FORESIGHT(2023): Summer Internship at AlphaGrep | Sidharth Vishwakarma |
1) Brief Introduction
Hi everyone, I am Sidharth Vishwakarma, a third-year Computer Science and Engineering undergraduate student at IIT Kharagpur. I’ll be interning at AlphaGrep Securities in the summer of 2023 as a Software Developer.
2) How did you get into AlphaGrep? What was the selection procedure?
The role was open only for circuital departments like CS, MA, EC, EE, and IM. The selection procedure consists of an intense coding round followed by an interview or a series of interviews.
The coding round had 5 CP questions to be solved in 90 mins. They were from a varying range of difficulties. The first question was a typical linked list query. The second was an interactive problem based on finding a sink in the graph. Third was a medium ad-hoc question using priority queues and binary search operations like lower and upper bound. The fourth was based on bitmasking. Finally, the fifth one was on level order search in a binary tree.
The interview was a bit tough, with questions based on DSA and some concepts from C++, like virtual functions, dynamic polymorphism, and shared pointers. It is also recommended that you should know some basics of system design and memory management.
3) How to prepare for them?
Most of your preparation time will be involved around Data Structures and Algorithms. Apart from this, it would be best to know C++ OOPS concepts. AlphaGrep tests your C++ knowledge for the Software Development Role, as most work involves C++.
They also sometimes test your systems knowledge with questions from Operating Systems and Computer Networks. Therefore, it would be handy if you had some knowledge of them.
Keep your CG as high as possible. As far as I can remember AlphaGrep doesn’t specify any CG cutoff, but they shortlisted only those students with a CG ≥ 9.30.
4) What difficulties did you face while preparing for this Company/Profile? How did you overcome this problem
I was having a lot of problems initially with CP and DSA. I always struggled to solve medium-hard problems on coding platforms like Codeforces. My consistency and persistence in doing the DSA problems was the key to overcoming this, eventually leading to better results.
5) According to you, who should ideally apply for this job?
The job is most suited for any individual who-
- Has a tremendous mathematical ability to solve problems.
- Likes High-Frequency Trading.
- Has a good knowledge of Data Structures and Algorithms.
- Knows how to design in C++.
- Is interested in system design.
- Has exposure to real-time programming, multi-threaded programs, and network programming (TCP/IP).
Having some suitable coursework, research projects, or open-source activities, ideally in C++, is a plus point.
6) Any specific advice you want to give to the junta sitting for internships this year?
If you are preparing for SDE roles, try keeping DSA and CP skills as high as possible. Maintain your CG and accept to face rejection. Sometimes you may have performed well in a company interview but weren’t selected, but on the other hand, you get selected for a company in which you had very little chance. Try to do as much as you can. Sometimes you won’t get what you expected, but be consistent and keep confidence in yourself.
7) What are some of the major points you think would be valid to mention in your CV while targeting this profile? (any specific suggestions you would like to make?)
Day 1 companies like AlphaGrep and many other HFTs mostly overlook your CV. The only thing they are looking for in your CV is your Department and CG. It’s highly preferred that you are from a circuital department with a CG > 9. Apart from this, these companies only need good programming and mathematical ability.
