Goldman Sachs is an investment banking, securities, and investment management firm. Established in 1869, the company has a long and distinguished history of excellence within the financial services industry. An internship at Goldman Sachs can be an experience that will prove genuinely premium for students and recent graduates entering the finance profession and looking for the right launching pad for their careers.
This article captures the structure of the Goldman Sachs Internship program, the application process, the benefits, and lessons learned by its past interns, with success tips.
Types of Internships

Goldman Sachs provides internships in various streams that mirror particular academic backgrounds and the desires of the student in terms of their career. The most common forms of internships include the following:
Goldman Sachs Summer Internship Program
The Summer Analyst Program is available to undergraduate students in general and would be from their second or third year of study. This is normally a program run for approximately 10-12 weeks during the summer months, say between early June and mid-August, with an end view to handing over the reins of experience in different divisions to interns in various divisions, including:
- Investment Banking: Interns are engaged in financial modelling, preparing pitch books, market research, and support for senior bankers on client assignments.
- Securities
- This division focuses on trading and sales. Interns might be involved with traders to analyse market trends and help in executing trades.
- Asset Management
- Interns are exposed to portfolio management and investment strategies as they work alongside experienced professionals.
Summer Associate Program
The Summer Associate Program is designed for graduate students holding advanced degrees such as an MBA or JD. Similar to the Summer Analyst Program, this internship lasts for 10 to 12 weeks during the summer. Due to their higher level of education and previous work experience, Summer Associates are assigned more complex projects and responsibilities.
Engineering Campus Hiring Program
This program is specifically aimed at engineering students who are looking for technology positions at Goldman Sachs. Interns may engage in software development, data analysis, or quantitative research projects that contribute to the company’s technology goals.
Goldman Sachs Virtual Internship

- Duration: Four weeks
- Description: The Insight Series is a virtual undergraduate program running for four weeks. It allows participants to learn about potential careers at Goldman Sachs. Students can personalise their digital curriculum or follow recommended sessions according to their grade levels.
- Open to: Students of all majors, experience levels, and identities.
Key features:
- Personalised learning paths.
- Weekly newsletters with insights from across the firm.
- Networking opportunities with professionals at Goldman Sachs.
Engineering Virtual Programme
- Description: This is an interactive online program that enables students to explore engineering roles at Goldman Sachs. The participants learn about the commitment of the firm to technology and problem-solving in the finance sector.
Key Skills Developed:
- Basic cryptography and password management.
- Critical engineering skills relevant to the finance industry.
- Flexibility: The program is free and can be completed at the participant’s own pace.
Software Engineering Virtual Experience
- Description: This course is available via Forage; it is designed to mimic work a software engineer at Goldman Sachs would do at work. Project ideas include the cracking of password and security upgrade proposals.
- Example of a project: Crack as many passwords using available tools. Assess the state of security applied in an organization.
- Certificate issued: A participant receives a certificate upon completion and can add to their resume for better prospects of employment.
Duration and Locations

Internships at Goldman Sachs typically span 10 to 12 weeks over the summer. The firm operates globally, offering internship opportunities in prominent financial centres such as:
- New York City: The company’s headquarters, where investment banking is the primary business.
- London: The heart of European operations, with a focus on investment banking and asset management.
- Hong Kong: A major centre for Asian markets and investment activities.
- Bangalore: Technology and operations are its core focus; it supports several of the firm’s global functions.
Work Environment
Interns at Goldman Sachs are placed in teams where they work with full-time employees. The environment is fast-paced and dynamic, reflecting the high-stakes nature of the financial industry. Interns are expected to contribute meaningfully to their teams while learning from experienced professionals.
Application Process

How to Apply
The application process for Goldman Sachs internships is highly competitive. Prospective interns should follow these steps:
1. Online Application: Candidates are required to apply online through the Goldman Sachs careers website. This application usually consists of:
- Resume: A comprehensive account of academic achievements, relevant experiences, extracurricular activities, and skills.
- Cover Letter: A personalised letter stating why the candidate is interested in the internship and how their skills align with the firm’s needs.
These would include the following:
- Academic Transcript: Proof of educational performance that demonstrates strong analytical skills.
- Standardised Test Scores: Depending on the role applied for, candidates may need to provide scores from tests like the GMAT or GRE.
2. Networking: It helps the candidates who network with people working at the company or other alums who interned at Goldman Sachs. Communication with professionals provides information about how the application processes work and even some aspects of company culture.
Selection Process
The selection process usually involves stages:
- Aptitude Test: The candidate first takes an online aptitude test that evaluates numerical reasoning, logical reasoning, and comprehension skills. The test can be divided into different sections with time limits and negative markings for wrong answers.
- Technical evaluation: Technical assessments may be done on sites like HackerRank or Codility for engineering positions. These would include programming questions, as well as multiple-choice computer science concepts questions.
Interviews:
Usually, qualified candidates go for one or two rounds of interviews. These interviews often begin as telephone or video interviews before face-to-face ones if such a requirement applies. Interviews commonly consist of the following:
- Behavioural Interviews: This type of interview focuses on assessing cultural fit by exploring past experiences using frameworks like STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result). The candidate should prepare examples that bring out their problem-solving abilities, teamwork skills, leadership experiences, and adaptability.
- Technical Interviews: For roles requiring specific technical expertise (like engineering), candidates may face questions that test their knowledge of finance concepts or technical skills relevant to their role.
- Final Interviews: Top candidates may be invited for final interviews with senior leaders or team members within Goldman Sachs. These interviews often focus on assessing fit within the team and understanding how candidates approach complex problems.
Benefits of Interning at Goldman Sachs
- Professional Development: Interns at Goldman Sachs benefit from a structured program that emphasises professional development through various initiatives:
- Mentorship: A mentor is assigned to each intern and provides guidance during the internship period. The mentors assist the interns in overcoming obstacles, give advice on their career paths, and give feedback on performance. This is an essential relationship in helping interns understand corporate culture and develop professionally.
- Training Sessions: Interns participate in various training sessions that cover essential skills and industry knowledge. These sessions are designed to enhance their understanding of financial markets and products while also developing soft skills like communication and teamwork.
- Networking Opportunities: Interns participate in highly selective networking activities, connecting to senior leaders as well as to other interns at the company within different divisions. Relationships established can open doors to future job positions and robust networks in the financial industry.
Pay: The Goldman Sachs internships are paid. Compensation varies based on location; however, it is in line with standard pay rates at finance firms. Here is an example
- In New York City, interns should expect a compensation rate of $15-$20 an hour.
- In India (Bangalore), interns can expect a monthly stipend of around ₹58,473 to ₹59,947.
- This kind of competitive pay reflects Goldman Sachs’s dedication to reasonable compensation that takes into account local living costs across different regions.
Full-time Offers
- Exceptional performance at an internship could translate into job offers once graduates leave school. Most interns receive job offers based on their performance while at an internship.
- Company reports indicate that over 60% of summer analysts receive return offers after their internships are over.
Preparing for Your Internship Experience

To get the most out of your internship at Goldman Sachs or any other leading company, follow these actionable tips:
Research Deeply
Before you begin your internship:
- Understand Goldman Sachs’ history, values, culture, and recent news articles about its operations or initiatives.
- Understand its business model across different divisions (investment banking vs asset management).
This knowledge will help you engage more meaningfully during meetings or discussions with colleagues.
Set Clear Goals
- Define what you want to achieve during your internship:
- Do you want to develop specific technical skills?
- Do you want to expand your professional network?
Setting clear goals will help you stay focused throughout your internship period.
Seek Feedback
- Regularly seek feedback from your mentor or supervisor:
- Ask about areas where you can improve.
- Request constructive criticism after completing tasks or projects.
This proactive stance shows your drive toward development but also enables you to develop your skill set further over time.
Build Relationships
Networking is essential:
- You attend networking events hosted by Goldman Sachs.
- Connect with other interns; they can turn out to be great contacts moving forward in your career.
- Relationships built early can be friendships as well as potential job leads later on.
Work-Life Balance
While it’s essential to work hard:
- Make sure you also take time outside of work for self-care. Engage in hobbies or activities that help you relieve stress; maintaining balance will contribute positively toward productivity levels during your internship experience overall!
Goldman Sachs is known for its selective hiring process and high standards for interns. The company is looking for candidates who have a wide range of skills that can be useful in the firm’s dynamic work environment. Below are the most critical skills that Goldman Sachs values in its interns, grouped by different divisions and roles in the firm.
General Skills Valued Across All Internships
- Analytical Thinking: Goldman Sachs interns will require critical thinking since it will enable them to interpret complex financial data, identify trends, and make the right decisions. Interns may often be required to analyse market conditions, evaluate investment opportunities, and analyse financial reports.
- Communication Skills: For a collaborative work environment like Goldman Sachs, clear communication is crucial. Interns must be able to express themselves clearly, not just in writing reports but also when making verbal presentations. This will enable better teamwork and presentation of complex ideas to clients and colleagues.
- Problem-Solving Abilities: Interns are often given challenges on which they need to innovate. Therefore, Goldman Sachs is looking for people who are critical thinkers, can think out of the box, and bring creative solutions in financial modelling, risk assessment, or project management.
- Time Management: The fast-paced nature of the finance industry requires excellent time management skills. Interns should be able toprioritisee tasks efficiently to meet deadlines while handling numerous projects at once.
- Interpersonal Skills: Building relationships with colleagues and clients is crucial in finance. Goldman Sachs seeks interns who are good team players and can quickly get along with clients to enhance the overall workplace dynamic.
Division-Specific Skills

Investment Banking
Interns in investment banking should have the following:
- Financial Acumen: Familiarity with valuation methods, financial modelling, and mergers and acquisitions is essential.
- Attention to Detail: Precision is essential when preparing pitch books or financial analyses.
- Resilience: Investment banking is a challenging field, and the interns need to be resilient in handling pressure.
Securities
For those interning in securities, the following skills are essential:
- Market Knowledge: Familiarity with trading concepts and market dynamics is essential.
- Quantitative Skills: Strong mathematical abilities help in analysing trading strategies and performance metrics.
- Technical Proficiency: Understanding trading platforms and technology used in securities trading can be advantageous.
Asset Management
Interns in asset management should:
- Portfolio Analysis: An individual’s skills to analyse an investment portfolio and knowledge of how to work on asset allocation strategies.
- Research Skills: The capability of conducting adequate market research and analysis to enable proper investment decision-making.
- Client Relationship Management: Building interpersonal skills in clients about their investments.
Corporate Treasury
Essential skills that should be developed in a corporate treasury internship are:
- Financial Planning: Knowledge about budgeting and resource allocation processes.
- Business Intelligence: Ability to analyse data for strategic decision-making.
- Project Management: Skills in managing projects effectively while aligning with the firm’s financial strategy.
Engineering
Interns in engineering roles should have the following:
- Programming Knowledge: Proficiency in programming languages relevant to financial technology (e.g., Python, Java).
- Analytical Skills: Ability to analyse complex systems and develop innovative solutions.
- Collaboration Skills: Working effectively within cross-functional teams that include finance professionals.
Human Capital Management
For those interested in human capital management, the following skills are valued:
- Interpersonal Skills: This is the ability to build relationships within the organisation.
- Data Analysis: Familiarity with data analytics tools to assess employee performance and engagement.
- Creativity: Innovative thinking to develop programs that enhance employee development.
Risk Management
Interns focusing on risk management should have:
- Attention to Detail: Critical for identifying potential risks in financial transactions or market conditions.
- Ethical Judgment: Strong ethics in judging compliance processes.
- Quantitative Analysis: Assess risk through a numerical approach.
Wealth Management
Interns for wealth management need to have knowledge and skills in the following:
- Customer Service Orientation: Skills that handle client relations appropriately.
- Financial Planning Knowledge: A thorough understanding of investments that match client needs.
- Attention to Detail: Attention to detail is essential as clients have plans for their financial future.
Goldman Sachs is looking for a well-rounded candidate who can survive in a challenging environment while making a positive contribution to their teams. The analytical thinking, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, time management, and interpersonal skills honed will help position prospective interns as strong candidates for this highly competitive internship program.
Moreover, knowledge of the specific skill sets valued across various divisions will help candidates tailor their applications more effectively, thereby increasing their chances of success at Goldman Sachs.
Types of Projects Interns Can Work On

Investment Banking
- Financial Modeling: Students may help create financial models to determine whether mergers and acquisitions are feasible. This includes the use of historical economic data to project future performance and assess the direction that different scenarios would have on valuations.
- Pitch Books: Interns may be involved in the preparation of pitch books, which are presentation materials used to present investment opportunities to clients. This involves researching the market, gathering data, and preparing slides that will effectively communicate key messages.
- Market Analysis: Conducting in-depth analyses of market trends and industry sectors to identify potential investment opportunities or risks for clients.
Asset Management
- Portfolio Analysis: Interns could analyse existing investment portfolios, which could be benchmarked against other relevant portfolios, and recommend adjustments in light of prevailing market conditions.
- Client Reporting: Assist in preparing reports for clients summarising portfolio performance, market outlook, and investment strategies.
- Investment Research: Research specific asset classes or sectors to provide insights that inform the investment decisions of portfolio managers.
Securities
- Trade Execution Support: The intern may support traders in executing trades, monitoring the market situation, and ensuring that regulatory requirements are complied with.
- Risk Assessment: This involves analysing the risk metrics for trading strategies and helping to develop risk management frameworks to mitigate losses.
- Quantitative Analysis: Using statistical methods to analyse trading data and develop algorithms that optimise trading strategies.
Technology (Engineering)
- Software Development: Developing software applications that support trading operations or improve internal processes. This may include coding in languages such as Python or Java.
- Data Analytics Projects: Analyzing large datasets to extract meaningful insights that can drive business decisions or improve operational efficiency.
- Cybersecurity Initiatives: Assisting in projects aimed at enhancing the firm’s cybersecurity measures, including vulnerability assessments and implementing security protocols.
Wealth Management
- Financial Planning Tools: Building tools or platforms to better help clients manage their finances, including budgeting applications or investment tracking systems.
- Client Engagement Strategies: Assist with marketing by doing research on best practices for client engagement and developing materials that enhance communication.
- Tax Optimization Strategies: Assist in researching tax-efficient investment strategies tailored to the individual needs of clients.
Global Investment Research
- Industry Reports: Compiling comprehensive reports on specific industries, including the trends and competitive landscapes that shape and influence those sectors, as well as other economic factors that shape or influence those sectors.
- Company Valuation Models: Assist in building valuation models for companies in a given sector, applying methodologies such as DCF analysis or comparable company analysis.
- Presentation Preparation: Prepare presentation slides for presentations to internal stakeholders or clients, summarising research findings and investment recommendations.
Operations
- Process Improvement Projects: Identifying areas in the current operational processes that require improvement to achieve efficiency and lower costs.
- Data Management Initiatives: Helping projects to improve data accuracy and accessibility of various operational functions within the firm.
- Compliance Monitoring: Assisting compliance teams in analysing data on regulatory requirements and ensuring compliance with internal policies.
Risk Management
- Risk assessment models to build models to measure different kinds of risks, such as market risks and credit risks, in relation to investment or trading strategy.
- Stress testing scenarios to support building stress testing scenarios to help evaluate how alternative economic conditions could impact the firm’s portfolio.
- Projects to ensure compliance with the dynamic requirements of regulation within the financial services industry.
Important Dates for 2025 Internships

Application Opening Dates
- July 1, 2025: Applications open for the Summer Analyst Program in India and APAC regions.
- August 15, 2025: Applications open for all other business areas globally.
Application Review
- Rolling Basis: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting from the opening date. It is recommended that you apply as early as possible.
Program Duration
- Summer 2025: The Summer Analyst Program typically lasts between nine to ten weeks during the summer months.
Important Links
- Goldman Sachs 2025 Summer Analyst Programme (EMEA)
View Program Details - Goldman Sachs 2025 Summer Analyst Program (India)
View Program Details - Goldman Sachs Programs and Internships Overview
Explore Programs - Goldman Sachs 2025 Summer Analyst Program (Americas)
View Program Details - Goldman Sachs 2025 Summer Internships Overview
View Internship Opportunities - Goldman Sachs Engineering Campus Hiring Program
View Engineering Program Details - Goldman Sachs 2025 Summer Analyst Program – Harvard FAS
View Harvard FAS Details - People – Goldman Sachs Summer Analyst Program
View Prosple Details
These resources will provide you with comprehensive information regarding application procedures, program specifics, and deadlines for internships at Goldman Sachs in 2025. Make sure to prepare your application materials ahead of time to enhance your chances of success!
The Goldman Sachs internship program stands out as one of the most sought-after opportunities for students aspiring to build careers in finance, not just because it offers rigorous training but also because it provides access to an elite network within this highly competitive industry—a chance that can shape one’s career trajectory for years ahead!
Through such immersion with real-world projects, while gaining exposure through mentorship & training sessions offered by such a prestigious firm, the intern would not only be acquiring practical skills but also understanding how to operate within one of today’s leading financial institutions!
As competition is still challenging,h with acceptance rates below many top universities, it is essential to prepare well for each stage of the application process. With dedication and hard work combined, landing an internship at Goldman Sachs could very well open doors leading towards successful career paths ahead!
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