How I Cracked the Zscaler Internship — And Why I Didn't Take It! 👀

Hey everyone! Super pumped to share that I recently got selected for an internship at Zscaler 🎉 — though spoiler alert… I didn't take it because I already had an offer in hand 😅. Still, it was such a cool experience, and I thought — why not spill the tea for everyone preping for the same? ☕✨

📌 Process Overview:

The process typically consists of multiple rounds, including an online assesment, technical interviews, and a managerial/HR round. Below is a detailed breakdown of each round based on my experience.

📝 Round 1: Online Assessment:

  • Platform: HackerRank
  • Duration: 120 minutes
  • Format: 4 Coding Questions
  • Difficulty: Medium — Hard
  • Experience: The process started with an online coding assessment consisting of 4 questions. This round was language-specific — there were options for Java, C++, and Python (which was compulsory for everyone). The problems tested DSA concepts and problem-solving skills, ranging from medium to moderate difficulty.
  • Tips: - Brush up on core CS fundamentals (Networking, OS, DSA). - Practice coding on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank. - Be mindful of plagiarism policies, as Zscaler is strict about integrity.
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📌 Round 2: Technical Interview

  • Platform: CodePair(HackerRank) + Google Meet
  • Duration: 45 mintutes — 60 minutes
  • Format: Video Call + Paired Coding
  • Experience: After the online assessment, I received a CodePair link from the recruiter for the first interview round, which was focused on DSA + Development. During this round I solved DSA problems live with the recruiter and I also tackled a few development-based questions (OOPS). This round was critical. I performed well enough that I moved directly to the Managerial round, skipping additional DSA rounds (which some candidates typically go through based on their performance in the CodePair round).
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🎙️Round 3: Managerial Round

  • Duration: 45 minutes — 60 minutes
  • Format: Video Call, Revolved around Resume
  • Experience: The interviewer was warm and asked about my projects and motivations for joining Zscaler. They also discussed team dynamics and company culture. - My past projects and experiences. - How I approach problem-solving in real-world situations. - A few scenario-based questions testing decision-making and handling project challenges.
  • Tips: - Research Zscaler's mission and values (e.g., cloud security, Zero Trust). - Prepare answers for common behavioral questions. - Ask thoughtful questions about the role or team to show interest.
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👩‍💼Round 4: HR Round

  • Duration: 45 minutes — 60 minutes
  • Format: Video call, Conversational
  • Experience: The final round was an HR interview with a focus on situational and principle-based questions. One unique question I was asked here was: Tell me about a habit of your director/manager that you don't like, and if you get a chance to change their perspective, what would it be and why? This was a thoughtful question that tested my ability to give constructive feedback, reflect on leadership, and express opinions in a positive, balanced way.

Now, here's the fun part! The HR round happened on Holi, and yes, I played Holi and had a blast with friends before heading straight to the interview 😄. So, I literally went to the interview all decked up with colors on me! (I guess that made it a bit more memorable for me!) 🌈

We also discussed my personal goals, teamwork preferences, and alignment with Zscaler's values.

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📤 Outcome

  • Result: Selected ✅

I was really happy to receive the offer — but since I had another opportunity in hand, I decided not to go ahead with it.

That said, this entire process gave me a lot of insights, confidence, and clarity for future interviews.

If you'd like to connect or talk about internships, coding, or tech stuff — feel free to reach out: 👉 Sweta Shukla on LinkedIn

Good luck to everyone preparing for their next opportunity! 🚀✨