How do you deal with this kind of associate?
I do not know if anyone else has come across this during their analyst years, but looking for actionable advice here.
There seems to be a breed of associates who when giving instructions, deliberately tell you to do something, or do not tell you everything in their instructions (things you wouldn't know to add yourself) to only later copy the seniors and make it seem as if they are adding value and correcting your work. It's quite obvious as there is a long email chain with you and the associate, and suddenly a new one with the seniors to play this drama.
It's quite frustrating for me as I cannot rat him out given "relationship management" and he's been around longer than I have. I understand that banking is a dog eat dog world, and one has to horn one's trumpet to stay relevant, but I cannot help but think that someone who acts in this manner exuberates insecurity. I work with many other associates who are real mentors and truely care about the learning of their juniors.
How do you deal with someone like this? I feel like the sacrificial lamb being used to advance someone else's career and a very uncomfortable situation to be in.
That's really fucked up, zero excuse to behave this way. You see this kind of person at all levels and I call them "bloat". The unnecessary, incapable people who truly have no value add or the wherewithal to be good at what they do other than (a) relationships with senior bankers or (b) just been in the industry for a while.
I think you described it well, you are the sacrificial lamb someone is using to climb up the ladder. The email chain is what is visible to you, not the conversations that happen in the background. I worked with an associate like this back in the day, and I'd constantly hear them throw analysts under the bus when 1-1 with senior bankers.
You need to deal with this ASAP. It makes these assholes look good to seniors, but IT MAKES YOU LOOK BAD. It paints you as someone who makes mistakes, is incapable of following instructions and worst of all, doesn't "get it".
Do you have mentors at the firm? Are you close to your staffer? Is there a senior banker you have a good relationship with and comfortable getting this kind of advice from? Try not to come across as whiny but just that you are concerned that there isn't proper communication to set expectations around the work or some shit.
All the best.
Agree with this, not acceptable. Approach with the staffer - especially if you know this associate does this to other analysts who may also have similar email chains. At minimum the associate cannot be calling you out to seniors.
May be an unpopular opinion, but if an associate fucks me like that I just do it back. I realized analysts actually have a decent amount of power because (most) of us do not want to get promoted A2A but associates are looking upwards. So, I'll just start to prioritize all other work I'm on and tell them I'm too busy to do their work. Ta da, problem fixed they can do the work themselves.
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