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Goldman Sachs Hiring Guide
Extremely Hard difficulty
Updated April 28, 2026

How to Get Hired at Goldman Sachs in 2026

Goldman Sachs is one of the most prestigious investment banks globally, known for its elite Investment Banking, Global Markets, and Asset Management divisions. The firm runs one of the most selective recruitment funnels in finance, with single-digit acceptance rates for its analyst programs.

Quick Answer

As of April 2026, getting hired at Goldman Sachs requires navigating a extremely hard 6-12 weeks process (acceptance rate ~1.5-3% for IBD; ~0.9% for the 2024 summer class). Goldman Sachs uses Internal Goldman Talent platform as their ATS. Entry-level roles (Investment Banking Analyst) pay around $200,000 total compensation; senior roles (Vice President) reach $600,000. Goldman is highly selective in 2026. The 2024 summer class accepted ~2,700 from 315,000+ applicants (less than 1%). Apply early — recruiting closes for sophomores and juniors 12+ months before program start.

Industry
Investment Banking & Asset Management
HQ
New York, NY
Employees
49K
Process Duration
6-12 weeks
Goldman Sachs Careers

Goldman Sachs Hiring Process

Average duration: 6-12 weeks. ATS used: Internal Goldman Talent platform.

1
Online application through Goldman Sachs careers portal
2
HireVue digital video interview with behavioral and "Why Goldman" questions
3
Online assessment (cognitive and personality) for some programs
4
First-round virtual interviews with associates and VPs
5
Superday: 3-5 back-to-back 30-45 minute interviews with senior bankers
6
Final decision and offer call within 1-2 weeks
Acceptance rate: ~1.5-3% for IBD; ~0.9% for the 2024 summer class
Goldman Sachs is famously selective — your resume needs to clear ATS first.

Common Goldman Sachs Interview Questions

Real questions known to be asked. Prep specific examples for each.

Q1

Walk me through your resume.

Q2

Why Goldman Sachs and why this division?

Q3

Walk me through a DCF and tell me which inputs matter most.

Q4

How would you value a private company with no comparables?

Q5

Pitch me a stock.

Q6

Talk about a recent transaction in the news.

Q7

Tell me about a time you faced significant adversity.

Q8

What does the yield curve tell you right now?

Q9

How would EBITDA, EBIT, and Net Income change if depreciation rises by $10?

Q10

Tell me about a time you disagreed with a teammate and how you resolved it.

Topics They Test

Accounting and three-statement linkagesValuation: DCF, comps, precedentsM&A accretion/dilutionLBO modeling fundamentalsMarkets and macro awarenessBehavioral storytelling using STAR framework

Goldman Sachs Salary Bands (2026)

Total compensation including base + bonus + equity. Source: Levels.fyi 2026.

Entry
Investment Banking Analyst
$200,000
Mid
Associate
$350,000
Senior
Vice President
$600,000
Principal
Managing Director / Partner
$1,500,000

Goldman Sachs-Specific Resume Tips

What hits when applying to Goldman Sachs specifically.

Lead with high GPA (3.7+) and target school — Goldman still skews heavily toward elite universities.

Quantify every bullet — Goldman recruiters scan for numbers (deal sizes, $ saved, % growth).

Use industry verbs: "modeled", "structured", "diligenced", "underwrote".

Demonstrate "commercial mindset" — show times you made or saved money.

Limit to one page even with multiple internships — Goldman strictly enforces.

Highlight leadership in extracurriculars; Goldman values "well-rounded" candidates.

List Bloomberg Market Concepts, CFA Level 1, or Wall Street Prep certifications.

Goldman Sachs Culture Keywords

These resonate in Goldman Sachs interviews and reviews — weave them naturally into your resume and cover letter.

ExcellenceClient serviceTeamworkIntegrityIntensityMeritocracyLong hours

Goldman Sachs uses Internal Goldman Talent platform for resume screening.

Your resume must pass Internal Goldman Talent platform's parser before reaching a recruiter. Run a free ATS scan to check your match rate.

Roles Goldman Sachs Hires For

Financial Analyst$100KSoftware Engineer$132KData Scientist$108KCybersecurity Analyst$120KBusiness Analyst$89K

Top Goldman Sachs Hiring Locations

New York, NYDallas, TXChicago, ILSan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
2026 Hiring Status

Goldman is highly selective in 2026. The 2024 summer class accepted ~2,700 from 315,000+ applicants (less than 1%). Apply early — recruiting closes for sophomores and juniors 12+ months before program start.

Goldman Sachs Hiring FAQ

Is Goldman Sachs hard to get into?
Extremely. Goldman accepted approximately 0.9% of summer analyst applicants in 2024 (2,700 out of 315,000+), making it one of the most selective employers in the world.
What is the Goldman Sachs interview process?
You will start with a HireVue video interview, then proceed to a Superday with 3-5 back-to-back interviews lasting 30-45 minutes each. Expect a heavy mix of technical (DCF, accounting) and behavioral questions.
What is a Goldman Sachs Superday?
A Superday is the final round — a single day where you interview with 3-5 senior bankers (VPs, EDs, MDs) back to back. Each interview tests culture fit and technical fluency, and decisions are typically made within 1-2 weeks.
Do I need a target school for Goldman Sachs?
It is no longer strictly required, but it helps significantly. Goldman recruits at 80+ "target" schools and the majority of analysts come from Ivy League, Wharton, NYU Stern, MIT, and similar institutions.
How much do Goldman Sachs Analysts make?
First-year IBD analysts earn around $110,000 base + $80,000-$95,000 bonus, totaling about $200,000 in 2026. Engineering analysts earn $130,000-$180,000 total.
What is the work culture at Goldman Sachs like?
Goldman is famously intense — IBD analysts often work 80-100 hour weeks. The culture rewards meritocracy, ownership, and client obsession, but burnout is common in front-office roles.
Does Goldman Sachs use an ATS?
Yes. Goldman uses an internal applicant tracking system called Goldman Talent. Use exact keywords from the job description and a clean PDF format optimized for parsing.
How long does Goldman Sachs hiring take?
The full process from application to offer typically takes 6-12 weeks. Summer analyst recruiting often opens 12+ months before the internship starts.

Methodology & Sources

Goldman Sachs hiring data is compiled from public company information, employee reviews on Glassdoor and Blind, the Levels.fyi compensation database, and reporting from Levels.fyi, Business Insider, and TechCrunch. Salary bands reflect 2026 total compensation (base + bonus + equity vested annually). Hiring process steps reflect the most commonly reported sequence — actual experience varies by role and team. Last reviewed April 28, 2026.

Reference Sources

Pass Goldman Sachs's Internal Goldman Talent platform Filter First

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