Hello, I’m preparing for a second-round interview at Goldman Sachs and trying to refine my behavioral responses. From what I’ve heard, they’re big on structured answers and STAR format. Is that actually true in practice? Do interviewers care more about story clarity or about hitting certain traits like leadership or teamwork? Any insight on how to avoid sounding too scripted?
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Congrats on making it to round two. That’s a great sign already.
Yes, Goldman does value structured answers and the STAR format helps. But in practice, interviewers care more about clarity and authenticity than about a perfect formula.
They look for traits like leadership, teamwork, and resilience. The best answers hit one or two of those clearly without sounding scripted.
Use real stories you care about. Keep structure in mind but speak naturally. It’s less about being polished and more about being thoughtful and self-aware.
You’re doing great so far. Just keep it sharp and genuine. 😊
Hey!
At Goldman Sachs, structured responses using a framework like STAR are helpful because they ensure your answer is clear and covers all key points, but interviewers are ultimately looking for authenticity and the traits you demonstrate, such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and resilience.
Focus on telling concise, engaging stories that illustrate these qualities, and practice enough to feel comfortable without memorizing word-for-word. Emphasize your role and impact in each example, and be ready to adapt your answer naturally if follow-up questions arise, which helps you avoid sounding overly scripted.
