After meeting with a representative for about a half hour during a college career fair, I was asked for an in-house interview at CNA's Home Office in Chicago. The overall interview process was extensive, beginning with a networking event the night before and running about 6 hours on the day of. Interview day started with a light breakfast during a presentation about the company, then we broke off for a round of interviews that seemed daunting at first, but was fairly well-organized and fast-paced. Overall, there were two 1-on-1 interviews, a roundtable discussion with an SVP to answer our questions about the company, a group activity, and a lunch with a worker from the company. Throughout the process, you are assigned a "buddy," who is a current member of the ARBA program, and s/he helps take you from place to place while sharing their experience as part of the ARBA program.
Overall, the interviews themselves were mostly behavioral in nature, with some technical focus as well. On the technical side, there was a heavy emphasis on mergers and acquisitions (challenges when acquiring a company, how to consolidate the financial statements, and so forth), as well as some discussion about financial statements in a more general sense. I was told by my buddy that a huge plus is to ask thought-out questions about CNA, so do a little research and show that you understand their business model/current financial standing.
The people were all exceptionally intelligent and personable. The process itself was somewhat grueling, but clearly well thought out and designed in a way to make you feel comfortable. Furthermore, CNA seems to be an extremely fast-paced work environment, and a great place to rise quickly for the ambitious. One thing I will say is that although Accounting is listed in the name of the position (Accounting Rotational Business Associate), I thought the job seemed a little heavier on Finance than Accounting, so adjust your expectations accordingly. I myself was looking for a heavier focus on Accounting, but the position seemed like a wonderful opportunity to learn intensively and grow within the company.
Expecting to receive an offer, I had already decided not to accept, but then was not extended an offer. Evidently, it wasn't a perfect fit for me personally, but it seems like a great company to work for overall, particularly as they move into their new building in 2018.