From Hackathon to Hire: My UBS On-Campus Interview Journey

UBS visited our campus in March 2025 to select students for a hackathon they were organizing. The first step was an online assessment consisting of multiple-choice questions based on Java, OOPs, database concepts, and other computer fundamentals, along with one medium-level DSA problem. After the assessment, six students were shortlisted for the hackathon, and I was fortunate to be one of them.

Later, when UBS returned to campus for on-campus hiring in July 2025, those of us who had already participated in the hackathon were exempted from retaking the online test. The rest of the students appeared for it on July 15th, and results were announced by July 17th. Interviews were conducted the very next day, on July 18th, and the entire process took place on the same day.

There were three rounds of interviews in total.

Round 1 – Technical Interview

The first round was completely technical and focused mainly on my resume, projects, and internships. The interviewer asked detailed questions about my projects — what they do, what makes them unique, and the technologies I used. I was also asked a simple DSA question based on arrays. Since the problem was easy, I shared two to three possible approaches, coded the solution quickly, and also explained the time complexities for each approach. The interviewer seemed satisfied with the structured way I explained my thought process.

Round 2 – Technical + HR

The second round was a mix of technical and HR questions. Due to a brief network issue, I joined the meeting a minute late, which initially made me nervous. However, the interviewer was extremely polite and helped me feel comfortable. The discussion started with introductions, followed by questions from core computer fundamentals like the difference between private, public, and protected. Once again, I was given a simple DSA problem to solve, where I had to write the code in the chat box itself (no need to run it). Again here I gave 2 approaches and coded them up.

The interviewer then mentioned that UBS doesn’t just look for talent, but for sharpness, and asked me a puzzle to test my logical thinking.

• “A father and his son met with an accident, and both were taken to a hospital. The boy was badly injured, and as he was taken into the operation theatre, the doctor said — ‘I can’t operate on this boy, he’s my son.’ How is that possible?”

Round 3 – HR Interview

The final round was purely HR-based and lasted around 10 minutes. The interviewer asked about my family background, why I wanted to join UBS, and whether I was willing to relocate. It was a very short and relaxed interaction.

The next day, July 19th, the results were announced, and I was thrilled to know that I had been selected.

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Key Takeaways

• Be thorough with your resume. Most technical questions are directly picked from your projects or internships, so know what you did, how you did it, and why.
• You can drive the interview with your answers. The way you explain something often decides what the next question will be — so highlight topics you’re confident about and gently steer the discussion in that direction.
• Communication matters as much as knowledge. Even simple questions can make a strong impression if answered clearly and confidently.
• Ask at least one question to the interviewer. It shows curiosity and can turn into a meaningful conversation.
• Clarity, confidence, and composure together create a lasting impression — even more than perfectly solving every question.