This interview process is for a Software Engineer (L2) role at Zeta. It is designed to assess a candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~7d
Experience·2 - 5 yrs
Comp band·US$90000 - US$120000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 03 phases
01 / 03Phase 01 of 03
Weeks 1-2: Data Structures & Algorithms fundamentals. Practice problems.
Weeks 1-2: Focus on core data structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Practice problems related to these topics.
Phase 02 of 03
Week 3: System Design basics. Scalability, databases, caching.
Week 3: Dive into system design concepts. Cover topics like scalability, load balancing, database design (SQL vs. NoSQL), caching, and API design. Study common design patterns.
Phase 03 of 03
Week 4: Behavioral preparation. STAR method. Zeta research.
Week 4: Prepare for behavioral questions. Reflect on past projects and experiences, focusing on teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. Use the STAR method to structure your answers. Research Zeta's values and mission.
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
This round focuses on assessing your core programming skills. You will be asked to solve 1-2 coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate your approach, the efficiency of your solution, and the clarity of your code. Expect to explain your thought process throughout the problem-solving session.
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.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
System Design Interview · 60 min · Senior Software Engineer / Architect
In this round, you will be presented with a system design problem. You'll need to design a scalable and reliable system, such as a social media feed, a URL shortener, or a distributed cache. The focus is on your ability to break down the problem, identify key components, discuss trade-offs, and justify your design decisions.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Design a rate limiter.
Design a system to count unique visitors to a website.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager / Team Lead
This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and how you fit into the team and company culture. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle specific situations (e.g., conflict, failure, success), and your motivations. The interviewer wants to understand your soft skills and how you collaborate with others.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult colleague.
Describe a project where you failed and what you learned from it.
How do you stay updated with new technologies?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on Zeta loops
Other guides
