Rubrik Interview Experience | Software Engineer Winter Internship | Off-Campus

I'm thrilled to share my incredible interview experience for the Winter Internship at Rubrik. It was an intense yet rewarding journey that pushed my limits and taught me a lot about problem-solving and personal growth.

Round 1: Online Coding Test (HackerRank)

Difficulty: Hard

The test consisted of 4 challenging coding problems to be solved in 90 minutes. I managed to partially solve all the questions, scoring 11/15 test cases for one and partial solutions for the rest. Despite not fully solving any problem, I was pleasantly surprised to be shortlisted for the next round.

Round 2: Technical Interview (45 minutes)

Difficulty: Hard

The interview began with brief introductions, after which I was presented with a complex graph problem involving:

• Graph Complement
• Graph Coloring
• Dynamic Programming (DP)

For the first 10 minutes, I brainstormed and explained my logic aloud. With some hints from the interviewer, I devised an initial solution. Although I couldn't optimize it immediately, I explained my optimization strategy using DP states and operations in the last few minutes. The interviewers seemed satisfied with my explanation, and I was advanced to the next round.

Fun Fact: One of my interviewers was an IIT JEE topper, which made the experience even more exciting!

Round 3: Technical Interview (45 minutes)

Difficulty: Hard

This round was led by an ICPC World Finalist, which initially made me a bit nervous. However, the friendly introduction eased my nerves.

The challenge was a Dynamic Programming problem. I initially implemented a solution with O(n²) complexity. The interviewer then asked me to optimize it further. After some thought, I proposed a solution using a Segment Tree, explaining how I would handle queries, updates, and merging nodes.

Although the interviewer was satisfied, they asked if I could solve it without a Segment Tree. With a hint and an example, I proposed an alternative solution using a Set to replace the Segment Tree. I implemented this approach and explained the underlying logic thoroughly. The interviewer appeared impressed and advanced me to the next round.

Round 4: Hiring Manager Interview (30 minutes)

Difficulty: Medium

This round was a more conversational session focusing on my:

• Previous experiences and projects
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)
• Testing methodologies

It was a valuable discussion where I gained insights and learned how my skills aligned with the company’s expectations.

Key Takeaways

This entire process was a significant confidence booster. It reinforced the importance of:

• Clear problem-solving strategies
• Effective communication of logic
• Adapting to challenges and optimizing solutions

My journey with Rubrik taught me that every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and I’m incredibly grateful for the learning experience!