Claude on the loose! What skills should I now focus on before I hit the desk?
Title synthesizes what I want to ask, but to provide a bit more color, really interested in how many of you already at the desk think us incoming summer analysts/ft analysts should prep given the changing landscape due to AI (i.e. Claude, etc.).
Is it still seemingly necessary to become extremely proficient and efficient in excel/ppt? What other skills (aside from not being bots and knowing how to communicate) should we focus on to become the best analysts? Also, in what ways would it beneficial to use AI in our skill development so that we can effectively contribute as juniors?
Thanks.
To crush it as an incoming analyst in the evolving AI-driven landscape, here's what you should focus on:
1. Excel and Financial Modeling Mastery
2. PowerPoint Efficiency
3. Data Analysis and Interpretation
4. AI-Assisted Skill Development
5. Communication and Soft Skills
6. Understanding Human Bias and Decision-Making
7. Adaptability and Proactivity
By combining technical proficiency, AI literacy, and strong interpersonal skills, you'll position yourself as an indispensable analyst in this AI-driven era.
Sources: Interviewing for a SA or Analyst position? Here's what I'd want to hear as a VP., Reflections from year 4 as an equity analyst, Q&A: 2nd Year Analyst at McKinsey in Europe, Work at top AM -- AI will virtually kill of entry-level roles in AM over the next 5yrs
Social skills. Coffee chats. Drink alcohol at the happy hours. Have a personality outside of finance.
I can’t even remember how to build some of the more complex Excel formulas I was using 6 months ago because Claude can do it for me in 15 seconds. I feel like a year from now I’m not going to remember how to do anything complex in Excel. It will be really hard for the new generation who never had to learn how to do it in the first place/understand the logic (if they have to fix something) because they always had AI to do it for them.
Thanks for your input. So what do you think the future of the new gen will hold when in their junior seats? Is basically everything going to be AI driven hard-skill wise with significant intrinsic ability deterioration? Do you think, as a result, teams are going to lean out, and/or analysts will start getting their hands in the mix with more strategic thinking + client interaction (harping on the human component of things)?
"It will be extremely difficult for the young kids to do long complex math without a calculator"
This sentiment just repeats with every piece of new tech.
Yes I see your argument but Sometimes AI will get things wrong. Sometimes you'll input things wrong on a calculator. Unless you understand to an extent the underlying functions or at least relationships, you will not be able to sense check your own work.
I had a French analyst named Claude. Very good math, unfailingly hard working, quite robotic, smoke Gauloises.
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