Help with Decision. Operations Analyst at Goldman Sachs

So here is my struggle. Even though I have a 4.0 and started my own business in college, I go to a non-target school and live in an area that has no financial centers near. Therefore I have been having a hard time landing a position. I have been networking with hundreds of people and even made a trip to NY but my school is what is hurting me.

Therefore, what I have been able to land is a middle office job at GS as a operations analyst on the sales and trading team. This is obviously not my long term plan, but its one of my few options. What do you think? Will I be able to move over to the front office later? Or at least is it something that could help me get into a good MBA program to "start over" with a new school?
Please Advise.
Thanks

6 Comments
 
Best Response

I started in ops in tier 2 firm (jumped to a tier 1 firm though), and recently got into Kellogg. Take leadership over global projects, get promoted quickly, and get a very high GMAT, you can definitely get into the M7. You need to build a cohesive story, and have experience beyond "I reconciled trades for 5 years" but it's definitely possible. Hell, my Booth interviewer was an executive assistant before he got in. The real world isn't like Wall Street Oasis, and you can show success outside working in M&A, but you do need to show success...and very high GMAT.

My GPA was below 3.5 (from a target school though) and Goldman Sachs is pretty much the "best" firm, so you're in better shape than me.

 
Nickolas-Jackson

What number would you put on a very high gmat score?

I got 750. The average GMAT is between 715-730 at the top schools, and URM's, women, non-profit, military people, and people with gold platted resume are the people who get in with below average GMATS, So I'd shoot for 730/740 minimum if you want to do better than DUKE/Stern/UVA. That said, even if you have to go to a Top 15 school instead of M7 school, those are great schools and can get you front office IB too.

 

Ratione aut exercitationem et ipsam. Veritatis aut reiciendis aut qui laborum vero enim.

Numquam fugit excepturi et deleniti voluptatem. Est quo consequuntur reprehenderit molestias non placeat. Est sint laborum minima laborum sit id.

Career Advancement Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.3%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 03 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.3%

Professional Growth Opportunities

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.3%

Total Avg Compensation

September 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (53) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (15) $159
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $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
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
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...”