Application Process

Completing an application is your first step towards a career at Goldman Sachs.

The more we know about you, the better we can match you with a suitable opportunity. Before you begin the application process, consider reviewing the following areas of our Web site, which offer insight into opportunities at our firm and areas of business:

New Analysts

Divisions

Diversity

Training

Presentations, Career Fairs and Conferences

Attending campus presentations, career fairs and conferences is a great way for you to get to know our firm and talk with Goldman Sachs professionals. View our Events Calendar for select event postings.

Career Services

Many universities provide career service resources. As a student, you can talk to your school's career advisors to learn more about what it’s like to intern in the financial services industry and at Goldman Sachs.

In addition to completing our online application, it is important that you comply with any application procedures and requirements your college or university may require. You should also review our Key Dates for regional guidelines.

Prepare to provide the following information on your application:

• Contact information
• Education history
• Language skills
• Exam results
• Work experience
• Honors, certification, technical skills, and other skills
• Motivations for applying to Goldman Sachs

Explanation of additional requirements

• Language Skills. There are specific language requirements for some of our European and Asian offices.
• Exam Results and Supporting Documentation. If you are studying in a European country, you may be asked to submit grade transcripts (Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Scandinavia, Spain, and Switzerland). Please be sure to include these documents, otherwise your application will be incomplete.
• Work Experience. Be sure to indicate all of your prior relevant work experience, and indicate how your experiences and achievements demonstrate your potential to succeed at Goldman Sachs.
• Motivations for Applying. In the cover letter portion of the application, you will be asked to provide examples of the qualities you would bring to Goldman Sachs and describe your motivations for applying.

Review Your Application

You can apply with up to two divisions and two locations. Make sure all of your information is factual and complete before you submit it. When we review applications, we look for an outstanding, compelling combination of academic achievement and active involvement in clubs, sports or vocational activities.

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What to Expect

Your first interview with us will be on campus or in our offices with up to two Goldman Sachs professionals. It will be with up to two divisions – either the divisions to which you applied or those in which we think you might succeed. In the interview, we will focus primarily on your past experiences and accomplishments as well as your general suitability for and interest in Goldman Sachs.

You may then be invited back for second and subsequent round interviews with either one or both of the divisions you interviewed with.

What We Look For

Throughout the interviewing process, we look for several characteristics in all our candidates. We look for individuals who can balance competition and teamwork, intensity and integrity, intellectual curiosity and leadership potential. We’ve summarized some additional characteristics below.

• A passion for excellence: We share a determination to achieve excellence in every project we undertake.
• Belief in the power of the group: Our environment is collaborative. We actively solicit ideas from one another, act on consensus wherever possible, and ensure that all team members get the credit for a job well done.
• Integrity: Trust — both personal and professional — is the heart of our business. Once you are part of our team, we expect you to maintain the highest ethical standards and maintain fairness in everything you do.
• Leadership: We expect team members to demonstrate leadership qualities — taking initiative to think a problem through in a different way, going the extra mile for a client or colleague, and taking the long-term view whenever possible.
• A desire to be challenged: We constantly work to find new and better ways of doing things for both our clients and our firm. We look for people with motivation and a desire to be at a place where your intellect is challenged to the fullest.
• The drive to make your mark on the world: We want to know about the ways in which you have challenged yourself to excel, where you have served as a team leader or an active team participant, and instances in which your innovation and creative thinking have generated successful outcomes. To do this, you'll need a strong sense of purpose and motivation – one that you can bring to your work every day.

How to Prepare

• View our interviewing skills module. We developed a comprehensive interviewing skills tips and hints training feature to help you better prepare for the interview process. Launch now
• Do your homework. Before your first interview, learn as much as you can about Goldman Sachs, the financial markets, and the areas in which we do business. The more you know about us - whether that be by talking with alumni, professors and friends or researching us online - the more confident you’ll be in the interview.
• Reflect on how you would answer these questions. What do I want to do? Why do I want to do it? How can I convince someone that my past experiences will prepare me to accomplish it?
• Expand your focus beyond the classroom. While we emphasize academic achievement and rigor, we also look for well-rounded people who have taken an active participation in the communities in which they live. Extra-curricular activities, community involvement, and other team-based endeavors all are excellent indicators that you have balance and know how to juggle commitments.
• Increase your awareness of the world at large. We want that you are engaged with the broader context of world affairs. Global and regional macroeconomic and political activities all have profound impacts on our business.
• Make the most of your interview. Come prepared to ask us questions. Use this as an opportunity to find out more about Goldman Sachs and the financial services industry. Know the dress code and wear something appropriate. Be sure to update your CV/resume and bring a copy with you. Our recruiters, interviewers, and managers rely on this information throughout the recruitment process.
• Be yourself. This is probably the single most important way to prepare for an interview at Goldman Sachs. We seek people who are bright, articulate, and genuine.

What to Expect

In the second and any subsequent interviews, you will meet with individuals from up to two divisions – either the divisions to which you applied or those in which we think you might succeed. The second interview round tends to be more technical in nature. We will look for you to possess competence and working knowledge of the basics of the particular area to which you are applying. For example, if you are interviewing with the Securities division, we may ask you about where you think interest rates are heading or how the market has been performing.

In the second round, we will continue to assess your compatibility with the firm as well as your interest in Goldman Sachs and the financial services industry overall.

If your interviews are successful and we feel you would make a positive addition to the Goldman Sachs team, we will extend an offer to you. During the interview process we will explain the particular timelines and deadlines.

Broadly speaking, we generally let candidates know of their status within 48-72 hours of the conclusion of the interview process. The Goldman Sachs recruiter will communicate next steps and the appropriate response time.