2 quick questions for you guys that have been banking for more than a year...
Our firm's (large BB) Christmas party is coming up next week, meaning we finally get the night off for sure. I've got some friends coming in town the same night, who I haven't seen forever, and I'd much rather go do something with them. Is the firm Christmas party something that can be skipped, or is it more or less required? I'm guessing it probably wouldn't be a good idea to miss, but I'd just as rather have the night off...
Second, do you guys exchange gifts with people in your group? Other analysts/associates/VPs/MDs? This is my first job so I don't really know what the norms are...and I don't want to have everyone come in with gifts and then be empty-handed...on the other hand, I don't want to buy stuff if people don't exchange gifts...
This is true even in non-finance fields... no matter how much you hate your co-workers, the job or even if you're planning to leave soon, you have to go to the holiday party. Yes, working in IBD involves a lot of hard work, but getting ahead also requires playing the political game. If you don't go to the holiday party you're forfeiting that game.
We did not exchange gifts at our holiday party; if anything, typically higher-level people give gifts to lower-level people, not the other way around. I received gifts from my Associates/VPs/MDs last year but was not expected to give them anything.
I may give gifts to the first years this year but more as a joke than anything serious. :)
You could give a card to someone if they were very nice to you. But not necessary. But it is important that you go to the office party.
Maybe you could even bring your friends!
********"Babies don't cost money, they MAKE money." - Jerri Blank********
I always gave a gift (not at the party) to my assistant.
I think it depends on the size of the office party. For example, there are thousands of people invited to our party because it's for the entire firm in my city. In fact people generally call one another or pick a specific place and time to meet up if they want to see one another. Otherwise it's impossible to find anyone. Bottom line: no one would really know if you weren't there unless you told them. If it's a smaller thing where it'd be noticed that you weren't there I would say yes you should go.
Make an appearance...then plan to see your friends after. I'm assuming it's on Friday or Saturday...have a good night, and then go into work if you have to the following day.
No problems, why complicate your life by not going.
What banks have their parties on Fridays and Saturdays?
Apparently this table is kind of the standard at big law firms for giving gifts to administrative assistants:
http://www.abovethelaw.com/2007/12/secretary_administrative_assis_1.php
Does anyone have similar guidelines for admins in Banking?
You should def attend the firm's holiday party and make your rounds. Just cut out early and meet up with your friends later in the evening.
At our fund all of the associates/principals/partners are given Amex giftcards to give to their respective assistants. I sort of felt bad since my assistant actually got me a real Christmas present (although I have no idea why she did this) and I just passed along a giftcard that was free to me. Still - the card had a balance of $1,000 so I'm sure she could care less whether it was something that I actually paid for.
All the assistants basically got $1000 in cash? Woah. I want to work at your fund.
I wouldn't get too excited - pretty sure they're pulling in salaries of $40-50k...
Make an appearance and socialize with the necessary people. If it's a big party you can cut out early. This also prevents you from getty shitty and doing something in front of you peers and bosses you will regret in the A.M.
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