how to become confident in your work as an analyst?

2nd year analyst struggling with many confidence related things: 1. I never see my work as good enough. after I send for review, I keep beating myself up for things I missed, for taking too much time or for feeling anxious when it is supposed to be easy. when anyone finds any mistakes I never let it go for days 2. I never give myself credit for anything good I do. 3. I spend time going over everything I wrote and where I got it from a million times, then end up missing the bigger picture or making formatting mistakes. 4. I am scared to have my own input. if I am making a pitch, I copy and rephrase from equity research or company docs instead of writing myself. I never add my name to team page unless I am explicitly asked to. if an associate gave me a deck with formatting error, I never touch them.

my reviews have been really good and they always emphasize that I am doing great but I can’t see it.

10 Comments
 

I was the same as an analyst. You will generally become more confident as time goes on, mainly when you begin to realise that your colleagues / clients are not that much more competent or qualified than you are.

Just look around you and see who the confident self-assured types are and ask yourself are they that much better than you? Chances are the answer is no.

Whilst it should be rectified in the long-run, constantly checking your work and not not having an air of arrogance can only serve you well at your current position.

 

This is a good point and something that has helped me as well. When I first started, I figured I just had to absorb everything I was told at face value, but as I get to the end of my first year, what I've realized is that the feedback I receive sticks a lot better when I filter it through my own thoughts and ideas as well. My seniors may be experts on the deal process, but that doesn't mean they have looked at the model like I may have or done the research that I have. This has helped me not only become more confident in my own work, but also truly make my work product my own. Sometimes, it really is just all about how you project yourself.

 

Any tips for improving public speaking? I get along with my team great, but when I’m asked to present my work in front of them during meetings, I get so anxious. I don’t know how to get rid of this.

 

1- Think about the big picture BEFORE starting something. 5mn before you start might save you hours down the road

2- Priorise quality to speed. It doesn’t help to do a model in 2h if you have to spend 3h reviewing it because it doesn’t work and isn’t auditable

3- Try to work on the same thing from start to finish and avoid interruptions. It’s easier to produce quality work when things are fresh in your head.

4- Chill out, man, if your associate, VP and MD don’t see an error, your client probably won’t.

5- Be honest, if you’re not sure about something, say it. Nobody can blame you if you hedge yourself properly.

 

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