, the interview went on and I was then asked a question about mixed design. This was my last question and I received the “white slip”. The slip read, “you have been deemed suitable and will be offered a job, subject to availability and according to your ranking and preference.”
I was given my project report and my file as soon as I got up from my seat. I hadn’t been asked anything by the member of the committee who had my report. Then he said, “I hope that you have done this project,” to which I replied “Yes sir. In fact, the work was also awarded by xxx.”
It was a great experience. I received a good grade and was eventually offered to join the BARC Campus training school in Mumbai.
Some key lessons:
– It is important to understand the theory from both the point of view of applying it in practice.
Interviews are lengthy and include several questions. The answers to all questions do not have to be perfect. It is more important to be able to provide a technical sound explanation behind your answers and to communicate it clearly and fearlessly.
Although my answers weren’t always correct, I provided clear justifications and explained my assumptions clearly. They pointed out my mistakes and a time when I didn’t know anything about a component in my design.
Let’s just say that they care about your approach to the problem and how technical you are.