Goldman Sachs Interview Preparation
The most competitive graduate scheme in investment banking
~236,000
Applications
~1.5%
Offer rate
£65,000 base
Graduate salary
Free for 3 days · Cancel anytime
Goldman Sachs — HireVue Practice
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Application process
How to get into Goldman Sachs — step by step
Online Application
Opens ~August (summer analyst) or October (apprenticeships). Rolling.Tailor your CV to the specific division. Goldman sees thousands — generic CVs don't pass screening.
HireVue Video Interview
Sent within 24-48 hours of application5-6 questions, 30s prep, 2 min per answer. Behavioural + motivational. No retakes — practise with the trial option first.
Superday
August-November. Response within 48 hours.2-5 back-to-back interviews with pairs of interviewers. More technical than HireVue. Division-specific knowledge tested.
Offer
Rolling basisVerbal offer 1-2 weeks after Superday. Formal offer 2 weeks after verbal.
Interview questions
Goldman Sachs interview questions by round
Questions change at every stage. Know what to expect.
- 1Why Goldman Sachs? Why this division?
- 2Walk me through your CV.
- 3Tell me about a time you showed leadership.
- 4Describe a time you worked under pressure.
- 5What do you expect from an investment banking internship?
- 6Tell me about a time you influenced a decision.
What they value
What Goldman Sachs looks for in candidates
Commercial awareness
Follow the FT, know Goldman's recent deals, have a view on markets. Not just headlines — they want depth.
Structured thinking
Use frameworks (STAR, MECE). Goldman interviews are fast — rambling is the #1 reason candidates fail Superday.
Genuine motivation
"Why GS?" must be personal. Reference a deal, a person you spoke with, a specific event. Generic answers are instantly obvious.
Resilience under pressure
Superday is 3-5 hours of back-to-back interviews. They test whether you maintain composure across the day.
Team orientation
Goldman's culture emphasises lean teams and collaboration. Evidence of working with others, not solo heroes.
Intellectual curiosity
People who read beyond the job description. Ask smart questions. Think about the division, not just the firm.
Compensation
Goldman Sachs salary & benefits
Graduate
~£65,000 base (~£90-95K total comp)
Intern
~£55,000 pro-rata
Perks & benefits
Culture & work style
What it's actually like to work at Goldman Sachs
Insider tips
How to stand out at Goldman Sachs
Reference a specific Goldman deal in your "Why GS?" — go beyond their #1 M&A ranking
Attend Goldman events (My GS Events) and name-drop people you met
Know the difference between IBD divisions — M&A, ECM, DCM, leveraged finance
HireVue: keep answers under 2 minutes, use STAR, practise with trial recording
Superday: prepare 3-4 anchor stories that demonstrate multiple competencies
Compare
Goldman Sachs vs competitors
| Firm | Salary | Hours | Culture | Exit opps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldman Sachs | ~£65,000 base (~£90-95K total comp) | 70-80/week | Long hours — typically 70-80 hours/week ... | — |
| J.P. Morgan | ~£65K / ~£95K total | 65-75/week | Structured, large teams, process-driven | Very strong |
| Morgan Stanley | ~£65K / ~£90K total | 70-80/week | Collaborative, similar intensity | Strong |
| Barclays | ~£50K / ~£75K total | 60-70/week | More relaxed, lower pressure | Moderate |
| Citi | ~£60K / ~£95K total | 65-75/week | Global, diverse, strong training | Strong |
FAQ
Goldman Sachs FAQs
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