Goldman Sachs Spring Week 2026: Application Process, HireVue Questions and How to Get In

Key Takeaways

• The Goldman Sachs Spring Week has 2 stages: online application (CV + 300-word essay) and a HireVue video interview
• You can apply to up to 2 divisions in your motivational statement
• HireVue format: 5 to 6 questions, 30 seconds prep per question, up to 2 minutes per answer
• Questions are behavioural and competency-based, not technical. The STAR method is essential
• Total timeline: 3 to 8 weeks from application to outcome. Apply early as places fill on a rolling basis

The Goldman Sachs Spring Week is one of the most sought-after early careers programmes in UK finance. It gives first and second-year candidates a week inside Goldman Sachs, with a direct route to a summer internship if you perform well.

The process has two stages: an online application with a 300-word motivational statement, and a HireVue video interview. This guide covers exactly what each stage involves, the questions you will face, and how to prepare properly.

Key facts

What the programme involves

The Goldman Sachs Spring Week is a week-long insight programme. You spend time inside the business, attending sessions with professionals across different divisions, taking part in team exercises, and getting a real look at how the firm operates.

This is not a shadowing programme. If you perform well during the week, you get fast-tracked to the summer internship application. That makes it one of the most valuable early programmes in finance. Getting in at the Spring Week stage puts you ahead of the thousands of candidates who apply cold for the summer internship later.

Goldman Sachs runs similar insight programmes for several divisions, so the experience will vary depending on which area you apply to. Whether that is Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset Management, or another division, you will get exposure to the day-to-day work, the people, and the culture of that team.

Who can apply

The programme is open to first and second-year candidates at any UK university. All degree disciplines are welcome. You do not need to be studying finance, economics, or maths.

Goldman Sachs is looking for three things: genuine interest in the firm, strong communication skills, and evidence of initiative. If you can explain why you want to work in financial services and back it up with something specific from your background, you are in a strong position.

You can apply to up to 2 divisions in your motivational statement. If you do, prioritise your preferred division and explain your interest in each one separately. Applying to 2 divisions is fine, but only if you have genuine reasons for both. Do not apply to a second division just to increase your chances.

The application process

The Goldman Sachs Spring Week has two stages: an online application and a HireVue video interview. The total process takes between 3 and 8 weeks from submission to outcome.

Stage 1: Online application

You submit your application through Goldman Sachs' careers portal. This includes a 1-page CV in PDF format and a 300-word motivational statement.

Your CV should be one page, clearly formatted, and in reverse chronological order. Start with education (university, A-levels, GCSEs), then employment history (paid and unpaid), then extracurricular activities. Use concise bullet points. Quantify your achievements wherever possible. "Grew society membership from 30 to 120 in one academic year" is specific. "Ran a university society" is not.

Your 300-word motivational statement is not a cover letter in the traditional sense. It is a text box with a strict word limit. Every word counts. Cover three areas:

1. Why financial services. What sparked your interest? Reference a specific experience if you have one, such as attending an insight event, a university finance society, or a market event that caught your attention.
2. Why Goldman Sachs specifically. Name a recent deal, initiative, or piece of research the firm has published. Reference their values or a specific programme they run. Generic answers like "because Goldman Sachs is a leading firm" will get filtered out.
3. Why you. What skills and experiences make you a strong fit for the division you are applying to? Link your extracurriculars or work experience to the competencies the programme values: teamwork, communication, analytical thinking.

If you are applying to 2 divisions, explain your interest in each one. Reference what makes each division different and why both appeal to you. Do not repeat the same paragraph for both.

Expect a 1 to 3 month wait before hearing back. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply early. Once all places are filled, the application closes.

Hundreds of candidates inside the free community are working on Goldman Sachs and Tier 1 spring week applications right now. Join them for free.

Stage 2: HireVue video interview

If your application passes screening, you will be invited to complete a HireVue video interview. This is a pre-recorded interview. You answer questions on camera. There is no live interviewer.

Format:

• 5 to 6 questions
• 30 seconds preparation time per question
• Up to 2 minutes to record each answer
• Practice questions provided beforehand (these do not count towards your assessment)
• Total time: approximately 30 minutes

The questions typically cover:

1. An introductory question ("Tell us about yourself")
2. Why Goldman Sachs and why this division
3. 2 to 3 competency questions (teamwork, conflict, problem-solving, overcoming challenges)
4. A commercial awareness question ("Tell us about something that recently captured your interest in the markets")

The questions are behavioural and competency-based. They are not technical. You will not be asked to explain financial concepts or do mental maths. The interview tests whether you can communicate clearly, structure your thinking, and show genuine interest in the firm.

Your HireVue is reviewed by a human. Expect a 2 to 3 week wait for feedback.

How to prepare for the Goldman Sachs Spring Week HireVue

Know your "why Goldman Sachs" answer cold

This is the question that separates prepared candidates from everyone else. Reference something specific: a recent deal Goldman Sachs advised on, their approach to a particular market, a piece of research from Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research, or one of their programmes. Show that you have done actual research, not just read the "About Us" page.

Prepare a commercial awareness answer

The markets question catches a lot of candidates off guard. Pick a current event that connects to Goldman Sachs' business. Read the Financial Times, Bloomberg, or Reuters daily in the weeks before your interview.

Your answer should cover three things: what happened, why it matters, and how it affects the financial services industry. If you can link it back to Goldman Sachs specifically, even better. For example, if Goldman Sachs recently advised on a deal related to the event you are discussing, mention it.

Use STAR for competency questions

Structure every competency answer using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keep each part concise. Two sentences for the Situation. One for the Task. Two or three for the Action. One for the Result, ideally with a number or measurable outcome.

Do not ramble through a story and hope the interviewer picks out the relevant parts. The structure does the work for you.

Get your setup right

Dress professionally. Sit in a quiet, well-lit room. Look directly at the camera, not the screen. Speak at a natural pace. Record a practice run on your phone beforehand and watch it back. Most people speak too fast and break eye contact without realising.

Goldman Sachs spring week interview questions

Based on real candidate experiences and Goldman Sachs' interview question bank:

Motivational:

• Why do you want to work at Goldman Sachs?
• Why this division?
• What are you hoping to learn from this programme?
• Why did you choose your degree subject?

Competency:

• Tell me about a time you worked in a team to achieve a goal
• Describe a situation where you had to manage conflicting priorities
• Give an example of when you overcame a significant challenge
• Tell me about a time you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
• Describe a time you had a disagreement with someone in a team. How did you resolve it?

Commercial awareness:

• Tell us about something that recently captured your interest in the markets
• What market trend do you think will have the biggest impact on financial services in the next 5 years?
• Describe a recent news article and explain its relevance to Goldman Sachs

Personality:

• Tell me about yourself
• What is your biggest weakness?
• What do you like to do outside of your studies?

For detailed breakdowns of the application process for other Goldman Sachs roles, see the Goldman Sachs Global Markets application guide and the Goldman Sachs Internal Audit application guide.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Writing a generic motivational statement. "I want to work at Goldman Sachs because it is a world-leading firm" is not a reason. Name a specific deal, initiative, or division characteristic that genuinely interests you. The 300-word limit means every sentence needs to earn its place.
2. Skipping commercial awareness prep. The markets question is not optional. Have at least 2 current stories ready with a clear explanation of why they matter to financial services.
3. Applying to 2 divisions without explaining both. If you choose 2 divisions, you need a distinct reason for each one. Do not repeat the same motivational paragraph. If you cannot articulate why both divisions interest you, apply to one.
4. Reading from notes on the HireVue. This is a video interview. If your eyes are scanning off-screen, the reviewer will notice. Practise until you can deliver your key points from memory.
5. Applying too late. Rolling deadlines mean the candidates who apply first get reviewed first. Do not wait until the programme is nearly full.

What makes a strong Goldman Sachs spring week application

Goldman Sachs wants candidates who are genuinely curious about financial services, can communicate clearly, and show evidence of doing things outside of lectures.

You do not need a finance degree. You do not need to understand options pricing or know what EBITDA stands for. What you need is an honest reason for wanting to work at Goldman Sachs, a 300-word essay that proves you have done your research, and a HireVue performance that shows you can think on your feet.

The candidates who get offers are the ones who sound like real people with real reasons for applying. Not the ones who memorised a script from an online forum.

If you have been sending applications to Goldman Sachs and other Tier 1 banks without hearing back, the issue is rarely one cover letter. It is your whole approach: CV, motivational statement, LinkedIn, and how you position yourself to recruiters.

Related programmes

If you are applying to spring weeks at other banks, these guides cover the full application process and interview questions:

• JP Morgan Spring Week 2026: 2 stages, 5 HireVue questions, rolling deadline
• BlackRock Spring Week 2026: 4 stages including a virtual cover letter with AI assessment

Goldman Sachs also runs several other early career programmes:

• Summer Internship (the natural next step after the Spring Week, 10 weeks)
• Analyst Programme (full-time roles for final-year candidates)
• Off-cycle Internships (available in some divisions, check the careers portal)

Next steps

The Goldman Sachs Spring Week fills up fast. If applications are still open, apply today. If you have already applied and are waiting for the HireVue invitation, start preparing now. Read the Financial Times daily. Practise answering questions on camera. Research Goldman Sachs' recent deals and the divisions you are interested in.

If you have been applying to programmes like this and not hearing back, the issue is usually not one application. It is your whole approach: CV, motivational statement, LinkedIn, and how you position yourself to recruiters. Join the free community with hundreds of other candidates working on Goldman Sachs and Tier 1 spring week applications right now. Join for free.

Frequently Asked Questions