Switching Careers: How to Get a Software Engineer Job at Goldman Sachs

At first, I was really interested in the industry, but as an undergraduate, I couldn’t go straight to a master’s program, which made finding a job really hard. The chemistry field isn’t very friendly to undergrads, and the GPA requirements are pretty high. I realized I needed a master’s degree to have a shot, so I decided to switch to programming and stay in the U.S.  Although I knew switching careers would require learning a lot of new things, I felt confident in my logical thinking and didn’t worry too much. But in hindsight, I was a bit overconfident, and I ended up learning that lesson the hard way.  I started by learning programming through online materials. I learned basic Java and watched various pre-recorded courses, staying up late doing exercises. I thought I was doing well, so I started solving problems on platforms. However, I quickly realized that without following a structured course, it was really hard to solve problems on my own. Despite this, I pushed forward, analyzing problems and solutions.  When I started applying for jobs, I realized I had a major problem: just solving problems without understanding the underlying logic wasn’t going to get me far....

After graduating from NYU, I struggled because I was too distracted. During school, my professional knowledge was not solid. I mostly played around and only studied for exams at the last minute. I barely passed. Later, when I started looking for internships, I realized my resume was almost empty. I applied to over 500 companies but didn’t receive any invitations. Then, an alumnus introduced me to Drill Insight, a job search organization. They had a TCS program in securities trading. There were very few updated resources for companies like Goldman Sachs or JPMorgan Chase, and this program matched my needs. So, I signed up. In the program, the instructor was very responsible. He followed my project closely. My task was challenging: "design and build a simulated stock trading system." The system had to receive real-time trading data and make trading decisions quickly. My main focus was on developing trading algorithms, processing real-time data streams, and improving system performance. Through this project, I learned how to build an efficient and stable trading system. I also gained a better understanding of how financial markets operate. During the interview, I faced many technical problems, involving data structures, algorithm design, and system architecture. When...

I have been attending Drill Insight classes for more than two months now. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that whenever I consider giving up and returning to my home country, the teachers always reassure me. They tell me it’s possible to find a job in the U.S. and encourage me to believe in both them and myself. They remind me not to give up so easily. Their support isn’t just in the form of words. It’s also shown through their dedication to the program. I chose Drill Insight because they advertised an interview-oriented approach. I was skeptical, wondering which organization would be bold enough to claim that interviews were the ultimate goal and that they were willing to be held accountable. It turns out I was wrong. They are capable and confident enough to back up their claims. Drill Insight is affiliated with WVU, a fairly general school. They've been involved in various school projects and participated in Boot camps to enhance resumes. I initially aimed to stay in North America and pursue a career as an SDE. However, after submitting countless resumes with no response, I reached out to employees at large companies for feedback. They casually asked...