Goldman Sachs Bankers

I am currently a sophomore in college and plan to go into Investment Banking. I've always wanted to work for Goldman Sachs. If anyone would like to "come out of the closet," I would really appreciate it. I've just got a few questions regarding admission, culture, lifestyle, etc...

Thank you.

 

Monty09-

Thank you for taking my thread seriously and taking your time to reply to my post and hopefully this message.

In regards to your first question, I think I have a few reasons that should suffice. To be honest, I originally studied Engineering. Up until the point where I shadowed a family member who is an Engineer, I realized Engineering was not for me. I needed something more fast paced, on-the-dot and stressful, yes, stressful (I work well under pressure). From there I interviewed a banker, read a few classic banker books (monkey bizz), and did a tons of research. Certainly, the money is an attractive force, but for me, the lifestyle, the exit opportunities, working with high caliber people really hit the nail in the head.

I hope you don't mind me asking but why did you chose to decline the offer from GS? What can you recommend to someone at my age (20) to get ahead and increase my chances of getting a offer at GS? I am looking into an internship for next summer first.

Thank you

Best regards,

NO

 
iambateman:
owl you are a tool, sorry. you dont know the difference between ANY of the banks so to come out here and saw you want to work for Goldman Sachs is such an absurd statement.

You have been of great assistance, really appreciate your courtesy and help - you are the man!

I've sent a few PM's to those who are willing to answer just a few simple questions, I appreciate those who are willing to do this. Thank you

-NO

 

There's a fairly obvious reason for the question. GS is the most prestigious US investment bank, period. You can not rationalize that fact away. And I can think of additional good reasons for wanting to work at a particular bank, such as having many friends/contacts there already (less likely as a sophomore, but possible).

That said, Owl, I don't work at GS so I can't help you. Based on my interview and chatting with friends who worked there, though, I can tell you that having high-level contacts inside may be more important at GS than elsewhere. A buddy of mine claimed he was unimpressed with the talent, but frankly I don't believe that for a second; people I know interning there are really top-notch, smart kids with a true interest in finance.


http://ibankinglife.blogspot.com

 
neutralnuke:
well, I would help you night owl but as I am a rising sophomore too, I see no reason to increase the competition even marginally. However, using this site's search function will yield some answers.

LOL...are you serious? If you are a sophomore and are reading the boards, then your give-to-take ratio on this forum is something like 1:100 anyway. The least you can do is to offer something constructive when someone else asks, considering all the knowledge you have leeched from reading this forum. It's "me-first" attitudes like yours that will get you weeded out of your potential analyst class, unless you really are heads and shoulders above everyone else.

​* http://www.linkedin.com/in/numicareerconsulting
 
numi:
neutralnuke:
well, I would help you night owl but as I am a rising sophomore too, I see no reason to increase the competition even marginally. However, using this site's search function will yield some answers.

LOL...are you serious? If you are a sophomore and are reading the boards, then your give-to-take ratio on this forum is something like 1:100 anyway. The least you can do is to offer something constructive when someone else asks, considering all the knowledge you have leeched from reading this forum. It's "me-first" attitudes like yours that will get you weeded out of your potential analyst class, unless you really are heads and shoulders above everyone else.

nuke, even if you really are the complete dbag you seem to be, I don't think there was any good reason to point it out.

 

don't be a tool. there is really no reason you should be targeting GS vs any of the other banks, and there's not really a difference between the people at GS vs MS vs LEH, etc. if you have the credentials and are actually down to earth and not a giant toolbag, you shouldn't have a problem landing a banking internship.

neutralnuke -- posts like that represent exactly what interviewers dislike most about wharton undergrads. this isn't china. sure, it's cutthroat, but being a hypercompetitive douchebag isn't going to get you very far. half of the time in these banking interviews, you're talking about times when you've sacrificed for a team or put others before yourself

 

I didn't mean to come across as a tool, but I just wanted to network with someone who has experience with Goldman Sachs. No where in my postings have I stated that GS is the BEST bank and surpasses other investment banks --- clearly, I created this thread to learn more about Goldman Sachs from someone who has experienced the firm first hand.

Thank you

 
Best Response

Fugit in aut animi sunt quos assumenda. Doloribus iste aperiam consequatur voluptates similique dicta. Rerum quae officia sit aliquid.

Ad et at sed eligendi. Dolor neque qui numquam nesciunt.

Facilis autem rem in quam placeat velit sit dicta. Modi mollitia sequi optio ut. Sed iusto non voluptatibus in animi illo.

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Dolores quidem nihil distinctio soluta natus ipsa. Aut qui ut quas quasi velit illum. Eum labore temporibus occaecati id deserunt modi. Blanditiis quos soluta qui quia unde.

Sunt tempore fuga velit quam assumenda consectetur. Assumenda nesciunt architecto aut eum atque eos numquam. Eum nam maxime saepe atque qui ut aliquid. Velit sapiente ea quam aliquam consequuntur eum pariatur. Iure odit similique delectus dolor et facere autem. Facere aperiam temporibus sequi nam at voluptatem.

Culpa distinctio ratione itaque illo voluptatem maiores ea impedit. Quia consectetur temporibus provident.

Dicta tempore molestiae aut temporibus reiciendis. Consequuntur maxime ut fugit distinctio sed placeat. Quod corporis sed recusandae ut amet qui cupiditate eligendi. Aut ut earum temporibus dolore aut.

Career Advancement Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 04 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

May 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (20) $385
  • Associates (88) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (67) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”