How can I learn the exact PowerPoint and Excel skills that top consulting firms utilize?
Punya Sandhu
Punya Sandhu
The ONE thing I’ve learnt in the 10 years I spent at 2 Big4 Consulting firms, is that simplifying complex problems/analysis is a skill in itself.
Senior executives don’t have the time to review detailed tables and complex visuals that some Consultants seem to glorify. In fact, this has the entirely opposite impact and ends up frustrating most senior executives who just want a clear and crisp analysis or presentation.
When I was in Month2 of my Consulting career, a Manager asked me to put a shape called ‘Michaelangelo’ on a certain slide. 3 hours and several internet and intranet searches later, I was nowhere close to even knowing what that shape should look like!
On the verge of tears and putting my ego aside (mainly because the Manager was emailing me every 15 minutes!), I begged a Senior Consultant to help me.
And she did…..
And it took her …… 2 MINUTES!
Lesson learnt: You can spend countless hours spinning your wheels, or just go to the right person and ask for help.
From a Consulting point of view, here is a list of what you need to learn in Excel and PowerPoint:
EXCEL
- Key formulae used in 90% of Consulting analysis
- Formatting in Excel
- Excel charts and uses
- Conditional formatting
- Pivot tables
POWERPOINT
- Key shapes and formatting
- Building charts in PowerPoint
- Slide master uses
- Formatting tables in PowerPoint
- Slide layout and terms
Most of the PowerPoint and Excel skills I learnt in my career was by doing. It took me over 4 years to understand and develop the key skills in PowerPoint and Excel! But how I wish I had a shortcut for this!
In my opinion, these skills are completely teachable and that’s exactly what I do in my course for new Consultants/Analysts - CONSULTING KICKSTART™️.
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Got more questions on Consulting? Comment below or email me at punya@byondgood.com.
Punya is a former management consultant with 15 years of experience at 2 Big4 firms, serving top Fortune500 clients. She has lived and worked in 6 countries and changed 3 careers working across several industries. Punya is passionate about coaching new and aspiring Consultants to succeed in Management Consulting.
Punya is a former management consultant with 15 years of experience at 2 Big4 firms, serving top Fortune500 clients. She has lived and worked in 6 countries and changed 3 careers working across several industries. Punya is passionate about coaching new and aspiring Consultants to succeed in Management Consulting.