How to Get an Internship at Goldman Sachs

If the idea of breaking into the financial sector is something that excites you, then you may want to consider working for Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s largest financial institutions. With around 34,000 employees globally, the company deals mostly with global investment banking, securities, investment management, and various other financial arrangements with mainly institutions (as opposed to individuals) as clients. While its headquarters are located in New York City, the firm has satellite locations elsewhere, including Hong Kong, Salt Lake City, and Tokyo. In recent years, the firm has earned itself a bad reputation, due to its alleged role in contributing to the 2008 financial crisis, but it remains one of the most prestigious firms of its kind, and offers rigorous and coveted internship programs for students and recent graduates.

Here’s information on how to get an internship at Goldman Sachs:

Goldman Sachs’ two biggest internship programs are for Analyst or for Associate. The Summer Analyst Internship “is for candidates currently pursuing a college or university degree and is usually undertaken during the second or penultimate year of study. While your discipline or major are not important, we are looking for students with an outstanding record of academic achievement and an interest in the financial markets,” according to the firm’s website. In short, this program is a ten-week intensive internship that takes place during the summer months and begins with “an orientation where you’ll learn about [Goldman Sachs’] culture, as well as the benefits and responsibilities of being a member of Goldman Sachs. You will also receive division-specific training designed to help you succeed in your division.” Furthermore, “you will receive real responsibilities to give you a sense of what you would be doing, day to day, as a full-time Goldman Sachs employee,” which includes working alongside current employees of the firm. Pending your performance in the internship, you may be invited back to join the New Analyst Program as a full-time employee, making this internship a very valuable bridge to launching your career. Applying for this program is pretty straight-forward, with clear instructions provided by the firm’s website.

The Summer Associate Internship “is open to students currently working towards an advanced degree such as an MBA, JD, MD, or LLM and is usually undertaken during the second or penultimate year of study,” and focuses on the operational aspects of the firm, particularly ongoing projects with clients. Over the course of the ten-week summer program, interns are “given all the opportunities and responsibilities of a full-time employee.” As with the Analyst Internship, successful participants in the Associate Internship may be invited back to join the firm in a full-time capacity, yet another reason to consider Goldman Sachs as a means to beginning your career in the financial industry. Application instructions are listed clearly, and applicants are walked through the process step by step.

As part of its international presence, Goldman Sachs also offers the Brazil Intern Program for students interested in global finances. Located in São Paulo, this program is an extended internship that runs for one or two years, depending on which year of schooling you’re in when you enter. The Brazil Intern Program is “open to university and college students of all backgrounds. It is ideally suited to students who are in their penultimate or senior year,” and it allows participants to work on real, ongoing projects within the firm. If you like the idea of living in Brazil while advancing your career, this program is an ideal fit. Application instructions are similar to those of the other two programs, and can be easily found.

Before applying to any of these programs, make sure to visit the Application FAQs page, as well as the Application Checklist resource. For students thinking of working for a firm like Goldman Sachs, excelling in related college courses as well as involving one’s self in campus programs related to the financial industry and economics are helpful ways to boost your appeal as a candidate. It all begins with you.