On-campus · Jun 2026
SWE at Quark
Hello folks! I am Paras Dhanwal from Moga, Punjab. I did my schooling at Yadavindra Public School, Mohali. My passion for computers first kicked in when my father bought me a desktop at the age of 12. So, I took the traditional route of pursuing PCM and got a decent score in JEE mains(95%). I eventually bagged a seat at Thapar University, Patiala. Currently, I’m a final-year student pursuing Electronics and Computers and working as a software engineering intern at Quark Software Inc. Since the beginning of my college life, I have been an avid participant in societies like MLSC, GDSC, and ACM. I also worked as a Student Placement Representative for my branch and facilitated the placement of numerous peers. Furthermore, I was a part of multiple startups and worked to build various projects which aid me in daily life. I helped organize 8+ computing events and had an amazing time in college. I love being a guiding light for my juniors, so feel free to reach out to me on Linkedin :).
- Outcome
- Selected
- Rounds
- 3
- Format
- Virtual
- Panel
- Technical panel
What was the procedure of the placement that took place? (Shortlisting criteria, coding or aptitude test, number of interviews)
The procedure for the final placement in Quark is as follows: 1) Aptitude Test 2) Coding Test 3) Four Technical Interview Rounds 4) One HR Interview Round
What was the difficulty level of the interview? (1- very easy, 10-very difficult)
I would rate the overall difficulty level to be 7 out of 10.
Tell us about the written/online test. (Aptitude, Coding, Test Platform, etc)
The aptitude and coding tests were held in offline mode at the Main Auditorium in Thapar. Sheets were distributed by the company officials and we had to finish the exam in the given time frame. In the aptitude test, there were three sub-sections: Maths, English, and Computer Science fundamentals which covered Object Oriented Programming, Computer Networks, Network Security, and Database Management Systems. In the coding round, some code snippets were given where we had to find the output or an error in the snippet or complete the code.
Describe your all Technical Interviews specifying number of rounds and details of each round (if any).
FIRST ROUND: All my interviews were around 40 to 50 minutes long, and all were held in offline mode on campus. In my first round, they asked questions like 1. The swap of two numbers using only two variables – solve using three to four different approaches 2. Explain all the pillars of OOPs with code 3. Print “Hello World” without using the semicolon. 4. Exhaustive discussion on the Fibonacci series (ways to decrease the time complexity and give different approaches) 5. N Queens Problem- Backtracking 6. Find maximum sum subarray – Kadane’s Algorithm 7. Middle node in LinkedList. (Two approaches) SECOND ROUND: The second round was entirely based on Java (as my work is prominently based on it). They went in-depth into Java concepts. The questions were like
Tell us about the HR interviews, if any, specifying the number of rounds and questions asked.
Questions regarding my background and some puzzles were asked in the HR round.
What were the key factors of your selection?
I feel the key factors for my selection are: ● Confidence ● Hard work ● Good Communication skills ● Familiarity with questions through consistent practice. ● Competitive programming. ● My Parents and my Network (A massive thanks to all my friends and peers for their valuable guidance and support, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve half of what I have!)
What are the things students should focus on, in order of priority?
Pay attention to topics like DBMS, DSA, OOPs, and CNS. Put effort into developing good Projects. Ensure you are consistent in practicing coding questions.
According to you, what role do extracurricular activities as well as participation in societies play?
They play a vital role in improving your soft skills and building a good network. One of the strongest quotes that I follow religiously is: “Your network is your net worth.” You should join the societies according to your interests, be they tech or non-tech.
Were there any companies you got rejected from after appearing for their interview? If yes, then tell us about your rejection story and what do you think were the reasons for your rejection?
JPMC was the first company that rejected me. It was disheartening for me at first, but I didn’t lose hope. I took stock of my skill level, determined which areas I wanted to improve in and put diligent effort into becoming a better version of myself. Next, I participated in the recruitment process of Tredence. I proceeded to the HR round but ultimately decided that it was not the job profile that I wanted to begin my career with. Quark was the third company for which I interviewed and eventually got selected.
What message would you like to give to your juniors regarding the stress they go through during placement season?
Be honest with yourself. ● Take rejections in a positive way. ● You should be motivated to grow and learn right from day one ● Surround yourself with like-minded people with common goals ● Never lose hope.
