Talk to us about your proudest achievement. Why was this achievement important?
Goldman Sachs wants to know which of your professional accomplishments you value the most. As suggested by their recruiters, some other examples of how this question might be phrased in your HireVue interview include, "What project or task have you recently completed that you are proud of?" "Describe a challenge you have faced and how you overcame that challenge." "In hindsight, what steps would you have taken to avoid that challenge?" "If given a new project that you were unfamiliar with, what would be your strategy to kick-start the project?" The goal of your response is to provide evidence that you are a strong hire. You can accomplish this by showcasing an exceptional accomplishment from the past, which aligns you with their values and culture.
When preparing to answer this question, consider the following advice given by some of Goldman Sachs' recruiters: "First, do your research, read a bit about us and the role and prepare some personal examples. The interviewer will probably ask questions to gauge your thought process and leadership skills. Prepare your answers for behavioral-type questions. You usually will be asked several general behavioral questions and then a question that relates to the role or roles you've applied for. When it comes to attire, there's no need to be overly formal, but you do want to feel confident. So make sure you find something that works for you."
Use a solid and compelling recent example and be as specific as possible while remaining concise and on topic. Your answer should include a proud accomplishment that relates to the position and aligns yourself with Goldman Sachs' values.
It's important to remember that the hiring managers are looking for a specific story-based example that highlights your professional behavior in challenging interpersonal situations. When relating your example to this question, take advantage of the opportunity it presents for you to exhibit strong communication skills through structured storytelling. You'll want to make sure it has a beginning, middle, and end. Using the STAR method to form an engaging story-based response is a great technique for showcasing your proudest accomplishment. STAR is an acronym for Situation, Task, Action, Result.
Telling a story about your most significant achievement will give the hiring managers a definite idea of what matters to you. They'll aim to assess how your past accomplishments will provide indicators for the performance they can expect from you and for your future success.
Showcase your personality, work ethic, diligence, and what motivates you. You should be proud of yourself for what you've accomplished so far, and it's okay to brag a bit when answering this question. But try to remain humble and confident, as opposed to coming across as overconfident and arrogant.
"(Situation & Task) While working as an Investment Analyst with Company XYZ, I was responsible for supporting the Investment Management team through research and strategic recommendations. During the pandemic, we began to find that regulations were becoming more stringent, and investment banks were required to have greater safeguards against compliance breaches. This situation presented an excellent opportunity for our small firm to explore a more robust, more efficient tech stack. (Action) I began to research new tools, processes, and systems to boost our teams' efficiencies and safeguard us through a better-consolidated system. After a couple of weeks, I made solid recommendations to the Investment Management team. (Result) By spotlighting the upside of greater efficiencies and added security, I initiated smart and responsible change within the firm. My manager was very pleased with my initiative, and today, the firm has stronger processes for managing regulatory reporting demands."
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