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I think this is the first time I've ever seen someone use Goldman as an example of a "cool" company. When did that happen?

by skc 8y ago

Tade0 8y ago
Same here. I used to work with a guy who was employed at the London HQ. He had some great stories to tell but his experience there was anything but "cool".
gaius 8y ago
Both Google and Goldman are “springboard” companies, 2-3 years at either and you are basically guaranteed an interview anywhere you want, possibly for the rest of your career. Cool might not be the right word, but there is a reason why people clamour to get in, not just the money
- ionforce 8y ago
  To whom does a stint at Goldman hold cachet?
  - what-the-grump 8y ago
    All of finance in NYC at the very least.
  - alistairSH 8y ago
    Much of the finance industry in the US. Do a few years at Goldman (or any other well-known employer on Wall St), get an MBA, and work wherever you want for the next 30 years. I know quite a few who have followed this plan. Every industry has companies like this. Apple and Google in software, PWC in accounting, BoozAllen in consulting, etc.
    - gaius 8y ago
      Right. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea but a stint at Goldman would be looked on favourably by any of the Fortune 500.
- notahacker 8y ago
  Goldman's springboard role is because of its assumed ability to be more selective about analytical talent than virtually anywhere else as a result of their ability to pay more though. It's a virtuous circle. Government simply can't afford to pay or select that much, and those government roles which guarantee strong future employment prospects are often because those employed in it are perceived to have connections as much as skills (probably not something the civil service wants to emphasis whilst recruiting...)
  - gaius 8y ago
    as a result of their ability to pay more though Well, not really, not for maybe 10 years now. If you joined Goldman as a fresh graduate you would be an Analyst, which means 2-3 years of 80-100hr weeks for good but not amazing pay. At any big tech offering RSUs your overall compensation will be much, much better, as will your general quality of life. But Goldman still gets 4000 applicants for every opening because people figure it's worth it for the doors it opens down the line. Government simply can't afford to pay or select that much If the government could put together a programme that opened doors - not through corruption but by a reputation for producing capable, hard-working people - people would go there too. It's not dissimilar to why some (many?) people do a 4-year stint in the military - GI Bill and the prestige of being a veteran after.
    - dragonwriter 8y ago
      > It's not dissimilar to why some (many?) people do a 4-year stint in the military - GI Bill and the prestige of being a veteran after. I dunno about “prestige”, but the in-law hiring preferences for veterans don't hurt.
Patient0 8y ago
Maybe it's PR: http://paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://paulgraham.com/submarine.html
dragonwriter 8y ago
> I think this is the first time I've ever seen someone use Goldman as an example of a "cool" company. It's in comparison to the current perception of government employment. Goldman and Google are phenomenally cool by that standard. “Can X be made as cool as Y?” is a valid question when Y isn't very cool if X is even more uncool.

I think this is the first time I've ever seen someone use Goldman as an example of a "cool" company. When did that happen?

by skc 8y ago

I think this is the first time I've ever seen someone use Goldman as an example of a "cool" company. When did that happen?

Tade0 8y ago

Same here. I used to work with a guy who was employed at the London HQ. He had some great stories to tell but his experience there was anything but "cool".

gaius 8y ago

Both Google and Goldman are “springboard” companies, 2-3 years at either and you are basically guaranteed an interview anywhere you want, possibly for the rest of your career. Cool might not be the right word, but there is a reason why people clamour to get in, not just the money

ionforce 8y ago
To whom does a stint at Goldman hold cachet?
- what-the-grump 8y ago
  All of finance in NYC at the very least.
- alistairSH 8y ago
  Much of the finance industry in the US. Do a few years at Goldman (or any other well-known employer on Wall St), get an MBA, and work wherever you want for the next 30 years. I know quite a few who have followed this plan. Every industry has companies like this. Apple and Google in software, PWC in accounting, BoozAllen in consulting, etc.
  - gaius 8y ago
    Right. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea but a stint at Goldman would be looked on favourably by any of the Fortune 500.
notahacker 8y ago
Goldman's springboard role is because of its assumed ability to be more selective about analytical talent than virtually anywhere else as a result of their ability to pay more though. It's a virtuous circle. Government simply can't afford to pay or select that much, and those government roles which guarantee strong future employment prospects are often because those employed in it are perceived to have connections as much as skills (probably not something the civil service wants to emphasis whilst recruiting...)
- gaius 8y ago
  as a result of their ability to pay more though Well, not really, not for maybe 10 years now. If you joined Goldman as a fresh graduate you would be an Analyst, which means 2-3 years of 80-100hr weeks for good but not amazing pay. At any big tech offering RSUs your overall compensation will be much, much better, as will your general quality of life. But Goldman still gets 4000 applicants for every opening because people figure it's worth it for the doors it opens down the line. Government simply can't afford to pay or select that much If the government could put together a programme that opened doors - not through corruption but by a reputation for producing capable, hard-working people - people would go there too. It's not dissimilar to why some (many?) people do a 4-year stint in the military - GI Bill and the prestige of being a veteran after.
  - dragonwriter 8y ago
    > It's not dissimilar to why some (many?) people do a 4-year stint in the military - GI Bill and the prestige of being a veteran after. I dunno about “prestige”, but the in-law hiring preferences for veterans don't hurt.

Patient0 8y ago

Maybe it's PR: http://paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://paulgraham.com/submarine.html

dragonwriter 8y ago

> I think this is the first time I've ever seen someone use Goldman as an example of a "cool" company. It's in comparison to the current perception of government employment. Goldman and Google are phenomenally cool by that standard. “Can X be made as cool as Y?” is a valid question when Y isn't very cool if X is even more uncool.