Interviewed for the Associate Software Engineer / NERD Program role at Charles Schwab. The process was well organized and focused on both technical fundamentals and behavioral fit. The first round was an HR/recruiter screen covering background, interest in Schwab, relocation flexibility, and general behavioral questions. After that, I moved into a manager/team interview that focused on SQL fundamentals, problem solving, data analysis concepts, and basic software engineering knowledge such as OOP, data structures, and workflow logic. There was also strong emphasis on STAR-format behavioral responses and collaboration examples. The interviewers were professional, conversational, and supportive throughout the process. Questions were fair for an early career/new grad role but required preparation in SQL, analytical thinking, and communication. They also wanted candidates who could explain projects clearly and demonstrate ownership, adaptability, and willingness to learn. Timeline was relatively fast, and communication from recruiting was consistent overall. Advice for future candidates: be comfortable discussing your resume in depth, review SQL queries and database concepts, prepare STAR stories, and practice explaining technical concepts in a simple business-focused way.

They asked me about my qualifications, experience, what I was looking for in a job, some generic behavioral questions, and 2-3 conceptual technical questions. The interviewer made sure I knew what the STAR method was first and explicitly wanted me to answer the behavioral questions using that method.