HCL Coding Questions
Coding problems with solutions
HCL Interview Experience 2025-2026 | Real Candidate Stories & Tips
Read authentic HCL interview experiences from recent candidates 2025-2026. Round-by-round breakdown, questions asked, preparation tips, and strategies for HCL placement.
HCL Technologies conducts campus recruitment through a three-round process: a 90-minute online assessment (aptitude, technical MCQs, and coding), followed by a technical interview and an HR round. The process typically completes in 2–3 weeks. Below are real experiences and company-specific details to help you prepare.
HCL Interview Process at a Glance
Section titled “HCL Interview Process at a Glance”| Round | Duration | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Online Assessment | 90 min | Aptitude (15–18 Q), Technical (5–7 Q), Coding (1–2 problems). Sectional and overall cutoffs (~60–65%). At least 1 coding problem must be solved. |
| Technical Interview | 45 min | Programming (C/C++/Java/Python), data structures, DBMS, OOPs, project discussion. |
| HR Interview | 30 min | Background, why HCL, career goals, compensation, role expectations. |
Experience 1: Graduate Engineer Trainee – Selected ✅
Section titled “Experience 1: Graduate Engineer Trainee – Selected ✅”Date: November 2024 · Branch: CSE · Package: ₹4–4.5 LPA
Online Assessment
Section titled “Online Assessment”The test was on HCL’s platform with no negative marking. Aptitude had quant, logical reasoning, and verbal. Technical MCQs covered basic programming, DBMS (joins, normalization), and OOPs. There were 2 coding questions: one on array manipulation and one on string handling. I solved one fully and got partial on the other. Tip: Manage time so you don’t miss the coding section; solving at least one problem is important for cutoff.
Technical Round
Section titled “Technical Round”The interviewer asked me to introduce myself and then went through my projects. Questions included: difference between abstraction and encapsulation, write a SQL query for second highest salary, and a small coding task (check palindrome). They also asked about stacks vs queues and when to use which. Tip: Revise core CS and be ready to write clean code on the spot.
HR Round
Section titled “HR Round”Questions: Why HCL? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Are you okay with relocation? They explained the Graduate Engineer Trainee role and the 2–3 week joining timeline. Tip: Show genuine interest in HCL’s work and be clear about willingness to relocate if required.
Experience 2: GET – Selected ✅
Section titled “Experience 2: GET – Selected ✅”Date: December 2024 · Branch: IT · Package: ₹4–4.5 LPA
Online Assessment
Section titled “Online Assessment”Aptitude was a mix of percentages, ratios, time & work, and a few reasoning sets. Technical had output prediction in C and a couple of DBMS/OOPs questions. Coding had one array-based problem (e.g. find second largest). I focused on accuracy and attempted all sections; overall cutoff felt around 60–65%. Tip: Practice HCL-style papers; sectional cutoffs are strict, so don’t ignore any section.
Technical Round
Section titled “Technical Round”Started with “Tell me about yourself” and project deep-dive. Then: explain inheritance with example, what are indexes in DBMS, and a short code to reverse a string. The interviewer was supportive and asked follow-ups on my approach. Tip: Speak your logic while coding and mention time/space complexity if you know it.
HR Round
Section titled “HR Round”Brief round: family background, why HCL, strengths/weaknesses, and confirmation on no backlogs and 6.0+ CGPA. Tip: Keep answers concise and professional; have your documents and eligibility details clear.
Common Questions at HCL
Section titled “Common Questions at HCL”Technical
Section titled “Technical”- OOPs: inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction vs encapsulation
- DBMS: SQL joins, normalization (1NF, 2NF, 3NF), primary vs foreign key
- Programming: reverse string, palindrome, prime check, second largest in array
- OS/Networking: basic process scheduling, TCP vs UDP (sometimes)
- Why HCL? / What do you know about HCL?
- Tell me about yourself
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Are you willing to relocate?
- Why should we hire you?
Related Resources
Section titled “Related Resources”HCL Preparation Guide
Complete preparation strategy
HCL 2025 Papers
Previous year papers
HCL Aptitude Questions
Aptitude practice
HCL Main Page
Eligibility, process, cutoffs
Written by the placementpapers.app editorial team · Verified by industry hiring professionals
Last updated: February 2026