An underrated factor in getting a job at Goldman Sachs
Despite the post-crisis reputational hit to the industry, Goldman Sachs hasn’t lost much prestige in the minds of those who want to work on Wall Street. It’s still the biggest name in banking. The firm, which employs roughly 32,000 people globally, received a staggering 43,000 applications for its 2014 analyst program, accepting just 4% of the pool.
So how do you land a job there? A near-perfect resume helps – terrific grades, a long list of extracurricular activities and a degree from a blue-chip university. However, it appears that proximity to its largest campuses is also a benefit.
In a new report, Business Insider combed through the LinkedIn profiles of Goldman Sachs bankers, finding that New York University (NYU) has the highest number of alumni working at the bank. Number two on the list is the London School of Economics, which shares a home with Goldman’s second largest campus, with New York being the biggest.
Interestingly, the University of Pennsylvania, the top-rated school on most every rankings list for financial jobs, finished eighth, with just 284 alumni at Goldman. Meanwhile, nearly 430 NYU alumni work at Goldman. However, it’s prudent to point out that the report only took into account people who have profiles on LinkedIn, so the numbers should be taken with a grain of salt.
On the surface, the surprise on the list is Brigham Young University (BYU), which is the only non-Ivy U.S. school to crack the top 10, finishing 9th with 273 alumni. But remember that BYU shares the same city as Goldman’s fastest growing U.S. office – Salt Lake City. The University of Mumbai is the only non-Western school to make the list. Not surprising, Bangalore, India is Goldman’s fastest growing global office location.
So, say what you want about resumes and personalities, going to school where Goldman has a large footprint certainly doesn’t hurt.
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Quote of the Day: “The office Christmas party is a great opportunity to catch up with people you haven't seen for twenty minutes” – Julius Sharpe
