Goldman Sachs Product Manager Interview Questions + Guide 2024

Goldman Sachs, founded in 1869, is a premier global financial institution with a diverse range of services in investment banking, securities, and investment management. The firm is known for its deep expertise, robust client relationships, and commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace.

As a Product Manager at Goldman Sachs, you will play a pivotal role in defining, launching, and managing innovative products that drive business growth and client satisfaction. This position involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, managing product lifecycles, and ensuring regulatory compliance. Strong analytical skills, strategic thinking, and a knack for solving complex problems are essential for success in this dynamic and fast-paced environment.

If you’re ready to join a team of forward-thinking professionals, this guide will help you navigate the interview process and commonly asked Goldman Sachs product manager interview questions to help you land your dream job.

Submitting Your Application

The first step is to submit a compelling application that reflects your product management skills and interest in joining Goldman Sachs in the role of Product Manager. Whether you are contacted by a Goldman Sachs recruiter or have taken the initiative yourself, carefully review the job description and tailor your CV according to the prerequisites.

Tailoring your CV may include identifying specific keywords that the hiring manager might use to filter resumes and crafting a targeted cover letter. Furthermore, don’t forget to highlight relevant product management skills and mention your work experiences.

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV happens to be among the shortlisted few, a recruiter from the Goldman Sachs Talent Acquisition Team will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral and fit questions may also be a part of the screening process.

In some cases, the Goldman Sachs hiring manager may stay present during the screening round to answer your queries about the role and the company itself. They may also indulge in surface-level technical and behavioral discussions.

The whole recruiter call should take about 30 minutes.

Technical and Behavioral Virtual Interviews

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will present you with an invitation for the next screening rounds, which are a combination of technical and behavioral interviews. Technical screening for the Product Manager role usually is conducted through virtual means including video conference and screen sharing. Expect standard product management questions along with those testing your past experiences and case study discussions.

Questions in this stage may revolve around Goldman Sachs’s products, user experience improvements, product lifecycle management, and problem-solving scenarios. Typical questions may include:

• What makes you stand out from other candidates?
• What is the most significant product you’ve built?
• What value can you bring to the division you are interviewing for?

This stage may also include take-home assignments regarding product analysis, which you need to submit within a stipulated time. After submission, a follow-up interview may occur to discuss the same.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop. Multiple interview rounds, usually four to six, will be conducted throughout the day. These interviews can span across various departments and product teams, assessing your cultural fit, alignment with Goldman Sachs values, and behavioral and technical acumen.

This will likely include: - Meeting with the hiring manager - Panel interviews discussing case studies and product scenarios - Interviews with senior management, VPs, and team leaders focusing on both technical and behavioral aspects

Depending on the outcomes from previous rounds, some interviewers may revisit the case study and request a presentation or a deeper analysis.

Typically, interviews at Goldman Sachs vary by role and team, but commonly product manager interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

1. Create a function rain_days to calculate the probability of rain on the nth day given specific conditions.

The probability that it will rain tomorrow depends on whether it rained today and yesterday. If it rained both days, there’s a 20% chance it will rain tomorrow. If it rained one of the days, there’s a 60% chance. If it rained neither day, there’s a 20% chance. Given it rained today and yesterday, write a function to calculate the probability it will rain on the nth day after today.

2. How would you provide rejected loan applicants with reasons for rejection without access to feature weights?

Suppose you have a binary classification model that determines loan eligibility. As a financial company, you must provide each rejected applicant with a reason for their rejection. Given that you don’t have access to the feature weights, how would you generate these reasons?

3. Are we overestimating or underestimating the actual population’s credit score using a fixed cutoff?

Assume you have a credit model with a calibrated score (e.g., 83% with an actual range of 81%-85%). If you use 83% as a cutoff for creditworthiness, are you overestimating or underestimating the actual credit scores of the population?

4. How would you design an ML system to extract, transform, and store data from Reddit and Bloomberg APIs for downstream models?

As a machine learning engineer for a large bank, you have access to the Reddit API for finance-related posts and comments and the Bloomberg API for daily stock prices. How would you design an ML system to extract data from these APIs, transform it, and store it in a format usable by downstream modeling teams?

Here are some tips for your upcoming Goldman Sachs product manager interview:

• Understand the Industry: Familiarize yourself with Goldman Sachs’s operations, fintech product landscape, and latest innovations. Articulate your understanding of these during the interviews.

• Be Thorough with Behavioral Scenarios: Prepare detailed responses to showcase your problem-solving skills and teamwork abilities in product management.

• Align with the Company’s Core Values: Goldman Sachs values collaboration, innovation, and a client-first approach. Try to reflect these values in your responses and demonstrate how you would be a cultural fit.

What is the average salary for a Product Manager at Goldman Sachs?

What qualifications are required for a Product Manager role at Goldman Sachs?

The basic qualifications typically include a Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent practical experience, 3 to 7 years of product management experience, and a strong understanding of financial markets or developer workflows. Preferred qualifications might include more specific skills such as experience managing chatbots, API integrations, or having a deep understanding of user experience and cloud technologies.

Why should I choose Goldman Sachs over other companies?

Goldman Sachs is known for its dynamic work environment and its commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion. The company encourages innovation, offers extensive training and development opportunities, and provides competitive benefits. Moreover, Goldman Sachs places a high priority on client interests, which can be very fulfilling if you’re passionate about building customer-centric products.

By incorporating the in-depth technical insights and interview prep strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to acing the interview at Goldman Sachs.

Best of luck on your interview journey!