This interview process is for a Software Engineer (C6) role at Zalando. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, system design capabilities, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~14d
Experience·5 - 8 yrs
Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. LeetCode Easy/Medium.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on fundamental data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice implementing these and analyzing their time/space complexity. Solve problems on platforms like LeetCode (Easy/Medium).
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles. Scalability, Databases, Microservices.
Weeks 3-4: Deep dive into system design. Study concepts like scalability, availability, reliability, databases (SQL vs NoSQL), caching, load balancing, message queues, and microservices architecture. Review common design patterns and practice designing scalable systems.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral preparation. STAR method. Zalando values.
Week 5: Prepare for behavioral interviews. Reflect on past experiences related to teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, conflict resolution, and failures. Use the STAR method to structure your answers. Research Zalando's values and how your experiences align.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews. Practice coding and behavioral answers.
Week 6: Mock interviews. Practice with peers or mentors to simulate the interview environment. Get feedback on your technical explanations, coding, and behavioral answers. Refine your communication and problem-solving approach.
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.
Technical Coding Interview · 45 min · Software Engineer (Peer)
This round focuses on your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your ability to write clean, efficient, and correct code, as well as your thought process in approaching the problem.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Find the kth smallest element in a Binary Search Tree.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
This round assesses your ability to design and architect software systems. You'll be presented with a high-level problem and asked to design a solution, considering aspects like scalability, performance, data storage, and reliability. This often involves drawing diagrams and discussing trade-offs.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
Design a news feed system for a social media platform.
How would you design an API for a real-time chat application?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Team Lead
This interview focuses on your past experiences, behavioral competencies, and how you align with Zalando's culture. You'll be asked questions about teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, and how you handle specific work situations. The goal is to understand your working style and potential fit within the team.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?
Describe a project where you took initiative or went beyond your responsibilities.
How do you handle constructive criticism?
What are your career aspirations for the next 3-5 years?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Zalando loops
Other guides
