Do I Tell My Associate He Might Not Get VP

I'd tell you to fuck the bank and let your work-bro know, but downside risk is too high. You don't know how the associate might react - he might go confront the group head, who will end up realizing that you snitched, and then you'd be in trouble too.

No one knows how close you are with the guy so most people would recommend you to keep this to yourself. It'll look really bad if the associate knew this and leaked your name for source of information to seniors. You both have no power over this anyway so just let it be and take him out to drinks afterwards as a friend if you want to.

For me as example, There has been a lot of things going behind me, especially those underground communities under web3.

I have been supplying so many ideas and knowledges, meanwhile results proven solutions for complex issues. But still, I am being treated as AI without pay, and some are treating it as charity , and meanwhile suffering sophisticated cybercrime to milk my data for lowering down living cost or discount.

All of these just simply because no communication, no one approached me.

I am so sick of these, a relocation to #nyc would be better for now.

If he's really such a good friend that you know he won't react in a way that allows the MD to figure out you shared a private convo, then its OK to tell him.  

But you need to be sure of that . . that he won't purposefully or accidentally reveal the fact that you told him.

You also probably need to twist the story a small bit because he won't love the fact that you looked the other way when the MD asked you about his technical chops. But that's easy enough to gloss over.

Its a pretty high bar.  But if he can meet that bar, let him know.

Don't talk to him about this. 

You tell him he might not get promoted and he gets the promote -> you look bad for "speaking behind his back" 

You tell him he might not get promoted and he doesn't get the promote -> you look bad as he will think you didn't bat for him

You don't tell him and he gets the promote -> you celebrate together

You don't tell him and he doesn't get the promote -> you grief together

I'd do it but I'm an idiot. 

I luhhhh my bros and am big on normalizing normal human behavior within IB/PE, such as giving your buddy a heads up that he should shine up his resume. You're not going to change the situation, if he's a reasonable dude that you really do trust, I'd put my neck out and give him a heads up because I want people to treat me that way and truly believe that if you're an upstanding dude who sticks up for his teammates, yeah there might be small situations where you get punished for it, but in the broader scheme of life you'll ultimately be realized as a good dude and hopefully get the benefit of the doubt when you need it yourself. 

But again, I'm an ideologue idiot. "Be selfish" is typically always the most low-risk option... 

I would tell him if I can trust the idea that he will keep his mouth shut. It's a no brainer if that's the case. If you're not sure, don't tell him. I did this with a former coworker pre-MBA who was a HS classmate. Instead of hanging around at the department being a bottom level performer, he ended up pivoting to a job that paid twice as much.

You don’t.

Unless you intend to lie and tell him you praised him to the sky, then don't say jack.

I would tell him assuming you have a decent relationship with him. If you don’t know him at all, then don’t tell him (seems unlikely). You may never know when you’re in a similar situation and may need someone to tell you something similar, and at the end of the day, all these jobs are based on relationships. While you take your skills with you, nobody remembers the specifics on what you did on each deal, etc. They mostly remember their relationship with you long term. 
 

I’m also an idealist so I would want someone to tell me if I was going to get let go, etc if I had a relationship with them. I also just don’t agree with complete lack of transparency in these fields but that’s my opinion. 

Maybe you don’t mind working with him but if he’s not good at the job then working with him might be worse for others. No point in blowing up the issue, let him get phased out.

Everyone here is so heartless … if he is really a friend, why not give him a friendly heads up? Can say you heard a rumor they don’t have enough VP seats or something if you don’t want to share your source, but might as well let him get a running start on networking and updating his resume.

If I was laid off / pushed out and found out that someone I consider a friend not only knew but supported the decision and didn’t give me a heads up, I’d be irate.

I know this is a competitive industry and everything but doesn’t mean you shouldn’t watch the back of people that you’re close to

this seems pretty simple. tell him you overheard a conversation between two mds that you think might've been about him. use your imagination based on the dynamics of your office

im sure theres a way to both give this guy a crucial heads up (so he can start recruiting or maybe somehow salvaging his performance) without exposing yourself to risk

My initial thought is if you’re boys you should tell him, but realistically you would be putting yourself in the crosshairs by saying anything to him.

Wait it out and let management make their choice. If he gets cut, stay in touch and he wouldn’t have any expectation that you had a say in his departure. Be supportive of him and thank him for what you said you appreciated about working with him. If he stays then no harm no foul and you just learned a good lesson in what management cares about.

Depends on how close - if he went to a different bank, would you still be just as close? If no, then you're not THAT close. 

Don’t say it explicitly, stress to him he needs to start looking at other opportunities, talk down the prospects of the coming promotion cycle, etc

Do you have an exit lined up? If so then you should definitely tell him.

If not, you should still tell him but be sure to message it appropriately so it doesn’t blow back on you.

You have already spoken the truth to the MD which was the correct call. You didn’t talk bad about the associate and gave him a truthful response. If he’s good at the other workstreams then maybe follow up with the MD and hammer that home and if not then let it play out.

How did he make it this far? Honestly curious.

You work in banking. Finesse the situation 

Dont straight up tell him. Ask him things subtly in a normal conversation like:

- "How does the promotion process work? Do any MDs give you heads up that you are on track as you approach VP?" 

- "How do you feel about your future here?"

You can subtly put on his radar that he should be a little concerned and start working to figure it out himself

Keep your mouth shut.

There is zero upside and you dumped on the kid to his boss - there is no way you maintain the friendship after this.

Your best bet is to keep your head down and work hard, for your own career. Work "friends" don't actually exist, if you think people are your friends you're going to end up getting hurt.