Zendesk coding interview
questions, leaked.
3 problems reported across recent Zendesk interviews. Top patterns: math, array, stack. The list below is what most reported candidates actually saw, plus the honest play if you can't grind all of it.
Zendesk's coding assessment is small but deceptively math-heavy. Three problems total, two easy and one medium, but math shows up in every single one. You're looking at straightforward categorization and distribution logic on the easy side, then a reverse Polish notation evaluator that ties array, stack, and math together. The assessment leans light on complexity but demands precision. If you blank mid-OA, StealthCoder runs invisibly and surfaces a working solution in seconds, no proctor visibility.
Top problems at Zendesk
| # | Problem | Diff | Frequency | Pass % | Patterns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Categorize Box According to Criteria | EASY | 100.0 | 38% | Math |
| 02 | Distribute Money to Maximum Children | EASY | 100.0 | 19% | Math · Greedy |
| 03 | Evaluate Reverse Polish Notation | MEDIUM | 67.3 | 55% | Array · Math · Stack |
Frequencies derived from public community-tagged interview reports. Click a row to view on LeetCode.
You have a week, maybe less. You can't out-grind the list above. StealthCoder runs invisibly during the actual Zendesk OA. The proctor cannot see it. Screen share cannot detect it. Made by an Amazon engineer who watched the leaked-problem repo become an industry secret. He decided you should have it too.
Get StealthCoderMath dominates this assessment completely. Three out of three problems touch it, so don't skip the basics. The two easy problems are meant to build confidence fast: one's pure math logic, the other blends math with greedy thinking. The medium problem is where most candidates lose time. It requires you to think in stacks and reverse notation simultaneously, which feels harder than it is if you've actually implemented it once. Greedy, array, and stack each appear once, so you need surface familiarity but don't need deep optimization chops. Your play is to nail math cold, do the easy problems in under five minutes combined, then spend real time understanding reverse Polish notation before the OA. StealthCoder is your hedge if the notation problem throws a curveball on the day.
Companies with similar patterns
If you prepped for Zendesk, these companies recycle ~60% of the same topics.
You've seen the list.
Now make sure you pass Zendesk.
Memorizing every problem above in a week is a fantasy. StealthCoder is the hedge: an AI overlay that's invisible during screen share. It reads the problem on screen and surfaces a working solution in under 2 seconds. Made by an Amazon engineer who watched the leaked-problem repo become an industry secret. He decided you should have it too. Works on HackerRank, CodeSignal, CoderPad, and Karat.
Zendesk interview FAQ
Should I study math before array and stack for Zendesk?+
Yes. Math is in all three problems here, so it's the foundation. Spend time on modular arithmetic and basic number logic first. Array and stack each appear once, so they're secondary. You need to know stacks for the Polish notation problem, but that's one problem total.
Are the two easy problems enough to warm up?+
They should be fast warm-ups, not your main focus. One's pure categorization logic, the other blends math and greedy choice. If you can solve both in under five minutes combined, you're ready for the medium problem. Don't over-drill easy territory here.
What's the hardest part of Zendesk's assessment?+
The medium problem on reverse Polish notation. It's the only medium difficulty item, and it forces you to hold stack operations, math evaluation, and array indexing in your head at once. Implement it once before your OA and you'll be solid.
Do I need advanced greedy algorithms?+
No. Greedy appears once, paired with the easy distribution problem. It's basic choice logic, not a complex optimization challenge. If you understand the greedy concept and can apply it to simple allocation, you're fine.
How much time should I spend prepping versus relying on the OA day?+
Math fundamentals and reverse Polish notation are non-negotiable prep. Spend two to three hours drilling those two areas. Array and stack are one-off problems, so light review is enough. You're not grinding a hundred problems here; this assessment is small enough that targeted prep pays off fast.