Recruitment Stories - Proteeti's Experience at Brain Station 23

Proteeti Prova Rawshan is currently working as an Associate Software Engineer at Brain Station 23. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering from Military Institute of Science & Technology, where she also served as Director of Brand and Promotion for the MIST Career Club.

In this article, I will be sharing Proteeti’s experience of landing a job at Brain Station 23, so that someone preparing for a job search can benefit from her insights.

During her final year at MIST, Proteeti began looking for job opportunities in the technology sector. She approached her seniors and peers who had already gone through several recruitment processes to gain more insights. She also joined a couple of relevant Facebook groups to learn about various hiring opportunities. Through one of these groups (CSE/EEE JOBS in Bangladesh), Proteeti learned about Brain Station 23’s Star Coder program, which was designed to hire recent graduates. She applied to the company and was shortlisted after a few weeks.

The recruitment process consisted of the following phases:

Phase 1: MCQ Based Remote Online Test

The remote online test lasted for an hour and covered topics such as databases, basic OOP concepts, data structures, output tracing, and analytical abilities. Proteeti did not prepare for the test, as it covered very basic concepts. The only challenge she faced was answering all the questions within the given time constraint.

Despite not having prepared, Proteeti performed well on the online test and was invited to the next phase.

Phase 2: Written Test

The written test consisted of 30 questions worth 100 marks to be completed in 1 hour and 30 minutes. The questions were in two different formats:

1. Written (carrying 55% marks): Two problem-solving questions, one algorithmic question, and three incomplete code snippets that implemented data structures the candidate needed to complete.
2. MCQ (carrying 45% marks): Covered OOP, database, data structure, output tracing, and analytical concepts.

Proteeti found the MCQ portion relatively difficult, particularly the database and output tracing parts. However, she had prepared well for the test by utilizing platforms like Codeforces and HackerRank to practice implementations of various data structures and algorithms. She also used HackerRank to practice SQL, and refreshed her OOP concepts on the GeeksforGeeks platform.

Proteeti performed well in the written test and was invited to the next phase.

Phase 3: Assessment Test

The assessment test took place at the Brain Station 23 office, where a selected group of candidates spent the entire day. The day started with some fun activities, after which the candidates were divided into groups. Each group was assigned a task and was mentored by a Software Engineer at Brain Station 23. The task required designing a solution to a given problem, with the help of E-R, UAT, Context Diagrams, or Flow Charts. Additionally, individual members in each group were given specific problems to solve and were interviewed by their respective mentors. At the end of the day, each group presented their solutions, with the mentors closely monitoring the candidates throughout the process.

Proteeti excelled during the assessment test and was selected for the next phase.

Phase 4: Technical and HR Interview

During this phase, Proteeti underwent a technical interview followed by an HR interview. In the technical interview, she was asked questions about her resume, including the projects she had completed in university, her research publications, and previous job experiences. She was also given a few problems to solve and asked about her approach and the time complexity of her solutions. In the HR interview, she was asked about her background, interests, and preferred tech stack. Proteeti performed well in the interview and eventually received an offer from Brain Station 23.

Special thanks to Proteeti Prova Rawshan for taking out the time to share her recruitment experience with me. If you have any queries, feel free to contact her at proteeti13@gmail.com