Recruiters in GS London process thousands of applications each cycle. They don’t read every line — they scan for impact: does each bullet show a clear action, measurable result, and relevance to the role? If not, it’s dismissed in seconds. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑽𝑻𝑴𝑹™ 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏: It helps turn vague descriptions into clear, evidence-based achievements. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆: "Worked on a deal” → “Drafted client memo on £250m cross-border acquisition, adopted in partner submission.” This shift allows recruiters to see proof, not fluff — and that often decides whether your application progresses. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 Recruiters rarely spend 10 minutes on a CV — they spend closer to 15 seconds. Without quantifiable outcomes, your experience risks being overlooked. 𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 Your CV isn’t a diary of everything you’ve done — it’s a concise evidence sheet of why you’re ready for the role. Would your CV pass Goldman’s 15-second filter?

In final-round Goldman Sachs or J.P. Morgan interviews, your answer to "Why Investment Banking?" is crucial. Having recruited extensively for top banks, here’s my proven framework to craft standout answers that secure offers: 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 1: 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 “𝐖𝐡𝐲” Explain how your interest began (e.g., a finance competition), how it developed (internship or student fund), and the moment it solidified (e.g., summer analyst experience). Authenticity comes from showing genuine reflection and exposure—not generic motivation like salary. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 2: 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠’𝐬 𝐃𝐍𝐀 Match your motivations clearly to the role’s realities. Love financial analysis? Discuss your passion for modelling and valuation. Thrive under pressure? Highlight teamwork on intense deals. Prove you truly understand and desire this demanding career. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 3: 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐋-3™ 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 Structure answers clearly: • Point: Your primary motivation for banking. • Evidence: Specific experience demonstrating this motivation. • Analysis: What you learned or achieved, reinforcing your interest. • Link: Tie directly to the firm’s strengths and values. • Data: Quantify your impact (deal size, outcomes achieved). Example: “Leading my university’s investment fund sparked my interest in banking’s analytical rigour. During an internship at a boutique bank, I built DCF models for a £150M healthcare deal, refining valuations under pressure. This experience deepened my passion for complex financial analysis. That's why your firm’s leadership in healthcare M&A, like the £5B ABC-XYZ merger, strongly aligns with my ambitions.” 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 4: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞 & 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥—𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑-3™ 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 Briefly structure examples: • Situation/Task: Outline scenario concisely. • Action: Clearly state your role. • Result: Quantify your impact. • Reflect briefly: How this reinforced your banking interest. This tight format conveys rich, impactful stories quickly—essential for brief, memorable answers. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 5: 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲—𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞

An economics student—call him James—approached me after my guest lecture on finance careers. He had the grades, internships, and drive, but worried: Goldman Sachs gets over 300,000 applications for just 2,500 spots—an acceptance rate <1%. “What will make me different?” he asked. Here’s the step-by-step personal branding guide I gave him, based on working with candidates from Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, McKinsey, Bain, Blackstone & Sequoia: 1️⃣ 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐏𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭) • Ask: “What’s your Point? What one thing do you want people to remember?” • PEAL-3 Framework: Use Point–Evidence–Analysis–Link + Data to craft your thesis. • Tip: Ensure authenticity—align your claim with real experiences and skills banks value. 2️⃣ 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐈𝐭 𝐔𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 • Show, don’t tell: Select concrete wins that reinforce your point. ◦ Analytics: Built a valuation model for a Yale start-up. ◦ Automation: Streamlined financial reporting in an internship. ◦ Communication: National debate championship. • Grit & Determination: Prepare stories of perseverance 3️⃣ 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 (𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐬) • 𝐁𝐃𝐂 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤: ◦ Began: Origins—helping family business finances as a teen. ◦ Developed: Finance classes, club leadership, Yale internships. ◦ Confirmed: Winning a national case competition. • Interview Structure (PEAL): ◦ Point: Lead with your thesis. ◦ Evidence: Cite the example. ◦ Analysis: Explain what you learned. ◦ Link: Show how it makes you a better banker. 4️⃣ 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐬 (𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤) • CV & Cover Letter: Spotlight outcomes that echo your brand (quantified results!). • Elevator Pitch: 30-second intro highlighting your “number cruncher + storyteller” edge. • Online Presence: ◦ LinkedIn Headline & About: Reflect your brand. ◦ Thought Leadership: Post insights on industry trends to show passion & expertise. • Interviews: Consistently weave your brand into answers 5️⃣ 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 • Stay Ahead: Learn new skills, follow fintech, ESG & AI trends.