IBM Interview Exam

Thorbar · 24-01-2006 5:13pm #1

I'm doing an interview with IBM for a graduate SW dev position next week. I was told I would have to do a 45 minute paper test on web applications and Java. I'm just wondering does anyone have any thoughts on what the contents of this exam might be and the best way to prepare for it? At the moment I'm planning on brushing up on javascript, java applets and java itself. Is there anything else really obvious that falls under the title web application and that IBM would be interested in?

deadl0ck · 24-01-2006 6:12pm

Is there anything else really obvious that falls under the title web application and that IBM would be interested in

Application Servers - Mainly WebSphere. Also, experience with Eclipse Based IDE's - all the latest WebSphere tooling etc is built around Eclipse.

J2EE - EJBs etc.

Also - databases - mainly DB2 UDB, although a good knowledge of SQL is enough as you'll probably be using JDBC to connect to DBs anyhow.

Basically - know what all of the above are, and what they do - you don't have to know how to use them, but a basic knowledge of them would be good - always good to mention 1 or 2 of their products....

Good Luck !!

Which IBM ? The one in Mulhuddart ?

rsynnott · 24-01-2006 6:59pm

Javascript doesn't have anything in particular to do with Java beyond the name.

deadl0ck · 24-01-2006 7:31pm

True, but he did say web applications, and a lot of client-side validation/bells and whistles are done with Javascript

Hobbes · 24-01-2006 9:18pm

It will be Java, EJB, J2EE stuff. I haven't seen the exams but it is unlikely that it would be Websphere/DB2 related but having that knowledge would help, likewise with eclipse stuff.

The java one a couple of years back was pretty basic and 15 questions. If you knew Java it would be easy enough.

Which IBM ? The one in Mulhuddart ?

There isn't any other that does SW dev.

fletch · 24-01-2006 9:22pm

Hobbes wrote:

There isn't any other that does SW dev.

What do they do in the facility out in Damastown then?

Thorbar · 24-01-2006 9:37pm

Thanks for all the info lads, I've worked with Eclipse quiet a bit before, did a plug-in for my final year project and generally used it for any development since.

I'll have a look at J2EE, EJB, DB2 and websphere and just brush up on my basic java syntax.

Thanks again lads I'll let you know how I get on.

Oh and the interview is for the Mulhaddart labs.

deadl0ck · 24-01-2006 10:32pm

What do they do in the facility out in Damastown then?

That is the one in Mulhuddart.

Good Luck Thorbar!!

cousin_borat · 24-01-2006 11:48pm

There will be at least one question with Java loops using post/pre in/decrement operations where you will have to calculate the final value of variables.

There will also probably be a question about characters and string types buffers. Also watch out for double-byte encoding.

Apart from those definites it may be no harm to have an idea what the various JAX- modules in J2ee do. For XML processing.

rsynnott · 25-01-2006 2:13am

That all seems... very, very easy, considering.

cousin_borat · 25-01-2006 3:02am

Thats what I remember from the exam I done with IBM about 3 yeasrs ago, surprisingly easy as you point out. The rest was C++ and Natural Language processing questions due to the position I was going for.

damnyanks · 25-01-2006 10:06pm

At the end of the day its an interview. Some people dig down into specific detail. More then likely they just want to know if you are bs'ing or not. They can train you in more detail with whatever technology is required.

bpmurray · 27-01-2006 1:40am

fletch wrote:

What do they do in the facility out in Damastown then?

Damastown Industrial Estate is in Mulhuddart, i.e. they're the same place.

Hobbes · 27-01-2006 6:30am

damnyanks wrote:

At the end of the day its an interview. Some people dig down into specific detail. More then likely they just want to know if you are bs'ing or not. They can train you in more detail with whatever technology is required.

Your correct. Which is why you shouldn't worry too much about WebSphere if you haven't used it unless you don't know about J2EE to begin with. Likewise I wouldn't get overly concerned about DB2 (JDBC is ok), it is unlikely a grad would know DB2 stuff and unless its a specialised position they aren't going to hang you on it.

They can train you in more detail with whatever technology is required.

Level and amount of training varies from group to group. Some cases you will have to study yourself although IBMs educational section is huge (lots of stuff to help you self study). You will be required to pass at least 1 exam a year though, among other things.

Beta2 · 27-01-2006 5:41pm

I did it this year.

I did rubbish in the online test and the written test. But I still got the job!!

I had 2 exam papers one solely on java, and one on computers in general. The general computer one had stuff on html, xml, linux, eclipse, etc it was a very broad test.

I found the test hard as it was done with negative marking, but I don't think they weight it too heavily, as I said I did rubbish.

My personal interview was very relaxed and was more of a chat about previous projects then them asking any particular questions.

I really wouldn't worry about it, I'm sure you'll do fine

B2

IBM Interview Exam

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