How hard is it to get into Goldman Sachs?

~236,000 people applied for the summer analyst programme. Roughly 1.5% get offers. Glassdoor rates difficulty 3.2/5. Process takes 3-4 weeks minimum, sometimes 3 months.

What format is the Goldman Sachs HireVue?

5-6 pre-recorded questions. 30 seconds prep, 2 minutes per answer. Behavioural and motivational. AI evaluates verbal and non-verbal communication. No retakes.

What is a Goldman Sachs assessment centre?

2-5 back-to-back interviews, each with 2 Goldman executives. More technical than HireVue. Questions about deals, valuation, markets. Response within 48 hours.

Does Goldman use psychometric tests?

Engineering applicants complete HackerRank. Some receive an aptitude test. Front-office candidates primarily face HireVue + assessment centre.

What grades do I need?

No official minimum, but competitive candidates typically have a 2:1 or First from a Russell Group university.

Summer analyst opens ~August. Spring weeks and apprenticeships open September-October. Apply within the first 2 weeks — rolling basis.

How many interview rounds?

3 stages: application screening, HireVue, then assessment centre (2-5 in-person interviews). Some have a phone screen between HireVue and assessment centre.

What divisions can I apply to?

IBD, Global Markets, Asset Management, Securities, Engineering, Operations, Compliance. You typically apply to one division.

What is the work-life balance?

IBD analysts: 70-80 hours/week. Saturday restrictions introduced. Internal divisions and engineering: 50-60 hours.

Investment Banking · ~1.5% acceptance rate

Goldman Sachs Interview Preparation

The most competitive graduate scheme in investment banking

~236,000

Applications

~1.5%

Offer rate

£65,000 base

Graduate salary

Practise Goldman Sachs HireVue free

Start practicing for free — no credit card needed

HireVue Practice

Goldman Sachs — HireVue Practice

Your question

30s preparation 2 min recording Camera + mic

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 application

5-6 questions, 30s prep, 2 min per answer. Behavioural + motivational. No retakes — practise with the trial option first.

Assessment Centre

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 basis

Verbal offer 1-2 weeks after assessment centre. 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 assessment centre.

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

Assessment centre 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

Goldman Sachs University training platformComprehensive health insuranceOn-site gym at London officeWellness programmesRetirement plansMentorship programmes

Culture & work style

What it's actually like to work at Goldman Sachs

Long hours — typically 70-80 hours/week for junior analysts in IBD

5 days in office — returned from hybrid

Lean deal teams — juniors get more responsibility early

"Apprenticeship culture" — learning by doing

Strong internal mobility between divisions

Meritocratic promotion — performance-based

Saturday working restrictions for analysts

Goldman Sachs University — hundreds of online courses

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

Assessment centre: 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