Citadel

Role: Software Engineering Intern

College: Berkeley (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)

Interview Date: Summer 2022 Internship (Interview timeline late 2021/early 2022)

Interview Type: Internship

Result: Selected

Difficulty: Hard (needed hints on technical problems)

Rounds: 7 rounds (OA, 4 Technical Interviews, 2 Behavioral Interviews, 2 final rounds for team matching)

Topics Asked: Coding (LeetCode style problems), Behavioral (teamwork, communication, personal connection)

Experience:

This candidate, a junior EECS major at Berkeley, successfully landed a Software Engineering Internship at Citadel. The entire interview timeline took about 14 weeks.

The process began with an **Online Assessment (OA)**, which is sent to everyone and is not proctored. Performance on the OA determines progression.

The candidate underwent **four technical interviews** and **two behavioral interviews**. They mentioned that their technical performance on at least half of the interviews was not perfect, and they needed hints from interviewers to solve problems. They emphasized that "wooing the interviewer" and making a genuine connection was crucial.

The **coding questions** were LeetCode style. During technical rounds, it was important to think out loud, communicate the thought process (e.g., DFS vs. BFS, queue vs. min-heap), and ask clarifying questions.

The **behavioral interviews** and general interaction focused on demonstrating being a "real person" (not just a "coding robot"), a "great teammate" (not afraid to ask for help), and showing genuine interest in the interviewer and their work. The candidate had to do the final round twice because the first hiring manager didn't select them for that specific team.

Overall, the experience highlighted that while technical knowledge is important, communication, problem-solving approach, and interpersonal skills play a significant role in Citadel's interview process.