Goldman Sachs Interview Guide – How to Make It to the Top

Landing a job at Goldman Sachs is a dream come true for many finance professionals. The catch is that the firm is known for its tough and lengthy interview process to make sure those who join are up for the challenge of providing high-standard financial services to their clientele.

This guide is a complete knowledge base that will help you understand:

✔ The recruitment process at Goldman Sachs.
✔ The kind of questions you should expect.
✔ The time it takes to get through all stages of the interview.
✔ Ways to prepare for a better shot at success.

What Is the Recruiting Process at Goldman Sachs Like?

Goldman Sachs receives countless applications every year from undergraduates and graduate students for Summer internship programs in investment banking, asset management, wealth management, securities trading, regulation compliance management, operations, and so on.

Professionals who already have expertise in this field also apply at the advertised locations to these career programs:

• Neurodiversity Hiring Initiative (Empowering individuals suffering from autism, ADHD, and other neurological disorders in the workplace)
• Skillset Recruiting (Hiring based on 1-5 years of experience in specific fields)
• Returnship Program (Welcoming experienced professionals back into the firm)

In general, the recruiting process consists of three steps:

Step 1: Online Application Submission

The recruitment process starts right away when you submit an online application for summer internships or professional career programs on the Goldman Sachs website.

While applying, you need to fill out the below fields in the form:

• Email address (agree to terms and conditions, too)
• Cover letter (as an attachment)
• Link to your portfolio
• Personal details (prefix, suffix, first name, middle name, last name, phone number, address, secondary email address, gender, orientation, etc.)
• Education history (GPA, results, etc.)
• Other information about your professional work history and residency status

NOTE: For the Skillset Recruiting program, you need to first choose a skill on the Goldman Sachs skill page, choose the one that matches your experience, and then apply online.

Step 2: HierVues's Intelligent Assessment Video Interview

If your online application is impressive enough for Goldman Sachs recruiters, you’ll be invited for a HireVue interview.

You might be wondering what that is!

HireVue is an intelligent assessment service that can analyze up to 25,000 data points for your video interview. The system uses these data points (with the use of video, facial recognition, and ranking algorithm software) to help Goldman Sachs recruiters narrow down the candidate pool. Afterward, they review your answers and compare them to those of other candidates to predict which ones are top performers for the respective roles and whether to continue with you to the next stage of the interview.

How HireVue interviews work:

• You'll be presented with a set of 4-6 questions, one set at a time.
• You'll have a short amount of time (usually 30 seconds) to prepare your answer before the live recording starts for each set of questions.
• Once the preparation time is over, you'll record your answer within 2 minutes.
• Your recorded answers are then reviewed by Goldman Sachs recruiters to narrow down the candidate pool.

Note: Summer Interns for engineering roles need to go through a HackerRank Assessment before the HireVue interview.

Step 3: Final Interviews (Superday for Summer Applicants)

Once you succeed in the HireVue interview, you’ll be called for final interviews or Superday. Both terms refer to the intense back-to-back 3 to 5 interviews (30 minutes each) on the same day. The difference is that Superday is for those candidates who applied for the summer internship program, and final interviews are reserved for professional career applicants.

Usually, the final round of interviews or the Superday for Goldman Sachs roles involves a mix of behavioral and technical interviews, along with a scenario to tackle a problem:

• Behavioral interviews focus on assessing your fit with the firm's culture, your problem-solving abilities, and your teamwork skills. You might be asked about your previous experience, challenges you've overcome, and how you handle pressure.
• Depending on the role, you may have to answer technical questions related to your field. For example, if you're applying for a finance role, you could expect questions on financial modeling (creating spreadsheets of the company’s costs and income), accounting, or market analysis.
• Case studies might involve analyzing a business problem or situation and proposing a solution. It's a way to assess your analytical knowledge and skills to overcome hurdles.

Goldman Sachs places a strong focus on the following qualities during your final interviews:

1. Demonstrating a genuine interest in financial markets and the industry as a whole.
2. Show your ability to think critically and to solve complex problems under stress.
3. Exhibit qualities of a strong leader by influencing others and taking the initiative at the right moment.
4. Putting effort into working effectively with others.
5. Conversing your thoughts and ideas that can actually drive results.

What Can You Expect in the HireVue Interviews at Goldman Sachs?

Applicants who made it to the HireVue or final interviews should know the type of questions they can expect in these stages. Questions in Goldman Sachs HireVue interviews can vary based on the role and division you’ve applied for. Here are some common types of questions you might be asked:

Behavioral Questions at Goldman Sachs

Behavioral questions in interviews are designed to assess how a candidate has handled situations in the past, often reflecting their problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills. These questions typically start with prompts like "Tell me about a time when..." or "Give an example of how you...". The goal is to understand how the candidate's past behavior may predict future performance in similar circumstances. Here, you can find some examples:

• Tell me about a time you faced a challenge and how you overcame it.
• Describe a situation where you had to work as part of a team.
• Give an example of a time you demonstrated leadership.
• How do you handle conflict with a coworker?
• Tell me about a time you failed. What did you learn from it?
   

Technical Questions at Goldman Sachs

• These questions will depend on the specific role you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for Controller, you might be asked questions about your experience in decision-making, forecasting, and budgeting based on accounting data.
   

Fit Questions at Goldman Sachs

Fit questions in interviews are aimed at determining whether a candidate's values, personality, and working style align with the company's culture and team dynamics. These questions often explore a candidate's motivations, work preferences, and how they handle certain workplace scenarios. In general, many investment banks use fit questions to find out if you will thrive in the specific fast-paced environment of investment banking and contribute positively to the organization. Examples at Goldman Sachs are:

• Why Goldman Sachs?
• Why are you interested in this role?
• What do you know about the culture at Goldman Sachs?
• What are your career goals?
• How do you stay updated on financial news?

👉 To practice, answering behavioral and fit questions under pressure, check out our stress question tool. 
 

What Is Covered in Goldman Sachs Final Interviews?

As mentioned above, Goldman Sachs final interviews or Superday consists of 3-5 interviews, and the recruiters ask you several questions during each round.

Apart from the behavioral questions asked in the HireVue interview, questions like “Give an example of a time you demonstrated leadership” are added to analyze your immediate response.

Technical questions depend on the role you’ve applied for. For quantitative roles, expect questions on financial modeling, accounting, valuation, and market analysis.

Examples:

• Walk me through a DCF valuation.
• How would you value a company with negative earnings?
• Is there any difference between equity and debt financing? If so, explain.

You also have to answer a few business questions to let recruiters assess your understanding of the financial industry, market trends, and your ability to think critically about business problems.

Examples:

• How would you evaluate a potential acquisition?
• What factors would you consider when making an investment decision?
• Walk me through an LBO analysis.

Valuation Case Studies in the Goldman Sachs Interview Process

Case studies are a key factor in Goldman Sachs interviews, evaluating your potential role. You’ll be given a business scenario, such as a client considering acquiring a competitor, and are asked a few questions about your approach.

Possible questions:

• What are the strategic benefits of the acquisition?
• How would you estimate the synergies?
• What are the potential integration challenges?
• How would you finance the deal?
• What is the expected return on investment for the acquirer?

What Is the Timeline for the Recruiting Process at Goldman Sachs?

The Goldman Sachs interview process can take anywhere between 2 and 4 months, from application submission to final interviews. However, some candidates are hired early, so there isn’t a set time limit.

• Online application: 1 month due to a high number of applicants.
• HireVue interview: 15 days to 2 months after acceptance of online application.
• Final interviews: A few weeks after clearing the HireVue interview.

How Can You Prepare for Goldman Sachs Interviews?

As with most big firms, you should not take interviews at Goldman Sachs for granted and prepare ahead to beat the competition. Here are a few tips that can greatly help you with each interview stage.
 

Tips for the Online Form Submission

Most candidates make the mistake of creating a formal generalized cover letter while applying to Goldman Sachs. That’s just wrong! You should mention the pain points of the firm, how your expertise and experience for the specific role can make a difference, and why Goldman Sachs should hire you.

A professional CV is important, too, with details about your academic achievements, financial language proficiency, and outstanding extracurricular activities.

👉 For more insights, check out our resources on the investment banking resume and cover letter. 
 

Tips for a Successful HireVue Interview

• Familiarize yourself with the HireVue platform and practice answering potential questions.
• Make sure the environment is quiet and your internet is working for recordings.
• Look straight at the camera for direct eye contact with the recruiter.
• Sit up for a good posture, but don’t look overconfident.
• Answer questions directly and try not to ramble.
• Dress as you would for an in-person interview.
   

Tips to Succeed In Final Interviews/Superday

• Research the business and culture of Goldman Sachs thoroughly by joining the My GS events online.
• Prepare for common interview questions and practice the way you’ll respond.
• Try to reach the office location 15-20 minutes before the interviews to get a feel of the environment, which will help you with your confidence.
• Understand the question instead of rushing for the answer.
• Show your genuine interest in the role and the company while answering questions.
• Ask questions if needed because the interviewer might have deliberately done so to see if you are curious enough.
• Even though it's a stressful day, maintain a professional appearance.
• For case studies, work on some prior to the interview, think up your approach before concluding, and never hesitate to ask for more information.
   

Key Takeaways on the Interview Process at Goldman Sachs

Summing it up, the recruiting process at Goldman Sachs is undoubtedly very demanding, but with the right preparation and mindset, it is a challenge that can be successfully managed. Remember, this isn't just about showcasing your technical skills or knowledge; it's about demonstrating your ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and align with the firm's core values and culture. Stay focused, be genuine, and let your passion for finance and commitment to excellence shine through. With thorough preparation and a strategic approach, you can position yourself as a standout candidate ready to make a meaningful impact at Goldman Sachs. Good luck!