All,
Hope everyone is doing well. I’m an first year associate right now-I have done some really good things (originating deals, helping plan several initiatives) but I continue to get killed on formatting. I got a “very poor performance-lack of effort” on one quick turn and then got another lecture from another VP. My background before this is as an executive, so I’m trying to catch up but even decks I proofread four times are getting killed by VP’s not based on content but formatting cleanup.
Any ideas? Is this a common problem?
Just make a checklist in your head. Titles, notes, etc. Also, make sure that you are using your resources. My bank has a PPT addin that checks for formatting mistakes (font, size, colors, etc)
Interesting. What is that add-in called?
My firms name is in it but every bb has it
Some people don’t have a sense of aesthetics. It’s not a big deal in your career, but can be annoying if your VP is into formatting. My advice: have a checklist, etc. and if that doesn’t work maybe have another ANL/ASO to take a look. You can go over it together. It was easier before COVID, but can still do it.
Second the checklist, write it down and tape it to your monitor to check before every deck goes out. Ask a fellow first year to lay eyes on what you send up as well.
Assuming you're not on a fire drill, take 5 minutes and walk away from your computer completely and then re-check it with fresh eyes. New bankers tend to want to get things back as quickly as possible, but if it has formatting errors all over it takes far longer to have another turn than it would for you to check it again.
In addition to keeping a checklist, always print out your work to check. I'd also recommend taking an online crash course on PowerPoint. (WSO, BIWS, etc.) I get a feeling that you're not quite there yet in your ppt basics and are still re-sizing and aligning objects with your mouse.
Problem is we can’t print and check right now
go to Amazon.com - search for color printers and ink cartridges + few boxes of A4 papers - hit Buy Now
Thanks all. Appreciate the help. Im hoping this is all part of the “associate experience”.
If you're in your first year, try and fly solo as much as possible. Learn everything that an analyst does in addition to your associate work.
Consistency is king. Make sure things don't jump around from slide to slide and that everything is conformed throughout formatting wise - just because it looks ok on a single slide as a standalone doesn't mean it's a good fit for the rest of the deck.
That is great advice. Thank you!
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