Hi monkeys,
Graduated from college this Spring and started my full-time job at a BB in a different group than I interned in so I'm entirely new to the work and the team. I started 3 weeks ago and I've just been miserable..please tell me I'm not the only one.
I have a less than ideal work from home setup which is slowing me down tremendously and as I'm new to the work I have a million things to catch up on in general. Every day it takes me way too long to do the most simple tasks. I keep second guessing myself and my career choice given that I am just so miserable every single day because I don't know how often to communicate with my manager and my associate or what I should be working on at all times. I also feel like I'm just online 24/7 because my team is constantly online and I want to show them I am a hard worker. Therefore I am also sleep-deprived which in turn makes me more miserable and less productive. My team told me which hours of the day they expect me to be online but when could I log off without pissing anyone off? I also don't want to keep nagging my associate and basically ask him for permission to log off.. We all are also in different time zones which isn't helping.
Whenever I have a Zoom to discuss work or any questions that I might have I can't even come up with smart stuff to ask because I am just trying to catch up with everything. I am so overwhelmed.
Anyone have any tips for starting an entirely new job remotely?
hang in there, always hard the first month or two, especially during a weird time like covid. Keep a notepad besides you and live by it. write all your shit down and add notes, so you can always refer to it and keep track when you are in your team call or others calls. in terms of work hours, start a bit earlier and end a bit later, like an hour before and hour after or less, then and log off. I wouldnt ask for permission to log off continuously. Start working 2-3 hours during the weekend until you catch up but dont make this a habit. you may need to do it now since you are new. it gets better, and if it doesnt its not the end of the world, but its always hard in the beginning.
Same boat, graduated in the spring and started my IB stint about 2 months ago fully remote and can relate with you 100%. These first couple months have been incredibly stressful, being stuck in your room by yourself trying to the analyst job with no experience is an absolutely huge hurdle to get over, that leads to so much more stress/anxiety than there should be. There have definitely been times where I've questioned the career choice, essentially being on call non stop and being a prisoner in my own house has taken a toll at times. I'm just telling myself this COVID shit is all temporary and once we get through it this shitty experience will make the future seem that much easier. I can say that even after just 2 months of work I am a lot more comfortable in my work and the ability to handle tough/unknown tasks even though I still don't know jack shit and I get a mini panic attack every time my damn work phone beeps.
Write down every damn word your superiors say like your life depends on it, thats the only way Ive been able to remotely keep up with everything, not sure how your group dynamics are but I learned that blowing up your associates/older analysts phones asking questions no matter how dumb they may seem is essential. For me, they realize the shitty situation we've been thrown into and are willing to help me as much as they can. You may seem like a total bother doing this but don't be afraid, if you're sitting there spinning your wheels for 2 hours trying to figure out how to make a specific double stacked bar chart it will just drive you up a wall and in turn annoy your superiors, so dont be afraid to ask questions. Thats the biggest thing I've learned so far.
What is the schedule they want you on, and what does your daily schedule outside of that look like? And what is your "less than ideal" work set up? Sounds like you may need to buy a monitor and desk or something
I'm a bit farther into my career than you, and have always had the ability to work from home, meaning I did before/after normal work hours, but spent the usual day in the office. I would use it for flexibility when traveling as well.
When COVID hit and we went full remote, I started feeling similarly. Not that I hate my job or career, but that I just wasn't doing well mentally working from home. A few things that I would recommend are:
Even if you're in a new group, the work shouldn't be boring yet.. It's only been a few weeks. I'm willing to bet most of what you're struggling with is due to a less than optimal work environment.
This.
My only other comment is to not be bashful at over communicating. Ask. Clarify. Ask again. Managers are there to manage. Don't ask simple things you can google, but if you aren't clear on expectations you need to clarify them. Not sure on a project or priority? Find out. It's awkward to ask - but better when you do than not. Trust me.
Generally you can log off once you finish all your COB / EOD assignments.
Keeping up with emails can be an endless task and if nothing is pressing, you can just stay offline.
If you get an email that says ‘I need this now’ or ‘need this in an hour,’ then you’re on the clock. But, needs and perceptions will vary greatly by group.
You need to create a work life balance for yourself. If you get really spun out and tired, just go for a walk or a jog. Take 10 min off and clear your mind.
for the BB banking, the WFM mentality is scary because if you cant see your team working till 4am? did it happen? Reckoning in terms of everything there...find it sad personally that you hate the environment so much that you post to this forum how to help you continue survivng it..PM me...
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