I have a problem with a work colleague. What would you do?
Hi everyone - IB analyst here that has a problem with another analyst a bit more senior than me (~6 months). I’ve been at the firm for more than a year.
This analyst feels the need to explain to me via email every single detail of everything I need to do when there’s no need, and he cc’s our associate/VP so he looks superior than me. Even workstreams I’ve been doing for a long time now and that I clearly know how to do better than him - aso/VP ask me directly on these topics when they have questions. It’s getting to a point where he will call me out in front of others when I find a quick mistake in someone else’s slides [from our deal], telling me I should be doing my workstreams instead of wasting time on that. So according to this guy I should shut up if I see a mistake… even if it took me 5 seconds to spot it.
He’s trying to find every “mistake” possible [and even when it’s not a mistake] to comment on it in front of our seniors. He’s treating me very poorly and I feel that everything I do is wrong and that he thinks I’m dumb. The problem I see is that I’m not even doing stuff incorrectly! It’s never a big deal yet he calls me out for it.
I think he’s going after me in a public way [maybe after he found out I didn’t give him the yearly review he expected] and I don’t know what to do. I found several errors in his model but I wouldn’t call him out on these the same way he’s doing with me.
What would you do in this situation? It’s really bringing me down, and I can’t talk with my associate about this (he doesn’t care) and I don’t want to badmouth him to anyone, even the staffer - what would that solve? I will still need to work with him.
The behaviour of this guy is borderline bullying and this situation has been going on for months. He will see me in person and be the nicest guy ever.
What can I do?
Thank you.
He's a snitch, so you need to counter-snitch
Hahaha
since when do analysts give other analysts yearly reviews? what type of bank is this?
if it's becoming tense (which it sounds like it is) I would talk with associate and bump it then to a staffer just as a "not trying to start something but this is happening". work quarrels are normal. happens on every team (unfortunately) and sad to see on a junior to junior level but it does happen. Only escalate if you think it's public and noticeable.
In Italy it’s a common thing! Thanks for your advice.
My old bank had 360 peer group reviews.
what type of bank? I've never heard of this. how does that work for a director or MD? Analysts say MD didn't give clear direction and lacked "execution"? lol
.
Seems like seniors will be able to sniff this out pretty quick - the crawl your way to the top doesn’t seem like it will work in his/her favor here. Could be wrong refer to above posting
Thank you. Will do.
You're getting all this bs from another analyst? You need to nip this shit in the bud.
Straight up you need to talk to him on the phone and say “Hey man, from my perspective, I’m seeing that you’re going out of your way to make me look bad in front of our seniors. It seems like you intentionally copy teammates when you notice mistakes in my work. I appreciate feedback and always want to produce good work, but I think if that is your goal, we can just flag mistakes to each other 1 on 1. Also we’re on the same team and I have an obligation as a professional to flag issues that I see in materials that are going to clients or bidders on my projects - that is very much a part of job. Whether it’s a true mistake or just a misunderstanding on my part, I have a professional and ethical responsibility to flag and resolve discrepancies and errors. I’m just trying to be a good teammate and I’m wondering if we can iron this out without getting anybody else involved, since I want us and our team to be successful, and if I need to do something differently as well to make this work please let me know.”
And depending on how this goes, pick up the phone and tell your staffer hey I had this conversation and (it went this way). You cannot thrive professionally in this environment and if you aren’t able to change this shit, you need to get out. This isn’t about the idiot analyst blowing himself up (which he is doing), it’s about his ability to take you down with him. In this industry, idiots always do collateral damage while they sink themselves. Some of us learn that the hard way.
Couldn’t agree more here. You have to learn to stand up for yourself in your career or else you will be walked over. This goes for any profession
Thanks for the advice. I think you’re right, I’ve never known how to stand up for myself - it’s time to do it.
Exactly. You have to man up and confront him. He will probably be caught off guard when you do. He is trying to use you to seem more senior and qualified for an ASO promotion. He doesn’t seem to respect you at all. No other way around it and bringing drama to your superiors when avoidable is just bad form. Learn how to handle these types because they will persist throughout your career. If all else fails, then bring it to a superior but you need to be careful about how and when you do this. Do not make it seem like ur bickering children that need Daddy to facilitate peace. And don’t be afraid to call him out publicly as well, just try to do it in good taste.
fuck his girlfriend obviously
I've had this happen before it's so annoying especially when you aren't bad at your job and don't deserve it.If you make him like you more just by being friendly / cracking a joke every now and then it honestly becomes a lot harder to chew somebody out and give them a hard time if they like you. Don't force it and be weird, but maybe get lunch and try and be more friendly and he'll come around (unless your work product does really suck)
I’ve known some IDIOTS who work in IB but getaway with tons of big mistakes because everyone likes them
Nah fuck this kid. Don’t try and be his friend. That’s like a dog laying on its back in a submissive fashion when being threatened. You need to get everyone else and especially your superiors to like you more than him if anything.
If the guy was the same rank as him I would agree with you but when they are more senior than you (and it sounds like being 6 months older is treated more senior at this bank for some dumb reason), then they can just wreck you in performance reviews if you piss them off further.Telling him to inflame the situation further and insult a supervisor doesn't seem like good advice.
There is a little room for pushing back and saying I’m working hard get off my ass etc though
Here's what you do:
For the next lunch you have, eat at Chipotle. Get a burrito, double meat, double black beans. If you're really serious about this, double queso, double sour cream and red salsa too. Finish lunch with an espresso in the office because it's free there, unless you're at Poorman Sachs.
That evening, make your way to your colleague's desk. Explain to him that you feel like he's encroaching on your work and that you do not appreciate it. Then, maintaining eye contact, climb atop his desk. Ask him if he feels in control of you now. Regardless of his answer, drop your drawers and crouch right over his keyboard. Now, making sure to maintain eye contact to assert dominance, give yourself a hearty push and evacuate your bowels on his desk. He'll never bother you again.
Taco Bell if you really want to make a statement.
Tell him straight.
no surprise you gave him a poor yearly review and his attitude only proves that your yearly review may have been right
Many people here think that in Italy banking is like in the US, but the reality is that IB in Italy is extremely toxic. Try what the best comment recommended. Otherwise, any time that he calls you in public for spotting others' mistakes, give a contra argument stating the idea that it's not about who's done the mistake and you also don't intend to assert your superiority, instead "I think it's in the interest of the business to have the best quality products exit to clients to keep our reputation intact; who does the product or who does the mistake or who spots the mistake is clearly irrelevant, the only thing that matters is the result and our success as a whole, so please shut the fuck up" - obv, this should be said in front of other seniors. Mostly, I think in IB Italy you need to play the office politics more than in London/US
Beat his fuckin ass.
Tell him to cut the shit when you’re both alone.
Or keep crying to Internet forums about standing up for yourself.
Got to grow a spine at some point man.
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