Runway to Success: My Thrilling Internship Journey with Flipkart
Hello, I’m Mehak Gupta, a pre-final year student studying Information Technology at IIIT Allahabad. Join me on an exhilarating journey, from discovering Flipkart’s internship opportunity to securing a coveted spot as a Runway Intern.
About Flipkart Runway Program
It’s an excellent program conducted by Flipkart every year for girls who are about to complete their second year of B.E/B.tech. The application process started in the first week of March 2023. The top performers of Flipkart Runway get a chance to intern at Flipkart in the summer after their second year.
The program includes one Online assessment round and two technical interviews (both eliminatory). There’s also an SOP submission round but that is non evaluative. The people who don’t get the internship offer also get various mentorship benefits and a chance to interview. This program is exceptional in its true sense because it gives you an early corporate experience, which can play a huge role in your future career.
Online Assessment Round
On March 18, 2023, we started the first part of the internship selection process at Flipkart. This was a test to see if people knew the basics of coding. We had 45 minutes to answer 30 MCQ questions. The questions were about CS fundamentals such as OOPs, DSA, DBMS, Computer networks, OS etc. The difficulty was of medium level.
Here’s a tip for anyone who wants to try this: You should practice these kinds of questions on “Geeks for Geeks.” It really helps. Also, it’s not just about getting the answers right. You have to be quick too because you get extra points for being fast.
Moreover, this was an eliminatory round so only the fastest and most accurate candidates progressed to the next rounds.
SOP (Statement of Purpose) Submission Round
After a few weeks, on the 21st, the official Unstop website shared the results. After this, all the selected candidates were required to submit the SOP (Statement of Purpose). It was like a letter where we had to say who we are, explain why we wanted this internship, and state why we would be good for it.
However, they didn’t use the SOP to decide who gets in — it was just to know more about us. About 150 students, including me, got selected, which was super exciting because it meant we were one step closer to the internship we wanted!
Technical Interview Rounds
Next, let me share my experience with the technical interview rounds. The first one took place on April 6th and lasted for 60 minutes. During this round, the interviewer asked me to write code in a Google Doc. They presented me with two competitive programming (CP) questions to solve.
Following the initial interview, I received the good news — I was shortlisted for the second round of interviews, which was scheduled on April 10th.
This interview also lasted for an hour and focused on data structure and algorithm (DSA) questions related to topics like Depth-First Search (DFS) and Breadth-First Search (BFS).
Then, on the morning of April 24th, I got the selection mail! It was truly one of the happiest moments of my life.
My advice for the technical interview rounds would be, firstly, keeping the interview interactive is crucial. If the interviewer doesn’t provide examples, don’t hesitate to ask for them to ensure a better understanding of the question. Clarity in the question is paramount and make sure it’s well-explained, and both you and the interviewer are on the same page.
Avoid rushing to write code immediately. Instead, focus on discussing your approach. Try to find the most optimal solution gradually, step by step. A strong grasp of the basics is indispensable.
Furthermore, while writing code, prioritize readability and use appropriate variable names.
Lastly, practice! The more you practice, the more confident and prepared you’ll be.
Work Experience
Soon, I received the form to fill in my details for flight booking. The onboarding process was very smooth, and team allotment happened right after.
When we arrived at Bangalore, we were warmly welcomed at a splendid hotel in Whitefield. Over the next few weeks, my schedule was packed. I got to meet interns from different colleges and various departments. We had access to abundant resources. I learned how real-life projects work, gained insights into corporate life, and understood how teamwork operates.
I was assigned to the DevOps team. Every week, we received tasks that we had to study and complete accordingly. The work culture was fantastic; everyone was approachable and always willing to help. After a few weeks, our mentor was assigned to us. They not only guided us in our work but also provided valuable advice beyond the scope of tasks.
Apart from work, we often had team outings. After work, we used to play table tennis and pool or use to go to tea together in the evenings. Towards the end of the internship, we all received recognition for our work. On the last day, I was given a farewell party, which was quite emotional for me. And before I knew it, two months had passed by. I got to experience the real world and meet some really wonderful people along the way.
I hope you found something new and valuable in my experiences. Thanks for your time and attention.
