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Web: www.cognizant.com | HQ: Teaneck, NJ

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Updated Apr 11, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
Ratings are reflective of location and job title.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 13 ratings

2.9

“Average” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 13 ratings

Positive	46%
Neutral	38%
Negative	15%

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3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Nov 2011 in Teaneck, NJ (took 2 months)

I first hear of the company at a job fair at my university. The recruiting staff was extremely nice and personable. They instructed me to fill out the application online; and that they would sign me up for a campus interview. A few weeks later I had my first one on one campus interview with a recruiter and it went extremely smooth. We basically went over my entire resume and I explained each experience as well as my technical skills. The questions they asked were not there to "trip you up" they just want to know more about you; and to see if your a personable individual who could potentially be a good consultant.

From there I received a notification that I would be continuing to the second interview in Teaneck, NJ. The company flew me there for the weekend along with the other students. During the following morning I had three separate interviews; behavioral, technical, and a recruiting sit down.

Behavioral is all about you. Why do you want to work at cognizant. What do you do on your free time. What are you passionate about? What are your experiences in teams and how do you problem solve.

Technical is a review of the technical skills you indicated on your resume. If you said you know Java then tell me about the project you used it on. Fairly simple if you're honest on you resume. They also ask you some basic questions about like data types and sdlc. Stuff that you should know if you have a technical background so don't stress. And if you don't know you don't know.

Interview Questions

Give me an example of data types? (but they use a different word for it so be ready)

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How do you deal with teams?

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Negotiation Details

There is no negotiation all beginning associates start at the same rate; 55k.

Other Details

I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

More Cognizant Technology Solutions Technology Solutions Analyst Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Feb 2012 in Newark, NJ (took 3 weeks)

A friend of mine had sumitted my resume to the management. I have made it very clear that I have 18 yers of relative and progressive experience and hence, looking for a senior position. After initial correspondence with a Sr. Recruiter, an interview date and time were scheduled. A Monday 12 AM one. Unfortunaely, I had a 'production issue' at work and I requested fo re-schedule, 20 minutes before the interview call. The hiring manager did not recieve the note in time and he called me at 12. I have explained my situation and requested for rescheule and he agreed to do it on Wednesday. Here started the fun. I did not recieve a call from the Manager, nor the other other manager who i reporting to the former. I called and emailed the Sr. recruiter who co-ordinated this call. Unfortunately, that lady was on vacation. So, I called the Jr. Manager, left him a voice mail and requested to notify me whether they would be calling soon. Next week, I received a call, abou the re-schedule, but, again the same story. After 5-6 reschedules, they finally called me at 6 PM. This time, the Jr. Manager, (who is 10 years junior to me) alone interviewed me. At first place i felt insulted as I did not recieve an apoogetic word about the 'no-shows' from CTS. Also, this Jr. Manager who is not knowledgable enough to evaluate my knowldge or credentials, came down with a questionnaire and started asking me questions. BTW, in spite of his 9 years expeience, he did not even know that there are 2 versions of ITIL (v2 & v3). Finally, he suggests what I should do instead of what I have applied for.
So, to sum it up, if this is the level of professionalism you to a Sr. Manager level candidate, I rather not work for such group. I cannot blame the company entirely.... but CTS must review how they want to handle their potential managers.

Interview Questions

How many people are reporting to you?

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You are very technical, why do you want to move to a management position?

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Other Details

I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Nov 2011 in Teaneck, NJ (took 4+ weeks)

Only if you are applying through a college or university. Positions for Infrastructure Solutions Analyst, Tech analyst, and software testing.

Pre-Screening interview: The recruiters and the group of students who have an interest with cognizant will meet in a room and the recruiters will just talk about what Cognizant is all about and what positions are available. The next day or so, there is a 1:1 interview with the recruiter. There is no tech questions. Just questions about yourself and talk about things from your resume and what you have done. They also asked if "a friend asked you what is Cognizant? what would you tell them?"

(1 weeks later), if you're from the east cost, a lady will email you about an onsite interview and will ask information about your availability to fly to Teaneck, NJ for a three 1:1 interview. (Hotel, meal, limo from and back to your University all paid by Cognizant).

(1 week later), You would probably fly the night before the interview day, which you would probably be a Thursday night (there are no restaurant outside the Marriott where you would be staying by the way).
The following morning, the interview processes will commence. You'll and your peers from college will be together in a room while breakfast is served. The head of HR will come and talk about what cognizant is and also about himself. He says before he leaves "please answer the questions that they ask you and don't bs your answers or resume because if they do find out, you'll know what happens next."

There is a 1:1 Personality test, a 1:1 Technical Test (based off your resume), and a 1:1 with the recruiter (feedback on the interview process and any questions you might have for them.

Each interview is Approximately 40-45mins.

1:1 personality test- Person will ask you if you are a team player and what you would do if a person from a team does not do their part of the work. Just answer what you think is logical and HE WILL GO AGAINST WHAT YOU SAY! Don't worry, just stay calm and say he is right etc. Don't lash out! Remember, its a PERSONALITY TEST. They will criticize all your answers so just stay calm. Ask questions to the person doing the interview.

After.....

1:1 Tech interview - They will GRILL you on your resume. So don't lie on your resume and make sure you know your resume back and forth (remember to bring copies of your resume with you). They will also ask you about questions that you might not be familiar with. Don't worry! Just say "I don't know" and you will be fine as long as you don't bs your answer. Ask questions to the person doing the interview.

After...

1:1 with Recruiter - Just be straight forward on how you found the interviews to be and some feedback on what could be changed. They will answer questions you might want to ask them so this will be the perfect timing. They won't tell your salary, but everybody gets paid the same.

After.......

Go back to the room with all your peers and have lunch and then to the airport back to your university which a limo will pick you up.

For TECH ANALYST & SOFTWARE TESTING: You will get a reply within 2 weeks or less if you got the position or not through email. Then a recruiter will call you and talk about how much your salary will be and the benefits and perks you will get.

For INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS ANALYST: You will get an email or something in 2 weeks or less for a third interview on the phone. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR RESUME VERY VERY WELL. It will be like 30 min interview.
Next day or a few days later, they will send you an email saying if you got the job or not. If you did, the recruiter will call you some x days to talk about how much your salary will be and the benefits and perks you will get.

There process is very organized and fast response in terms of interviews and if you get accepted or not, just to let you know. Good Luck and hope this will be valid for you guys.

Interview Questions

If you have networking in your resume - Tell the OSI model and tell me what each layer does?

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Where does a switch, hub, router, and NIC belong in the OSI model? and why?

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Do you know Routing protocols ? Tell me some of them.

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Negotiation Details

Since we are freshers, we can't negotiate salary! So don't bother.

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Skills Test, a Personality Test, a Drug Test and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Dec 2011 in Teaneck, NJ (took a day)

Had to go over my background, for business consulting - they were looking client exposure.

Interview Questions

What would you do to improve process consulting

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Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview.

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Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Dec 2010 in Teaneck, NJ (took 5+ weeks)

I applied through my school's career website. I had a on-campus interview with them, it was 1:1 and mainly behavioral and common HR type questions. I was then invited for a on-site interview in NJ. It consisted of 3 1:1 interview, one technical interview, one HR interview, and one behavioral interview. They informed those who received a offer in 2-3 days.

Interview Questions

Describe the software life cycle.

Answer Question

Describe your experience using SQL.

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

More Cognizant Technology Solutions Consultant Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Oct 2010 in Teaneck, NJ (took a day)

It was first a presentation of the company by the COO via video conference and asked some question to the group. We were about 8 kids. Then we got dispatched each in a room.
I had 3 interviewers. First technical. Basic question: pointers, arrays, data structures, OSI models layers, garbage collector, heap, inheritance. So basic java and C/C++. Not too hard. Some logic design questions.
Then business interview: steps for making a project. 6 sigma i think. and some other easy stuff.
Then a last interview with personality test and questions such what would u do in a situation such as... just to check your ability to work in a group project.

I was very confident about it. And I got the offer that I could not really discuss since I was entry level.

Interview Questions

Steps of a project management ?

Answer Question

In Data Structure, what's the difference between Tree and Array in term of FIFO and LIFO ?

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Negotiation Details

Nope, entry level. 55k/year. Signing Bonus = 5k after 30 days. 5k after first year retention and another 5k after second year. Pretty good deal.

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Skills Test and a Personality Test.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

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Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Received and Declined Offer

Interviewed Feb 2010 in Teaneck, NJ (took 4+ months)

Process was disorganized. No job description for role. Interviews were constantly changing, with people added/dropped from interview schedule. Weeks passed without feedback on the previous round of interviews, then suddenly there would be a renewed interest in an urgent meeting.

Interview Questions

There interviews were fairly basic, asking for an explanation of my background/experience.

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Most questions were geared to assess fit with the company culture.

Answer Question

Reason for Declining

The interview process indicated a work environment that lacked organization/strategy,

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Declined Offer

Interviewed Dec 2010 in Teaneck, NJ (took 2 days)

The first on-campus interview is a simple 1:1 interview. The second round, they fly you to Teaneck NJ to interview have two more 1:1 interviews with other consultants, and finally 1 1:1 interview with a manager. The interviews are mostly behavioral with typical questions on leadership and teamwork. There is also one technical interview, however due to my degree (mechanical engineering) I was exempt from the technical questions. I believe this is because they involve coding. There is a presentation about Cognizant and they pay for your food.

Interview Questions

Tell me about a time you were proactive in accomplishing a task.

Answer Question

Reason for Declining

No option to stay local to D.C. Other cities offered were NJ/NYC, Boston, Chicago, Birmingham, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Seattle, Dallas, many more.

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

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Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed May 2010 in New York, NY (took 2 weeks)

It was very fast and methodical. Good approach, was asked very specific questions. All skills are looked at. The right attitude and approach was taken, next steps were clearly communicated. Very accomodative and understanding folks.
will surely make you confortable to access your skills. All relevernt areas of the position you are hirered for will be done.

Interview Questions

what are your failures

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Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test, a Skills Test, a Personality Test and a Background Check.

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Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Dec 2009 in Teaneck, NJ (took a day)

The day after my 30 minute screening interview I had a 30 minute technical interview. There were a number of protocol questions dealing with legacy protocols such as H.323, PRI trunks types, etc. There were not many situational question around a technology worked it was more about particular platforms. Though the role was architect it seemed much more like the questions were geared towards a systems integrator.