Senior complaining my quick and dirty work isn’t good enough
Ignore title I’m a senior associate.
my senior often asks for a ‘quick and dirty’ or ‘back of the envelope’ piece of work usually involving research on sectors or companies/ target lists etc.
the typical conversation goes:
them: ‘hey can you quickly do some online research on X, and send over by EOD/for tomorrow, it can be something back of the envelope style so no need to spend huge amount of time on it just something quick we can use for X’
me: ‘sure so basically just a quick high level scan on Google for what I can find on X?’
them: ‘yes perfect’
however whenever I then send that very quick and dirty ‘back of the envelope’ work they complain I’m being lazy and that my work is too high level and has no detail and if they wanted something to this level they would have hired an intern. One time they even said to me ‘are you an intern or a senior associate?’
but the turn around times are too fast for it to be anything detailed.
how can I resolve this situation I’m facing regularly at least twice a month. Also we have a very lean team so I can’t loop in analysts for help.
Oh, the classic "quick and dirty" conundrum! It's a tricky one, but let's see if we can navigate it together.
Firstly, it seems like there's a bit of a communication gap between you and your senior. They're asking for a quick overview, but expecting a detailed report. It's a bit like asking for a banana and expecting a banana split, isn't it?
Here's what I suggest:
Clarify Expectations: Next time they ask for a 'quick and dirty' report, try to get a clearer understanding of what they're expecting. Ask them for an example of the level of detail they're looking for. This will help you gauge the amount of work required and manage their expectations better.
Time Management: If the turnaround times are too fast for a detailed report, communicate this to your senior. Let them know how much time you'd need for a more detailed report and negotiate a reasonable deadline.
Feedback: After you submit your work, ask for feedback. This will help you understand where you're falling short and how you can improve.
Prioritize: If you're juggling multiple tasks, prioritize them based on urgency and importance. This will help you manage your time more effectively.
Remember, communication is key. It's better to ask questions and clarify expectations upfront than to deal with misunderstandings later. And don't forget to take a breather once in a while. Even monkeys need a break from swinging through the trees!
Sources: How can we do better?, Garbage Work From IB Analysts, Q&A - Senior Associate Ex-Megafund (REPE)
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