Susquehanna International Group, LLP Business Intelligence Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Susquehanna International Group (SIG) is a global quantitative trading firm that utilizes data-driven strategies to optimize trading operations and maximize investment returns.

As a Business Intelligence professional at SIG, you will play a critical role in transforming raw data into actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making across the organization. This position involves analyzing complex datasets, developing and maintaining dashboards, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure that data-driven insights are effectively communicated and implemented. Key responsibilities include extracting and manipulating large datasets, performing advanced statistical analysis, and utilizing business intelligence tools to create visualizations that enhance data comprehension.

To excel in this role, candidates should possess strong analytical skills, proficiency in SQL and programming languages like Python or R, and experience with visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI. Familiarity with financial markets and trading concepts is a strong advantage. Ideal candidates are detail-oriented, possess excellent communication skills, and demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

This guide will help you prepare for your interview by providing insights into the necessary skills and competencies required for the Business Intelligence role at SIG, as well as the types of questions and scenarios you may encounter during the interview process.

The interview process for a Business Intelligence role at Susquehanna International Group is structured and thorough, designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit. The process typically unfolds in several key stages:

1. Initial Phone Screen

The first step usually involves a phone interview with a recruiter. This conversation is generally around 30 minutes long and focuses on your background, experience, and motivation for applying to SIG. Expect to answer standard HR questions, such as your previous roles, why you are interested in the position, and how you see yourself fitting into the company culture.

2. Online Assessment

Following the initial screen, candidates are typically invited to complete an online coding assessment, often hosted on platforms like CodeSignal or Codility. This assessment usually consists of two to four coding problems that test your problem-solving abilities and knowledge of data structures and algorithms. The questions can range from easy to medium difficulty, and candidates are advised to practice common coding challenges to prepare effectively.

3. Technical Interview

If you perform well on the online assessment, the next step is a technical interview, which may be conducted over the phone or via video call. This interview usually lasts about an hour and focuses on your technical knowledge relevant to the role. Expect questions about data structures, algorithms, and possibly some system design scenarios. Interviewers may also ask you to explain your thought process as you solve problems, so clear communication is key.

4. Onsite Interview

Candidates who successfully navigate the technical interview are often invited for an onsite interview, which can be quite extensive, lasting several hours. This stage typically includes multiple rounds of interviews with different team members. You may encounter coding exercises, system design challenges, and discussions about your previous projects. The interviewers will assess not only your technical skills but also your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively within a team.

5. Behavioral and Cultural Fit Interview

The final round often includes a behavioral interview, where interviewers will explore your past experiences and how they align with SIG's values. Questions may focus on teamwork, conflict resolution, and your approach to challenges in the workplace. This is also an opportunity for you to ask questions about the company culture and team dynamics.

As you prepare for your interview, it's essential to be ready for a variety of questions that will test both your technical and interpersonal skills. Next, we will delve into the specific interview questions that candidates have encountered during the process.

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

Understand the Interview Process

The interview process at Susquehanna International Group (SIG) typically involves multiple stages, including an initial phone screen, an online coding assessment, and several technical interviews. Familiarize yourself with this structure so you can prepare accordingly. Expect to encounter coding challenges that test your problem-solving abilities, particularly in data structures and algorithms. Knowing the sequence of interviews will help you manage your time and energy effectively.

Prepare for Coding Assessments

The coding assessments are a significant part of the interview process. Practice on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank, focusing on medium to hard-level questions. You may encounter problems related to data structures, algorithms, and system design. Pay special attention to topics like multithreading, hash tables, and binary search trees, as these are frequently mentioned in candidate experiences. Make sure you can write clean, efficient code under time constraints, as the assessments are timed.

Brush Up on Technical Knowledge

In addition to coding skills, be prepared to discuss your technical knowledge in depth. Review fundamental concepts in programming languages relevant to the role, such as C++, Python, or SQL. Understand the intricacies of data structures, time complexity, and object-oriented programming principles. You may be asked to explain your thought process and the reasoning behind your solutions, so practice articulating your answers clearly and confidently.

Emphasize Communication Skills

SIG values communication and collaboration. During technical interviews, you may be asked to explain your approach to solving problems. Practice discussing your thought process out loud as you work through coding challenges. This will not only demonstrate your technical skills but also your ability to communicate effectively with team members. Be open to feedback and hints from interviewers, as they often appreciate candidates who can engage in a collaborative problem-solving process.

Prepare for Behavioral Questions

Behavioral interviews are also a key component of the process. Be ready to discuss your past experiences, challenges you've faced, and how you've worked in teams. Prepare examples that highlight your problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to work under pressure. SIG looks for candidates who align with their company culture, so be sure to convey your enthusiasm for the role and the organization.

Stay Positive and Professional

Throughout the interview process, maintain a positive attitude, even if you encounter challenges or difficult questions. Some candidates have reported less-than-ideal experiences with interviewers, but it's essential to remain professional and composed. Your demeanor can leave a lasting impression, so approach each interaction with confidence and respect.

Follow Up

After your interviews, consider sending a thank-you email to your interviewers. Express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview and reiterate your interest in the role. This small gesture can help you stand out and demonstrate your professionalism.

By following these tips and preparing thoroughly, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the interview process at SIG and showcase your qualifications for the Business Intelligence role. Good luck!

Coding and Problem Solving

1. Describe your approach to solving a coding problem. Can you walk us through a recent example?

This question assesses your problem-solving process and ability to communicate your thought process clearly.

How to Answer

Outline your approach to breaking down the problem, the steps you took to arrive at a solution, and any challenges you faced along the way.

Example

“I recently worked on a problem where I needed to find the K’th largest element in an array. I started by sorting the array, which allowed me to easily access the K’th element. However, I realized this was not the most efficient method, so I researched and implemented a quick-select algorithm, which improved the time complexity significantly.”

2. How would you implement a push_back method for a dynamic array?

This question tests your understanding of data structures and memory management.

How to Answer

Discuss the concept of dynamic arrays, how memory allocation works, and the steps you would take to implement the method.

Example

“To implement a push_back method, I would first check if the current array is full. If it is, I would allocate a new array with double the size, copy the existing elements to the new array, and then add the new element. If there is still space, I would simply add the new element to the next available index.”

3. Can you explain how hash tables work and their time complexity?

This question evaluates your knowledge of data structures and their efficiencies.

How to Answer

Provide a brief overview of hash tables, including how they store key-value pairs and the average time complexity for operations.

Example

“Hash tables use a hash function to compute an index into an array of buckets or slots, from which the desired value can be found. The average time complexity for insertions, deletions, and lookups is O(1), but in the worst case, it can degrade to O(n) if many collisions occur.”

4. What is the difference between an array and a linked list? When would you use one over the other?

This question tests your understanding of fundamental data structures.

How to Answer

Discuss the characteristics of both data structures, including their advantages and disadvantages.

Example

“Arrays provide fast access to elements via indexing, but they have a fixed size and can be inefficient for insertions and deletions. Linked lists, on the other hand, allow for dynamic sizing and efficient insertions/deletions but require more memory due to pointers. I would use an array when I need fast access and know the size in advance, and a linked list when I expect frequent insertions and deletions.”

5. Can you describe a time when you optimized a piece of code? What was the original problem, and what changes did you make?

This question assesses your ability to improve existing solutions.

How to Answer

Explain the initial inefficiency, the steps you took to analyze and optimize the code, and the results of your changes.

Example

“I had a function that processed a large dataset but took too long to execute. I profiled the code and found that a nested loop was causing the slowdown. I refactored the code to use a hash map for lookups instead, which reduced the time complexity from O(n^2) to O(n), significantly improving performance.”

Database and SQL

1. How would you design a database schema for a grocery store?

This question evaluates your understanding of database design principles.

How to Answer

Discuss the entities you would include, their relationships, and how you would ensure data integrity.

Example

“I would create tables for Products, Categories, Customers, and Orders. The Products table would have a foreign key linking to Categories, and the Orders table would link to both Customers and Products. I would also implement constraints to ensure data integrity, such as unique constraints on product IDs and foreign key constraints to maintain relationships.”

2. Write a SQL query to find the top 5 products by sales.

This question tests your SQL skills and ability to write efficient queries.

How to Answer

Outline the SQL syntax you would use and explain your thought process.

Example

“I would use a query that joins the Products and Sales tables, grouping by product ID and summing the sales amount. Then, I would order the results in descending order and limit the output to 5. The query would look like this: SELECT product_id, SUM(sales_amount) FROM Sales GROUP BY product_id ORDER BY SUM(sales_amount) DESC LIMIT 5;”

3. What are the differences between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN?

This question assesses your understanding of SQL joins.

How to Answer

Explain the purpose of each join and provide examples of when you would use them.

Example

“An INNER JOIN returns only the rows that have matching values in both tables, while a LEFT JOIN returns all rows from the left table and the matched rows from the right table, with NULLs for non-matching rows. I would use INNER JOIN when I only want records that exist in both tables, and LEFT JOIN when I want to include all records from the left table regardless of matches.”

4. How do you ensure data integrity in a database?

This question evaluates your knowledge of database management practices.

How to Answer

Discuss the various methods you would use to maintain data integrity.

Example

“I would implement primary and foreign key constraints to enforce relationships between tables, use transactions to ensure atomicity, and apply validation rules to check data before it is entered into the database. Regular backups and normalization techniques would also help maintain data integrity.”

5. Can you explain what indexing is and how it improves query performance?

This question tests your understanding of database optimization techniques.

How to Answer

Provide a brief overview of indexing and its impact on query execution.

Example

“Indexing is a data structure technique that improves the speed of data retrieval operations on a database table. By creating an index on a column, the database can quickly locate the rows that match a query condition, reducing the amount of data that needs to be scanned. This can significantly improve query performance, especially for large datasets.”