If you had 21 days to learn technicals how would you do it

To maximize your 21 days of preparation, here's a structured plan based on the most helpful WSO content and strategies:

Week 1: Foundation Building

Goal: Strengthen your accounting fundamentals and start technical concepts.

1. Accounting Refresher (2-3 Days):

   • Use Wall Street Prep or similar resources to revisit key accounting principles.
   • Focus on understanding the three financial statements (Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement) and how they interconnect.
   • Practice walking through how changes in one statement affect the others.

2. Valuation Basics (2-3 Days):

   • Learn DCF (Discounted Cash Flow), Trading Comps, and Transaction Comps.
   • Understand the key drivers of valuation and practice building simple models.

3. Practice Problems (Daily):

   • Dedicate 1-2 hours daily to solving technical questions from guides like the WSO Technical Interview Guide.

Week 2: Advanced Technicals

Goal: Dive deeper into valuation and modeling.

1. LBO Modeling (3 Days):

   • Learn the basics of Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs).
   • Practice a paper LBO and gradually move to more complex scenarios.

2. M&A Concepts (2 Days):

   • Understand accretion/dilution, synergies, and deal structures.
   • Practice explaining these concepts out loud.

3. Mock Interviews (Daily):

   • Start practicing technical questions under pressure. Use mock interview services or a study partner.

Week 3: Polishing and Practice

Goal: Refine your knowledge and simulate real interview conditions.

1. Full-Length Practice Tests (3 Days):

   • Simulate 2-3 hour modeling tests (e.g., LBO or DCF).
   • Use resources like the WSO prep pack for realistic scenarios.

2. Behavioral Prep (2 Days):

   • Prepare answers for common questions like "Why this role?" or "Tell me about yourself."
   • Practice integrating technical knowledge into your responses.

3. Daily Review (Ongoing):

   • Spend 1-2 hours reviewing weak areas and revisiting key concepts.

4. Final Mock Interviews (2 Days):

   • Conduct full mock interviews, including both technical and behavioral questions.

Daily Commitment

• Weekdays: 6-8 hours/day (split between learning, practicing, and reviewing).
• Weekends: 10 hours/day (focus on practice tests and mock interviews).

Additional Tips

• Practice Out Loud: Explaining concepts verbally will help you stay composed during interviews.
• Use WSO Resources: Leverage the WSO Technical Interview Guide, mock interviews, and templates for practice.
• Stay Consistent: Even if you're tired, commit to at least 1 hour of studying daily.

By following this plan, you'll be well-prepared to seize your opportunity. Good luck!

Sources: Superday Advice From a Tired Interviewer, Studying process, Workplan for PE studying, Ask CompBanker, Behavioral and Fit