It's an ambitious goal, but entirely achievable with the right strategy! Interning at Goldman Sachs is a highly sought-after experience that can open doors to an incredible career in finance, technology, or various other fields. It's a challenging but deeply rewarding journey, and I'm here to guide you through every step.
Ready to embark on this exciting journey? Let's dive in!
How to Intern at Goldman Sachs: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide
Securing an internship at Goldman Sachs requires meticulous preparation, strategic planning, and a deep understanding of their rigorous application process. This guide will break down each phase, providing you with actionable insights to maximize your chances of success.
Step 1: Ignite Your Passion and Define Your Path
Before you even think about crafting a resume, you need to ask yourself: Why Goldman Sachs? This isn't just a rhetorical question for an interview; it's the foundation of your entire application.
Understanding Goldman Sachs and Its Divisions
Goldman Sachs is a global leader in investment banking, securities, and investment management. They offer a diverse range of services to clients worldwide. To truly understand where you fit, you need to research their various divisions:
Investment Banking: Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), corporate finance, capital markets. This is often what people envision when they think of "Wall Street."
Global Markets: Sales & Trading, structuring, prime brokerage. This involves buying and selling financial products.
Asset & Wealth Management: Managing investments for individuals and institutions.
Engineering (Technology): Software development, data science, cybersecurity – crucial for all firm operations.
Operations: Ensuring the smooth functioning of transactions and processes.
Global Compliance: Ensuring adherence to regulations and ethical standards.
Human Capital Management: Managing the firm's most valuable asset: its people.
Corporate Planning and Management: Overseeing the firm's liquidity, capital, and risk.
Identify the division that aligns with your academic background, skills, and career aspirations. Don't just apply to "Goldman Sachs"; apply to a specific role within a specific division that genuinely excites you. This targeted approach will shine through in your application.
Self-Assessment: Skills and Experiences
Take a moment to reflect on your strengths. What coursework have you excelled in? What projects have you completed, either academically or personally? Have you participated in any relevant extracurricular activities or leadership roles?
For finance roles: Do you understand financial modeling, valuation, or market dynamics?
For engineering roles: Are you proficient in specific programming languages (Python, Java, C++), data structures, algorithms, or software development methodologies?
For all roles: Do you possess strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills? These are universal requirements at Goldman Sachs.
Step 2: Meeting the Prerequisites: Eligibility and Academic Excellence
Goldman Sachs seeks out top talent. While specific requirements can vary by program and region (e.g., India vs. US), some general eligibility criteria apply.
Academic Standing
GPA/CGPA: A strong academic record is paramount. While there isn't always a publicly stated minimum, a CGPA of 7.5+ out of 10 (or equivalent, typically a 3.0-3.5+ GPA) is often expected, especially for competitive roles.
Year of Study: Most summer internships are geared towards students in their penultimate year of undergraduate or postgraduate studies, meaning you'll graduate the year after your internship. However, there are programs for various academic stages.
Major/Discipline: While certain divisions lean towards specific majors (e.g., finance, economics for IBD; computer science for engineering), Goldman Sachs often welcomes diverse academic backgrounds. Emphasize how your unique background brings value.
Beyond Academics: Demonstrating Potential
Relevant Experience: Previous internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or even significant personal projects that showcase transferable skills are highly valued.
Extracurricular Activities: Participation in student organizations, leadership roles, case competitions, or hackathons demonstrates initiative, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
Technical Skills: For engineering roles, practical coding experience and proficiency in relevant software are non-negotiable. For finance roles, familiarity with financial software (e.g., Bloomberg Terminal, Excel modeling) can be a plus.
Step 3: Crafting Your Narrative: Resume and Cover Letter Mastery
Your application documents are your first impression. They need to be flawless, tailored, and compelling.
Resume (CV): A Snapshot of Your Achievements
Tailor it: This is crucial. Do not use a generic resume. For each role you apply to, highlight experiences and skills that are directly relevant to the job description. Use keywords from the job posting.
Quantify your Impact: Instead of saying "managed projects," say "Managed 5 projects, leading to a 15% increase in efficiency." Numbers speak volumes.
Structure and Readability: Use a clean, professional format. Ensure it's easy to read and free of typos or grammatical errors. A one-page resume is generally preferred for internships.
Key Sections:
Contact Information: Professional email, phone number, LinkedIn profile (make sure it's up-to-date and polished).
Education: University, degree, major, GPA/CGPA, relevant coursework.
Experience: Internships, jobs, significant projects. Use action verbs.
Skills: Technical skills (programming languages, software), soft skills (communication, leadership).
Awards & Honors: Academic achievements, scholarships.
Extracurricular Activities: Leadership roles, relevant clubs.
Cover Letter: Your Personal Story
Personalize it: Address it to a specific person if possible (e.g., "Dear [Hiring Manager Name]"). If not, a professional salutation like "Dear Goldman Sachs Recruiting Team" is acceptable.
Clearly State Your Interest: Specify the program, division, and location you are applying for.
Connect the Dots: Explain why you are a good fit for Goldman Sachs and why Goldman Sachs is a good fit for you. Connect your skills and experiences directly to the firm's values and the demands of the role.
Show Your Research: Mention specific aspects of Goldman Sachs' work, recent news, or a particular initiative that resonates with you. This demonstrates genuine interest.
Concise and Impactful: Keep it to one page. Be persuasive without being overly effusive.
Step 4: Navigating the Digital Gauntlet: Online Assessments
Many Goldman Sachs internship applications involve online assessments, especially for engineering roles. These are designed to evaluate your aptitude, problem-solving abilities, and technical skills.
Types of Online Assessments
Aptitude Tests: These typically measure numerical reasoning, logical reasoning, and verbal reasoning. They assess your ability to think critically and analyze information.
Technical Tests (for Engineering Roles): Often conducted on platforms like HackerRank, these involve coding challenges. You'll typically be given 1-2 coding problems of varying difficulty.
Situational Judgement Tests: These present hypothetical workplace scenarios and ask you to choose the most appropriate response, assessing your soft skills and cultural fit.
Preparation Strategies
Practice, Practice, Practice: There are numerous online resources (e.g., Hackerrank, LeetCode for coding; PrepInsta, Glassdoor for aptitude) that offer practice tests similar to those used by Goldman Sachs.
Understand the Format: Familiarize yourself with the platform and question types beforehand.
Time Management: Online assessments are often timed. Practice managing your time effectively to answer all questions within the given limit.
Environment: Ensure you have a stable internet connection and a quiet environment free from distractions.
Step 5: Making Your Mark: The HireVue (Video Interview)
The HireVue interview is a pre-recorded video interview where you'll respond to a set of pre-determined questions. This is your chance to showcase your personality and communication skills.
What to Expect
You'll typically have 30 seconds to prepare your answer and 1-2 minutes to record your response for each question.
Questions are often a mix of behavioral and competency-based questions, and sometimes role-specific questions.
Tips for Success
Practice Aloud: Rehearse answers to common interview questions (see FAQ section below). Practice recording yourself to get comfortable.
STAR Method: For behavioral questions, use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This provides a clear, concise, and impactful response.
Dress Professionally: Treat it like an in-person interview. Dress in business attire.
Lighting and Background: Ensure good lighting and a clean, professional background.
Eye Contact: Look directly into the camera to simulate eye contact.
Body Language: Be enthusiastic, smile, and maintain positive body language.
Be Yourself: While prepared, let your personality shine through. Authenticity is key.
Technical Check: Test your microphone, camera, and internet connection before starting.
Step 6: The Ultimate Test: The Superday (Final Round Interviews)
If you make it to the Superday, congratulations! You're among the top candidates. This is the final and most intensive stage of the interview process.
What is a Superday?
A Superday typically involves multiple in-person interviews (or virtual, depending on the program and circumstances) with various professionals from your chosen division, ranging from analysts to Vice Presidents and sometimes even Managing Directors. Each interview usually lasts around 30 minutes.
Interview Focus
Behavioral Questions: These delve deeper into your soft skills, teamwork, leadership, ability to handle pressure, and cultural fit. Examples: "Tell me about a time you failed." "How do you handle conflict?"
Technical Questions: These will assess your knowledge relevant to the division.
For Investment Banking: Valuation methods (DCF, comparable company analysis), accounting principles, market trends.
For Global Markets: Macroeconomics, market dynamics, financial instruments (stocks, bonds, derivatives).
For Engineering: Data structures, algorithms, system design, object-oriented programming concepts.
Case Studies/Brainteasers: Some divisions may incorporate these to assess your analytical and problem-solving skills under pressure. Example: "How many golf balls fit in a school bus?"
"Why Goldman Sachs?" and "Why this role?": Expect to be asked these questions multiple times. Your answer should be well-researched and demonstrate genuine interest.
Resume Deep Dive: Be prepared to discuss every single item on your resume in detail. Interviewers may ask very specific questions about your past experiences.
Preparation for Superday
Thorough Research: Know everything you can about Goldman Sachs, its recent deals, its culture, and the specific division you're interviewing for.
Master Your Technicals: Review all relevant technical concepts extensively.
Mock Interviews: Practice with friends, mentors, or career services. Get feedback on both your content and delivery.
Prepare Questions for Interviewers: Have insightful questions ready to ask them. This shows engagement and intellectual curiosity. Ask about their career paths, the team culture, or current projects.
Stay Calm and Confident: It's a high-pressure environment, but projecting confidence and a positive attitude is essential.
Networking (if applicable): If you've networked with anyone at Goldman Sachs, briefly mention it as a point of connection during your interviews.
Step 7: The Waiting Game and Beyond: Follow-Up and Future Applications
After the Superday, there's often a waiting period. This can range from a few days to several weeks.
Post-Interview Etiquette
Thank You Notes: Send personalized thank-you emails to each interviewer within 24 hours of your Superday. Reiterate your interest and briefly mention something specific you discussed.
Be Patient: The hiring process at Goldman Sachs is extensive. Avoid excessively following up. If you haven't heard back by the communicated timeline, a polite follow-up email to your recruiter is acceptable.
If You Get an Offer:
Congratulations! Review the offer carefully. Don't hesitate to ask questions about the role, compensation, and benefits.
Accept or Decline: Respond within the given timeframe.
If You Don't Get an Offer (This is important!):
Don't Be Discouraged: The process is incredibly competitive. Many highly qualified candidates don't get offers.
Seek Feedback: If possible, politely ask the recruiter for feedback on your performance. This can be invaluable for future applications.
Learn and Improve: Analyze what could have gone better. What areas can you strengthen? This experience is a learning opportunity.
Reapply: Many successful Goldman Sachs employees applied multiple times before securing a role. Persistence is key!
Related FAQ Questions
How to tailor my resume for a Goldman Sachs internship?
Quick Answer: Match keywords from the job description, quantify achievements with numbers, and prioritize experiences most relevant to the division you're applying for.
How to prepare for the Goldman Sachs online assessment?
Quick Answer: Practice extensively with online aptitude tests and coding challenges (e.g., HackerRank, LeetCode) to familiarize yourself with question types and time limits.
How to ace the Goldman Sachs HireVue video interview?
Quick Answer: Practice using the STAR method for behavioral questions, ensure professional attire and background, maintain eye contact with the camera, and practice speaking concisely within the time limits.
How to answer "Why Goldman Sachs?" in an interview?
Quick Answer: Show genuine interest by discussing specific aspects of the firm's culture, recent initiatives, or deals that resonate with you, and connect it to your personal and career goals.
How to demonstrate technical skills for a Goldman Sachs engineering internship?
Quick Answer: Highlight relevant coursework, personal projects on platforms like GitHub, participation in hackathons or coding competitions, and clearly state your proficiency in required programming languages and data structures.
How to network effectively for a Goldman Sachs internship?
Quick Answer: Leverage LinkedIn to connect with alumni from your university working at Goldman Sachs, attend virtual or in-person career events, and engage in genuine, informative conversations.
How to prepare for the Goldman Sachs Superday interviews?
Quick Answer: Master both behavioral (STAR method) and technical questions relevant to your chosen division, conduct thorough research on the firm and market trends, and practice mock interviews.
How to follow up after a Goldman Sachs internship interview?
Quick Answer: Send a personalized thank-you email to each interviewer within 24 hours, reiterating your interest and briefly mentioning a specific point of discussion.
How to choose the right Goldman Sachs internship division?
Quick Answer: Research each division's responsibilities, required skills, and culture, then align your academic background, interests, and career aspirations with the best fit.
How to improve my chances of getting a full-time offer after a Goldman Sachs internship?
Quick Answer: Exceed expectations in your projects, proactively seek learning opportunities, network with colleagues and senior leaders, demonstrate strong teamwork, and show genuine commitment to the firm.