Talent!! Hang onto your talent!

I get a tremendous laugh out of the word "talent" in this industry. Anyone who refers to a group of people as "talent" is someone I hope to never meet. At the junior level at least.

Let's have a quick poll. Talent is:

a) Hitting the number on the keyboard you're aiming for with better-than-average-accuracy
b) Strong enough to carry a box full of pitch books without dropping them, and walking with faster-than-average-speed
c) Watching Hulu from 6-11pm and grumbling less-than-the-average-guy when a 5 hour assignment that could have come in at 6 comes in at 11 instead.
d) Other ________________________________(explain)

Tell me please, a) through d) what makes you talented?

 

Every time I've heard someone referred to as "Talent," it was usually a bunch of guys referring to a hostess, bartender, or other female that was very "visually appealing."

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 

HUh ... it never ceases to amaze me how 1st years think banking = making pitchboos

Your value add is nto cranking out the books, etc - its in using your brain to contribute to a pitch / meeting / etc

I've walked into meetings where my analyst would actually have intelligent things to say / foresight to predict things

If you make a book 100% correct all the time, you will not be a top analyst here ... you can be 90% correct and be a top analyst ... its all relative

 
InassessableTangents:
HUh ... it never ceases to amaze me how 1st years think banking = making pitchboos

Your value add is nto cranking out the books, etc - its in using your brain to contribute to a pitch / meeting / etc

I've walked into meetings where my analyst would actually have intelligent things to say / foresight to predict things

well, at some firms an analyst would not be allowed to contribute to a client meeting

 
Best Response

I agree with IT on this one. I'm in a bit of a unique situation, but I feel like I actually add value -- I don't just sit and crank out books (though I do this too). I'm guessing it's more of a product of my situation, but I'm the point person on our deals, and much of our pitch structure/presentation/ALL modeling comes directly from me. Currently I'm working with two sell-side clients on their street model to show to potential acquirors, and it is literally myself and the CFO -- my MD doesn't even get involved in the modeling aspect.

I also know of at least one other MD who likes to handle the above situations in the same way, assuming he has an analyst who is capable of the task (we are pretty thin through the middle -- it's always MD-Analyst for me, and within my group it's about 50-50 with MD-Analyst and MD-Associate/VP-Analyst -- if it's a capable Analyst, it may be a two-person team).

 

^^ Then don't work there. It's up to you

And also the culture varies by group.

Some places don't encourage or discourgae so its up to you to take some initiative - you guys can flame but its my observation after a few years in the business (and they've all been in various bulge brackets) ... i'd only assume MM's etc will let you speak more

Know your limits but also have aspirations - don't try to roll around all cocky (i made the mistake before) becasue you'll get smacked down jusrt as quick but slowly proving you're worthy is a good strat and it'll make sure you hold onto your seat in bad markets / and have ppl stick out for you

 

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