Best division in Goldman Sachs? (for an analyst)

I know this question has been touched on before, but never directly.

I'm an analyst with another firm (not banking), and my ex-GF works in recruiting at GS. She said she can recommend me to various divisions.

You guys have said before that their Tech and FIG groups are the best for IBD. Are there any other IBD groups that you recommend?

I'm mostly interested in IBD, but what about other GS divisions? If you had blank check to start anywhere with GS, what would you do?

What about M&A (is that an exact group?), Sponsors, CBO structuring, or Asset Management? Those sound interesting, though GSAM constitutes many areas. Anything else?

Please be as specific as possible with division names. I'm interested in something that will teach me a lot, will have good exit ops, and is a growing / promising field that I can run with.

Thanks everyone.

 
desecrato:
I know this question has been touched on before, but never directly.

I'm an analyst with another firm (not banking), and my ex-GF works in recruiting at GS. She said she can recommend me to various divisions.

You guys have said before that their Tech and FIG groups are the best for IBD. Are there any other IBD groups that you recommend?

I'm mostly interested in IBD, but what about other GS divisions? If you had blank check to start anywhere with GS, what would you do?

What about M&A (is that an exact group?), Sponsors, CBO structuring, or Asset Management? Those sound interesting, though GSAM constitutes many areas. Anything else?

Please be as specific as possible with division names. I'm interested in something that will teach me a lot, will have good exit ops, and is a growing / promising field that I can run with.

Thanks everyone.

Your ex-g/f said she can get you in eh, ha damn she must have been the one to dump you and felt bad for you I assume. But your question is crazy stupid, its Goldman IBD.... your asking for which group has the best exit ops and will teach you a lot, all of them will and every group there can get you to any company you want. Just hope you can get into ANY i-banking group there as opposed to the exact group you want in ibd

 

Keep in mind that you have to work with these people 110 hours a week. Being a good fit for them- and them being a good fit for you is very important.

As a CS/Engineering major, I got several offers- both in I-Banking and outside, and I chose the firm where the people I encountered were the best combination of being professional, friendly, and respectful without taking themselves too seriously. Had I an ex-girlfriend who knew the firms I was interviewing with, my first question would have been, "Which group has the people who'll be easy for me to make friends with?"

Everything at GS is pretty much gold, so I'd suggest working with the people you'll like the most.

 

Forgive me for taking your post seriously, but if I were you I would be talking with current analysts in the office across the different groups to form your own opinions on their relative strengths and weaknesses. It is in everyone's best interest for you to end up in the group that is the best fit, so I would expect them to be candid in their responses.

 

I'd view TMT/FIG as the top 2 groups followed by Industrials followed by HC/Consumer followed by Natural resources (or whatever they call it over there. In my mind CRG/HC has been weaker since the merger. Can elaborate that in a PM if necessary but those would be my rankings (purely in terms of prestige/exits. Unclear if the weakening of CRG has had an impact on exits from that group (this recruiting cycle is the 1st class that will go through as a merged group).

 

sorry guys. I really didn't want to piss people off and had no idea how hostile people on this website are. I just created my account and wanted insight from you guys. Thank you to those who answered honestly. Can someone elaborate as to what you mean by CRGH has gotten weaker? And I've talked with some people in TMT and the vibe seems different from what I read here. People here say the TMT culture is poor whereas people I've talked to at the firm say TMT is great. So I don't really know what to think, on the one hand of course the people I talk to are bias, on the other hand I'm not sure which people in this website actually have first hand exposure. Thanks, and sorry again if I'm annoying anyone

 

sorry guys. I really didn't want to piss people off and had no idea how hostile people on this website are. I just created my account and wanted insight from you guys. Thank you to those who answered honestly. Can someone elaborate as to what you mean by CRGH has gotten weaker? And I've talked with some people in TMT and the vibe seems different from what I read here. People here say the TMT culture is poor whereas people I've talked to at the firm say TMT is great. So I don't really know what to think, on the one hand of course the people I talk to are bias, on the other hand I'm not sure which people in this website actually have first hand exposure. Thanks, and sorry again if I'm annoying anyone

 

Consumer and Industrials are very strong groups as well. If you are good and can perform in the interviews, your exit opps. into top-tier PE funds will exist. FIG is strong also, but more of a specialized industry group compared to the other mentioned ones.

Hope that helps!

 

Are there any non-inustry groups that are good as well. I will be interning in Municipal Finance this summer and I want to know where it ranks.

 
HUwallstreet:
Are there any non-inustry groups that are good as well. I will be interning in Municipal Finance this summer and I want to know where it ranks.

Muni finance (aka public finance) isn't really the same thing as corporate finance (or the investment banking that everyone on here is normally talking about) and won't offer you the same broad exit opps into HF/PE. Public finance is usually a separate division at most banks (or placed within the Fixed Income divison)..it's finance for public companies (governmental organizations like cities, towns, states, hospitals, etc.). It's a tax free area. I don't think you will build the same skillset as an analyst in traditional IBD, however there could be some interesting exit opps that I'm just not aware of (although from my understanding, most analyst in public finance just advance in public finance..which may mean that the hours are better than in traditional banking). If you're not dead-set on going to a KKR style LBO shop after 2 years, I think it could be an interesting area. I don't think muni finance will place you into the likes of the tier 1 PE/HF shops people are normally talking about on here (KKR, Carlyle, Blackstone, TPG, etc.).

You still have the Goldman name though, which is great for business school.

 

My friend interned in Healthcare and loved it. She said the hours were manageable, at least compared to TMT. And the 2 people I know who interned in TMT are both going back but were both pretty miserable during the summer (literally living at the office). They said most of the TMT interns are going back.

 
jgsim:
My friend interned in Healthcare and loved it. She said the hours were manageable, at least compared to TMT. And the 2 people I know who interned in TMT are both going back but were both pretty miserable during the summer (literally living at the office). They said most of the TMT interns are going back.

I had a buddy in TMT and one in HC. The TMT guy said about 70% of the class is going back, rest going to McKinsey. HC seems to be fine, definetely not as hardcore as TMT - those guys get worked.

 

internal prop desks and hedge funds are best (GSPS, SSG, any prop trading desk). Global alpha is the hedge fund within GSAM that uses quantitative strategies (a lot of client money), but obviously any of them will pay you a ton including global alpha. Most of the HF guys who have comeout of GS have come from the internal groups listed in the first line, not from global alpha which once again is a quant oriented hf inside of GSAM that has more assets under management than any other HF last time I checked

 

also remember that all of these groups are in different divisions, which extend the offers, so someone with a FICC offer cannot get into Global Alpha and someone with a GSAM offer cannot get into SSG. and someone with an IBD offer cannot get onto any prop desk (but that should be obvious).

 

I still think banking is best at GS post college. People leaving my group are going everywhere, prop trading... KKR... HBS... Goldman PE....

in 10 years, people in my group will be everywhere, and we all know each another. Having that network is pretty hard to pass up if you want to do this more than 2 years.

Don't get me wrong, AmSSG is good. Very good. You will make a heck of alot more than you would in banking.

 
undefined:

This has been discussed at great length on this forum. They're all great groups. That being said, your decision should come down to which industry and group culture you prefer (the latter can only really be done through networking).

I second this. Pick something you're are interested in and people you want to work with. GS has dealflow across the board in its coverage groups.

 

Most of the guys at my fund are ex-SSG / (now ex-) principal strategies desk, seems like that group placed the best.

[quote]The HBS guys have MAD SWAGGER. They frequently wear their class jackets to boston bars, strutting and acting like they own the joint. They just ooze success, confidence, swagger, basically attributes of alpha males.[/quote]
 
 

SSG is like some mythical thing on here. Not a banking group and you will only get in by being the best TMT banker after 2 years. I would rather go work for McGoldrick at Mount Kellet anyway.

As for banking groups TMT is definitely glorified on here but beyond that I really don't know.

Edit: Makes sense that this is coming from Semper Fi who is an 19 year old wannabe with no clue. If you don't actually know the answer don't just chime in with something you hear.

 

Strong placement from FIG across a variety of platforms is something that is quite unique to GS. I think the results are often less to do with the experience and more to do with the assurance that a GS FIG analyst will have very strong quantitative and analytical skills.

Other notable groups I've met people from are healthcare and CRG - these two groups are known for having better culture (healthcare grinds you hard for example, but they have an internal rule to keep Saturdays off). Stong PE placement too.

I've heard NatRes is really fratty (late-night drinks) so if you're into that, there's that.

Industrials is a stiff, tough group to be in, both culturally and hours wise.

On the products side, it's a little more hazy as GS's balance sheet is smaller than the rest of the bulges.

 

Sorry, should have clarified that. Yes, it's not under IBD...If you're so uncertain, look to speak to as many senior bankers as you can and mention what aspects in a job you enjoy and don't and I'm sure they can point you in the right direction....In a general sense, whichever group you believe sets you up for the best (and perhaps abundant) exit opportunities. Can't really go wrong with any IB at GS on your resume though

 

The only people that can give you good advice are people working at GS. Reach out to everyone in the groups you are interested and learn more that way. However, be aware they will all promote themselves so try to read between the lines as well.

Do what you want not what you can!
 

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"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 

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People tend to think life is a race with other people. They don't realize that every moment they spend sprinting towards the finish line is a moment they lose permanently, and a moment closer to their death.
 

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