The GS Oplev Day-1

The date was 21st September & it was intimated on 16th September that Goldman Sachs is coming for campus placements. The eligibility criterion was: a graduate student who has scored 60% in 10th, 12th and college in any discipline. This criterion enabled me to give it a fair try. The day before 21st September, I brushed my G.K. and got some info on 2008 recessions.

9:00 am sharp, I packed my bag and rushed to the digital library. Reason? Somewhere in my mind there was a thought mocking my resume. So, I edited it in about 15 minutes, took 2 copies & rushed to the Bertram Hall; where GS is supposed to select us. The clock ticked 10:30 am & the recruiters showed us a video first and then they guided us through a ppt. By 11:40 am, we were all separately seated for a written test for 1 hour and 20 mins. It went fairly well and noticeably, priority was given to articles (a, an, the), percentages and symbol-based problems. After the test, we were asked to write 2 essays, each of 10 minutes duration. The topics were: “Recent developments in the financial world” and “Envisage your career progression”. Both of which I wrote apparently well and, to the best of my knowledge and abilities. Apparently, GS had hires MeritTrac to facilitate the selection process in entirety. By 3:15 pm, it was clear that I had cleared my written test. After a while, my name was in the 1st batch of the students who were to be interviewed.

I gave the 5 minutes interview with ease. He asked me certain trivial questions. One question he asked was, “In which 2 states in India is GS located?” . “One is in Karnataka, and I’m not sure of the 2nd one.” , I said. He alluded me to the answer (which was Maharastra) after which he asked, “Will you ever forget it?” I said, “Definitely not sir.” By the end of the day, it was announced that I was selected for the 2nd round. There were smiling faces everywhere but I was rueing and lamenting from within.

I was resentful towards myself. Because, rather thanking the Force behind; I patted myself.! I wasn’t graceful to Him neither after the test results nor after the interview results. I I literally patted myself, “V.K. You did it.!” How meaner can I get?!