Title says it all. Just hit the desk as an AN1 but I’m finding myself reach for the mouse more than I’d like to. My fellow analysts are shortcut gods & im just wondering if anyone has any tips on how to get there.
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Once you know which shortcuts you need to know just actively practice with them even if it means looking them up mid work stream. It's the only way to learn and it doesnt take long. Eventually it will become fun to pick up a new shortcut here or there when you have to do something new like crop an object to a shape or combine multiple objects into one in PPT. I used to play a lot of real time strategy games where shortcuts are key to being a good player and so I always enjoyed that aspect of this job.
Make sure you’re using your Quick Access Toolbar. I believe Wall Street Prep has a PPT one free for download. Customize an Excel one for yourself (I recommend having font color, fill color, borders, paste special, font, font size to start).
Using a mouse sometimes is necessary/not really as bad as people say. Just try to use shortcuts more and you’ll be ok. Just takes repetition.
Not sure how worth it is, but I did the following for a few months leading up to my analyst program
1. Go to this site https://www.10xebitda.com/investment-banking-presentations/
2. Start remaking the PDFs in PPT from scratch
3. Google incremental ways to do things faster whether it is using the QAT (I also recommend WSP PPT course), memorizing shortcuts, etc.
4. Keep practicing; it is 100% about getting reps in
^ for PPT specifically; for Excel, I just did WSP course and recreated Macabacus models
That’s pretty normal, just start using hot keys more. It will take you longer at first, but overtime you’ll continue to become faster and faster. Then in 2-6 months of using those hot keys you’ll be just like those other analysts you’re describing. I felt the same way when I started, but now I’m pretty quick. It’s all about repetitions.
Most helpful thing for me was to try to random things in excel and focus on never touching the mouse. Build a budgeting spreadsheet, make a schedule, grocery list, dividing up venmos from the weekend. When you do these things just keep trying to add different and extremely unnecessary functionalities. Over time this became very useful for me in my training.
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Back when I was learning it helped me to pick 2-3 new shortcuts every week, sticky note them to my monitor, and focus on using them every time I needed to. Most of your work is covered by a relatively small number of shortcuts so after six weeks you'll have progressed pretty quickly.
I know this sounds dumb, but just hit the Alt button and follow the letters. Eventually you will remember what comes after “Alt”
There is a ton of info on WSO and online in general.
But a few things I found helpful…
What ppt shortcuts do you guys use most
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