The interview process for a Software Engineer II (P2) at Workday is designed to assess a candidate's technical proficiency, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. It typically involves multiple rounds, including HR screening, technical interviews focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design, and a final managerial interview to evaluate leadership potential and alignment with Workday's values.
Rounds·4
Timeline·~14d
Experience·3 - 7 yrs
Comp band·US$110000 - US$150000
Interview time·195 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 05 phases
01 / 05Phase 01 of 05
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Basic Algorithms
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common operations and time complexities. Practice basic algorithmic techniques like sorting, searching, and recursion.
Phase 02 of 05
Weeks 3-4: Advanced Algorithms
Weeks 3-4: Dive deeper into algorithms such as dynamic programming, greedy algorithms, graph traversal (BFS, DFS), and string manipulation. Understand Big O notation thoroughly.
Phase 03 of 05
Weeks 5-6: System Design Principles
Weeks 5-6: Study system design concepts including scalability, availability, reliability, databases (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, load balancing, message queues, and API design. Review common design patterns.
Phase 04 of 05
Week 7: Behavioral and Situational Questions
Week 7: Prepare for behavioral and situational questions. Reflect on your past experiences, focusing on achievements, challenges, teamwork, and leadership. Practice articulating these using the STAR method.
Phase 05 of 05
Week 8: Mock Interviews & Company Research
Week 8: Mock interviews, review company information, and refine your understanding of Workday's products and values. Ensure you have questions prepared for the interviewers.
Questions
Locations
Fig · Regions — 02 locations
01 / 02Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Location
Interview focus
Common questions
Tips
Rounds
Expand a step for evaluation criteria, sample questions, and prep notes.
HR Screening · 30 min · Recruiter/HR Representative
This initial round is conducted by a recruiter or HR representative to assess your overall fit with Workday's culture and values. They will discuss your background, career aspirations, and motivation for applying. It's also an opportunity for you to learn more about the company and the specific role. Be prepared to talk about why you're interested in Workday and how your skills align with the Software Engineer II position.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Why are you interested in Workday?
Tell me about your previous experience and how it relates to this role.
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview (Coding) · 60 min · Software Engineer
This technical round focuses on your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to analyze the problem, devise an efficient solution, write clean code, and explain your thought process. Expect questions that test your knowledge of arrays, strings, linked lists, trees, graphs, sorting, searching, and dynamic programming.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given a binary tree, find its inorder traversal.
Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.
Write a function to check if a string is a palindrome, ignoring non-alphanumeric characters.
Given two sorted arrays, merge them into a single sorted array.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Technical Interview (System Design) · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round assesses your ability to design and architect software systems. You'll be given an open-ended problem, such as designing a specific application (e.g., a social media feed, a URL shortener, a ride-sharing service). The interviewer will evaluate your approach to breaking down the problem, identifying requirements, choosing appropriate technologies, and designing for scalability, reliability, and maintainability. Be prepared to discuss databases, APIs, caching strategies, load balancing, and potential bottlenecks.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a system like Twitter's news feed.
How would you design a rate limiter?
Design a distributed key-value store.
How would you design an API for a ride-sharing service?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Managerial Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager
In this final round, the hiring manager will assess your overall fit for the team and your potential for growth within Workday. They will delve deeper into your past experiences, focusing on your contributions, leadership style, and how you handle challenges. This is also your chance to ask more in-depth questions about the team's projects, dynamics, and career development opportunities. Be prepared to discuss your career goals and how this role aligns with them.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to lead a project or initiative.
How do you handle disagreements within a team?
Describe a situation where you had to learn a new technology quickly.
What are your expectations for this role and your career at Workday?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Workday loops
Other guides
