Goldman Sachs Assessment Tests

Careers at Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs is one of the largest investment banking enterprises in the world and ranks in the Fortune 500 list of the USA’s largest corporations. The company has also ranked as one of the 100 Best (US) Companies to Work For in Fortune Magazine’s annual listings, every year since the list began in 1998.

Whilst the company’s 150 year-old history is not without its share of controversy and troubles, Goldman Sachs is consistently ranked as a global leader and attracts a commensurate reputation for employment of both Graduate and Master of Business Administration (MBA) students.

From the trading floor to the tech stack, competition is fierce and the applicants numerous for the Summer Associate programmes, internships, apprenticeships and full-time Associate positions.

Goldman Sachs operates 18 divisions across the four business units in which it offers a variety of employment programmes. Those divisions are: Consumer & Investment Management, Controllers, Corporate and Workplace Solutions, Corporate Treasury, Finance, Legal, Global Compliance, Engineering, Operations, Executive Office, Global Investment Research, Global Markets, Human Capital Management, Internal Audit, Investment Banking, Merchant Banking, Risk, and Tax.

The Goldman Sachs application process takes the form of an online application, followed by an interview and psychometric testing, after which successful applicants are invited to attend a ‘SuperDay’.

Applicants should check the timings carefully and remember that after the opening date (usually in the summer), applicants are invited to continue the application process on a rolling basis, with applications closing when all positions have been filled.

It is wise therefore to have decided on which divisions to apply to and to have done your research ahead of time, so that you can submit as soon as applications open. Note that you can only apply to three roles in any one application year.

Goldman Sachs recommend that you connect with them prior to making your application and they set out many ways that this is possible, both in person and virtually. They also recommend consistently using one email address in communications with them, suggesting that prior connections made will be checked as part of the application process.

Online application

The online application is your first and most vital chance to make a positive impression and you must research and prepare carefully. You should have reflected on your skills and interests and selected the division(s) to which you consider that you most readily match with, before preparing your application form.

Alongside the usual personal details and information – including academic qualifications and results – you will need to append both your CV, and for EMEA roles, a personal statement of 300 words or fewer setting out your motivation for applying.

You should consider your strengths and interests and the Goldman Sachs values when preparing this statement, making sure it matches what is indicated by the company as well as selling your skills.

It is helpful to use a recognised framework to discuss how your skills match the desired traits, such as STAR (set out S ituation / T ask, followed by the A ction you took and the R esult. Be specific and speak of your personal highlights.

Video interview

Successful applicants are then invited to take part in a video interview. If you are an engineering applicant this will have two parts, with the first being a HackerRank assessment.

HackerRank coding test

HackerRank is a coding-based technical skills and assessment platform. Engineering applicants can choose whether to complete a programming assessment or a programming and math assessment. The idea is that you can showcase your technical skills in a format designed specifically for them.

This HackerRank assessment takes around 60 minutes for the maths assessment and 120 minutes for the coding test, but you should allow more time than this to prepare.

You have the choice of one of the following languages for the coding assessment, which you need to specify in advance to access the sample test: C, C++, Java 7, Java 8, JavaScript, Python 2 & 3 or Scala.

It is recommended that you thoroughly prepare for this technical assessment by reviewing algorithms and basic data structures. For the maths assessment you will need to ensure you are familiar with calculus, statistics, linear algebra and probability concepts.

Video Interview

In the video interview, you will be asked a series of pre-recorded questions. You will have a short time to listen to the question and prepare your response (around 30 seconds) before presenting your answer to the camera in the allocated two minutes.

This is usually done ‘live’ i.e you cannot re-record, so you should ensure that you have thoroughly prepared your responses in advance.

The video interview is carried out using HireVue technology. You will need to use a computer with a working webcam, microphone and steady internet connection, and carry out the interview in a calm, relaxed and uncluttered setting of your choice.

You should expect the interview to last around 30 minutes in total.

Goldman Sachs Aptitude Tests

Goldman Sachs numerical reasoning test

The numerical reasoning test is prepared specifically by Goldman Sachs and will take around 20 minutes to answer 20 questions. It is usually a written test for which you are provided paper and pen but no calculator.

Numerical reasoning tests assess a candidate’s numerical aptitude. Specifically it looks at the way that a candidate uses data sets, including interpreting the information and using it to analyse and then reach conclusions.

You’ll need to be familiar with basic mathematical concepts such as fractions, percentages and interpreting data tables such as charts.

Goldman Sachs verbal reasoning test

A verbal reasoning test evaluates your understanding of language, as well as your level of verbal comprehension and logic. It is also a chance to demonstrate your ability to filter key information from a passage of text.

After reading a written passage you will be presented with a series of statements that you must decide are either true, false or you cannot say, simply from the information contained in the text.

Goldman Sachs uses SHL verbal reasoning tests. They usually take around 20 minutes to answer based on a series of around five passages followed by a series of questions each. There are usually 30 questions per test.

Here you can also try out a free Goldman Sachs aptitude test.

Goldman Sachs SuperDay

Successful candidates are then invited to attend a day of in-person interviews. Depending on the division to which you apply, you would expect to meet a variety of people during this interview day and carry out somewhere between two to five interviews.

You should prepare thoroughly for these interviews, with particular thought to the company’s key business core principles, which are:

• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• Creativity
• Honesty and integrity
• Personal initiatives
• High standards of excellence
• Client service

For each core principle you should ensure that you have examples prepared which are relevant to the division(s) to which you have applied, that you can talk confidently about your own contribution within the example, and which has a clear and defined task, action and result.

You should also know your own CV inside out, including being able to articulate your strengths and weaknesses, your motivations for applying – both in terms of professional role as well as why Goldman Sachs specifically – and why you are the ideal candidate.

Make sure you’ve done your industry research and are aware of those that are senior within the division and who may be interviewing you. You should also have prepared appropriate questions including about both the industry and the job role specifically.