Software Development Engineer (SDE) - Level 2 at Zoho

How it went

What they would tell you

How to prepare

Round by round

1. 1

   Online Assessment (Coding & Aptitude)90 min

   This was my first hurdle, an online assessment. It was split into two main parts. Coding Problems: They gave us 2-3 coding challenges, heavily focused on Data Structures and Algorithms. I remember using Zoho's own coding platform for this. Aptitude and Logical Reasoning: This section tested my general quantitative skills, logical thinking, and verbal ability. Coding Problem 1: One problem was about finding the maximum sum of a contiguous subarray in an array of integers. It felt like a classic Kadane's Algorithm variation. Coding Problem 2: Another coding problem asked me to implement a function to check if a string was a palindrome, ignoring case and any non-alphanumeric characters. Coding Problem 3: I also had to figure out the kth smallest element in an unsorted array. Aptitude: The aptitude questions were typical - series completion, some data interpretation, and basic probability.

2. 2

   Technical Interview 1 (Data Structures & Algorithms)60 min

   This was a live coding session. The interviewer was really focused on my problem-solving skills and how well I understood DSA. They'd give me a problem, and I'd have to talk through my thought process, write the code, and then explain the time and space complexity. It was a good test of clarity and execution. Problem: I was asked to print the nodes of a binary tree in vertical order. Follow-up: We then discussed different tree traversals like BFS and DFS, and when you'd use each one. Problem: Another problem involved finding the intersection point of two singly linked lists. Problem: I also had to implement a Trie (Prefix Tree) with its basic operations: insert, search, and startsWith. Problem: One more problem was about merging overlapping intervals, like taking [[1,3],[2,6],[8,10],[15,18]] and making it [[1,6],[8,10],[15,18]].

3. 3

   Technical Interview 2 (System Design & Core CS)75 min

   This round felt like the most challenging. It was all about system design and core computer science concepts. The interviewer wanted to see how I'd approach building scalable and robust systems, and they also grilled me on my past projects. It was a comprehensive assessment of my engineering maturity. Questions:

   • System Design: The big one was designing a URL shortening service, similar to Bitly. We covered everything from components and database schema to scalability and handling collisions.
   • Core CS: They asked me to explain the ACID properties in databases and how they're ensured.
   • Core CS: We also discussed the difference between a process and a thread, and when you'd choose one over the other.
   • Project Discussion: This was a deep dive into one of my most complex projects from my resume. I had to discuss the challenges I faced, the design choices I made, and my specific contributions.
4. 4

   HR Round45 min

   This was the final round, and it was much more conversational. It focused on my behavioral aspects, how I'd fit into Zoho's culture, my career aspirations, and just generally getting to know me better. It felt like a good way to wrap things up. Questions:

   • "Tell me about yourself and your journey into software development."
   • "Why are you interested in working at Zoho? What do you know about our products/culture?"
   • "Where do you see yourself in the next 3-5 years?"
   • "Describe a challenging situation you faced in a previous role and how you overcame it."
   • "Do you have any questions for me about Zoho or the role?"
   • "What are your salary expectations?"

   I was thrilled to be selected!,Based on my experience and negotiation, the offer was in the 18 - 22 LPA range.

What came up