J'ai postulé via une agence de recrutement. Le processus a pris 1 jour. J'ai passé un entretien chez Cognizant (Chennai) en mai 2018
Entretien
Some tips:
1) Don't carry a bag or come by bike. If you carry a bag, you'd have to wait for 1 hour in queue sweating to enter. Bikes aren't allowed inside except for employees. If you park outside, police will definitely lock them up and store it in police station
2) Get a file with every document including photo, resume etc. Cellphone is allowed. For women - handbags are allowed and no need to stand in queue for one hour.
Interview Process: (1: 1 with Manager)
1) Introduction - Your project work
2) Questions on statistics
3) Questions on the Machine Learning algorithm you know.
4) Python / R - Questions relating to the job
Even though i didn't get the job, the manager was a very good guy. He asked me what I know first and then asked questions on that. Programming solution and plots can be explained in a given paper & pen in the 1:1 conversation.
Know that job description will always have extreme requirements. Please don't try to study everything in a short time. Be confident in one or two algorithm and learn in & out of it. Please be confident in whatever you say, if you don't know something and want clarity - ask.
Questions d'entretien [8]
Question 1
What is a residual? how does the residual plot look like?
J'ai postulé via un recruteur. J'ai passé un entretien chez Cognizant (Chennai) en déc. 2025
Entretien
I am a former Cognizant employee with 6+ years of AI/ML experience and was excited about the opportunity to return. Unfortunately, the interview was the most unprofessional experience of my career.
What happened:
Greeted the interviewer with "Good morning" – received no response
First statement from interviewer: "Are you really having skills or faking just for interview?"
No technical discussion – was handed a paper to write irrelevant AWS code
When I requested to share my project experience and awards, was told "Don't waste my time"
Entire interview lasted 4–5 minutes with constant rudeness and shouting
Was not allowed to speak or demonstrate my actual skills
My Take:
Having received offers from multiple Big 4 firms where I was treated with respect, this experience was shocking. Rejections are normal, but being subjected to hostile, degrading behavior is unacceptable. The interviewer (blue shirt, seated near hand wash area) displayed zero professionalism and created a harassment-like environment.
Advice for Cognizant: Screen interviewers for basic courtesy and professionalism. This reflects poorly on your employer brand.
Advice for Candidates: Be prepared for potentially disrespectful treatment. Document everything if this happens to you.
Efficient and chill, with 3 rounds of interviews, first phone screening, then interview with the Head of AI for technical stuffs and last behavioral round with HR. The whole process was smooth and the interviewers were very helpful.
Questions d'entretien [1]
Question 1
Tell me about various ML models and how do you decide which model to use where.
The recruiter reached out to me. There were a total of 2 rounds of interviews. After 1st round of interview, they scheduled my last technical, which happened on the following weekend. The interviewer did not join the call. They rescheduled it further 4 times in the coming week, but the manager who was supposed to conduct the interview did not appear. The recruiter apologized, but then never scheduled that round. I felt my time was wasted in the process.