Goldman Sachs is renowned for its highly competitive selection process, both for internships and full-time positions. The acceptance rate for internships at this prestigious investment bank stands at approximately 1.5%, as reported by various sources. This rate is even more selective than some of the most esteemed academic institutions, such as Harvard University. In a recent year, Goldman Sachs received a staggering 236,000 applications for their internship program but only extended offers to 3,540 candidates, reflecting a significant increase from the 2,900 interns hired in the previous year.
For those aspiring to secure a full-time role at Goldman Sachs, the challenge remains formidable. While specific figures for full-time hires can vary, one source suggests an acceptance rate of roughly 4%, indicating that landing a job at Goldman Sachs is indeed more difficult than gaining admission to top universities like Harvard or Yale. Another perspective highlights that every open position at Goldman Sachs attracts around 300 applicants, which implies an average success rate of just 0.33% for hopeful candidates.
The intense competition for a spot at Goldman Sachs underscores the importance of a strong CV and a strategic approach to the application process. For internships, the firm’s past data revealed an acceptance rate of about 1.27% for 3,000 open roles. Meanwhile, securing a full-time position often requires navigating the traditional banking recruitment process, which typically involves internships during university years, or entering with advanced qualifications such as a top-tier Masters in Finance or MBA. Despite the daunting odds, an opportunity at Goldman Sachs is considered a life-changing experience for many in the finance industry.
