Hub International Software Engineer Interview Questions + Guide in 2025

Hub International is a leading global insurance brokerage that focuses on providing tailored insurance solutions to clients across various industries, ensuring they achieve their business goals while mitigating risks.

The Software Engineer role at Hub International involves designing, developing, and maintaining web applications using modern technologies such as Ruby on Rails, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Key responsibilities include writing efficient and scalable code to enhance functionality, troubleshooting and resolving bugs, and participating in code reviews to foster a collaborative team environment. The ideal candidate will possess strong programming skills, a passion for continuous learning, and the ability to work independently while contributing to team objectives. Candidates should demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving and have experience with continuous integration and deployment practices. Hub International values teamwork and innovation, making it essential for a Software Engineer to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced atmosphere.

This guide aims to equip candidates with the insights and preparation necessary to excel in their upcoming interviews, providing a clear understanding of the role and expectations at Hub International.

The interview process for a Software Engineer at Hub International is designed to assess both technical skills and cultural fit within the team. It typically consists of several structured stages that allow candidates to showcase their abilities while also getting to know the company better.

1. Initial Contact

After submitting your application, you can expect to be contacted by a recruiter via email or phone. This initial conversation usually lasts about 15-30 minutes and focuses on your background, interest in the role, and basic qualifications. The recruiter will also provide an overview of the company culture and the next steps in the interview process.

2. Technical Screening

Following the initial contact, candidates typically undergo a technical screening, which may be conducted via video conferencing tools like Microsoft Teams. This interview usually lasts around 30-45 minutes and is led by a technical team member. During this session, you will be asked to solve coding problems or discuss your previous projects, particularly focusing on your experience with web application development, Ruby on Rails, and other relevant technologies.

3. Behavioral Interview

The next step often involves a behavioral interview, which may take place with a hiring manager or a panel of team members. This round is designed to assess your soft skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. Expect questions that explore your past experiences, how you handle challenges, and your approach to collaboration. This interview typically lasts about 30-45 minutes.

4. Final Interview

In some cases, a final interview may be conducted with senior management or a cross-functional team. This round is more in-depth and may include discussions about your long-term career goals, your fit within the company culture, and your vision for contributing to the team. This interview can also include a technical component, where you may be asked to present a project or discuss specific technical challenges you've faced.

5. Follow-Up and Offer

After the interviews, candidates can expect timely feedback from the recruitment team. If selected, you will receive a formal job offer, which will include details about salary, benefits, and other employment terms. The company emphasizes clear communication throughout the process, ensuring candidates know what to expect at each stage.

As you prepare for your interviews, consider the types of questions that may arise in each of these stages, particularly those that relate to your technical expertise and collaborative experiences.

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

Embrace the Collaborative Culture

Hub International values a collaborative environment, so be prepared to demonstrate your ability to work well within a team. Share examples of past experiences where you successfully collaborated on projects, mentored others, or contributed to a team’s success. Highlight your willingness to learn from peers and your enthusiasm for sharing knowledge, as this aligns with the company’s emphasis on peer critiques and constructive feedback.

Prepare for a Structured Interview Process

Expect a structured interview process that may include multiple rounds with different team members. Familiarize yourself with the typical flow, which often starts with HR, followed by technical interviews, and concludes with discussions with potential managers or peers. This will help you feel more at ease and allow you to prepare targeted questions for each interviewer, showcasing your interest in the role and the company.

Showcase Your Technical Proficiency

Given the emphasis on web application development, be ready to discuss your experience with Ruby on Rails, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Prepare to talk about specific projects where you utilized these technologies, focusing on your contributions and the impact of your work. Additionally, brush up on your understanding of RESTful APIs and any experience you have with microservices or service-oriented architecture, as these are valuable skills for the role.

Be Ready for Behavioral Questions

Expect behavioral questions that assess your problem-solving abilities and how you handle challenges. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your responses, providing clear examples that demonstrate your skills and thought processes. Questions may revolve around your strengths and weaknesses, so reflect on these in advance and be honest about areas for growth while emphasizing your commitment to improvement.

Communicate Your Passion for Growth

Hub International seeks candidates who have a passion for personal and professional growth. Be prepared to discuss how you stay current with industry trends, any additional skills you are working to acquire, and how you approach learning new technologies. This will resonate well with interviewers who value a proactive attitude toward self-improvement.

Ask Insightful Questions

Prepare thoughtful questions that reflect your interest in the company and the role. Inquire about the team dynamics, the technologies they are currently exploring, or how they measure success in the position. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company culture aligns with your values and career aspirations.

Follow Up Professionally

After your interviews, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. Reiterate your interest in the position and briefly mention a key point from your conversation that resonated with you. This will leave a positive impression and reinforce your enthusiasm for joining the team.

By following these tips, you can present yourself as a well-prepared and enthusiastic candidate who is not only technically proficient but also a great cultural fit for Hub International. Good luck!

In this section, we’ll review the various interview questions that might be asked during a Software Engineer interview at Hub International. The interview process will likely focus on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and your capacity to work collaboratively within a team. Be prepared to discuss your previous experiences, technical knowledge, and how you approach challenges in software development.

Technical Skills

1. Can you explain the MVC architecture and how it applies to Ruby on Rails?

Understanding the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture is crucial for a Software Engineer working with Ruby on Rails.

How to Answer

Discuss the roles of the model, view, and controller in the MVC architecture and how they interact with each other in a Rails application.

Example

“The MVC architecture separates the application into three interconnected components. The model handles data and business logic, the view is responsible for the user interface, and the controller manages the input and interaction between the model and view. In Ruby on Rails, this separation allows for cleaner code and easier maintenance.”

2. Describe a challenging bug you encountered in a web application and how you resolved it.

This question assesses your problem-solving skills and your approach to debugging.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example of a bug, the steps you took to identify and fix it, and what you learned from the experience.

Example

“I once encountered a performance issue where a page was taking too long to load. After profiling the application, I discovered that a database query was not optimized. I rewrote the query to use indexing, which reduced the load time significantly. This experience taught me the importance of performance testing during development.”

3. How do you ensure the quality of your code?

Quality assurance is vital in software development, and interviewers want to know your methods for maintaining high standards.

How to Answer

Discuss practices such as code reviews, automated testing, and continuous integration.

Example

“I ensure code quality by writing unit tests for all new features and conducting thorough code reviews with my peers. I also utilize continuous integration tools to automate testing, which helps catch issues early in the development process.”

4. What is your experience with RESTful APIs?

As a Software Engineer, familiarity with APIs is essential for building web applications.

How to Answer

Explain your experience in designing, implementing, or consuming RESTful APIs, and mention any specific technologies you’ve used.

Example

“I have designed and implemented several RESTful APIs using Ruby on Rails. I focus on creating clear and consistent endpoints, ensuring proper HTTP methods are used, and providing comprehensive documentation for users.”

5. Can you discuss your experience with front-end technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript?

This question evaluates your proficiency in front-end development, which is important for a full-stack role.

How to Answer

Share your experience with these technologies, including any frameworks or libraries you’ve used.

Example

“I have extensive experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and I often use frameworks like React to build dynamic user interfaces. I prioritize responsive design to ensure applications work well across devices.”

Behavioral Questions

1. Describe a time when you had to work closely with a team to complete a project.

Collaboration is key in software development, and this question assesses your teamwork skills.

How to Answer

Provide a specific example of a project, your role in the team, and how you contributed to its success.

Example

“During a recent project, I collaborated with designers and product managers to develop a new feature. I facilitated regular meetings to ensure everyone was aligned and encouraged open communication, which helped us deliver the project on time.”

2. How do you handle criticism of your work?

This question gauges your ability to accept feedback and grow from it.

How to Answer

Discuss your perspective on constructive criticism and how you use it to improve your skills.

Example

“I view criticism as an opportunity for growth. When I receive feedback, I take the time to reflect on it and implement changes where necessary. For instance, after a code review, I learned to better document my code, which has improved my communication with the team.”

3. What motivates you to keep learning and improving your skills?

This question explores your passion for personal and professional development.

How to Answer

Share your intrinsic motivations and any specific goals you have for your career.

Example

“I am motivated by the ever-evolving nature of technology. I regularly take online courses and participate in coding challenges to stay updated with industry trends. My goal is to become a lead developer, and I believe continuous learning is essential to achieving that.”

4. Can you give an example of a project where you took the lead?

Leadership skills are important, even for technical roles, and this question assesses your ability to guide a project.

How to Answer

Describe a project where you took initiative, the challenges you faced, and the outcome.

Example

“I led a project to migrate our application to a microservices architecture. I coordinated with different teams, set deadlines, and ensured everyone was on track. The migration improved our system’s scalability and reduced downtime during updates.”

5. Where do you see yourself in five years?

This question helps interviewers understand your career aspirations and alignment with the company’s goals.

How to Answer

Discuss your long-term career goals and how they relate to the position you’re applying for.

Example

“In five years, I see myself in a senior engineering role, possibly leading a team. I want to continue developing my technical skills while also mentoring junior developers and contributing to strategic decisions within the company.”