skills needed to prepare for SA BB vs. SA EB
I have some questions about the general expectations after receiving a SA offer: * What should you be studying/doing before you enter a SA? * How prepared should you go into your internship? -----for example: what skills are actually worth learning beforehand so you are less annoying SA? -----for example: does it differ for eb/bb and coverage groups? * Should you be keeping connected with the team during the year?
The best thing you can do to hit the ground running is knowing how to use excel/PPT. For excel specifically know how to use the key functions (Index, Match, etc.), know how to make charts, and know how to format cells (number/date formats, adjusting column size, setting print area, etc.).
For PPT knowing how to format and make stuff look good is critical. Know how to use the alignment tools, guides, shapes, etc.
Contrary to popular belief, you will not be handed an LBO model and told to go to town on day 1 (maybe not even Day 70 either). You will be making profiles, working in excel back-ups for comps, making charts, etc. If you don't know how to use the office tools these will take a very long time and they will not look good, thus limiting your opportunities and trust to take on higher value-add stuff.
No one is really going to care about your industry knowledge, etc. Just show an interest in learning. You can also familiarize yourself with public documents such as a the 10-K, 8-K, etc. so you aren't searching through these for hours to find information (for stuff that might not even be in there to begin with).