Top 23 Workday Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Workday is a leading provider of enterprise cloud applications for finance and human resources, emphasizing a culture that prioritizes employee well-being and collaboration.

In the Software Engineer role at Workday, you’ll design, develop, and manage software solutions that enhance the company’s enterprise applications. Key responsibilities include writing high-quality, maintainable code, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative solutions, and participating in the full software development lifecycle. Ideal candidates possess strong expertise in modern programming languages such as Java, Python, or Golang, alongside experience in database technologies like MySQL or PostgreSQL. A deep understanding of object-oriented programming principles, software architecture, and design patterns will also set you apart. Adaptability, strong problem-solving skills, and a commitment to continuous improvement are essential for success in this dynamic environment.

This guide will help you prepare for Workday software engineer interview questions, articulate your experiences, and showcase your technical skills effectively, giving you a competitive edge.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Workday is structured to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the company. It typically consists of several stages, each designed to evaluate different aspects of a candidate’s qualifications and compatibility with Workday’s values.

1. Initial Screening

The process begins with an initial screening, usually conducted by a recruiter. This 30-minute phone call focuses on understanding your background, experience, and motivations for applying to Workday. The recruiter will also provide insights into the company culture and the specifics of the role. Expect questions about your resume, previous projects, and understanding of Workday’s mission and values.

2. Technical Assessment

Following the initial screening, candidates are often required to complete a technical assessment. This may occur on platforms like HackerRank and typically involves solving coding problems that test your proficiency in relevant programming languages such as Java, Python, or Golang. The assessment may include questions on data structures, algorithms, and object-oriented programming concepts. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their problem-solving and coding skills under time constraints.

3. Technical Interviews

Successful candidates from the technical assessment will move on to one or more technical interviews. These interviews are usually conducted via video calls and involve discussions with senior engineers or hiring managers. Expect to tackle coding challenges in real time and system design questions that assess your ability to architect scalable and efficient solutions. Interviewers may also delve into your past experiences, asking you to explain your approach to specific projects and challenges you’ve faced.

4. Behavioral Interviews

In addition to technical skills, Workday strongly emphasizes cultural fit. Candidates will participate in behavioral interviews, during which they will be asked situational questions to gauge their interpersonal skills, teamwork, and alignment with Workday’s values. Questions may revolve around past experiences, challenges faced in previous roles, and how you handle conflict or collaboration within a team.

5. Final Interview

The final stage often includes a wrap-up interview with a hiring manager or a senior leader. This conversation may cover broader topics such as your career aspirations, how you envision contributing to Workday, and your understanding of the company’s products and services. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the team dynamics, company culture, and future projects.

Candidates should be prepared for a thorough evaluation process that may include multiple rounds of interviews. They should also be ready to articulate their technical expertise and alignment with Workday’s mission and values.

Next, let’s explore the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during this process.

Here are some tips to help you excel in your interview.

Understand Workday’s Culture

Workday emphasizes its employee-centric culture, which values collaboration, innovation, and personal growth. Familiarize yourself with Workday’s core values and be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs. Highlight experiences where you contributed to a positive team environment or took the initiative in your previous roles. This will demonstrate that you are not only a technical fit but also a cultural fit for the company.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Expect a mix of behavioral and technical questions during your interviews. Workday interviewers often ask about your past experiences, challenges you’ve faced, and how you’ve resolved them. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses. Be ready to discuss specific projects you’ve worked on, particularly those that showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to work in a team.

Brush Up on Technical Skills

Given the technical nature of the Software Engineer role, ensure you are well-versed in relevant programming languages such as Java, Python, and Golang. Review key concepts in object-oriented programming, database management, and cloud technologies. Practice coding problems on platforms like LeetCode, focusing on data structures, algorithms, and system design, as these are common assessment areas in technical interviews.

Be Ready for System Design Questions

As part of the interview process, you may encounter system design questions. Prepare to discuss how you would architect scalable and reliable systems, particularly in a cloud environment. Familiarize yourself with concepts like microservices, APIs, and database design. Be ready to explain your thought process and the trade-offs you would consider in your design decisions.

Communicate Clearly and Confidently

Clear communication is key during the interview. Practice articulating your thoughts and technical concepts in a way that is easy to understand. If you encounter a challenging question, take a moment to think before responding. It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for clarification if you don’t understand a question fully. This shows that you are thoughtful and engaged.

Show Enthusiasm for the Role

Express genuine interest in the position and the work that Workday does. Be prepared to discuss why you want to work for Workday specifically and how you can contribute to their mission. Highlight any relevant experiences or projects that align with the company’s goals, particularly in database technologies and cloud services.

Follow-Up After the Interview

After your interview, send a thank-you email to your interviewers. Express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview and reiterate your interest in the role. This shows professionalism and keeps you at the top of your mind as they make their hiring decisions.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you can present yourself as a strong candidate for the Software Engineer position at Workday. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at Workday. The interview process will likely assess your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the company. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, technical knowledge, and how you approach challenges in software development.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the principles of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) and how they apply to your work?

Understanding OOP is crucial for a software engineer, as it forms the foundation of many programming languages and design patterns.

How to Answer

Discuss the four main principles: encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction. Provide examples of how you’ve applied these principles in your projects.

Example

“OOP principles guide my approach to software design. For instance, I used encapsulation to hide the internal state of an object in a recent project, ensuring that the object’s data could only be modified through well-defined methods. This improved security and made the code easier to maintain.”

2. Describe your experience with database technologies, particularly MySQL and PostgreSQL.

Given Workday’s focus on database services, familiarity with these technologies is essential.

How to Answer

Highlight your hands-on experience with these databases, including any specific projects where you designed or optimized database schemas.

Example

“I have over five years of experience working with MySQL and PostgreSQL. In my last role, I designed a database schema for a web application that handled thousands of transactions daily, optimizing queries to improve performance by 30%.”

3. What is your approach to writing APIs, and can you provide an example of an API you developed?

APIs are critical for integrating services and enhancing functionality.

How to Answer

Discuss your experience with RESTful APIs, including the design process and any tools or frameworks you used.

Example

“I designed a RESTful API for a microservices architecture that allowed different services to communicate efficiently. I used Swagger for documentation, which made it easier for other developers to integrate with our services.”

4. How do you ensure the security and performance of your applications?

Security and performance are paramount in software development, especially in a cloud environment.

How to Answer

Talk about specific practices you follow, such as code reviews, performance testing, and using security frameworks.

Example

“I implement security best practices by conducting regular code reviews and using tools like OWASP ZAP for vulnerability scanning. For performance, I utilize profiling tools to identify bottlenecks and optimize critical paths in the code.”

5. Can you explain the importance of continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD)?

CI/CD is a key practice in modern software development that enhances collaboration and efficiency.

How to Answer

Define CI/CD and discuss how you have implemented these practices in your previous roles.

Example

“CI/CD allows for frequent code changes and automated testing, which reduces integration issues. In my last project, I set up a CI/CD pipeline using Jenkins, which automated our testing and deployment processes, leading to a 40% reduction in release time.”

Behavioral Questions

6. Describe a challenging project you worked on and how you overcame the obstacles.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and resilience.

How to Answer

Choose a specific project, outline the challenges faced, and explain the steps you took to resolve them.

Example

“I worked on a project with tight deadlines and limited resources. To overcome this, I prioritized tasks and implemented Agile methodologies, which allowed the team to adapt quickly to changes and deliver the project on time.”

7. How do you handle conflicts within a team?

Team dynamics are crucial for success, and your ability to navigate conflicts is important.

How to Answer

Discuss your approach to communication and collaboration, emphasizing the importance of understanding different perspectives.

Example

“When conflicts arise, I focus on open communication. I encourage team members to express their viewpoints and facilitate discussions to find common ground. This approach has helped us resolve issues amicably and maintain a positive team environment.”

8. What motivates you to work in software engineering?

Understanding your motivation helps assess your fit within the company culture.

How to Answer

Share your passion for technology and problem-solving and how it aligns with Workday’s mission.

Example

“I am motivated by the challenge of solving complex problems and the opportunity to create impactful software. Workday’s commitment to innovation and employee well-being resonates with my values, making it an ideal place for me to contribute and grow.”

9. How do you stay updated with the latest technologies and industry trends?

Continuous learning is vital in the tech industry.

How to Answer

Mention specific resources, communities, or practices you engage with to keep your skills sharp.

Example

“I regularly attend tech meetups and webinars and follow industry leaders on platforms like LinkedIn. Additionally, I contribute to open-source projects, which helps me learn from others and stay current with new technologies.”

10. Why do you want to work at Workday?

This question assesses your interest in the company and its culture.

How to Answer

Discuss what specifically attracts you to Workday, such as its values, culture, or innovative projects.

Example

“I admire Workday’s commitment to putting employees first and fostering a collaborative culture. I am excited about the opportunity to work on innovative database solutions that impact businesses and their employees.”

More Questions

11. Would you suspect anything unusual about the A/B test results with 20 variants?

Your manager ran an A/B test with 20 different variants and found one significant result. Would you consider this result suspicious?

12. How would you set up an A/B test to optimize button color and position for higher click-through rates?

A team wants to A/B test changes in a sign-up funnel, such as changing a button from red to blue and/or moving it from the top to the bottom of the page. How would you design this test?

13. What steps would you take if friend requests on Facebook are down 10%?

A product manager at Facebook reports a 10% decrease in friend requests. What actions would you take to investigate and address this issue?

14. Why might the number of job applicants decrease despite stable job postings?

You observe that the number of job postings per day has remained stable, but the number of applicants has decreased. What could be causing this trend?

15. What are the drawbacks of the given student test score datasets, and how would you reformat them for better analysis?

You have data on student test scores in two different layouts. What are the drawbacks of these formats, and what changes would you make to improve their usability for analysis? Additionally, describe common issues in “messy” datasets.

16. Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list.

Write a function to merge two sorted lists into one sorted list.

17. Determine the median value of a list where more than 50% of the list is the same integer.

You’re given a list of sorted integers in which more than 50% of the list comprises the same repeating integer. Write a function to return the median value of the list in (O(1)) computational time and space.

18. How would you evaluate whether using a decision tree algorithm is the correct model for predicting loan repayment?

You are tasked with building a decision tree model to predict whether a borrower will repay a personal loan. How would you evaluate whether a decision tree is right for this problem?

19. How would you evaluate the performance of a decision tree model before and after deployment?

If you decide to use a decision tree model, how would you assess its performance before deployment and monitor it after deployment?

20. How does random forest generate the forest, and why use it over logistic regression?

Explain how a random forest algorithm generates its forest. Additionally, why might you choose random forest over logistic regression for certain problems?

21. When would you use a bagging algorithm versus a boosting algorithm?

Compare two machine learning algorithms. In which scenarios would you prefer a bagging algorithm over a boosting algorithm? Provide examples of the tradeoffs between the two.

22. How would you justify using a neural network model and explain its predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

Suppose your manager asks you to build a neural network model to solve a business problem. How would you justify the complexity and explain the model’s predictions to non-technical stakeholders?

23. What metrics would you use to track the accuracy and validity of a spam classifier for emails?

Assume you have built a V1 of a spam classifier for emails. What metrics would you use to evaluate its accuracy and validity?

What is the average salary for a Software Engineer at Workday?

How does Workday’s interview process test for cultural fit?

Workday places a significant emphasis on cultural fit. You can expect behavioral questions that assess your thoughts on diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. Questions might include how you handle conflicts, your approach to teamwork, and examples of how you bring inclusion into your professional practices.

Can you describe the work culture at Workday?

Workday boasts a people-first culture prioritizing employee happiness, development, and contribution. The company values creativity, collaboration, and diversity, creating an environment where you can be your true self. Employees appreciate the support for work-life balance, flexibility, and the opportunity to work on innovative projects.

For a Software Engineer position at Workday, candidates often face a multi-step interview process, including HR screenings, technical assessments, and behavioral interviews.

If you want more insights about the company, check out our main Workday Interview Guide, where we have covered many interview questions that could be asked. We’ve also created interview guides for other roles, such as software engineer and data analyst, where you can learn more about Workday’s interview process for different positions.

At Interview Query, we empower you to unlock your interview prowess with a comprehensive toolkit. This equips you with the knowledge, confidence, and strategic guidance to conquer every Workday interview question and challenge.

For better preparation, you can check out all our company interview guides, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Good luck with your interview!