Goldman Sachs SA ACs are a joke
Had on Friday the virtual superday for Goldman Sachs Classic Summer 2025 IB in London.
Can someone tell me how this is supposed to be the most prestigious bank? The most challenging place?
The format is basically 3*30min interviews.
I wasn't asked "Why GS" one time.
I wasn't asked one technical question (apart from "what are your views on M&A markets? ).
All I was asked were stupid questions like TMAT you failed, had to take a decision, worked in a group...
How is that even remotely interesting? Dont come at me saying it's part of the fit. A real fit interview would be why this job, why this bank, why this team. Not why did you wear red socks over blue ones.
Is this really the state of UK banking now? Any half brained student could achieve this, and there is literally no reason to only target Oxbridge/LSE beside pure neoptism and elitism as everybody could answer this.
There is absolutely no doubt European students are miles ahead UK ones in finance, and a German/French/Italian student with few off cycles is literally better than any Analyst 1 coming from an English Bsc. Can someone explain to me what's happening?
It's okay. You don't get it ;)
You’re right. Say no to GS, let me fill your spot and take one for the team.
On one hand you're saying "any half brained student could achieve this" then saying you need off cycles to beat people ("Brits at Oxbridge/LSE") for the job.
Which one is it?
they know you want gs because it’s the best bank. that’s why it’s never asked. it’s a waste of time to ask it. And they’re trying to judge sales skills and charisma since those are much harder to teach than finance. Half the time if you crush it you don’t even have to do the third interview.
Hi, European master student here who did an AC at a comparable bank in London for an OC earlier this year. Had the exact same experience and was rejected.
Continental Europeans are just paying the price of weak financial consolidation and questionnable attractiveness for foreign capital to pour in. European students are unquestionably more prepared but at the end we're still begging anglo-saxon banks to hire non-brits rather than competing for roles with the same amount of positions to fill and of the same quality in continental Europe.
Most BB ACs are like that, with little to no technical questions and almost only TMAT. Boutiques are different tho, interviews at places such as PJT/HL RX are super technical.
A funny voice in my head is saying that TMAT is tell my about thyself instead of tell me about a time.
Jokes aside, I think this now explains why someone I know with weaker theoretical technicals than myself got FT at GS on one of the previous years
No BB wants to be filled with to the brim with robots that happen to be amazing at technicals. being good at technicals is only a fraction of what makes a good banker, especially at analyst/SA level where the work is mind-numbingly easy
with Goldman's training budget/capabilities literally anyone can be trained to produce good output, the rest comes down to being likeable, which is what GS realises and is trying to test for lol
And I bet you still get rejected hahaha
Had a similar experience with GS S&T superday a few weeks ago. Two 20min virtual interviews with no technicals or pitch. Over half of the time was for me to ask questions as well. I was very confused
Glad you think it was a joke, assuming you got the spot then?
You don't need to tell them why GS, it's obvious. They think they are the best, and it's stupid to waste time hearing your bullshit answer why. Also, did you even do your basic homework? It's known fact that GS is super behavioural heavy, even more than other top tier BBs. As another user already said in the thread, if you wanted to be asked technicals, you should have applied to an elite boutique. Or maybe you should change profession even, because any good monkey can be taught to be a decent investment banker. This post is a joke
My MS 1R interview was way more technical and demanding - almost felt like I'd got destroyed mentally. Still passed lol.
Same for a couple of other boutiques: they really went in hard on my technicals.
Maybe GS is much more fit-based than technical.
How was your first round at MS, when did you hear back?
You sound like a Tosser. I’m sure GS will make the correct choice about your offer.
I don't blame him though – I literally never knew this before now – I'm still hurting that despite being good at technicals, my very last remaining weak point in banking-relevant technicals was what got exposed in my JPM failure – now the GS I'm looking forward to is a TMAT marathon challenge that will focus on all my weaknesses & not even give an opportunity to salvage head with technical strength
it's not about your technicals - i dont know why people think they're really good 'just because' they have their technicals on lock. 99% of the job can be taught without any prior knowledge. how do you think the bankers in the 90s/00s did it without all these guides and websites? investment banking is a people's job. you work within teams and the best candidates are those that work well with people, to maximise collective output on deliverables. i know some really technically savvy people who think they are all that just because of their knowledge. their personality stinks. if you get the 3 interviews at GS, your background is good enough. now they're testing for your personality.
Not to hijack this huge value-add thread but I did the AC earlier this week, anyone knows how long it takes before you get an answer, both good and bad ?
Bump any updates from ur end? Done a week but nothing so far
had one ten days ago still nothing
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