Tips for Incoming Analyst

Will be in fixed income - would appreciate any advice you can share!

  • What differentiates a "great" analyst from a "good" analyst?
  • What are some overlooked tips?
  • How can I best prepare myself prior to the summer?
  • Any interesting books you recommend?
  • What are common mistakes to avoid?

Thank you!

 

1) learn to code - specificaly VBA behind Excel.

shilw its true that python is more powerful when it comes to large programs doing data intensive things...but sometimes the fastest way to build something functional is with an Excel spreadsheet and some VBA

i'm not talking about recording macros...that recorder creates horrible VBA code...you need to actually learn how to program.

learn how these work

If/Then/ElseIf/Else Do While, Do Until, For Each/Next loops -learn how to use the ADO objects to connect and communicate with a database -learn SQL so you can function on the database

learn how variables, objects, arrays and collections work learn how to prorgamaticaly use the builtin excel worksheet functions with VBA

with this programming knowledge, you can create very powerful things

just google it...you're welcome
 

Agreed that VBA is helpful; Never really used MySQL in S&T Fixed income, but I don't think either should take priority to really grasping the basics. I would work on foundation over anything; Understanding market trends like it's second nature, understanding how fixed income instruments work, understanding what the roles entails, etc.

Programming can be picked up relatively quickly; As long as they understand the building blocks of XYZ language (as you mentioned loops, control flow, etc.) they can literally write pseudo code in english and program it out. But if he/she has missing holes in fundamentals; his/her code will be flawed as well.

Whatever it takes.
 
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Whatever it takes.

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