Interview experience 1 - engineering analyst
Candidate Profile: B.Tech CS, 8.3 CGPA, finance club member, competitive programming
Round 1 - Online Assessment (120 minutes)
Platform: HackerRank
Section 1: Coding (90 minutes, 2 problems)
Problem 1: Stock Buy and Sell (Multiple Transactions)
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Maximize profit with unlimited transactions
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Difficulty: Medium
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My Approach: Valley-peak approach O(n)
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Time: 25 minutes
public int maxProfit(int[] prices) {int profit = 0;for (int i = 1; i < prices.length; i++) {if (prices[i] > prices[i-1]) {profit += prices[i] - prices[i-1];}}return profit;}Problem 2: Longest Increasing Subsequence
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Find length of LIS
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Difficulty: Medium
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My Approach: Binary search O(n log n)
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Time: 35 minutes
Section 2: Aptitude/Reasoning (30 minutes, 15 MCQs)
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Numerical reasoning: 5 questions
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Logical reasoning: 5 questions
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Data interpretation: 5 questions
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Difficulty: Medium
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Tips: Practice quantitative aptitude for finance roles
Result: Cleared OA
Round 2 - Technical Interview 1 (60 minutes)
Interviewer: Vice President, Engineering Mode: Video call (Zoom)
Problem 1: Find Median from Data Stream
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Design structure for efficient median finding
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My Approach: Two heaps (max-heap + min-heap)
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Live coding with explanation
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Time: 25 minutes
Problem 2: Rate Limiter Design
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Implement token bucket algorithm
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Discussion on distributed scenarios
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Time: 20 minutes
Project Discussion (15 minutes):
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Discussed stock portfolio tracker project
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Technical architecture
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API design decisions
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Real-time data handling
Finance-Related Question:
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“Explain how stock markets work”
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“What is an option? Basic understanding”
Tips:
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Basic finance knowledge helps at GS
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Know your projects deeply
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Explain clearly while coding
Round 3 - Technical Interview 2 (60 minutes)
Interviewer: Executive Director
Problem 1: Course Schedule (Topological Sort)
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Detect cycle in directed graph
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My Approach: Kahn’s algorithm
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Discussion on applications
Problem 2: Design LRU Cache
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O(1) get and put operations
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Thread-safe implementation discussion
Puzzle:
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“You have 8 balls, one is heavier. Find it in minimum weighings”
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Solved with 2 weighings
System Design Discussion:
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“How would you design a trading system?”
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Discussed: Order matching, low latency, reliability
CS Fundamentals:
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Explain database ACID properties
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What is eventual consistency?
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TCP vs UDP for trading systems
Result: Strong performance
Round 4 - HR/Behavioral Round (45 minutes)
Interviewer: HR Manager + Team Lead
Questions Asked:
- “Why Goldman Sachs?”
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Mentioned interest in technology + finance intersection
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GS’s engineering culture
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Impact on global markets
- “Tell me about a leadership experience”
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Led college tech club
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Organized hackathon
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Managed team of 15
- “How do you handle pressure?”
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Example from exam week + project deadline
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Time management approach
- “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”
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Technical leadership in financial technology
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Building impactful systems
- “Do you have any ethical concerns about finance?”
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Discussed responsible technology
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GS’s community initiatives
Result: Selected! Package: ₹32 LPA (base + bonus) Location: Bengaluru
Key Takeaways: Goldman Sachs values problem-solving, basic finance understanding, and clear communication. Prepare for both technical and finance-related questions.