20 Goldman Sachs Interview Questions and Answers

Goldman Sachs is a well-known financial services firm that offers a variety of securities, investment banking, and management services. If you’re interviewing for a position at Goldman Sachs, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience in the financial industry, your knowledge of securities and investment banking, and your ability to manage people and projects. To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample Goldman Sachs interview questions and answers.

Goldman Sachs Interview Process

The interview process at Goldman Sachs is long, difficult, and overall quite stressful. It typically consists of 3-4 rounds of interviews, with each round consisting of multiple interviews. The first round is usually the most difficult, as it is focused on technical knowledge and skills. The second and third rounds are typically more focused on behavioral questions and fit. The fourth round is usually the Superday, where candidates meet with multiple members of the team to assess fit.

1. What is your experience in the financial industry?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have the experience and knowledge needed for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to include what type of financial services you provided in previous roles.

Example: “I’ve worked as an investment advisor at my current company for five years now. I started out as a financial analyst before moving up to my current position. In my role, I help clients create long-term financial plans and manage their portfolios. I also work with them on retirement planning and other financial goals.”

2. Why do you want to work at Goldman Sachs?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in working at their company. They want to know that you have done research on the company and understand what they do. When answering this question, make sure to include information about what Goldman Sachs does and why it interests you.

Example: “I am interested in working at Goldman Sachs because of its reputation as one of the top financial services companies in the world. I find the idea of working for such an innovative company very appealing. I also love the idea of being able to work with clients from all over the globe.”

3. Have you had any past experiences with clients, and how did you handle them?

This question is a great way to show your interpersonal skills and how you can work with clients. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the importance of client service in the financial industry.

Example: “I’ve had many experiences working with clients throughout my career. In my last position as an investment banker, I worked closely with small businesses looking for funding. My job was to help them understand their options when it came to financing and find the best solution for their business. I always made sure that they understood all of their options so they could make an informed decision.”

4. Tell me about a time where you went above and beyond for a customer or client.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and willingness to help others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the positive outcome of your actions or how you helped someone in need.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, we had a customer who came into our store looking for a specific product that we didn’t have in stock. Instead of just telling them we couldn’t order it, I offered to call other stores within a 50-mile radius to see if they had any in stock. Luckily, one of our other locations did have the item in stock, so I placed an order for the customer.”

5. Describe a time when you were working on a team project but disagreed with a member of the group. How did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you work with others and your ability to communicate effectively. Use examples from previous experiences where you were able to express your opinion, compromise or collaborate with a team member.

Example: “In my last role as an analyst at a financial services firm, I was working on a project with another analyst who had different ideas about what we should include in our report. We both wanted to make sure that our recommendations were accurate and helpful for our clients. After discussing our differences, we decided to create two separate reports—one including his suggestions and one including mine. This allowed us to provide more information to our clients while still collaborating.”

6. Provide an example of how you would deal with a difficult client.

This question can help the interviewer assess your interpersonal skills and ability to handle challenging situations. Use examples from previous work experiences where you had to interact with clients or customers who were unhappy, frustrated or upset.

Example: “In my last position as a financial advisor, I worked with many different types of clients, including some who were very wealthy and others who were just starting out. One client in particular was an older gentleman who came to me for advice on how to invest his retirement savings. He wanted to know what would give him the best return while also being safe. After discussing all of his options, he decided to put most of his money into stocks because he felt that it would be worth the risk.”

7. Tell us about a time when you worked under pressure.

Working in finance often requires you to meet tight deadlines. Employers ask this question to learn more about your ability to work under pressure and how you manage stress. Use an example from a previous job where you had to complete a task or project on time. Explain what steps you took to ensure the deadline was met.

Example: “In my last role, I managed a team of five analysts who were responsible for analyzing financial data. We had to submit our findings to senior management within two weeks. One week before we were due to present our findings, one of my analysts called out sick. I knew that if I didn’t find someone to replace her, we wouldn’t be able to meet our deadline. So, I asked another analyst to help me with the presentation. She agreed, and together we finished the report by the deadline.”

8. Do you have experience managing others?

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and how you can contribute to the company. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your management experience and explain what made you successful in that role.

Example: “I have had several opportunities to manage others throughout my career. In my last position as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley, I was responsible for managing a team of five analysts. This allowed me to learn more about the financial industry while also developing my leadership skills. My team members were all very talented individuals who worked hard to meet their goals. As a result, we were able to exceed our sales quota every month.”

9. Are you comfortable giving presentations? If so, describe a presentation you gave recently.

Goldman Sachs often requires employees to give presentations, so it’s important that you are comfortable doing so. When answering this question, be sure to describe your experience with public speaking and how you overcame any challenges you faced while presenting.

Example: “I have given several presentations in my career, including a recent one where I presented the results of an analysis I completed for a client. While giving presentations can be nerve-wracking, I always make sure to prepare thoroughly by researching the topic and practicing my presentation beforehand. This helps me feel more confident when presenting in front of others.”

10. Tell us why you are a good fit for this position.

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to the company. Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly read through the job description so that you can reference specific skills or requirements in your answer.

Example: “I am a good fit for this position because I have extensive experience working with clients of all types. In my previous role as an investment advisor, I worked with both individual investors and large corporations. This has given me valuable insight into what works best when it comes to meeting client needs.”

11. When was the last time you handled a conflict? What was the situation and how did you resolve it?

This question is designed to assess your conflict resolution skills. It’s important for employees at Goldman Sachs to be able to resolve conflicts in a professional manner and with minimal disruption to the workplace.

Example: “At my previous job, I had a coworker who was constantly late to work. This made it difficult for us to complete our daily tasks on time. When I spoke to him about this issue, he apologized and promised to arrive to work earlier. However, after two weeks of arriving late, he did not change his behavior. I met with him again and explained that if he didn’t improve his punctuality, we would both lose our jobs. He understood and began arriving to work on time.”

12. Can you tell me about a time when you were working on a team project and there was conflict, how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict in the workplace. It’s important that your answer shows that you can work with others and resolve issues effectively.

Example: “In my last position, I was working on a project with two other employees who were both very strong personalities. One of them had an idea for the project that we all disagreed with, but he insisted it be implemented. We talked about it as a group and decided to present our ideas to the client together. The client liked our original idea better, so we ended up implementing that.”

13. What skills can you bring to our company?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you’ve done some research on the company and understand what they’re looking for in an employee. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention skills or experiences that are listed in the job description.

Example: “I believe my ability to work well with others would be beneficial to Goldman Sachs because I’m always willing to help out a colleague and am able to communicate effectively with all types of people. In my previous role, I was often tasked with collaborating with other departments to ensure we were meeting our clients’ needs. This experience has helped me develop strong communication and teamwork skills.”

14. Give an example of a time when you had to solve a problem that wasn’t straightforward. How did you go about solving it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can use them in the workplace. When answering this question, it’s important to provide specific details about what steps you took to solve the problem.

Example: “In my previous role as an accountant, I had to work with clients who were experiencing financial issues. One client was having trouble paying their bills because they didn’t have enough money in their account. I worked with the client to create a budget that would help them save more money each month so they could pay off their debt.”

15. What has been your greatest accomplishment in finance?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are passionate about the financial industry and have experience in it. When answering this question, try to highlight an accomplishment that relates to the job description or highlights your skills as they relate to the position.

Example: “My greatest accomplishment was when I helped my previous employer increase their revenue by 10% within six months of starting my role. This was a challenging goal, but I worked with my team to create new strategies for marketing our products and services. We implemented these strategies and were able to reach our revenue goals.”

16. We want our employees to be able to work independently. Do you think you would be a good fit for that type of environment?

This question is a great way to determine if you are ready for the fast-paced environment of Goldman Sachs. The interviewer wants to know that you can handle working independently and have the skills necessary to succeed in their organization.

Example: “I am an independent person who thrives on challenges. I think I would be a good fit for this type of work environment because I enjoy being able to solve problems without having to wait for someone else’s approval. I also understand that my success depends on how well I perform, so I will always strive to do my best.”

17. You will often face tight deadlines at Goldman Sachs, how do you handle these situations?

Goldman Sachs is a fast-paced environment where employees are expected to work quickly and efficiently. The interviewer will want to know how you handle working under pressure, as this can be an important skill for the role. Use examples from your previous experience that show you have what it takes to meet tight deadlines while maintaining high quality results.

Example: “In my last position, I often had to complete projects within short time frames. I find that having a plan in place before beginning a project helps me stay organized and focused on meeting the deadline. I also use my organizational skills to prioritize tasks so I can get them done as quickly as possible.”

18. Tell us about a time when you made a mistake.

This question is a great way to learn more about how you respond to challenges. It’s important to be honest and show that you learned from the mistake.

Example: “When I first started working in finance, I was so excited to get my hands on some of our clients’ money. One day, I accidentally transferred $10 million into an account instead of $100,000. Luckily, I caught it before any damage was done. My boss told me that mistakes are good because they teach us what not to do. From then on, I made sure to triple-check all transactions.”

19. Can you tell me about a time when you faced a stressful situation? How did you handle it?

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation that you faced in the past and how you overcame it.

Example: “In my last position as an investment banker, I was working on a project with a tight deadline. My team and I were all working hard to meet our goals, but we encountered some challenges along the way. Rather than getting stressed out about these issues, I took a step back and assessed the situation. After looking at everything we had accomplished so far, I realized that there was no reason for us not to reach our goal. We just needed to put in a little more work.”

20. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s often asked to see if you have career goals. When answering this question, be honest about your future plans but also show that you’re willing to stay with the company for several years.

Example: “I plan on staying in my current position for at least five years. I’m excited to work here because of the opportunities available to me. In five years, I hope to have advanced within the company and achieved some of my professional goals.”