Why did you choose this firm and this role?
I applied for a Spring Week in securities as I am fascinated by the markets, which sounds very cliche but it's true. Having to be attuned with geopolitics and understanding whether market sentiment is reflective of risk to your clients positions sounded exciting, and was even better than I had imagined. My choice to apply to Goldman was based on having met several representatives through SEO, a social mobility charity. I would not apply to a firm purely due to prestige, but having been very impressed with the representatives and having found them very personable, I decided to put in an application.
What was the toughest part of the application process? And your favourite part?
The video interview. I had taken a Hirevue interview in the past, but the questions I had faced were unique and more detailed than questions of old. I had done my typical interview preparation and at times had to completely discard it. The "motivational questions" were not so much 'what have you done and what are you capable of' as I was used to, but much more 'what drives you'. As a result I stopped thinking about what I had to offer, but more who I was for some of the questions. As a result, I finished the interview thinking "this is about fit" rather than "this is about experience", so was happy to receive a rejection (but of course, much happier to receive an offer).
Were you surprised by anything in the process?
The speed of the decision. I imagine it can be hard to differentiate between candidates based on a video interview, so I was very impressed when I received my decision on the promised day, as I expected that a lot of time would have to be spent reviewing applicants.
What three top tips would you give your fellow Bright Network members?
Be yourself, be respectful and read and become actively involved in things you are genuinely interested in. Sounds very basic but I think it's a good way of ending up working for a firm you're happy with and to develop your skillset in an enjoyable manner.
What's your lucky charm or pre-interview ritual?
Smart bottom half for a video interview, shoes and socks included. I feel too nervous that I'd end a video interview with "now stand-up" and I'd be in some skimpy rugby shorts! It also gets me in the zone.
