How has your education prepared you for this role with Goldman Sachs?
This question invites you to provide context to your educational experience, going deeper than the basic details outlined on your resume. Also, whether your answer rambles on in a roundabout manner or comes across as more structured will serve as another assessment of your communication skills. How you answer will offer them more insight into your background and help them assess your fit and whether they can "maximize your potential." As they state on their website, "We take a person-by-person approach to talent development and foster an environment that values different perspectives, challenges conventional thinking and maximizes the potential of all of our people."
Goldman Sachs wants to know how your education or training has prepared you to succeed in the job. The goal of your response is to highlight your experiences, education, and training, and to connect the knowledge you gained to this opportunity.
As Goldman Sachs' recruiters explain, even though they want you to lead "with your education and any key details around your studies, followed by any relevant experiences, be it internships, or other jobs that you've held," what you learned in your college experience can expand beyond your studies. This can pertain to valued advice from a mentor, or leadership experiences gained from your clubs or extracurricular activities. "The interest part is actually a great opportunity to highlight something you're passionate about outside of the classroom. It lets us consider far more candidates from different schools, experiences and backgrounds."
Your education shouldn't be restricted to your formal scholastic, college, university courses, or grad work. So avoid underestimating the training you've received. Consider any certifications you've earned, private courses, seminars, or conferences you've attended. Anything self-taught can be included, as well as valuable mentorships or notable on-the-job training, volunteering, or any relevant experience. Ultimately, Goldman Sachs wants assurance that you have the training, knowledge, and background required to do the job successfully.
"My degree has equipped me well. I did a deep dive into collecting data, analyzing it, and writing reports based on my findings through my dissertation. Outside of my degree, I take part in mentoring and volunteering opportunities. These experiences have evolved my ability to communicate effectively and have improved my listening skills."
Unlock all 30 Goldman Sachs questions
Master the digital interview format that Goldman Sachs uses to screen candidates.
Get Started