SEC Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 135 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
13 roles · 135 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at SEC.
SEC
Attorney Advisor
Mid Average Neutral experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Folks in the specific group you're applying to will look at resumes and pick them. There will be at least 3 interview rounds, it just depends on the group you're going for. The first round of questions will be standard and pre-set, so everyone gets asked the same things to make sure it's fair and we can properly compare candidates.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Please share concrete examples from your experience that directly relate to the subject matter expertise we're looking for.
- Does your background align with the subject matter expertise needed for this position? Please provide specifics.
SEC
Business Systems Analyst
Mid Easy Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral
The interview was pretty straightforward. I spoke with three different interviewers in separate breakout rooms, and they all asked very similar questions. Most of the focus was on my resume, my interest in the SEC, and basic behavioral questions like how I handle challenges or work with a team. It felt more like a conversation than a technical assessment.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What should the SEC focus on going into the future?
SEC
Business Intern
Intern Easy Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Group Panel
Interview formats
Behavioral Group
There were a few interviewers who asked me behaviorals, like "walk me through your resume" or "what's something in the news that recently interested you." We were in breakout rooms, and there were other candidates in the Zoom meeting, and we would wait for the interviewers to come to us.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you tell me about something in the news that has recently captured your interest?
SEC
Business Honors Program
Entry Difficult Neutral experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Presentation Technical screen Group
Interview formats
Presentation Technical Coding Case Behavioral
The interview was conducted over zoom. It started with a brief presentation about the program. Then, it was a roundtable with two DERA higher-ups. Each person spent about 10-20 minutes asking basic behavioral questions. After that, there was a written/technical assessment. The assessment covered law, accounting, finance, coding (loops and databases), probability brain teasers, and math (calculus, statistics, etc).
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you explain what a trapezoidal right sum is and its application?
- What is the reason behind manhole covers being round?
- If 12 individuals in a room exchanged high fives precisely once before and after a conference, how many total high fives would occur?
SEC Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from SEC interview reports.
“Can you calculate the n-th derivative of x to the power of (1/n)?”
Read reports →“What is the probability that the coin is the unfair one, given that you picked one coin at random from 100 coins (one of which is two-headed) and flipped it 10 times, with each flip resulting in heads?”
Read reports →“Given three paths out of a cave: path 1 (6 hours, loops back), path 2 (1 hour, loops back), and path 3 (12 hours, escapes), what is the average time to escape?”
Read reports →“If 12 individuals in a room exchanged high fives precisely once before and after a conference, how many total high fives would occur?”
Read reports →“Can you explain what a trapezoidal right sum is and its application?”
Read report →“Which SEC case or action happening right now do you find most interesting?”
Read report →“What are your thoughts on the mission and operations of the SEC?”
Read report →“Which law school class is your favorite and what's the reason for that choice?”
Read report →“What is your perspective on the SEC's current trajectory and its direction?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 135 SEC interview reports.