Goldman Sachs Two favorite Gurban, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, is encouraged to conduct informal coffee chats with employees at all levels — from analysts to managing directors — since these conversations can foster stronger relationships and help you get better at making small talk. Network!
What the Hell Is Goldman Sachs’ “Coffee Culture” Anyway?
It’s an unspoken but commonly held rule:
Summer interns should also actively ask full-timers for 1:1 coffee chats throughout the internship. The prize is not caffeine — it’s connection.
Goldman insiders say the exercise helps interns understand team dynamics, soak in the firm’s culture, and become visible as a body of employees in a place where soft skills weigh as much as one’s abilities.
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How Tough Is the Goldman Sachs Internship?
Extremely.
This year’s summer program, in 2025, had an acceptance rate of about 0.7%, bringing in some 2,600 interns from around the world after receiving more than 360,000 applications.
Once you’re in, however, nothing is guaranteed. Many return offers are contingent on:
- Performance
- Work ethic
- Cultural fit
- Relational ability: Ability to form strong professional relationships with partners.
And that’s when “coffee culture” can become a soft but crucial component of the internship playbook.
Why Does Goldman Make Interns Do Coffee Chats?
These casual chats are beneficial to an intern’s growth, according to VP Shane Cote:
- Communication skills
- Confidence
- Emotional intelligence
- Better appreciate the firm’s culture.
Interns are encouraged not to sit at their desks, to visit open areas in the Manhattan headquarters (like cafés on the 3rd, 5th, and 11th floors), and to initiate organic conversations with bankers from other teams.
The company sees networking as a professional skill, not an add-on.
Do These Coffee Chat Things Even Matter?
For many interns, yes.
Sales & Trading associate Anna Kouba, who interned in 2019, explained that a senior banker from her home state of the Midwest had invited her for a swift coffee to check in. That small act left her feeling embraced in a fast-moving, high-pressure field.
Patterns can emerge from stories like hers:
Interns who make genuine human connections often end up more rooted, supported, and integrated into the firm.
Which Soft Skills Does Goldman Look for in Interns?
Scraping the bottom of the barrel, as Goldman leaders put it, for such a high-skilled position won’t necessarily get you one either.
Shane Cote emphasizes several qualities:
- Put your hand up and ask well-thought-out questions.
- Interact with mentors and teammates early & often.
- Talk about it, especially when you need support.
- Deliver on deadlines with consistency.
- Show reliability through day-to-day actions.
Interns with strong analytical abilities and a mature interpersonal style catch on quickly.
Why Does This Matter for the Future of Work?
In a sub-1% acceptance program, it doesn’t come down to spreadsheets and pitch decks — it comes down to people.
“Coffee culture” reaffirms something every Wall Street worker eventually comes to understand:
At Goldman, success is based on who knows you, how you come across to others, and how you present yourself within the organization.
These intentional conversations help interns:
- Build cross-level relationships
- Receive honest feedback earlier.
- Learn how various teams actually work.
- Gain visibility with decision-makers
- Groom your confidence in a tough atmosphere.
For many, it is these coffee chats that bridge the gap between a summer internship and a full-time offer.
