What is Asked in the HAVELSAN Internship Interview? Process and Topics

In HAVELSAN’s summer internship selection, there is not a classic “interview round”; instead, a ranking-based evaluation is applied consisting of GPA, general aptitude test, and English exam. One-on-one interviews are particularly central to the Candidate Engineering program: there, the process progresses with a technical interview and, if necessary, a technical exam. In this article, we outline which evaluations await you in which program and which subject areas it makes sense to prepare for.

Let’s start with an important framework note: It is neither ethical nor accurate to publish companies’ exam and interview questions verbatim — questions change from period to period. In this article, we convey the process defined in official sources and the subject areas that students can prepare for; avoid lists that claim “this is definitely what will come.”

Evaluation method by program

Program	Evaluation	Is there a one-on-one interview?
HİT Summer Internship Program	GPA + general aptitude test + English exam (ranking)	In the official process, exam-based; interview is not additionally announced
Candidate Engineering	Technical interview; if academic criteria are not met, technical exam + technical interview	Yes, central to the process
SUIT	Project application evaluation (letter of intent, resume, academic support)	Focused on project presentation

Exams in the HİT process: What can you expect?

The official program page states that the HİT evaluation consists of three components. The first is already in your pocket: your transcript. The areas you can prepare for the remaining two components are as follows:

General aptitude test: These types of corporate tests typically consist of numerical reasoning, verbal logic, and shape-pattern questions. It is more realistic to expect short questions measuring speed and attention rather than heavy knowledge questions like those in KPSS.
English exam: Due to the predominance of defense software documentation in English, reading comprehension and technical vocabulary are emphasized. The exam format is not officially disclosed; think of it as a test measuring your general English proficiency.

The ranking is composed of a combination of academic performance and exam results — meaning that after passing the 3.00 threshold, your average is not the sole determinant; performance on the exam day directly affects the acceptance list.

Candidate Engineering technical interview: Subject areas

Candidate Engineering is the program that allows you to work while studying at HAVELSAN and is based on a technical interview process. Considering the departments targeted by the program (computer/software, electrical-electronics, electronics-communication), the subject areas that it makes sense to prepare for are as follows:

Data structures and algorithms: Arrays, linked lists, trees, complexity analysis — the universal core of software positions.
Object-oriented programming: Class design, inheritance, interfaces; considering HAVELSAN’s Java and C++ heavy ecosystem, fundamental OOP concepts.
Database fundamentals: SQL queries, relational model.
Your own projects: You are responsible for every project listed on your CV. Being able to give concrete answers to the question, “What was the hardest problem in this project, and how did you solve it?” is more valuable than rote knowledge.
For the electronics side: Circuit analysis, fundamentals of signals and systems, microcontroller experience.

Don’t forget the human side of the interview: Your answer to the question of why defense industry, why HAVELSAN should demonstrate that you are familiar with the company’s areas of activity. Entering the interview without knowing what HAVELSAN does is the most common mistake.

Things not in the process

Let’s clarify some claims that are not found in verified sources but are circulating in student forums: There is no verifiable basis for the claim that “connections are essential” in internship evaluation — the process operates through exams and rankings on a central platform. It is also incorrect to say that the security investigation is part of the interview stage; security and archive research is an administrative process that occurs after acceptance, not a screening exam. For details, you can refer to the main internship guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an algorithm question in the HAVELSAN internship interview?

The process in the HİT summer internship is exam-based; the algorithm-heavy technical interview is part of the Candidate Engineering program. Preparation in data structures and algorithms is always the best investment for software positions.

Is the interview conducted in English?

In the HİT process, English is assessed through a separate exam. The language of the Candidate Engineering interview is not officially disclosed; being prepared in English for technical terms is a reasonable assumption.

Is the internship interview online or face-to-face?

The format is not specified in official announcements. In the National Internship Program processes, exams can be conducted online; the interview format is clarified in the invitation email.