Being a “Yes” Monkey
Anyone else hate being at the bottom of the corporate stack and being a “yes” monkey? Quite frankly getting sick of all the dumb ideas that get passed around above me and then eventually dumped on me. Would love for some suggestions on how to push back on things that are clearly a time burn.
This annoys me too. Usually I try do a quick & dirty back of the envolope analysis to show why it's stupid / non-viable. The present this something like "On initial observation, I do not think this is a good idea because of xyz. Since I am currently busy on xxx & yyy, please let me know if you would like me to commit to a detailed analysis on this or if my current responsibilities should take priority?"
You have no choice.
Unfortunately, banking is a "Yes-man" simp job.
The nature of client-driven work creates a dynamic that pushes the biggest ass-kissers to the top (i.e. 9/10 times your senior associates / VPs are probably huge dick suckers, and don't get me started on unconfident MDs that think they need a 100-page book for every client meeting)
Ultimately that's why the best analysts know it's better to leave, rather than stay and get brainwashed into a never-ending cycle of inflated self-importance and useless fire drills
So young and so wise for a prospect
This is spot on.
Bankers like to act like their work is meaningful and urgent but the client never gives a fuck. People in this industry need to go outside and make some friends instead of acting like their career can help them salvage their lack of any personality or life interests.
I mean Its kind of what do you expect. You are now working with people who have 20-30 years of industry experience and you want them to listen to you. I'm not hating on you its just the nature of any fresh college grad.
There's a difference between being a humble junior employee and a pushover.
Because of WFH, the stupid asks have become more frequent and at increasingly inconvenient times (analysts/associates are pretty much expected to work at any time of the day now).
At the end of the day, IB is still a job, and there should be limitations to the amount of bullshit that gets asked of junior bankers. Anyone that thinks banking should operate as some sort of military-style, MD cult worship needs to stop posting on WSO get back to their 9am econ 101 class.
Only advice I have is delay by saying you’re extremely busy on another project and will do it by x at night. And sometimes you can get away with not doing the exact ask and just do an approx version which is way quicker (but think of a good excuse about why you didn’t do the full thing).
Ut asperiores beatae in eligendi qui. Quaerat corporis ullam cupiditate non sunt minus labore fugit. Rerum quis quam omnis magni quaerat. Est similique et quidem sapiente. Nulla aut ipsum omnis ut eligendi.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...