One Associate Hates Me
First-year here. Found out an associate with a good group reputation has been telling other analysts and associates that I'm slow and hard to work with. Context: I've deprioritized their work because he gives false deadlines, which I have confirmed with those above them. My reputation with everyone else (other associates, VPs, MDs) is solid, and received very positive mid-year reviews as well as direct compliments from seniors on work. Wondering if there is anything I can do to salvage such a negative relationship with one associate. Worried about year-end review exposure.
which bank
Are you a female?
No, am a white male.
Congrats on UBS!
“Associate hates me because I deprioritize their work… how can I get them to stop hating me…?”
are you retarded?
What you see as false deadlines may be them building in lead time so that they can refine your work product before it gets to seniors
M
Bro is the associate
Bro hates you more now - deprioritizing work and posting on WSO... bottom bucket behaviors
Makes sense in theory, but I've only had this issue with one associate, everyone else I've worked with has given me positive feedback in reviews and when asked for.
Disagree with the IB associate. If it were a work quality issue it would show up across the group, not just with one associate. Everyone knows who the bad analysts are, so if only one person thinks someone is a bad analyst and the rest don't; think it's much more likely to be something wrong with the one associate than the rest.
For OP: if you're staying in banking, lateral. Not worth having someone above you with an axe to grind ,you might scrape top bucket but more likely mid depending on the political power of those who like you, but it will only gets worse the more you're staffed together with the associate who does not like you. If it is getting to the point where the person is gossiping in the bullpen, the working relationship is clearly broken.
You've misinterpreted what I've said. Building in lead time can be just as much a function of how much the associate cares about the end product vs. the quality of the analyst. It may take 3 iterations to get to 95% and one iteration to get to 75%.
Some associates may be fine with the 75% getting to seniors, others may want it to be 95%. The one that cares more about getting it to 95% will want to see the first draft earlier.
Would look to lateral if you want to stay in banking unless you’re prepared to work 5x as hard as everyone else to fix it
Good associates will carry the most weight in reviews. If your relationship with a strong associate has gotten to the point where you are going over their head to check deadlines your reputation across the group will quickly tank
Leaving for buyside next summer, not sure how much that changes things here. Also on deadlines, I know the real timeline because I'm on the internal VP calls, not going around the associate. Does one associate still move the needle that much when other people have been very positive on feedback, both informally and formally.
If you are already leaving, then just stay; not sure most PE firms are okay with their incoming associates switching banks. Most banks aren't going to fire analysts unless they are truly terrible, which you don't seem to be if other people in the group like you. Just lie low and try to avoid the associate as much as possible before you leave.
Lmfao bro if you're leaving then this entire convo becomes moot - these people won't even remember you exist 2 years from now
- Person who had very similar situation to yourself
is this an mba associate or h1b?
Amazing how much ms you got for this innocuous question. H1bs are on patrol apparently
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Jesus all these other commenters are so afraid.
Just ask the associate to grab coffee and ask how you can work together in a better way. See why he’s wanting so much lead time. Just talk to them
Ngl, seeing the advice be "just lateral" for a personality conflict had me cackling.
I wouldn’t lateral because one associate doesn’t like you
I’d probably just have a simple conversation with him, not to argue, but to clear things up. Sometimes people form impressions when there’s no communication and a quick alignment can change that.
Is the associate a guy or girl?
Hey man, reality is you're going to face difficult personalities and conflict all through your career. Learning to deal with these is part of your learning and journey.
For me, the most difficult part of that learning is that sometimes its not fair but you just have to eat shit, especially when it comes to someone higher up the pole. Not everyone has to or will like you and vice versa but all of you have to learn to be professional and work together without vendettas.
I would suggest having a conversation to determine if this is something you can salvage, even if its just enough to hold your noses and be professional. Think of it as a fact finding conversation. Maybe they really are an asshole and can't be professional and you'll have your answer. In the off chance that it can be, it'll make the rest of your time more bearable.
If the dude just straight out hates you, at least you'll know and can look at more permanent options.
Dealt with this in consulting recently.
Got lucky and had someone (who was aware of the toxic situation) take me under their wing and a project they were managing.
So my advice is try to align with someone at a similar level as that associate and try to get them to vouch for you / get on their internal teams. Really no other solution. Some people are just a pain in the ass to work with and you won't change their behavior as a junior.
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