Goldman Sachs Cover Letter

Whether you’re a student seeking a Goldman Sachs internship or a finance professional looking to make the move to the famed investment banking company, prepare to face fierce competition. For example, only 1.5% of Goldman Sachs internship applicants were accepted in 2022.

So to give yourself a good chance at landing one of the few Goldman Sachs jobs available, you’ll need to write a standout cover letter that emphasises your most relevant information. And if you’re an intern who lacks work experience, your cover letter is an even more important component in the hiring process, as you can use it to explain how your skills and education qualify you for consideration.

Our tips below are geared more towards early-career professionals looking to land an internship at Goldman Sachs, but you can adapt them for the stage of your career you’re currently in.

Here’s how to write a Goldman Sachs cover letter that convinces the recruiter to interview you:

1. Address the contact person by name

Start your cover letter by addressing the Goldman Sachs contact person in both the header (below your contact information) and in the greeting. In the header, you should include the contact person’s:

• name
• Goldman Sachs division
• address
• email
• telephone number

If the above information isn’t readily available, do a LinkedIn search or call the appropriate Goldman Sachs division to ask who will read your application.

Specifically addressing the recruiter — and doing research to find out this information — shows that you’re invested in working at Goldman Sachs.

2. Hook the hiring manager with an engaging introduction

If you’re unsure of the best way to start your cover letter, the Goldman Sachs website provides a useful clue:

“When we review applications, we look for creative, team-oriented candidates who will bring intensity and integrity, intellectual curiosity and leadership potential to our team.”

So don’t start with the standard “I’m writing to express my interest…” statement. An opening line like that will make your cover letter read as cliche.

Instead, demonstrate your creativity by writing a unique, engaging first paragraph. For instance, Goldman Sachs recruiters have been impressed by imaginative cover letters with “poetry” in the body.

Here’s an example of a compelling start to a Goldman Sachs cover letter:

While being original, do make sure your first paragraph includes some basic information, such as:

• what position you’re applying for
• why you want to work for Goldman Sachs in this specific position
• the name(s) of any Goldman Sachs connections you have

3. Discuss what makes you worth investing in

Goldman recruiters know that, as an intern, you likely have limited work experience. So when writing a cover letter for an internship, emphasize your:

• soft skills (qualities related to your personality rather than training)
• potential, as demonstrated by past achievements in areas from coursework to investment competitions
• interest in Goldman Sachs specifically and the finance industry in general

See how an applicant demonstrates their interest in finance at the beginning of their cover letter for a Goldman Sachs internship:

4. Emphasize why you want to work for Goldman Sachs specifically

Once you’ve introduced your qualifications and interest, you should explicitly state what draws you to Goldman Sachs over other investment banks.

Below are some ways to show Goldman Sachs you’re interested in them specifically:

• Mention Goldman Sachs’ purpose and values and how you relate to them.
• Talk about specific initiatives that excite you, like Launch with GS or 10,000 Small Businesses.
• Show your particular interest in the areas that Goldman Sachs excels in over other banks, such as mergers and acquisitions.
• Explain how you’re excited about the day-to-day responsibilities and work culture — which will naturally differ from other investment banks — based on what you’ve heard from your Goldman Sachs connections.

When answering ‘Why Goldman Sachs?’, avoid obvious statements and flattery that lacks detail (e.g., don’t say “Goldman Sachs is a leader in the finance industry.”)

5. Edit your Goldman Sachs cover letter

When you apply to Goldman Sachs, you’ll fill out an online application and put your cover letter in a Personal Statement section. But write your cover letter in a text editor rather than typing directly into the portal so that you can do a careful edit.

If you’re a student applying for an internship, your statement must be 300 words or fewer, per the Goldman Sachs student application checklist. The application checklist for professionals doesn’t set a word count, but the standard cover letter length in the UK is around 300 words or one page.

Technically, you could submit a form with only a few words in your personal statement. But you should write at least 250 words to fully express your relevant abilities and interests that motivated you to apply.

With competition so stiff for positions at Goldman Sachs, avoid typos, grammar mistakes, or unclear writing that could get your cover letter binned. To ensure you submit an error-free Goldman Sachs cover letter:

• put it through your word processor’s spellchecker
• upload it to Grammarly or the Hemmingway App to check for ways to improve your writing
• send it to a friend, teacher, or colleague for feedback and proofreading