Zillow

New Grad Engineer

Software EngineerP2Medium

The Zillow New Grad Engineer (P2) interview process is designed to assess foundational software engineering skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit for early-career professionals. It typically involves multiple rounds focusing on technical aptitude, coding proficiency, and behavioral competencies.

Rounds

3

Timeline

~14 days

Experience

0 - 2 yrs

Salary Range

US$90000 - US$110000

Total Duration

150 min

Overall Evaluation Criteria

Technical Skills

Problem-solving approach and logical thinking.
Code quality, efficiency, and correctness.
Data structures and algorithms knowledge.
Communication and clarity of thought.
Behavioral competencies and cultural alignment.
Enthusiasm and passion for technology and Zillow.

Behavioral and Cultural Fit

Ability to articulate past experiences and learnings.
Demonstration of teamwork and collaboration.
Resilience and ability to handle challenges.
Alignment with Zillow's values (Customer Obsession, Ownership, Innovation, Collaboration).

Preparation Tips

1Review fundamental data structures (arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming).
2Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Coderbyte, focusing on medium-difficulty problems.
3Understand core computer science concepts such as time and space complexity (Big O notation).
4Prepare to discuss your resume, projects, and internships in detail.
5Research Zillow's mission, values, products, and recent news.
6Practice answering common behavioral questions using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
7Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers about the role, team, and company culture.

Study Plan

1

Data Structures Fundamentals

Weeks 1-2: Data Structures (Arrays, Lists, Trees, Graphs, HashMaps) & Complexity Analysis.

Weeks 1-2: Focus on Data Structures. Cover arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees (binary trees, BSTs, heaps), graphs, and hash tables. Practice implementing these and solving problems related to them. Understand their time and space complexities.

2

Algorithm Mastery

Weeks 3-4: Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion, DP, Graph Traversal) & Problem Solving.

Weeks 3-4: Focus on Algorithms. Cover sorting algorithms (bubble, insertion, merge, quick), searching algorithms (binary search), recursion, dynamic programming, and graph traversal algorithms (BFS, DFS). Practice applying these to solve problems.

3

Behavioral and Resume Review

Week 5: Behavioral Prep (STAR Method, Resume Deep Dive).

Week 5: Behavioral Preparation. Review your resume and identify key projects and experiences. Prepare stories using the STAR method for common behavioral questions related to teamwork, problem-solving, challenges, and learning.

4

Final Preparation and Practice

Week 6: Company Research & Mock Interviews.

Week 6: Zillow Research and Mock Interviews. Research Zillow's products, values, and recent news. Conduct mock interviews (technical and behavioral) with peers or mentors to simulate the interview environment and get feedback.

Commonly Asked Questions

Given an array of integers, find the contiguous subarray with the largest sum.
Implement a function to reverse a linked list.
Write a function to check if a binary tree is a valid Binary Search Tree.
Describe a time you had to deal with a difficult teammate.
How would you design a URL shortener?
What are your favorite programming languages and why?
Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned from it.
Explain the concept of recursion with an example.
How do you stay updated with new technologies?
What interests you about Zillow?

Location-Based Differences

Seattle

Interview Focus

Understanding of local market trends and Zillow's presence in the region.Adaptability to the specific team's tech stack and project focus.

Common Questions

Tell me about a challenging project you worked on during your internship.

How do you handle conflicting priorities?

Describe a time you had to learn a new technology quickly.

Tips

Research Zillow's specific projects and teams in this location.
Be prepared to discuss how your skills align with the local office's needs.

Remote

Interview Focus

Understanding of Zillow's national strategy and how it applies locally.Collaboration skills within a distributed team environment.

Common Questions

How do you approach debugging a complex issue?

What are your thoughts on agile development methodologies?

Describe a situation where you received constructive feedback and how you acted on it.

Tips

Familiarize yourself with Zillow's overall business goals.
Highlight experiences working in remote or hybrid team settings.

Process Timeline

1
Coding and Algorithms45m
2
System Design60m
3
Behavioral and Cultural Fit45m

Interview Rounds

3-step process with detailed breakdown for each round

1

Coding and Algorithms

Assess core coding skills with data structures and algorithms problems.

Technical Phone Screen / Online AssessmentMedium
45 minSoftware Engineer

This round focuses on assessing your core coding abilities. You will be presented with one or two coding problems, typically involving data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will evaluate how you approach the problem, your ability to write clean and efficient code, and your understanding of fundamental computer science concepts. Expect to write code in a shared editor and explain your thought process throughout.

What Interviewers Look For

A clear and logical approach to problem-solving.Clean, efficient, and correct code.Understanding of time and space complexity.Ability to communicate technical ideas effectively.

Evaluation Criteria

Problem-solving skills
Coding proficiency
Understanding of data structures and algorithms
Ability to explain thought process

Questions Asked

Given a string, find the length of the longest substring without repeating characters.

StringSliding WindowHash Map

Implement a function to find the kth smallest element in an unsorted array.

ArraySortingQuickSelect

Write code to merge two sorted linked lists.

Linked ListTwo Pointers

Preparation Tips

1Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on 'Easy' and 'Medium' difficulties.
2Be prepared to explain your solution's time and space complexity.
3Practice thinking out loud as you solve problems.
4Ensure your development environment is set up for coding practice.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to articulate thought process.
Incorrect or inefficient algorithm implementation.
Poor code quality (lack of comments, poor variable naming).
Failure to consider edge cases.
Lack of understanding of basic data structures.
2

System Design

Assess ability to design scalable systems and discuss trade-offs.

System Design / Technical Deep DiveMedium
60 minSenior Software Engineer / Engineering Manager

This round evaluates your ability to think about larger-scale systems. You'll be asked to design a system (e.g., a URL shortener, a social media feed, a rate limiter). The focus is on how you approach ambiguity, break down the problem, identify core components, consider scalability, reliability, and trade-offs. You don't need to write production-ready code, but you should be able to whiteboard or describe your design effectively.

What Interviewers Look For

Ability to design scalable and robust systems.Understanding of common system components (databases, APIs, caching).Ability to discuss trade-offs between different design choices.Clear communication of complex ideas.

Evaluation Criteria

Problem decomposition
System design thinking
Scalability and performance considerations
Trade-off analysis
Communication of design

Questions Asked

Design a URL shortening service like bit.ly.

System DesignScalabilityAPI Design

Design a news feed system for a social media platform.

System DesignDistributed SystemsDatabases

How would you design a system to count the number of unique visitors to a website?

System DesignData ProcessingScalability

Preparation Tips

1Study common system design concepts and patterns.
2Practice designing various systems, considering scalability, availability, and performance.
3Familiarize yourself with concepts like load balancing, caching, database choices (SQL vs. NoSQL), and APIs.
4Think about potential bottlenecks and how to address them.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Inability to break down complex problems.
Lack of understanding of system design principles.
Poor scalability considerations.
Not considering trade-offs.
Inability to communicate design choices clearly.
3

Behavioral and Cultural Fit

Assess behavioral competencies, teamwork, and cultural fit.

Behavioral InterviewMedium
45 minHiring Manager / Senior Team Member

This round focuses on your behavioral and cultural fit. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle different situations (teamwork, conflict, challenges), and your motivations. The interviewer wants to understand how you work, learn, and collaborate, and whether you align with Zillow's core values. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is highly recommended for answering these questions.

What Interviewers Look For

Evidence of collaboration and teamwork.Ability to learn from past experiences (successes and failures).Passion for technology and Zillow's mission.Cultural alignment with Zillow's values.Clear and concise communication.

Evaluation Criteria

Communication skills
Teamwork and collaboration
Problem-solving approach in past experiences
Motivation and alignment with Zillow's culture
Self-awareness and learning agility

Questions Asked

Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?

BehavioralTeamworkConflict Resolution

Describe a challenging technical problem you faced and how you solved it.

BehavioralProblem SolvingTechnical

Why are you interested in Zillow and this specific role?

BehavioralMotivationCompany Fit

Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn?

BehavioralLearningResilience

Preparation Tips

1Prepare specific examples from your resume, internships, or projects using the STAR method.
2Research Zillow's company values and be ready to provide examples of how you embody them.
3Think about your career goals and why Zillow is a good fit.
4Practice articulating your strengths and weaknesses honestly.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Lack of enthusiasm or interest in Zillow.
Poor communication skills.
Inability to provide specific examples using STAR method.
Appearing arrogant or not a team player.
Not aligning with company values.

Commonly Asked DSA Questions

Frequently asked coding questions at Zillow

View all
Valid ParenthesesEASYFind First and Last Position of Element in Sorted ArrayMEDIUMNumber of IslandsMEDIUM