First week as an analyst — low standards and zero training, how do I actually learn?
Hey guys,
I just started my first week as an M&A analyst in a regional office in LatAm (satellite office of a larger bank). This is my first job out of school.
From what I’ve seen so far, the modeling standards and overall organization are quite low. The models have a lot of hardcodes, messy formatting, and poor structure. File organization and naming conventions are also pretty chaotic. I’ve seen much cleaner work from people who trained at bulge brackets, so I can tell the difference pretty clearly.
The team consists of 3 analysts, 1 associate and 1 MD. We currently have 7 live deals, including one $500m+ live deal, and we just closed a $300m transaction. For US these are relatively small deals, but in LatAm they’re considered pretty good.
I’ve already spoken with the other 2 analysts on the team, and they told me they basically got zero formal training when they started — they had to learn everything from scratch on their own. That’s what worries me the most.
None of them have done an LBO, or a merger model ever. Which is kind of a red flag i think.
Since this is my first job, I’m scared I’m not going to get proper training and I’ll end up with big gaps in my skills (especially modeling).
My question is: how do I navigate this?
• Are Wall Street Prep, WSO, or Training The Street courses actually helpful in this kind of situation?
• How should I go about learning properly when the team itself doesn’t have strong processes or training?
• Any advice on how to improve my own skills without coming across as difficult or trying to change how the team works?
Appreciate any honest advice from people who’ve been in similar spots. Thanks
You are in the regional office of a huge bank. Surely you have access to old deal folders, marketing materials, back ups, and models from the wider bank?
Yes I do. And that’s great for my own use but the rest of the team doesnt apply these best practices we have on hand.
It’s your first week at your first job and you think your opinion on work “standards” matter? Clearly something is working if they have deal flow. If you’re that good, you will be a star analyst with a top bonus.
Just do your job.
Welcome to the real world, perfect has left the building. One week on the job and 7 live deals but you think you're better then them because the models aren't pretty.
Not trying to be a dick or prove I'm hotshot. Its my first job, and I have tons to learn. I just want to learn how to model, be organized, have good work practices independent if we close deals or not.
Or all of that doesn't matter if the deals close?
At the end of the day I want to become the best professional possible and eventually pivot to a BB and/or PE, and from what i understand having solid training and modeling, presentation, organizational, etc skills matter.
Or am I completely wrong about it??
Think you just need to take a breath. You made a post last week about how you were 2 days (48 hours) in and implying that you're stressed you haven't been able to make a connection with people from the HQ office.
Despite saying that you want to learn, you write as if you know it all already. If so, be the change you want to see. Hold yourself to the standard of the bulge bracket trained work product you saw that one time. Btw, I've worked with and across from the best banking groups, models might start pretty but by v843 it's a shit show (and that's fine). It's a means to an end. Modeling is a commodity, deal experience is not. To have your level of ambition and not appreciate that is silly to me.
I'm sorry man, I don't mean to be harsh and I probably shouldn't have said anything. I just find your attitude annoying. Best of luck
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