When professor Dr. Jayakrishnan needed an intern to join the NPTEL Data analytics team, he struggled to find the right candidate – one with the skillset and knowledge needed to succeed in the role. He received a number of applications, however, the applicants were not well versed in Data structures and Algorithms. Moreover; screening out the unqualified applicants proved to be a time-consuming process. Dr. Jayakrishnan decided to turn to CodeChef in order to get a reliable candidate pool, a pool that was sure to have the basic Data Structures and Algorithms knowledge that he was looking for.
Through the help of the CodeChef team, Dr. Jayakrishnan was able to access a list of students who were already CodeChef Certified in Data Structures and Algorithms. Since every candidate met these criteria, the need for independent DSA testing was eliminated which saved both time and effort for Dr. Jayakrishnan.
“My primary goal was looking for a Data Analytics intern. In that, data structures are pretty important. If you are a good programmer, you should be very clear of your data structures, it’s as simple as that. The better you are at it, the easier it will be for you to code and solve problems,” said Dr. Jayakrishnan, “Knowing that candidates have scored certain marks in an exam or a particular assessment test it definitely is an advantage when it comes to hiring. It is also advantageous to the candidates.”
Ultimately, Dr. Jayakrishnan selected three outstanding candidates who each had their own story.
Want to learn Data Structures and Algorithms? Get all the learning resources you need on our Prepare page. To know more about the CodeChef certification or enrol, visit our website or write to us at ccdsap@codechef.com
At CodeChef, we constantly stay in touch with CCDSAP holders to make the experience better for you and to fine-tune the certification. We spoke to Avjot Singh, a CCDSAP Foundation Level Certificate holder who is placed at Cleartax as an Intern Software Developer. We asked him about his CCDSAP experience and his tips for aspiring candidates.
Pure interest! Avjot was actually studying at the Delhi Technological University to be an Electronics Engineer, but his career took a sharp left turn in his second year when when his interests expanded to include Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. As he learned more about these subjects, Avjot realised that he could be a better student of these disciplines by investing some time and energy into learning the basics of computer science.
In an effort to learn more about how he could strengthen his DSA skills, Avjot began some dedicated research on the subject. Soon enough his journey of internet research led him to CCDSAP and he knew it was the right path for him. Avjot didn’t know anybody who had taken the test, but he was confident in the CodeChef name and was happy with the detailed instructions and information he found about the certification.
Diligence and practice are the only secrets according to this young developer! He thoroughly studied the practice materials and explored the mock tests in order to prepare for the test. As a student with no previous background in computer science, he started readying himself for the test around two months before the exam and he recommends that candidates work on at least 5 problems a day. Avjot found himself sufficiently armed for the foundation level certificate exam after studying the materials provided, but his advice to anyone considering the advanced level is to venture out and find more problems and mock tests to work on. “Be confident in yourself, and be clear with the fundamentals before jumping straight into complex problems,” he said.
Avjot certainly thinks so! He had been impressed with the study materials before, from a learning perspective, but once he began his internship, the software development intern found that much of what he had studied and been tested on, could now be practically implemented into his day-to-day assignments and responsibilities. Avjot is now considering appearing for the advanced certificate exam to take his knowledge and abilities to the next level.
The next CCDSAP exam takes place on the 20th of January. Check this link for details and get in touch if you have any questions for us!
At CodeChef, we constantly stay in touch with CCDSAP holders to make the experience better for you and to fine-tune the certification. We spoke to Amit Upadhyay, a CCDSAP Foundation Level Certificate holder who is placed at Cleartax as a Software Engineer. We asked him about his CCDSAP experience and his tips for aspiring candidates. so read on!
A little background on Amit and his introduction to coding.
Amit completed his engineering from the Army Institute of Technology in Pune in 2018. Amit has always been involved with the world of code. He started coding on the CodeChef platform in his first year, and eventually moved on to making mobile apps in his second year. During this he found that he had a wealth of knowledge (and libraries!) to share with the world, so he began blogging as well. Amit credits the environment in his college for boosting his interest in coding competitively. In his first year, his seniors informed him about the CodeChef platform and he quite enjoyed the thrill of competitive programming.
How did Amit hear about CCDSAP and why did he decide to appear for it?
Amit heard about CCDSAP when Directi landed up in his campus for a recruitment drive. Clearing the CCDSAP also allows one to interview with Directi and Amit decided to make use of this opportunity. Even though his concepts were clear, Amit decided to consolidate his learning before appearing by taking the mock test on the CodeChef website. He recommends taking them to get an idea about the exam format and the correct pacing needed to finish the exam in time.
How should one prepare for CCDSAP?
Amit believes that a strong understanding of the fundamentals of DSA is what is tested at CCDSAP. So how does one get there? He recommends using a good book of DSA theory matched with an equal amount of solving DSA problems, like the ones available on the CodeChef website. He advises that candidates should study one data structure at a time and then solve 10-20 problems based on it before moving to the next. There are also many videos available online to help with the conceptual part. Finally, he recommends the prepare section on the CCDSAP site as an invaluable resource, complete with mock tests.
So where does DSA help one in the industry?
While most products depend on existing frameworks which can be understood by reading the manual, Amit emphasizes that DSA helps you learn how to think. It lets you understand the most optimal way of going about solving a problem, no matter what platform or framework is used. After all, problem-solving skills are universal and carry over to your next assignment as well.
Amit also spoke about how college doesn’t quite prepare you for industry challenges, and a lot of the learning happens on the job. At CodeChef we agree that this is certainly an issue and efforts can be made to bridge the gap between recruiters and candidates. CCDSAP does address this in a small way, and eventually we can bring a systemic change together.
The next CCDSAP exam takes place on the 7th of October. Check this link for details and get in touch if you have any questions for us!
For Sujeet Sawala, an engineering student from Pune, tackling programming sets in front of a screen held as much interest as weaving past pawns and bishops on a chessboard. But it was the drive to learn more each day that fuelled his passion to be a better coder. Sujeet never wanted to start his job hunt but armed with his humble and dedicated approach towards programming, and learning on the whole, today he is placed in Directi through his CCDSAP certification.
But his journey started a long time back, during his college days, where he explored online contests and took to competitive programming like a fish to water. Here is an excerpt from the session we had with Sujeet about his experience with competitive programming.
Get to know me!
1. Tell us about yourself!
Hi. I’m Sujeet. I’m currently studying Computer engineering in my final year at Pune Institute Of Computer Technology, Pune. I am interested in programming and like solving complex problems. I also enjoy playing Chess. I’m an Internationally rated chess player with a FIDE rating of 1725.
2. When did you actively begin competitive programming? What did you like about it?
It was during my 3rd Semester that I explored contests with online judges and also ACM-ICPC. Since then, I gradually and actively started competitive programming. I especially liked the data structures and algorithms part of competitive programming and the challenges they throw. The logical abilities developed by attempting and overcoming those challenges are always helpful.
About CCDSAP
3. What was your motivation behind taking the CCDSAP?
I regularly participated in CodeChef Long Challenges. I was placed first on the college leaderboard. I was particularly interested in testing my skills and knowledge in a program which would also provide me a certification. That was one of the motivators for taking the CCDSAP. I was happy to learn that I scored 1000 out of 1000 in the CCDSAP in the very first attempt!
4. What specific feature did you like most about the CCDSAP? (Is there anything different that isn’t offered in other certifications?)
According to me, CCDSAP is the only program that offers certifications in Data Structures and Algorithms through programming contests. This makes it a unique certification program.
5. How did you prepare for the CCDSAP? (Any tips for beginners?)
I regularly used to practice algorithmic problems on various online judges like CodeChef, Codeforces, Hackerearth, Hackerrank, Lightoj etc. This ensured that my preparation for CCDSAP was thorough.
6. Tell us in brief about your interview process with Directi!
My interview process consisted of three interviews based on Data Structures and Algorithms. After I cleared these rounds, there was a final technical interview round. It was based on the projects done, and computer science related concepts like operating systems, databases, networking, etc.
Feedback
7. How can the overall CCDSAP exam experience be improved?
I felt the level of questions could be upgraded a notch higher so that the CCDSAP could gear up to be even more challenging.
8. Would you recommend the CCDSAP to friends/colleagues? If so, why?
Indeed. It is a good program to test one’s skills and knowledge across a wider community. The certification is a valuable one. Moreover, it helps get an interview with Directi 
Cheers!
The Chef
