Goldman Sachs CEO Discloses Crucial Advice for Interns to Propel Their Career Progression
The Goldman Sachs internship program is renowned for its stringent selection process, with an acceptance rate of just 0.7%. This makes it one of the most competitive internships globally, even rivaling the acceptance rates for NASA astronaut positions[1][3][5].
In a bid to help aspiring interns, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s CEO, David Solomon, offers valuable advice. He encourages candidates to be open to opportunities they might initially resist, as taking on roles that were not initially desired helped him ascend to senior leadership positions within the company[2].
Solomon also emphasizes the importance of patience and relationship-building. He advises interns to invest time in understanding the broader business context and to ask insightful questions to learn and grow during the internship[2]. Furthermore, he suggests that growth often occurs when handling unexpected tasks, which can lead to career breakthroughs[2].
Practical advice for applicants includes aiming for a strong academic record (GPA 3.5 or higher) and building relevant finance-related experience to stand out during the highly selective screening process[5].
The internship program serves as the primary pipeline for Goldman Sachs' full-time class. For the 2025 summer program, approximately 360,000 people applied, with only 2,600 being selected[4]. The applicant pool has grown significantly under Solomon's leadership, with a 15% increase compared to a year ago and a more than 300% surge since Solomon took the helm in 2018[6].
The internships at Goldman Sachs are high-pressure and competitive, but the salaries are equivalent to the base salary of a first-year full-time employee in the same function and location, although prorated for summer[7]. Solomon encourages interns to invest in relationships and build their network during their time at the firm[8].
Solomon also advises interns to find something they could read every day for at least 30 minutes, specifically about business[9]. He implores interns to ask questions when they don't understand things they're hearing about the world[10]. Solomon himself was asked to run equity capital markets at Goldman Sachs in the early 2000s, a job he didn't want, but it led to his ascent to more senior positions[11].
Finally, Solomon advises interns to ask themselves if they enjoy the work they're doing, if it's stimulating, if they like the people they're working for and with, and if they learn from them[12]. When interns align these factors, they're in a good position, according to Solomon[12]. The students selected for the internship come from over 500 schools and collectively speak more than 85 languages[3].
In summary, the extremely low acceptance rate underscores the competitiveness of the internship, while Solomon's advice centers on embracing challenges, cultivating relationships, and learning continuously to maximize growth opportunities[1][2][5].
- Goldman Sachs' CEO, David Solomon, suggests that growth often occurs when handling unexpected tasks, which can lead to career breakthroughs.
- Solomon encourages interns to ask insightful questions to learn and grow during the internship, and to invest time in understanding the broader business context.
- The internship program at Goldman Sachs serves as the primary pipeline for their full-time class, with approximately 360,000 people applying for the 2025 summer program.
- The internships at Goldman Sachs are high-pressure and competitive, but the salaries are equivalent to the base salary of a first-year full-time employee in the same function and location, prorated for summer.
- Solomon advises interns to ask themselves if they enjoy the work they're doing, if it's stimulating, if they like the people they're working for and with, and if they learn from them, to be in a good position, according to Solomon.
