Tell me about a time you had to adapt to a different culture.

How to Answer
What You Need to Know
Answer Example
Experienced Example

This question tests your soft people skills. The more diverse a company's teams are, the stronger its track record toward innovation. A person who is uncomfortable when immersed in a culturally diverse environment might have difficulty navigating this question. They might stammer and struggle to find the right words, but a person who has experience being immersed in a culturally rich environment working with people from all walks of life will have no trouble navigating this question.

Goldman Sachs states that their "commitment to creating and sustaining a diverse work environment is absolute. Our clients' interests always come first. To continue providing our clients with creative ideas and solutions for operating effectively in a complex global economy, we must be fully capable of dealing with different cultures in an informed and nuanced manner. Experience has shown us that we can best serve our clients' interests by tapping the insights, talents, and judgments of a diverse workforce."

Not only does Goldman Sachs operate in nearly 40 countries, but due to the career opportunities they present for their global talent, you may end up working with Goldman Sachs employees who transferred to your location from other cultures. Additionally, there may be opportunities for you to grow your career with them globally.

"I've worked with some pretty diverse teams in my day. Recently, we had someone join our team who was Muslim and wore a burka. This wasn't a problem for anyone. However, I'd grown accustomed to making eye contact and reading body language to anticipate any issues or needs. Yet, in this case, there was no way to read this person's facial cues. I made a habit of checking in with everyone at different times of the day, so it didn't look like I was signaling them out. It required fine-tuning along the way, but it worked. No matter who is on your team, there's always something to learn."

"I went on a business trip to China to visit one of our offices. I stayed for three weeks, and it was an adjustment. There were several differences when it came to customs in the workplace. I had assumed as much and learned as much as possible before the trip. Regardless, it was an adjustment, but I picked it up quickly, and on my first day back in the states, it was hard to drop those customs and get back into the swing of things."