1. Explain your final-year project and your exact contribution.
Why they ask: They separate what the team built from what you built.
How to answer: Name the problem, your module, the tech stack and one decision you made and why. Say 'I', not 'we', for your part.
2. What is the difference between TCP and UDP?
Why they ask: HCLTech has a large infrastructure business; networking basics are tested even for developers.
How to answer: TCP is connection-oriented and reliable with ordering; UDP is connectionless and faster. Give one use case each: web browsing vs video calls.
3. What are the four pillars of OOP?
Why they ask: A fast filter for conceptual clarity.
How to answer: Encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, polymorphism — each with a one-line real example from code you wrote.
4. Are you comfortable with rotational shifts?
Why they ask: Many support and infra projects run 24x7.
How to answer: Be honest. If yes, say so with any prior experience; if limited, state what you can do rather than refusing outright.
5. Why HCLTech over other IT companies?
Why they ask: Tests whether you researched the company.
How to answer: Mention a specific area — engineering and R&D services, cloud or a product like HCL Software — and tie it to your skills.