Online Application

The first stage of the application involves some general questions (personal information, previous employment, educational background) and the submission of a CV and a 300-word cover letter (motivational statement). The CV is to be submitted in pdf format and should be limited to 1 page. On the application portal, you’ll find “tips and hints”. In general, the suggested format should include contact information, education, employment history (paid and unpaid), and extracurriculars, in this order. Within each section, list your details in reverse chronological order (from most recent to oldest). Keep each section as concise as possible, and for education you’d generally mention your details up to secondary school (Uni, A-levels and GCSEs. For overseas applicants uni and high school are sufficient). The CL / motivational statement is submitted as a long (300 word limit) answer in a text box. The format has a strict word limit, so avoid wasting time and words on openings or closings. Again, keep the CL as concise as possible and aim for 300 words. It’s a lot less than you think!

How to respond for success

I think the CV is quite standard and does not need to be tailored to the company or industry you’re applying for, especially when it comes to Spring Insight programmes. However, if you have any experiences which can display your interest in the industry or, even better, with the firm, make sure to include them. GS and other firms in the industry often organise insight programmes or participate in networking events/ insight experiences which can be useful to explore your interest and provide good material for your CV. If you’re part of an industry-focussed student association make sure to include it in your CV.

The main goal of the CL is to convey your interest in the industry and the firm, and why you’d be a good fit for the programme. I started with an opening line about how the industry broadly relates to my degree and then structured the CL in three main paragraphs. In the first paragraph, I’d mention why you’re interested in the industry in general, if possible referring to an experience that struck you as particularly insightful. It would be optimal if this experience was organised by or included a speaker from the firm. In the second paragraph, I focussed on GS and why I thought it would be a great place to start my career. I mentioned the company’s exceptional performance in the aftermath of the pandemic and their commitment to increasing representation of people from diverse backgrounds. This is by no means the only way to show interest in the firm. It would be equally relevant to mention the company’s values, a recent piece of news that made it stand out to you, company research, or many of the philanthropic activities it engages in. The firm’s website contains all the information you need to build a strong application. You only need to find what captures your interest the most. In the last paragraph, I mentioned some extracurriculars and past occupations I had, where I developed skills which would fit with the programme. On the careers page, you’ll find a description of the programme which includes the type of candidate the firm is looking for. In my case, I took part in several debating competitions and was involved in volunteering networks, so I highlighted my ability to communicate effectively and work in a team. Depending on your background and the role you’re applying to, the relevant skill set may change. Just make sure you show how much you can profit from the opportunity!

I’d say overall what made my application stand out was concision, clarity and a genuine interest in the firm. I had very limited knowledge or experience regarding the industry when I applied (as is normal as a first-year university student), but, I think, I showed I was eager to learn and make the most of the programme. On a more concrete level, a clear, concise, well-formatted CV is a great start for your application. Similarly, I made sure my CL showed I had invested time in researching the company. Ultimately, apart from your past achievements, dedication and interest are paramount to a successful Spring application. 

Expect a 1-3 month wait before advancing to the next stage. 

HireVue

The HireVue Interview is a pre-recorded interview. For each question you’re asked, you have 30 seconds to prepare and 2 minutes to answer. Your answer does not need to cover the entirety of the two minutes! The whole process is quite quick and smooth. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on how much time you spend on the practice questions. I personally did not do any preparation for the HireVue. I just made sure to keep up with the news in case any questions regarding markets would come up. Make sure you can talk about any experiences you have listed on your CV / CL and that you can answer competency-based or leadership questions confidently and clearly. 

Example

There is usually 1 ice-breaker question along the lines of “introduce yourself”, followed by 2 or 3 competency-based questions and a question on markets. 

Competency based:

• Tell us about a time you had to manage conflict in a team? - I talked about a critical episode I had to manage while chairing a committee meeting for an organisation I worked for. 
• Tell us about a time you faced a challenge and how you overcame it? - I talked about a stressful moment from my academic life. 
• Markets Based: Tell us about something that recently captured your interest in the markets?

I talked about issues of political instability in the Ecuadorian Amazon affecting international supply chains of wind turbines. Ecuador is the main exporter of balsa wood, which is as of now lacking a cost-effective substitute in the production of wind-turbines. However, the balsa woods are currently over-exploited due to weak rule of law in the Amazonian region, posing a threat to global supply of the wood in the next few years, especially given how much governments are investing in wind-power. This could significantly limit growth prospects for firms that specialise in the sector, e.g., Vestas.

How to respond for success

When it comes to the competency-based questions, concision, confidence, and clarity are key. The content of your answer is relevant only to an extent, as long as you show your thinking process in the situation was clear and effective. Keep the description of the situation as simple and concise as possible and focus on your resolution process. Once you’ve reached the conclusion of your answer, don’t waffle to reach the 2-minute limit. It’s definitely a limit and not a target! 

For the markets question, pick a story that genuinely interests you and explore how a specific event can reverberate across different areas of the markets (if it’s a question on markets). Depending on the division you are applying to, the questions may be more or less technical. In my experience, Spring week interviews (except engineering) tend to ask more general questions on the industry, so the best practice would be to keep up with the news and explore what captivates you in the sector. 

In terms of dress-code and practical information, you’ll be sent an e-mail before the HireVue detailing all you need to know. In my case, I did wear a suit. This may vary depending on the firm you’re applying! 

I did not use any specific online resources to practise before my HireVue. I just googled a couple of competency-based questions and rehearsed some episodes I could refer to in case I was asked a question of that kind. Being able to shorten your thinking time as much as possible is vital, as you only have 30 secs to prepare, but the questions aren’t technical or notion-based, so there is no need to prepare too intensely. Again, just keep up with the news and make sure you know the firm and why you want to apply!

Expect a 2-3 week wait before being offered a position.