The 'interview' stage of the application process consisted of a video interview and a live Zoom interview.

I waited on a response to my initial application and online tests for about 3 months. Don't be disheartened if it takes a long time to hear back; apply to other firms whilst you wait!

I was invited to complete a recorded interview and was given only 48 hours to complete it. However, I was provided with extensive, extremely helpful preparation videos. They offered guidance on maintaining positive body language despite being recorded, advice on how to structure answers (from a technical view and in terms of comprehensibility), and even provided meditation-style videos to watch directly prior to pressing 'record'.

I was asked general competency questions and more specific questions from all the divisions I had applied to. The division-specific questions largely concerned my interest in the division and my experience in relevant fields.

Having successfully completed the recorded interview, I was invited to a live Zoom meeting, which stood in for the usual day-long in-person assessment day.

To start, a group of applicants, including myself, were spoken to by a recruiter. We were then sent into breakout rooms, wherein we spoke to one junior staff member and one senior staff member (three people total in each breakout room, including an applicant).

I was asked one or two general competency questions and one or two technical questions before the discussion moved towards more natural conversation. The technical questions were far less demanding than the initial online assessments; it was clear that this stage of the process was more about demonstrating an ability to communicate one's thought processes than one's prior technical knowledge.

A similar set of second breakout rooms was then established.

Finally, we were placed into a call with a senior member of staff to discuss our motivations (around joining GS, our division, and the location we were applying to) and to discuss their experiences in the company. All of the people who interviewed me seemed genuinely nice and were able to strike a good balance of encouraging me with my thought processes without giving away answers.

I apparently received excellent feedback from all of my interviewers, so I feel somewhat legitimized in giving out advice: prepare, be normal, and think out loud. If you do this, the interviewers think:

• This person actually cares about this position.
• Therefore, this person is likely to work hard.
• This person can communicate their thinking and is easy to interact with.
• Therefore, this person is likely to be a net positive for my/a team at the firm.
• This person seems like someone that I actually want to work with!

It took about a week to hear that I had gotten an offer, following the interview.

Why do you want to work in the X-division?

What made you choose OUR X-division?