Pre Summer Analyst Boot Camp

To make the most of your 5 hours today, focus on PowerPoint (PP). Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s why and how to prioritize:

Why PowerPoint?

1. Bootcamp Likely Covers Presentation Skills: Many pre-summer analyst bootcamps emphasize creating and presenting slides, as this is a critical skill for analysts.
2. You Mentioned Limited PowerPoint Experience: Since you’ve already covered accounting and Excel, PowerPoint is your weakest area and deserves attention.
3. FSM (Financial Statement Modeling): While important, FSM is more technical and might require more time to grasp fully. Bootcamps often provide structured guidance on FSM, so you can catch up during the sessions.

What to Study in PowerPoint:

1. Efficiency Tips:

   • Learn to customize the Quick Access Toolbar for shortcuts like align, group, insert box, fill color, and borders.
   • Practice using keyboard shortcuts to save time (e.g., Ctrl+D to duplicate, Alt+Shift+Arrow for alignment).

2. Slide Formatting Basics:

   • Understand how to create clean, professional slides.
   • Focus on alignment, spacing, and consistency in fonts and colors.

3. Common Tasks:

   • Practice inserting and formatting shapes, charts, and tables.
   • Learn to use order (front to back) for layering objects.

4. Proofreading:

   • Develop a habit of spell-checking and triple-checking your work. A quick tip: step away for a few minutes and review with fresh eyes.

Suggested Plan for 5 Hours:

1. Hour 1-2: Watch a beginner PowerPoint tutorial or take a crash course (e.g., WSO’s PowerPoint for Finance Course if available).
2. Hour 3-4: Practice creating a few slides:
   • Start with a title slide, a content slide, and a chart slide.
   • Focus on alignment, formatting, and using shortcuts.
3. Hour 5: Review your slides, proofread, and refine.

By focusing on PowerPoint today, you’ll enter the bootcamp with a stronger foundation in a skill that’s often overlooked but highly valued. Good luck!

Sources: Virtual Summer | How to prepare?, Interviewing for a SA or Analyst position? Here's what I'd want to hear as a VP., WSO's FREE PowerPoint Crash Course Just Released, WSO's FREE PowerPoint Crash Course Just Released, PowerPoint Skills