This interview process is designed to assess candidates for a Software Engineer I position at ZScaler. It evaluates technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, cultural fit, and potential for growth within the company.
Rounds·3
Timeline·~7d
Experience·0 - 2 yrs
Comp band·US$75000 - US$95000
Interview time·150 min
Evaluation
Preparation
Tips
Study plan
Fig · Study plan — 04 phases
01 / 04Phase 01 of 04
Week 1: Data Structures & Operations. Practice problems.
Week 1: Focus on Data Structures (Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Hash Tables) and their common operations and time complexities. Practice problems related to these structures.
Phase 02 of 04
Week 2: Algorithms & Problem Solving. Implement and solve.
Week 2: Focus on Algorithms (Sorting, Searching, Recursion, Dynamic Programming, Greedy Algorithms). Understand their applications and implement them. Solve problems that require algorithmic thinking.
Phase 03 of 04
Week 3: OOP, Design Patterns, Behavioral Prep.
Week 3: Review Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) concepts, design patterns, and system design fundamentals. Practice behavioral questions and prepare examples using the STAR method.
Phase 04 of 04
Week 4: Company Research & Mock Interviews.
Week 4: Research ZScaler's products, recent news, and company culture. Prepare questions for the interviewers. Do mock interviews to simulate the actual interview experience.
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 Screening · 45 min · Technical Recruiter or Hiring Manager
This initial round is typically conducted by a recruiter or a junior engineer. It focuses on assessing your basic technical skills, understanding of core computer science concepts, and your overall fit for the role. You might be asked to solve a few coding problems or discuss your past projects.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Given an array of integers, return indices of the two numbers such that they add up to a specific target.
Implement a function to check if a string is a palindrome.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Data Structures And Algorithms Interview · 60 min · Software Engineer
This round involves a deeper dive into your technical abilities. You will be presented with more complex coding challenges that require a good understanding of various data structures and algorithms. The interviewer will assess your problem-solving approach, coding style, and your ability to analyze the efficiency of your solutions.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Find the kth smallest element in a Binary Search Tree.
Given a string containing just the characters '(', ')', '{', '}', '[' and ']', determine if the input string is valid.
Implement a function to find the longest common prefix among an array of strings.
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
Behavioral Interview · 45 min · Hiring Manager
This round focuses on your behavioral aspects and how you would fit into the team and ZScaler's culture. You'll be asked questions about your past experiences, how you handle challenges, teamwork, and your career aspirations. The interviewer wants to understand your personality, motivation, and how you align with the company's values.
What they look for
Evaluation
Sample questions
Tell me about a time you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle it?
Describe a challenging technical problem you faced and how you solved it.
Why are you interested in ZScaler?
Prep for this round
Common rejection reasons
DSA
Frequently reported on ZScaler loops
Other guides
