It’s been 15 years since I interviewed at Goldman Sachs in New York, but one memory from that time really sticks out: my GS elevator moment. For a while now, there’s been a Twitter account, @GSElevator, capturing supposed insider gossip from GS employees, presenting the absurdity of Wall Street culture to a wide audience. It’s got a huge following and might even lead to a book.
Here’s the kicker: the guy behind @GSElevator wasn’t a Goldman employee but a Citibank worker named John. He crafted a whole persona around these tweets without ever stepping foot in Goldman Sachs. It goes to show, you don’t have to be an insider to make a splash. If his book takes off, he’s looking at a big payday.
Now, back to my story. It was March 1999, my fifth time at Goldman’s New York Plaza office. I was having a hard time finding a position, unlike my peers from the interview day. That morning, I got into a jam-packed elevator heading to meet a senior director. Trying to be polite, I stepped out first at the 50th floor, but that move came back to bite me.
I was scolded by the executive I was about to meet for not letting a lady exit the elevator first. It was an honest mistake due to the crowd, and I didn’t even realize a woman was behind me. This moment stuck with me; I worried it might have jeopardized my chances after so many rounds of interviews.
Despite this, I went on to have several more interviews and finally landed a job on the international equities sales desk. This ordeal taught me a valuable lesson in corporate etiquette, one that has influenced my behavior ever since.
Years later, I left Goldman and moved to San Francisco. The man who replaced me later made headlines with a critical New York Times piece about Goldman. It’s a small world on Wall Street.
These experiences shape us and sometimes they linger as we navigate our careers. Whether it’s learning from a mistaken gesture in a crowded elevator or seeing how far someone can go with a clever idea on Twitter, there’s always something to take away.
