Software Engineer Interview Experience - Bangkok, Thailand
Process
After my failed interview for a Software Engineer position at Agoda, I was disappointed and tried my best to pinpoint what could have gone wrong.
However, my destiny was totally changed a few days later. After receiving that rejection email, another recruiter called me back. I was offered a last chance to interview for another division and asked if I was interested in reapplying. By reapplying, I understood I would need to start over from scratch.
After some discussion on the phone, I received a HackerRank assessment via email that I had to complete within 90 minutes. It contained three questions, ranging from easy to hard LeetCode problems. I managed to solve two of them. The last one was a bit tricky, but I grasped the logic, so they passed me.
After completing the assessment, the team called me again and scheduled an on-site interview with two additional rounds: a coding interview and a platform interview. Remember to bring your laptop to the office, as they do not provide one. Keep checking your email after confirmation for any changes, as the interview agenda changed quite frequently during my process. You will know the interview results right away on the interview day.
On interview day, the team introduced me to their key team members. They set up a real-time HackerRank platform for me to start solving questions. In my opinion, the questions were challenging but could be easily solved if you didn’t over-engineer the solutions. I saw some people fail this round too, so don’t neglect it. Practice LeetCode problems to solve them quickly, as it’s important for passing this round.
After the coding interview, I was escorted to another room for the platform round. The interview lasted 45 minutes and focused on technical knowledge related to my previous work experiences and projects. If you have a good understanding of web development, you’ll likely be fine. I asked my interviewer about their expectations, and they told me they don’t expect a perfect answer from an entry or mid-level software engineer; they only want you to get the core concepts correct. I recommend learning about technical knowledge related to your favorite stacks to pass this round. If you included tech stacks on your resume that you’ve never used, this round may eliminate you from the shortlist.
After the platform interview, I was given a lunch break. I grabbed a quick lunch at CentralWorld and waited impatiently for 30-45 minutes. Suddenly, I received a phone call informing me that I had passed both rounds and qualified for the cultural fit round. I was in tears after all of this, as I had overcome many challenges during job hunting, and this was a glimpse of success. I met the recruiter at the pickup point to be escorted to the manager for the offer, which I accepted eagerly without any second thoughts. To be really honest, I still felt like everything was a dream up until now that I have made it this far. Words cannot express how happy I am to finally join this company after fighting and working hard for a total of 1.5 years since I was still studying at university.
In the cultural fit round, it was mostly discussing yourself and the offer. The manager provided some minor details about your offer, so unless you do anything inappropriate in front of the manager, I don’t really think anyone would fail this round.
To all future candidates or someone who’s still hesitant about applying to Agoda as a Software Engineer, you can do it. Just make sure you prepare enough, get enough sleep before the interview day, stay hydrated, take care of yourself, and don’t overlook the easiest or tiniest bits that you may have forgotten. Even if you can’t make it this time, there are still chances at some point. Remember not to give up on practicing. Trust me, the end result of all your hard work will be fruitful, and you will never forget the day you made it after all you have been through.
Questions
What is useContext in React?
Explain all the React Hooks and how would you use them.
When you try to access any website, what is the process that your device will go through until the website is loaded?
What is the difference between HTTP and HTTPS?
What is a TLS Server and how does it work?
How would you improve the performance of a React application?
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 36 interview experiences for the Agoda Software Engineer role in Bangkok, Thailand.
Success Rate
Agoda's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in Bangkok, Thailand is fairly selective, failing a large portion of engineers who go through it.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having very good feelings for Agoda's Software Engineer interview process in Bangkok, Thailand.
Agoda Work Experiences
- 3.0Software Engineer at AgodaSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeSingapore, SingaporeOctober 21, 2025Pros: Remote work, friendly colleagues, flexible work environment.Cons: Work on multiple projects at once. Competitive corporate culture. No clear path for promotion. Stagnant technologies.
- 5.0Great People, Big CompanySoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeBangkok, ThailandSeptember 6, 2025Pros: Good environment, great people to work with.Cons: Big company, need to have visibility to climb your corporate ladder.
- 3.0Good international work environment. Be ready to embrace mediocrity to surviveSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeBangkok, ThailandAugust 5, 2025Pros: Modern office environment. Office location. 2 days per week work from office policy (soon to be 3 days per week as per some rumors) (hybrid / remote). A/B test experiment driven software development. Relatively modern tech being used. International environment with many Asians and Europeans.Cons: The company places the highest value on offering the lowest price, often at the expense of other priorities. Product quality and user experience are not key focus areas. This is reflected in everyday design, code, and documentation decisions. Strong software engineering practices are not consistently followed or encouraged. New joiners may feel surprised by the gap between expectations—shaped by the company’s scale and public image—and the actual engineering culture. Over time, this can lead to a sense of stagnation, where learning slows and navigating internal politics becomes more important than technical growth. Velocity is prioritized over quality, largely because it's easier to measure. The focus on speed is visible in how work is planned and reviewed, though high bug counts and recurring product issues paint a different picture of quality. Providing thoughtful, critical feedback during code reviews can be challenging. Such input may be met with resistance or lengthy debate, and reviewers risk being perceived as slowing others down—raising questions about the real meaning of “ownership” as promoted by leadership. The level of involvement from engineering managers varies significantly. Some avoid technical oversight, citing a lack of expertise, and rely entirely on engineers to uphold standards. But when engineers are also focused more on speed than quality, the result can be underwhelming. This disconnect undermines the idea of shared ownership. In some teams, communication and technical skills are average, while political skills are more developed. Disagreements during design or code reviews can quietly turn into negative feedback, impacting performance evaluations. This can be demotivating and may gradually shift one’s mindset from contributing meaningfully to simply navigating internal dynamics—or even planning an exit. Promotions come with minimal raises—typically less than 5%—which limits the financial incentive for long-term growth.
Agoda Interview Questions
