This interview process is designed to assess candidates for the Software Engineer 3 role at Zepto. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, system design capabilities, and cultural fit.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~7d
Experience·4 - 7 yrs
Comp band·US$180000 - US$250000
Interview time·135 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Weeks 1-2: DSA fundamentals and practice.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures and Algorithms. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary, BST, AVL), heaps, hash tables, graphs. Practice common algorithms like sorting, searching, graph traversal (BFS, DFS), dynamic programming. Solve problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank.
Phase 02 of 04
Weeks 3-4: System Design principles and practice.
Weeks 3-4: Dive into System Design. Study concepts like load balancing, caching, database sharding, message queues, microservices architecture, CAP theorem, consistency models. Practice designing common systems like Twitter feed, URL shortener, chat application.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 5: Behavioral and cultural fit preparation.
Week 5: Prepare for Behavioral and Managerial rounds. Reflect on your career experiences, identify key projects, and prepare stories using the STAR method. Understand Zepto's values and culture. Research common behavioral questions related to teamwork, conflict resolution, leadership, and failure.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 6: Mock interviews and final review.
Week 6: Mock interviews and review. Conduct mock interviews for both technical and system design rounds. Get feedback and identify areas for improvement. Review your notes and practice explaining concepts concisely.
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 Interview (Coding) · 45 min · Software Engineer (Peer)
This round focuses on your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve 1-2 coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your approach to problem-solving, your ability to write clean and efficient code, and your understanding of fundamental computer science concepts. Expect to explain your thought process and discuss trade-offs.
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 evaluates your ability to design scalable and reliable systems. You will be presented with a high-level problem (e.g., design a social media feed, a ride-sharing service, or a notification system) and expected to design a solution. Focus on identifying core components, data models, APIs, and addressing scalability, availability, and performance concerns. Discuss trade-offs and justify your design choices.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.
Design a system to handle real-time notifications for a messaging app.
Design a distributed cache system.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral / Managerial Interview · 30 min · Hiring Manager / Engineering Lead
This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and overall fit within the team and Zepto's culture. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations (e.g., conflicts, failures, successes), your strengths and weaknesses, and your career goals. The interviewer aims to understand your working style, your ability to collaborate, and your alignment with the company's values.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you faced a significant technical challenge and how you overcame it.
Describe a situation where you had to work with a difficult team member.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a software engineer?
Why are you interested in working at Zepto?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Zepto loops
Other guides
