Working for a bad analyst

Been working in MO finance for two BBs so far. Recently got an offer for equity research at a well known Boutique..

I've been interested in equity research all along, but there is one drawback...the analyst apparently is tough to deal with and is a women (I am not sexist but I have TERRIBLE experiences working with female bosses).

I've personally talked to the associate who used to work under her (this person recently got an offer on the buy-side) and he told me that he didn't have pleasant experiences with her..She is basically political, doesn't give a damn for her associates, doesn't teach, and held him down in terms of promotion (another junior associate that got hired by the company in another sector got promoted faster than the associate under this female Analyst)..

Considering that as an associate you will be working super closely with your analyst and she will determine your fate do you think it will be a bad idea to join? In terms of choices I could go her to do ER, go to a internet company to do corporate development/internal M&A/or maybe b-school..

What do you guys think would be the best option....

 
bhollowa:
Take the job and then try and seduce her..
“...all truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Schopenhauer
 

I've never worked in ER, but I had one boss who I worked under for over three years in college and he was just a horrible person. He probably had three times as many enemies as friends. Actually, I don't even know if he had any friends.

Dealing with him made everything I did absolutely brutal and he made a lot of people miserable. I stayed for 3+ years but most left in under 12 months. You know yourself better than us, so all I can say to something like this is it depends on how thick your skin is. If you hate dealing with bad people, then this won't go well. If you have thick skin and have brushed off whatever crap people have thrown your way (whether it's from sports, parties, chicks, etc.) then you'll manage.

Also, you're basing this analyst's rep off of one person's opinion. That kid could have been a whiny entitled baby who can't deal with real world life. This kid who slammed the analyst then got an offer on the buy-side so things still worked out for him.

 

I've got a couple years under one analyst, fact, that guy makes or breaks your day, every day for as long as you're there.

But they can also impact you after you leave, shitty analysts don't teach you as much, or let you stretch. I'm watching it happen to a kid I know at another shop. He thinks his analyst is god's gift to valuation, in reality, the guy misses some crital stuff in his analysis, gets metrics wrong etc... This kid is smart, but he's learning shortcuts, and he's learning some wrong calculations.

Further, you'll get judged by the quality of the analyst and their reputation. If you work for a shitty analyst, people assume you're shit. Other side: I know guys that have worked for great analysts with reputations for being assholes, these guys now have reputations as people that can work for assholes and still get stuff done.

 

Depends on a few things, first of all how much better is the pay? If its alot then deal with it. Do you want to be in ER long term? Do you have thick skin, I am not talking about handling insults, I am talking about pure steel because she can probably be a real pain. I would honestly not go through with it, or atleast try to go to a different sector with a better analyst.

Array
 
SirTradesaLot:
lionheart:
I am not sexist but....
Let's agree to disagree.

What's wrong with being sexy?

Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 
SirTradesaLot:
lionheart:
I am not sexist but....
Let's agree to disagree.

I second this.

Also, OP, just choose. No one here knows how well you do or do not deal with bad bosses.

Remember, once you're inside you're on your own. Oh, you mean I can't count on you? No. Good!
 
Best Response
snakeplissken:
SirTradesaLot:
lionheart:
I am not sexist but....
Let's agree to disagree.

I second this.

Also, OP, just choose. No one here knows how well you do or do not deal with bad bosses.

Agree. And who says your next boss in MO won't be a psycho? You think your safe where you are? Maybe this will help: in my last career, the worst boss I ever had rode me mercilessly, but they prepared me so well for my next job that I took the place over.

Sometimes, you need a good hard kick in the ass. If you don't agree, ask yourself what you're doing in MO in the first place if it's not what you originally wanted. Who's fault is that....and who's the one that's ultimately responsible for their decisions to get what they want in life?

Besides, underneath the "UBER BITCH" persona that finance chicks project, most of them are scared little girls who feel they have to be that way to survive in the boys club. Years past were not as kind as they are now to women in this business, so this woman probably had to deal with a RIVER of bullshit to get where she is. I'd be willing to bet she's actually cool once you get past the whole "queen bee" bullshit.

And if not, you're out of there in a year or so. There really are worse things in life. Such as, rotting in the job you don't like now and in a year being no closer to your goals.

Think it over and then just do it. You got this.

Get busy living
 

Here's the reality: you want to get into ER, here's your entrance. Unless you have something else in the works and want to take a gamble, this at least works as your first step. If you take the job, try and keep the analyst happy, but stay aware of what's wrong with the work and llearn what the last guy did to move on so you can do the same ASAP. Do everything in your power not to get stuck in a rut too long, because that's a common ER trap (no set program, so people get complacent and stay where they are).

 

Beggars can't be choosers. This is infinitely better than MO. Take the job, work as hard as you can and do your best to get along with the analyst and in the meanwhile ABL - always be looking - to upgrade to a better shop/analyst/buy-side etc.

 

Don't do it. Take it from somneone who has dealt with this exact situation in the past. Just don't do it. Stepping into something you know is going to make you miserable is one of the worse decisions you could make.

 

OP, have you researched your boss? Did the last guy really get stuck with a raging bitch, or was he just unable to deal with working for a woman? Ask around a bit, because potentially getting out of ops and turning down a very good job because a couple of people didn't like working there without really understanding what you're dealing with is not a good idea. Honestly: short term pain, long term gain. Other guys get shot at on the front lines of a war, or work three jobs like I did until they get their in....maybe dealing with some rude broad isn't so bad, if that's the case. Besides, in a year or two you'll be able to jump out anyway, so just hit the gym to blow off steam...

Get busy living
 

No advice to help with the day-to-day. My MD is a power hungry bitch who continually reminds me she's in charge. Not ideal, but it's just a fact of life that you won't always like your boss.
On the advancement front, befriend her boss and other analysts early. Keep them semi-involved on your career status within the company. I.e. when people who start around the same time as you start getting promoted, let them know if you don't. You don't want your career to lay in the hands of one person.

Make opportunities. Not excuses.
 
WSRenaissanceMan:
No advice to help with the day-to-day. My MD is a power hungry bitch who continually reminds me she's in charge. Not ideal, but it's just a fact of life that you won't always like your boss.
On the advancement front, befriend her boss and other analysts early. Keep them semi-involved on your career status within the company. I.e. when people who start around the same time as you start getting promoted, let them know if you don't. You don't want your career to lay in the hands of one person.
Yes. Unpleasant people are VERY EASY to outpolitik. It's not like no one knows what the hell goes on...
Get busy living
 

In my previous job, I had a female boss who most people in the office absolutely despised. Sounds like a pretty similar description to what the previous accociate described to you. It was a big challenge dealing with her on a daily basis, but I think I came out of it a better person/employee, and the job/experience helped me land a better role within the bank. If this is your best shot at doing what you're really interested in, then I think you should take the job. I know it seems obvious, but take what the previous associate told you, along with what you observe from others at the firm, and figure out what you need to do to keep her happy/not completely piss her off. Hopefully you come out relatively unscathed and one step closer to your end goal

 

Don’t do it.

I’ve been in that exact situation. The analyst is good but just uses you as slave labour. Doesn't teach, doesn't help you grow, doesn’t care about you. Once you’re burned out you’ll be shown the door and the next warm body will be in. I’ve seen it even worse than what I’ve lived through. Nothing worse than seeing pity in the eyes of people you talk to once they know who you are working for. You won’t learn much and chances are they won’t go to bat for you once it comes down to money.

IB MD, Group Head industry coverage
 

Listen man, it's still rough out there, and you've manage to get your foot in the door in the field you want from MO. You're going to let something like possibly working for a difficult analyst deter you? Suck it up and take the damn job. There are horrible bosses anywhere you go and it's just one of those things that will help you grow - knowing how to deal with difficult people and obstacles.

Let's say we fast forward a year or two from now and let's say the associate you spoke with was right about the analyst being impossible to work with. Fine, then at the very least you've built up experience at a good boutique and your resume will be stronger then vs. the way it continues now. Use that to jump ship.

 

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Under my tutelage, you will grow from boys to men. From men into gladiators. And from gladiators into SWANSONS.
 

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