Rejection Diaries

The following are the rejection stories I had during the On-Campus Drives for the Summer Internship 2020.

DE Shaw Group

Stipend: 1.5Lakhs / month
This is the first company I was interviewed for. There were about 11 students shortlisted after the Coding Round. It was a kinda nervous situation as this was going to be my first interview and they were going to judge me in the span of 20–30 minutes. But overall, I was happy from the inside as I solved one question out of two in their coding round. From noon to evening, they were taking interviews. I had my turn at last. Firstly they asked about my test and a few things related to my resume. After that, they gave me a question related to Dynamic Programming. I was able to write a recursive code but failed to write an optimal DP Solution. They took 3–4 rounds of 2 students and the other students including me just waited for their further rounds. Later on, they decided to go with those 2 students only and we were asked to leave. MY FIRST REJECTION!! I was feeling sad, bad, and a few more feelings (can't be expressed). The students selected were from ECE and none of the CSE guys went further after 2nd round. I just typed on our CSE WhatsApp Group “Two ECE guys got selected at DE Shaw” and hoped to start the next day with a smile.

Salesforce

Stipend: 75k / month
The second company, a perfect post of SDE and a dream company for me. I was able to solve two questions partially out of three. Many of the students solved three complete problems. But luckily, I was shortlisted for the interviews. I had my interview the other day after the DE Shaw. At around morning 11, they started the interview process. I was called and they asked three questions related to DSA. I was not able to perform better in it, maybe because of the first rejection I had the last day, or maybe because of nervousness. After my first round, they called a few students including me and told us to leave after a small speech by HR. I was feeling .. ok ok .. don’t worry, it would be fine. I headed towards my room, thought a bit, felt a bit low, cried because I got rejected by one of my dream companies.

Arcesium

Stipend: 1Lakh / month
The same day after the Salesforce interview, we had Arcesium Coding Test. There were a few MCQs and two coding questions. I was able to solve a coding question and a few MCQs correctly. Again!, I was shortlisted and called for the interview at around 5 PM. The interviewer was good at interaction and asked a few questions related to my resume, OOPs, and a few DSA Questions. The interview went better than the previous two interviews and I was confident that I would clear the first round this time. But!, they called a few names and asked them to leave at around 8 PM. Again! the lowest feeling I had till that time. It was different this time. In the previous two, I was not able to solve the problems, but I did this time, then Why?? Leaving those thoughts behind I came to the hostel for dinner.

Flipkart

Stipend: 50k / month
That was the first time Flipkart coming to our college for internship and placements. The same day after getting rejected at Arcesium, and after having dinner, we (the ones rejected from Arcesium) were called for Flipkart Coding Test at midnight. There were 2 questions and we all were able to solve only 1. We all were called for the interview. After entering the Placement Cell, I heard that they were asking DP questions and rejecting a lot of people. Leaving that thought behind, I went for my interview. He asked me 2–3 questions, and now also, I was not able to solve optimally any of them. The instant I came out of the room, the placement coordinator shook his head. I understood his sign, picked up my bag, and headed towards the hostel. The journey from PT Cell to the hostel was feeling like traveling from Jammu to Kanyakumari. I had the worst face at that time. Like what’s happening with me. I did prepare for the interviews, then Whyyy??

JP Morgan

Stipend: 50k / month
Again on the next day, I had to go to the same place for giving this Coding Test. (You don’t know how sad I am feeling writing this) There were 2–3 questions in the test and I was able to solve half of them. Got shortlisted, called for the interviews. This time I was feeling good like I can clear the interview rounds of this company. I have faced so many rejections and have learned from them. They called me in the room, asked for a simple puzzle, then asked about the project I did in the summer. I explained to them and answered a few queries. I was happy after coming out of the room. After a while, they told the Coordinator that I would be going in the second round. Wow!! This is it. I knew!!. But wait, how this can happen? I can’t be going in the second round so easily. I asked the coordinator why they were asking easy questions. He said you would come to know about this in the second round. I was like Okayy!! Let’s see. I was called for the second round, and the thing the coordinator said became true. The questions he asked were of medium level but I didn’t know why .. I didn’t feel to write anything on paper. I could have solved those if I concentrated for a while, and determined to go to that company. But noo!! I didn’t write the solution, messed all of it. Got rejected again!!

Deutsche Bank

Stipend: 50k / month
After a break of a week, we had the test of Walmart and Deutsche in a row. Messed up my Walmart coding test, and performed well in the Deutsche. I was called for the interview, and the coordinator said they would be having only one round of interviews. I was happy after that. I have to clear only one round. I had my interview, was pretty confident, answered all his questions. After all the interviews, HR came out and started announcing the names. I had my name!!, one of the students jumped too!! Yayy!! Finally!!… But wait!! This is the article of rejection stories no .. then how I can write a success story. No!!! They said that they would have one more round then. We were feeling sad again. Why God?? I was called for the second round, and the HR asked a few basic questions and the interviewer asked the technical questions. It went okayish for me. Neither good nor bad. I was waiting for the results with placement coordinators and the other students. The placement coordinators were mocking like .. You always come in every interview and got rejected. What’s happening? I didn’t have the answer to say .. I dunno what’s happening. They announced the results after a while, and I just walked towards the hostel after listening to them. I got rejected again!. So happy moment no! Very Funny :D

Optum UHG

Stipend: 35k / month
After all those rejections I had since July, I was feeling low. From 1.5 Lakhs to 35k .. see the kind of luck I was having that time. They had their test on my birthday and at least there is something lucky happening for me .. the Coding Test on the day of my Birthday. This is the company I supposed to be in, isn’t it?. My Lucky Company!!. These lines are making you bored but these lines were giving hope to me at that time. I cleared the test, called for the interview. They told us that there is only one round, and then HR. I had my turn. I was not able to solve the problems entirely but I was near to the optimal solution and was speaking confidently. At least this much I can do for me, to speak with confidence. They announced the results after a while. I got selected, not believing that I can be selected by any firm. But Yaa!! This is the ending of this journey. I had my HR Interview, answered her questions. Felt relaxed!! Now no one will see me again n again at the PT Cell, now no one will give comments on my luck after seeing me at the hostel, now I have not to wear black and white. It’s just finished. You might be thinking that I was not the happiest this time after getting an internship. This is because I expected a lot from me, a lot. I hadn’t heard the name of this company, Optum, but yaa, at least I got it, it’s fine. I have to do more hard work now, have to improve myself.

Thanks for reading these Rejection Stories. I hope that you might be placing yourself at my place right now. I could have performed better, but this is what was supposed to happen. Maybe the next article will boost you up :P. The end doesn't come so easily.

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end. ” — John Lennon