Strats (firmwide)
Status
Student / Prospective Monkey at
Group/Division/Type
Strategy
City
New York
Interviewed
November 2015
Overall experience
Difficulty
General Interview Information
Outcome
No Offer
Interview Source
Recruiter
Length of Process
Less than 1 month
Interview Details
What did the interview consist of?
Phone Interview
Skills Test
Please describe the interview / hiring process.
I spoke with a recruiter at the Goldman Sachs headquarters during a hiring event for veterans. My undergraduate major is in business, specializing in information technology, and I minor in applied physics. The recruiter recommended the Strats division. I was not aware of what this was, as it is not as "popular" as investment banking. Through hours and hours of research, I found that most people describe Strats as a middle-man between the back-office and middle-office.
The Interview:
The interview was scheduled for 45 minutes. There was one person on the line. He worked in Strats and had a PhD in mathematics. There was no behavioral part to the interview. Our introduction lasted all of 60 seconds before he started asking about my programming experience; what languages do you know, and what do you use them for? I immediately knew I was in over my head, and that the recruiter had been a little too whimsical with their suggestion that I look into Strats. I communicated this to the interviewer and he was understanding and kind. He said, "We want people who want to learn," and then he suggested we just continue and see where the interview takes us. It was obvious after further discussion that Strats was not the right fit for me, but I do get the sense that he still liked speaking with me because he told me that he wanted me to get back in touch with HR and speak to them about other positions that would be a better fit inside the firm.
********************************************************************
Need to know: **There is no behavioral component to the interview**
You must have a strong background in math, to include: linear algebra, stochastic calculus, partial differential equations, and the like. Knowing how to explain, or work through, an equation that is in front of you is not enough. You must be able to speak intelligently about equations, and their different attributes without any primer.
You must be able to program, and be able to speak to the underlying theories behind programming, as it relates to finance. I was told that C++ is used, and that Java and Python are good languages to know. He said that speed is the main obstacle. They want their code to be as fast as possible. Knowing a statistical language like 'R' will also go a long way.
The Interview:
The interview was scheduled for 45 minutes. There was one person on the line. He worked in Strats and had a PhD in mathematics. There was no behavioral part to the interview. Our introduction lasted all of 60 seconds before he started asking about my programming experience; what languages do you know, and what do you use them for? I immediately knew I was in over my head, and that the recruiter had been a little too whimsical with their suggestion that I look into Strats. I communicated this to the interviewer and he was understanding and kind. He said, "We want people who want to learn," and then he suggested we just continue and see where the interview takes us. It was obvious after further discussion that Strats was not the right fit for me, but I do get the sense that he still liked speaking with me because he told me that he wanted me to get back in touch with HR and speak to them about other positions that would be a better fit inside the firm.
********************************************************************
Need to know: **There is no behavioral component to the interview**
You must have a strong background in math, to include: linear algebra, stochastic calculus, partial differential equations, and the like. Knowing how to explain, or work through, an equation that is in front of you is not enough. You must be able to speak intelligently about equations, and their different attributes without any primer.
You must be able to program, and be able to speak to the underlying theories behind programming, as it relates to finance. I was told that C++ is used, and that Java and Python are good languages to know. He said that speed is the main obstacle. They want their code to be as fast as possible. Knowing a statistical language like 'R' will also go a long way.
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