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| Goldman Sachs |
Wall Street’s sales and trading desks are soaring and interns are getting a front-row seat to the action.
It’s an exciting time to be learning the ropes in trading. Whether your focus is currencies, derivatives, equities, or bonds, markets aren’t standing still not this year.
With global disruptions ranging from tariffs to technological leaps like AI, market volatility has surged, driving up revenues for trading desks across Wall Street. For interns, it’s a rare chance to learn in an environment where everything is moving fast.
“We’ve been incredibly busy,” said Goldman Sachs partner Jennifer Roth. “With the volatility we’ve seen, it’s an exciting time to be on the trading floor.” Roth is the firm’s global cohead of emerging markets and foreign exchange sales, and this summer, she’s also helping mentor the next generation of traders.
Truth Sider spoke with Roth and intern Steven Henry to learn what it’s really like to spend a summer at one of the busiest sales and trading operations on Wall Street especially during a year when the firm is posting record results.
Henry, a student at MIT, started his internship in equities trading and recently moved into his second rotation this time, in mortgage trading.
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| Goldman Sachs' headquarters at 200 West Street in Lower Manhattan. Momo Takahashi |
1. Inside a Day on the Trading Desk
Sales and trading divisions at major banks like Goldman Sachs play a critical role in financial markets. These desks handle the buying and selling of securities such as stocks, bonds, or derivatives on behalf of institutional clients like hedge funds, insurance firms, and pension funds. They also assist clients in managing risk using tools like futures and options.
Goldman’s trading unit has had a blockbuster year, with revenues up 36% compared to the previous year. And interns like Henry are stepping into that momentum.
“It’s been a little overwhelming but in the best way,” he said. “I didn’t expect to learn this much in such a short amount of time. Honestly, I’ve probably learned more in the last few weeks than at any other point in my life.”
Interns begin their days helping senior traders prepare for the market open scanning headlines, digesting overnight news, and organizing busy inboxes. They’re also tasked with research assignments, analyzing the data behind real trading decisions.
“They’ll pitch us trades,” Roth explained. “Every week, interns share what they’ve learned and propose an idea. Then we ask questions, pushing them to demonstrate their depth of understanding.”
For Henry, those trading ideas aren’t just theoretical they’re legitimate concepts the desk could consider.
“We’re researching real opportunities,” he said. “Our ideas are actually being evaluated and sometimes acted upon by the team.”
But Henry says the most valuable learning experience is simply sitting with the traders, watching them operate in real time, and absorbing their mindset.
“I try to spend as much time as possible shadowing traders,” he explained. “I want to understand how they think, what they prioritize, how they navigate their day. That’s the best way for me to learn what these products mean in a real-world context.”
Henry also emphasized the importance of being alert and ready not just during market hours, but before and after as well.
“We get in a little before the market opens,” he said. “We stay through the day and watch how things evolve. As an intern, I’m aiming to really understand what a full day in this job looks like.”
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| A seating area at 200 West Street, Goldman's HQ. Emmalyse Brownstein |
2. What It Takes to Get a Return Offer
Jennifer Roth knows the path from intern to full-time hire well she started her Goldman career as an intern herself back in 2002. Today, she’s a partner and helps decide which interns receive offers to return to the firm after graduation.
She doesn’t expect applicants to arrive as experts. But what she does look for is passion a genuine curiosity and enthusiasm for markets.
“I want someone who’s truly interested in the markets,” she said. “This is a business where people spend 10 or 12 hours at the desk. You really need to love it.”
Beyond that, she’s looking for fast learners people who show initiative and aren’t afraid to ask questions, dive into the details, and pick things up on the fly.
“There are a lot of smart young people out there,” she said. “What sets someone apart is being a team player someone I can sit next to who’s ready to get involved and learn. Most of the real training happens on the job.”
That means asking thoughtful questions and being able to demonstrate that you understood the answers.
“You should be able to show you’ve internalized what you’re learning,” Roth explained. “When I think back to my own internship, I wish I’d asked even more questions and made the most of the chance to meet people and learn from them.”
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| Jennifer Roth courtesy of Goldman Sachs |
