Making the best of a low deal flow
Just started work at a boutique investment bank that only employs about 10 people. They do have deals that are active right now, but they all seem to be either too far along or too new to be at the point where large amounts of work relevant to a college intern like me are required.
How can I make it clear to these guys that I am serious about taking on difficult, real tasks and that I desire to work side by side with them on difficult issues, not back-burner excel databases and data entry?
You get handed real work when you prove that you can handle non-essential stuff first. Why would I give you a model to work on if you can't even handle data entry? I'm just going to have to redo the whole thing again, which wastes everyone's time.
Note that I'm not saying that this is the case with you (obviously I wouldn't know), but realize that everyone starts at the bottom. Every intern gets random mundane data entry first, then once you've shown that you are competent enough to handle that, you'll get more interesting one-offs, and soon enough you'll get to mess around with some models if all goes well.
Best of luck at your internship. Basically, show that you can add value by making the analysts' lives easier.
So far I think I've done a pretty good job of that. I did create some presentation slides detailing potential buyers and the analyst only found one small error with it. I'm also doing a data entry project (more of an ongoing thing) and seem to be doing alright. I cleaned up a part of the spreadsheet the analyst said she had been having trouble with and have been doing my best to be thorough and accurate.
I appreciate your insight, thanks!
this is unquestionably the first and most important step.
once you've established yourself as a teammate with safe hands, every once in a while think of ways you can add value by improving something basic. Perhaps there is a simpler way to present data on a basic spreadsheet or ppt slide - turn in what was asked of you (exactly how they wanted it) and then if the opportunity lends itself, propose your improved version.
admittedly, this has and hasn't worked for me before. ultimately, my success depended less on who i was working with, and more on when and how i presented any additional effort. if you get the timing right and prove you can add value (however menial at first), your teammates will gradually start handing you more responsibility.
good luck to you.
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