Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research Superday

Hi there,

congrats on landing the Superday. That’s already a big achievement! I can share what’s typical for Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research (GIR) interviews from my experience and how they differ a bit from IBD.

1. Stock pitch

Yes, expect to walk through a stock pitch. It doesn’t have to be overly complex, but it should be structured: investment thesis, key drivers, valuation, catalysts, and risks. Be ready to defend your reasoning if they push back on assumptions. 

2. Technicals

Accounting and valuation questions definitely come up. For example:

• Walking through a DCF and multiples
• How the three financial statements link together
• Revenue/expense drivers for the industry of your stock pitch

It’s less modeling-intensive than IBD, but they want to see that you’re comfortable with fundamentals.

3. Behavioral / personal fit

Expect quite a few behavioral questions since GIR teams are lean and culture fit matters. They’ll likely ask about motivation for equity research vs IBD, how you stay curious about markets, and times you’ve worked with data under time pressure. Use STAR-style answers and show intellectual curiosity.

4. Macro / market awareness

Yes, much more emphasis than in IBD. You should have a view on current macro themes (inflation, interest rates, sector trends) and how they affect your coverage space. Read recent GS research reports if you can, or at least skim news on Bloomberg/FT to have talking points.

5. Scenario questions

Very likely. They may hand you a short case: “You’re covering a company, earnings are coming out — what do you look at first?” or “Walk me through how you’d evaluate whether a stock is attractive.” They want to see a logical, structured approach, not a “perfect” answer.

General prep tips:

• Have 1–2 well-researched stock pitches ready, and be comfortable adjusting your thesis if challenged.
• Brush up on valuation/accounting basics
• Read market news daily until your interviews, and be ready to discuss how macro developments might flow into equity calls.
• Show genuine interest in research, not just as a stepping stone to IBD.

You’ll likely meet 3–5 interviewers back-to-back, each for 30–45 minutes, mixing technical, behavioral, and market awareness.

Good luck! GIR superdays are challenging, but if you prepare stock ideas and show that you think like an analyst, you’ll stand out.

All the best,

Simon

Hey!

Congrats on the Superday invite, that’s a big step. In Goldman’s GIR interviews, you should expect a balanced mix of technicals, market awareness, and personal fit. A stock pitch is almost guaranteed, and they may ask you to defend your assumptions or walk through what could change your thesis. 

Technicals will often tie into valuation and accounting fundamentals, but the depth will depend on your background and how well you can apply concepts to real companies. Compared to IBD, GIR interviews place more emphasis on your ability to interpret market trends, connect macro themes to company performance, and demonstrate curiosity about sectors you’re interested in.

On the behavioral side, you can expect a few standard questions to assess teamwork, communication, and persistence, since research roles require explaining complex ideas clearly under pressure. Live scenarios are also common: they may ask how you would approach evaluating a company with limited data, or how you’d react to unexpected news hitting the market. The best prep is to refine a stock pitch, practice linking macro factors to your chosen company, and stay sharp on accounting and valuation basics. If you show clear thought process, structured analysis, and genuine interest in markets, you’ll stand out.

Hi!

For your first Superday at Goldman Sachs' Global Investment Research (GIR) division in an APAC office as a Summer Analyst, expect a full-day event (typically 4-6 hours, virtual or in-person) with 3-5 back-to-back 30-minute interviews involving analysts, associates, VPs, and possibly a sector head or MD, focusing on your fit for equity research's analytical, communicative, and market-savvy demands—unlike IBD's deal-heavy pace, GIR emphasizes independent research, report writing, and client insights on equities, macro, and sectors. 

Yes, a deep-dive long/short stock pitch is common (prepare 2-3: e.g., a long on an APAC tech firm like TSMC with bull/bear cases, valuation multiples, and why it differs from consensus; practice defending under grilling for 10-15 minutes), alongside technicals on accounting (e.g., "How does a $10 depreciation increase affect the three statements?") and valuation (e.g., DCF walkthrough, EV vs. equity value, comps multiples, WACC calculation), though less quantitative than IBD—focus on conceptual understanding rather than brainteasers. 

Behavioral questions will comprise 40-50% (2-3 per interview), covering "Why GIR over IBD?" (highlight intellectual curiosity in markets vs. transactions), "Why GS?" (tie to their top-ranked research, APAC focus like China/HK deals), teamwork under deadlines, and a failure story using STAR; expect 1-2 live scenarios like "How would you evaluate a stock in the EV sector?" (discuss macro factors, filings, peers) or "Approach to a research report?" (bottom-up analysis, data sources, client needs). 

GIR does place heavier emphasis on macro/market awareness (e.g., APAC trends like US-China tensions, rate cuts' sector impacts, or commodity cycles) compared to IBD's micro-deal focus—stay current via FT/Bloomberg, GS reports, and prepare views on 1-2 themes; no formal modeling test, but a quick case or group discussion on market news is possible. 

Tips from recent experiences: Review GS GIR's website/sector coverage (e.g., APAC equities), network with alumni via LinkedIn for office-specific insights (Singapore/HK superdays can include regional macro probes), rehearse pitches aloud to sound natural/confident, and show passion for research (e.g., "I love dissecting 10-Ks for hidden insights"); post-superday, decisions come in 1-2 weeks—good luck, your invite means you're already competitive!