Automatic Data Processing, Inc. As a leader in business outsourcing solutions, (ADP) is known for its skills in managing payroll, HR, taxes, and benefits. In order to get a job at this well-known company, you have to get past the ADP interview questions. Over its 70-year history, ADP has transformed into a technology-centric firm, adeptly responding to the evolving workforce landscape. Innovation, honesty, and social responsibility are at the heart of the company’s culture, which creates a space where people can work together and grow. Implementation consultants help client companies get the most out of the solutions ADP offers. One type of job at ADP is to help companies put those solutions into action.
Dynamic programming (DP) is a powerful algorithmic method for breaking down big problems into smaller, overlapping subproblems and saving the answers to these subproblems so they don’t have to be computed again. This method often finds quick answers to problems that would take a lot of time and computing power to solve any other way.
As a result DP is a highly sought-after skill in software development interviews, particularly for roles involving algorithm design and optimization. ADP a leading provider of human capital management (HCM) solutions, is no exception. They frequently ask DP questions in their technical interviews to assess a candidate’s problem-solving skills and ability to apply algorithmic techniques to real-world scenarios.
We’ve put together a list of the 20 most common dynamic programming interview questions, along with short answers and links to full answers, to help you get ready for your upcoming ADP interview. We’ve also added some extra tips and links to help you learn DP and improve your chances of getting your dream job at ADP.
Level 1: Warming Up with the Fundamentals
- Nth Catalan Number: Explain the concept of Catalan numbers and write a recursive function to calculate the Nth Catalan number.
- Minimum Operations: Given a string consisting of only ‘X’ and ‘Y’, find the minimum number of operations required to make the string alternating (XYXY…).
- Minimum steps to delete a string after repeated deletion of palindrome substrings: Given a string, find the minimum number of steps required to delete the entire string by repeatedly deleting palindrome substrings.
- Minimum number of Coins: Given a set of coin denominations and a target amount, find the minimum number of coins required to make up the target amount.
- Maximum Product Cutting: Given a rope of length n, find the maximum product you can obtain by cutting the rope into smaller pieces and multiplying their lengths.
- Ways to Cover a Distance: Given a distance and a set of steps you can take, find the number of ways you can cover the distance using those steps.
- Minimum number of deletions and insertions to transform one string into another: Given two strings, find the minimum number of deletions and insertions required to transform one string into the other.
- Minimum sum subsequence such that at least one of every four consecutive elements is picked: Given an array of integers, find the minimum sum of a subsequence such that at least one element from every four consecutive elements is picked.
Level 2: Stepping Up the Challenge
- Subset Sum Problem: Given a set of integers and a target sum, determine whether there exists a subset of the integers that adds up to the target sum.
- Longest Common Subsequence (LCS): Given two strings, find the longest common subsequence (LCS) that appears in both strings.
- Longest Increasing Subsequence (LIS): Given an array of integers, find the longest increasing subsequence (LIS) that can be formed from the array.
- Edit Distance: Given two strings, find the minimum number of edits (insertions, deletions, or substitutions) required to transform one string into the other.
- Longest Path In Matrix: Given a matrix of integers, find the longest path from the top-left corner to the bottom-right corner such that you can only move down or right.
- Optimal Strategy for a Game: Given a game where two players take turns picking coins from a pile, determine the optimal strategy for the first player to maximize their winnings.
- 0/1 Knapsack Problem: Given a set of items, each with a weight and a value, and a knapsack with a maximum weight capacity, find the subset of items that maximizes the total value in the knapsack without exceeding the weight capacity.
- Shortest Common Supersequence (SCS): Given two strings, find the shortest common supersequence (SCS) that contains both strings as subsequences.
- Partition problem: Given a set of integers, determine whether the set can be partitioned into two subsets with equal sums.
- Rod Cutting: Given a rod of length n and a set of prices for different lengths of the rod, determine the optimal way to cut the rod to maximize the profit.
- Coin change problem: Given a set of coin denominations and a target amount, find the minimum number of coins required to make up the target amount, or determine that it is impossible.
- Word Break Problem: Given a dictionary of words and a string, determine whether the string can be segmented into a space-separated sequence of one or more dictionary words.
Beyond the Basics: Expanding Your DP Arsenal
- Maximal Product when Cutting Rope: Given a rope of length n, find the maximum product you can obtain by cutting the rope into smaller pieces and multiplying their lengths.
- Dice Throw Problem: Given a dice with n sides, find the number of ways to get a sum of k after throwing the dice m times.
- Box Stacking: Given a set of boxes, each with a width, height, and depth, find the maximum height of a stack that can be formed by stacking the boxes.
- Egg Dropping Puzzle: Given an N-story building and an egg that can be dropped from any floor, find the minimum number of drops required to determine the highest floor from which the egg can be dropped without breaking.
Mastering the Art of DP: Practice Makes Perfect
To truly master dynamic programming, consistent practice is key. The above problems are a good starting point, but there are many more DP problems that need to be looked into. Here are some resources to help you on your journey:
- GeeksforGeeks: This website offers a comprehensive collection of dynamic programming problems with detailed solutions and explanations.
- LeetCode: This platform provides a wide range of coding challenges, including many dynamic programming problems, along with interactive coding environments and community discussions.
- HackerRank: Similar to LeetCode, HackerRank offers a variety of coding challenges, including dynamic programming problems, and allows you to track your progress and compete with other programmers.
By actively engaging with these resources and consistently practicing solving dynamic programming problems you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to ace your next technical interview. Remember the key to success lies in understanding the core concepts, recognizing patterns, and applying the appropriate DP techniques to solve problems efficiently. So, keep practicing, keep learning, and keep pushing your boundaries!
Additional Tips for Acing Your ADP Interview
Besides learning dynamic programming, here are some other things you can do to get your dream job at ADP and impress your interviewers:
- Research the company: Before your interview, take some time to learn about ADP’s business, values, and culture. This will show your interviewers that you’re genuinely interested in the company and have done your homework.
- Prepare your own questions: Asking thoughtful questions at the end of the interview shows that you’re engaged and curious. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the role, the team, and the company culture.
- Be confident and enthusiastic: Show your interviewers that you’re excited about the opportunity and believe in your abilities. Confidence is contagious, and it will make a positive impression on your interviewers.
- Follow up after the interview: Send a thank-you note to your interviewers within 24 hours of the interview. This is a courtesy that will show your appreciation for their time and consideration.
By following these tips and mastering dynamic programming, you’ll be well on your way to landing your dream job at ADP. Remember, the key is to be prepared, confident, and enthusiastic. Good luck!
How to Prepare for an ADP Interview
- Know What Products and Services ADP Offers Learn about ADP’s products and services, especially how they use technology in HR and payroll. Stay updated on recent product launches or updates. These facts can help you show that you’re really interested in the job and set yourself apart from other applicants.
- Know the Industry: Learn about the HR and payroll outsourcing industry as a whole, including the latest trends and problems. Analyze ADP’s market positioning relative to its competitors.
- Think about ADP’s culture and values. Make sure your answers reflect ADP’s values, such as honesty, social responsibility, and new ideas. At different points in the interview process, you will be asked to talk about examples from your past that show how these values have affected you.
- Practice and Feedback: Do practice interviews to get better at how you answer questions. Also, go over some of the most common technical questions that are asked in ADP interviews. Seek constructive feedback to improve your answers and presentation skills.
- Prepare Questions for ADP: Show that you’re interested by thinking of good questions to ask about ADP, the job you’re applying for, and the team you might work with.
Practice being brief and clear in your answers, and make sure they answer the question that was asked. You will also want to make sure that you showcase your enthusiasm for the role and the company.
The ADP Interview Process
ADP’s interview process will have several different stages that are common to many consulting roles. The type of job you are applying for may, however, require a technical test as part of each ADP interview. As it is a software company, implementation consulting roles can require some degree of technical experience. Typically, the process involves the following stages:
- Review of Your Application: Once you send in your application, it is looked over to see if it includes the right skills and experience.
- First Screening: Usually, a recruiter will call or video chat with you to see if you’re a good fit for the job.
- Technical Assessment: ADP may include a technical assessment for some roles to check for certain skills.
- Meetings with potential team members and managers in person: These are your chances to get to know them. Expect a mix of behavioral and technical questions. Some ADP interview questions are mentioned below.
- Last Interview: Sometimes there is a last interview with HR or higher management.
- Offer and Onboarding: Those who are chosen will be given an offer and go through the onboarding process.
Each step in the process is an opportunity to showcase your alignment with ADP’s values and technical prowess.
ADP Interview Questions with Answer Examples
FAQ
How many rounds of interview does ADP have?
Are ADP interviews hard?
Why do you want to join ADP?
What is the interview process like at ADP?
The interview process at ADP is pretty easy navigating and showing your potential. The only i can say is being referred doesng help and sometimes even with the background and skill set they still reje… I received an email, requesting that I choose a time for a phone interview through their ADP website if I was still interested in employment.
Is ADP a good company?
ADP is a company that specializes in payroll software, which is a human resources product. The better a company’s Human Resources department can perform, the better the employee experience will be. This is highlighted in one of ADP’s Culture Statements, which states that they are always designing for people, and that they start with their own.
What is the ADP hiring process?
The ADP hiring process typically begins with a phone screening or initial interview with a recruiter, followed by one or two additional interviews with managers or team members. These interviews may include behavioral and situational questions, as well as role-playing exercises.
How did you interview at ADP 3?
I interviewed at ADP 3 interviews, very straightforward. First screen, second interview with SEs, mock call with SEs and SVP. No trick questions or weird assignments. Typical questions like, “tell us about your background, tell us why you’re interested in this product specifically, etc.”
