Networking and Internships Lead to Job at Goldman Sachs

Have you always been interested in finance?

I stumbled into financial services about two years ago. I attended a conference, The Black Solidarity Conference, with the Black and Latinx Student Union. A recruiter from MasterCard introduced the company to me and we hit it off. I was offered an internship in HR my first summer there, and the following summer [I worked] with the operations team in corporate philanthropy. This sparked my interest in operations and though [it’s] a tech company, they specialize in payments technology, which is what drew me to finance. I wanted to better understand how transactions, trades, and acquisitions are carried out in large finance companies.

How did Hamilton prepare you for your internship and your upcoming position at Goldman?

I had to take two stats classes for my major, which helped me a lot when analyzing large data sets during my two internships. Next semester I’m taking a course in sociology that will examine how complex organizations structure work in the United States. Taking courses in public policy has challenged me to think about the ways in which different systems, like education, government, healthcare, and capitalism work, and to analyze and offer ways to improve them. Also, working in the Alumni Relations Office has helped me to gain confidence in reaching out to alumni and asking for advice regarding interviews, asking for HR connections, or about the finance industry. 

“Alumni networking isn’t about finding alumni who can offer you a job, but about connecting with alumni who can provide information about a company, an industry, interviewing. Maybe they can connect you with a contact in HR. And if they can’t help you, they can connect you with someone who can.”

You mentioned alumni connections in your job search. How did they help?

I used LinkedIn a lot. I looked up Hamilton alumni through [LinkedIn] … based on their industry and company, and then used the Hamilton directory to find their emails and emailed them. One person, Sara Hamilton Terry ’06, was actually there via email for me every step of the way for one of the companies I applied to. I also attended events where I knew alumni would be, for example, the mixer hosted by the Multicultural Alumni Relations Committee (MARC) during Fallcoming Weekend. I used these events to expand my network and learn as much as possible from these insightful people. I met one person during Fallcoming, Aeon Cummings ’85, who has helped me with networking and learning how to make the best first impression.

What are you most looking forward to in your position at Goldman?

I’m looking forward to working among some of the best people in the industry so early on in my career. I’m excited to contribute meaningful work to the company as someone who’ll be fresh out of college, continue to be a global citizen (and working to develop global solutions), and overall, join a company with such a huge commitment to diversity and inclusion, both internally and externally.

I’m looking forward to learning and developing my skills, gaining a better understanding of finance, and to be back home in NYC full-time! More importantly, I’m looking forward to inspiring other young people who come from where I come from, to continue to pursue their dreams and to never give up.

What advice do you have for students interested in finance, particularly those who may be part of groups that are underrepresented in the industry?

Many companies host events where they invite students from underrepresented backgrounds to learn more about the firm. Look them up and apply to them! Use alumni. There’s a plethora of alumni committees to leverage, MARC, Women’s Leadership, and Spectrum, to name a few. If they are hosting events on campus, go to them, and expand your network. Alumni networking isn’t about finding alumni who can offer you a job but about connecting with alumni who can provide information about a company, an industry, interviewing. Maybe they can connect you with a contact in HR. And if they can’t help you, they can connect you with someone who can.

[Hamilton] hosts a ton of events, whether via the Career Center or clubs, either with professionals, or with other students who have held internships. These can provide such helpful insight.

One other huge thing is to never doubt yourself. Getting rejections are tough to deal with, but you have to persevere. Finance companies usually hire undergrads during the fall, so be prepared to spend a huge chunk of time of your fall semester, senior year, applying and interviewing. Another thing I highly suggest is using the platform, Jopwell. I applied to a few jobs through them, and they are very helpful. It is designed for Black, Latinx, and Native American students seeking jobs and internships.