32 Interviews and the Real Test Goldman Sachs Was Running

Goldman Sachs put me through 32 interviews before they said yes.

Mad, I know. But back then, that was standard operating procedure at the world's most prestigious investment bank.

The Gauntlet

There were multiple knock-out rounds that would make "The Apprentice" look like a gentle chat over tea. Think super days with 10+ interviews. They were definitely testing resilience and tenacity. Could you handle the pressure? Would you crack under the relentless questioning? But there was something else going on. Something less obvious but arguably more important.

The Real Question

Every single interviewer, was thinking the exact same thing:

"Could I sit next to this person for 12 hours a day?"

Not 8 hours. Not 9 hours. Twelve bloody hours.

Because that's the reality of being a trader.

The Human Factor

Here's what they don't teach you in business school: everything comes back to the human element.

I don't care how brilliant your brain is. I don't care if you can recite every M&A deal from the past decade. I don't care if you've got a first from Cambridge and speak five languages.

If you're a nightmare to work with, you're not getting hired.

Even at Goldman.

Especially at Goldman.

Why Personality Trumps Everything

Think about it logically. When the markets are crashing, who do you want in the trenches with you?

The genius who throws tantrums over cold coffee? Or someone who can find a way to laugh at anything. The answer is blindingly obvious.

The 32-Interview Test

Those 32 interviews weren't just about my technical knowledge or my ability to handle stress. They were a masterclass in human compatibility testing.

Could I maintain my personality under pressure? Did I treat the junior staff with the same respect as the senior management? Was I someone who added to the team dynamic or sucked the life out of the room?

Each interviewer was essentially asking: "Would this person make our 12-hour days slightly more bearable or significantly more miserable?"

What This Means for Everyone

This principle extends far beyond the glass towers of investment banking. Whether you're applying for a role at a tech startup, a marketing agency, or even running your own business, the fundamental truth remains:

People hire people they want to work with.

You can be the most technically competent candidate on paper, but if you're difficult, arrogant, or just plain unpleasant, you'll struggle to get through the door anywhere decent.

The Takeaway

Be someone others want to spend their working hours with. Be curious rather than know-it-all. Be supportive rather than competitive. Be the person who makes tough days slightly easier, not harder.

Because at the end of the day, no matter how impressive your CV is, if people can't stand the thought of sitting next to you for 12 hours, you're not getting the job.

Even the most demanding employers in the world know this simple truth: life's too short to work with arseholes.