Goldman Sachs Interview Experience – Analyst (SDE) Role, Bangalore
I recently interviewed for the Analyst (SDE) role at Goldman Sachs, Bangalore. I applied through a referral, which helped fast-track my process. Currently, I work as a backend developer in a service-based company, mainly handling client projects. Here's a round-by-round breakdown of my experience.
Round 1: Online Assessment (OA)
| Difficulty | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 60 minutes | Remote |
The OA consisted of two medium-level DSA problems. This round set the tone for the rest of the process.
Questions Asked:
- Shortest Subarray to be Removed to Make Array Sorted
- Number of Islands
I started with the first question but struggled initially with edge cases. I kept clarifying constraints and explained my approach step by step, which helped me get back on track and finish it.
The second question, Number of Islands, was straightforward (standard flood fill / DFS problem) and I solved it within 5 minutes since I had practiced it before.
Round 2: Coding + DSA
| Difficulty | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 60 minutes | Remote |
Questions Asked:
- Gas Station
- Minimum Window Substring
For Gas Station, I applied a greedy approach: calculated total fuel and reset the starting point whenever the fuel went negative.
For Minimum Window Substring, I used the sliding window technique — expanded the window to include all required characters, then shrank it to get the minimum valid substring. I made sure to explain my approach clearly throughout.
Round 3: Software Engineering Practices
| Difficulty | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 60 minutes | Remote |
This round focused on fundamentals and practical knowledge.
Topics covered:
- Databases: Sharding vs Partitioning — when to use which and trade-offs.
- SQL: Use of the EXPLAIN keyword, scan types and performance considerations.
- JavaScript: Implementing a debouncing function and optimizing it.
I backed my answers with real-world use cases, which the interviewers appreciated.
Round 4: Low-Level Design (LLD)
| Difficulty | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 60 minutes | Remote |
Task:
Design an Air Traffic Control System.
My Approach:
- Discussed scalability and availability requirements.
- Discussed fault tolerance in system design.
- Step-by-step reasoning with diagrams to illustrate design choices.
This round tested both design thinking and communication skills.
Round 5: Hiring Manager (HM) Round
| Difficulty | Duration | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | 60 minutes | Remote |
Questions Included:
- Why do you want to switch so early in your career?
- What would you do if someone took credit for your work?
- How would you handle a workplace confrontation?
I answered by focusing on growth, collaboration and conflict resolution.
Overall Experience
The process was thorough, covering DSA, problem-solving, fundamentals, design and behavioral fit.
Each round had a clear focus and the interviewers were supportive when I explained my thought process.
Preparation Tips for Goldman Sachs Interviews
- DSA: Focus on categories. For example, spend a week on graphs, another on DP and so on.
- System Design: Review common problems like URL shortener, distributed cache and chat application.
- Behavioral: Be honest about your growth, mistakes and future goals.
General Advice
- It’s okay if you don’t fully solve every question.
- What matters is a logical approach and clarity of thought.
- Keep talking - share your reasoning, handle edge cases and ask clarifying questions.
- If time permits, proactively discuss optimizations. It shows depth and initiative.
Overall, interviewing at Goldman Sachs was a challenging yet rewarding experience, testing both technical depth and personal growth.