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Career Advisory (Undergrad)
What is Goldman Sachs doing?|A Complete Career Guide for Students and Professionals
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Top 5 Knowhows
Top 5 Advisory
What is Goldman Sachs doing?|A Complete Career Guide for Students and Professionals
Hello, I’m TJ, the founder of Alpha Advisors.
"What exactly does Goldman Sachs do?"
"There are so many divisions—how do I choose the right one?"
"How much do they pay? Is the work-life balance really that intense?"
For students and professionals aiming for top-tier finance careers, this article offers a thorough breakdown of Goldman Sachs’ key divisions, what each does, and how to position yourself for recruiting success.
What is Goldman Sachs?
Founded in 1869 in New York, Goldman Sachs is one of the world’s leading global investment banks.
It provides a broad range of services including investment banking, securities trading, asset management, and proprietary investments, and is widely recognized as a symbol of Wall Street excellence admired by financial professionals around the world.
Understanding Goldman Sachs by Division
Goldman Sachs is structured across multiple specialized divisions. To land an offer, understanding where each function fits within the firm is critical.
1. Investment Banking Division (IBD)
This is Goldman’s most well-known and prestigious division, responsible for capital raising and M&A advisory.
・Supporting equity and debt offerings (IPO, follow-on, corporate bonds, etc.)
・Advising clients on mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures
・Executing company valuations and conducting industry analysis
Even junior professionals can earn USD 100K–150K annually, while top performers can earn millions. The division is known for both high compensation and demanding hours.
2. Global Markets Division (formerly Securities Division)
This division focuses on trading and institutional sales—working at the frontline of global markets.
・Trading fixed income, currencies, equities, and commodities
・Proposing and selling financial products to institutional investors
・Developing market strategies and analyzing risk
This division attracts top-tier macro traders and strategists from elite global universities, with strong emphasis on algorithmic and quantitative skills.
3. Asset & Wealth Management (AWM)
This division manages long-term investment strategies for institutional clients and high-net-worth individuals.
・Managing portfolios for pension funds, insurance companies, and endowments
・Constructing tailored portfolios for wealthy individuals as a private bank
・Designing alternative investment strategies such as real estate and private equity
This is a highly regarded division for its stability and deep focus on long-term finance, and is especially popular among women professionals.
4. Platform Solutions|Payments & Financial Infrastructure
This emerging finance x tech division is gaining significant attention. Former initiatives like Marcus (retail banking) and the Apple Card also fall under this umbrella.
・Developing services powered by financial technology
・Operating in the retail finance and credit card sectors
・Building API-based payment infrastructure and solutions
It’s an exciting area for students and engineers interested in fintech and SaaS.
Goldman’s Recruiting Strategy|What Are They Looking For?
Goldman Sachs follows a highly structured approach to hiring, based on functional fit and demonstrated capabilities—not simply your school name or résumé prestige. What they look for includes:
・Strong logic and numerical aptitude (especially for IBD and Markets)
・Proven leadership and ownership experience
・Macro-level and industry-specific insight
・Essays and interviews with coherent motivations and a compelling narrative
From the application stage, they assess your financial literacy, clarity of thought, and long-term vision—and many applicants are rejected early due to poorly constructed self-presentations.
Goldman Sachs Compensation|One of the Highest in the Industry
Goldman Sachs offers compensation at the top end of the global market, regardless of division.
・Analyst (entry-level): USD 100K–150K
・Associate: USD 200K–300K
・VP and above: USD 300K–1M+
With a strict performance-based culture, it's possible to earn over USD 300K by your late 20s, making it one of the most attractive firms for ambitious professionals.
How to Land a Job at Goldman Sachs
Because of Goldman’s name recognition, going in unprepared or with shallow knowledge will get you screened out at the résumé stage or eliminated in interviews.
Successful candidates prepare thoroughly with strategies like:
・Crafting essays and interviews with consistent logic and narrative
・Conducting deep research across divisions (IBD, Markets, Asset Management, etc.)
・Training in quantitative and logical thinking
・Practicing clear, structured, and passionate responses for HireVue and live interviews
・Structuring your self-analysis and motivations with strategic precision
Want to Get Into Goldman? Start With a Pro.
If you’re serious about joining Goldman Sachs, the time to prepare seriously is now.
At Alpha Advisors, you’ll be personally coached by TJ—former Sumitomo Corporation, Chicago Booth MBA, and Goldman Sachs IBD—who knows what it takes and trains candidates intensively.
If you want to win at Goldman, Alpha’s personalized coaching is your best bet.
With 17 years of experience and countless successful candidates, we’ll help you secure top offers too.
Alpha is your fastest route to an offer from Goldman Sachs! Talk to us now!
Book your free consultation here: Free Consultation
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