My Cognizant GenC Next On-Campus Hiring Experience (2025–26 Batch)
Recently, I took part in the Cognizant campus recruitment drive conducted at my college and was fortunate to secure the GenC Next role with a package of 6.75 LPA. The hiring process consisted of several stages designed to test communication skills, aptitude, technical knowledge, and overall personality.
In this article, I’ll share my complete experience, the types of questions asked in each round, and some useful preparation tips for students preparing for Cognizant.
Round 1: Communication Assessment
Date: 21 November 2025
Mode: Online (from home)
Duration: 60 minutes
The first stage focused on evaluating English communication abilities. This round tested how well candidates could understand spoken English and communicate their responses clearly.
The test included:
- Listening comprehension tasks
- Grammar and sentence correction questions
- Verbal ability questions
- A speaking assessment
During the speaking section, candidates were required to answer prompts verbally. The system analyzed pronunciation, clarity, and fluency.
Tip:
Use a good-quality headset and sit in a quiet environment so background noise does not affect the speaking evaluation.
Round 2: Aptitude Test
Date: 23 November 2025
Mode: Online
Duration: 80 minutes
The second round focused on analytical and quantitative skills. The overall difficulty level was moderate.
Important topics included:
- Profit and Loss
- Time and Work
- Speed, Time, and Distance
- Percentages
- Logical reasoning
Along with the aptitude questions, there were several gamified puzzle challenges. These tasks tested concentration, quick thinking, and pattern recognition.
Tip:
Stay focused during the puzzle rounds, as they are designed to check your decision-making speed.
Round 3: Technical Assessment
Date: 18 December 2025
Mode: Offline
Duration: 120 minutes
Technical Cluster: Java
Candidates were assigned a technical cluster based on their preference. My cluster was Java.
The technical assessment consisted of three parts.
Coding Questions
Two coding problems were asked, mainly related to string operations.
Examples included:
- Writing a program to find the frequency of each character in a string
- Solving a string matching problem
The questions were moderate in difficulty and manageable with basic coding practice.
SQL Questions
Two SQL questions were based on a database schema diagram. We needed to write queries using joins to extract specific information.
Topics included:
- SQL joins
- Writing queries based on table relationships
Java MCQs
There were 10 multiple-choice questions related to core Java topics, such as:
- Object-Oriented Programming concepts
- Exception handling
- Multithreading
- Core Java fundamentals
Preparation Tip:
Practice string-based coding questions and SQL join queries before the test.
Round 4: Technical + HR Interview
Date: 20 December 2025
Mode: Offline (interview conducted online through Superset)
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
The interview began with a self-introduction.
Java Questions
The interviewer asked several questions related to Java fundamentals, including:
- OOP concepts
- Multithreading
- Static keyword
- Exception and error handling
I was also asked to write a program that prints the frequency of characters in a string.
SQL Questions
Some database-related questions included:
- Difference between DELETE, DROP, and TRUNCATE
- What is an Index in SQL?
- Query to find the employee with the highest salary
HR Questions
The HR discussion included common questions such as:
- Are you willing to relocate?
- Are you comfortable working night shifts?
The overall interview experience was smooth and focused mainly on core technical fundamentals.
Round 5: Advanced Interview (For GenC Next / GenC Pro Candidates)
Date: 10 January 2026
Mode: Online (via Superset)
Duration: Around 40 minutes
This round was conducted only for candidates shortlisted for GenC Next or GenC Pro roles.
Java and Coding Questions
The interviewer again asked about Java basics and then gave a coding problem:
- Write a program to find the square root of a number using Binary Search
SQL Question
- Write a query to retrieve names containing the letter 'a'
Advanced Java Topics
Some additional backend-related questions were asked on:
- Spring Framework
- Spring Boot
- Java annotations
- REST APIs
The HR questions were similar to those in the previous round.
Final Result
I was finally selected for the GenC Next role.
Offered Package: 6.75 LPA
Important updates:
- Result Announced: 15 February 2026
- LOI Received: 22 February 2026
Currently, I am waiting for the official Offer Letter and Date of Joining.
Final Thoughts
The Cognizant recruitment process evaluates candidates on multiple aspects, including communication skills, logical reasoning, technical knowledge, and adaptability.
For students preparing for Cognizant, it is helpful to focus on:
- Core Java concepts
- SQL queries and joins
- String-related coding problems
- Basic aptitude topics
