Goldman Sachs · Primly Community

Goldman Sachs new grad / entry level interview: how to prep and what to actually expect

jp_newgrad · 4 replies

going through the GS new grad / analyst interview right now and i've been piecing together everything i can find. here's what i've learned so far, some from my own experience and some from people who've been through it recently.

the structure (Engineering Analyst / Analyst roles): usually starts with an online assessment through Hackerrank or a similar platform. two coding problems, timed, algorithmic. after that if you pass, a phone screen or HireVue depending on the team. then a superday / onsite with 3-5 rounds.

what to study: algorithms and data structures, mid-difficulty level. GS is not as aggressive as some FAANG on algo difficulty but they do care that you can actually code, not just talk about it. SQL is fair game, especially for roles touching data or strats. also: behavioral prep is not optional. they ask a lot about "why Goldman" and expect a specific, credible answer. generic answers get flagged.

the "why GS" question specifically: this tripped me up in a mock. they want to hear something that demonstrates you understand the firm: division structure, what the role actually does, why it's different from a tech company. i spent an hour reading about their engineering blog and engineering culture before my screen and it helped.

timeline in 2026: full-time recruiting for summer/fall roles has been on an earlier schedule. if you're a current senior targeting a summer start, expect to be interviewing in February-March for many teams.

comp for new grads (engineering, NYC, 2026): anecdotally hearing $110k-$120k base plus a signing bonus in the $20k-$30k range and a bonus in year one. not FAANG L3 money but the GS name and structure matter for certain career paths.

happy to answer questions on what i've seen so far, loop isn't done yet.

4 replies

newgrad_neil

this is exactly the kind of post i needed. did you get any behavioral questions in the HireVue or was that all technical? i have one coming up and i can't find consistent info on the format.

jp_newgrad

mine was all behavioral in the HireVue, like three questions recorded, you get one prep minute. standard STAR stuff. the technical came in a separate live phone screen. might differ by team.

recruiter_rita

the comp numbers sound about right for Engineering Analyst in NYC. signing bonus varies a lot by team and how competitive your competing offers are. that range is the floor, not the ceiling, for people with competing FAANG offers.

pivot_pat

really appreciate you posting while the loop is still going. most people wait until it's over and forget the details. please update when you have an outcome.