Browsed through the platform, and want to hear recent top bucket analysts/associates advices. Very much appreciate any insight given.
For background, I’m a first year analyst, trying really hard and very dedicated, but at times make small mistakes which makes me worried that people might view me as bottom bucket already….
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Analysts make mistakes all the time, An1-An3, but as long as you're not making the same mistakes over and over then you're fine. As a first year to be a top bucket you don't need to be a rock star by any stretch, senor bankers just need to see that you are progressing and learning from your mistakes. Bottom bucket is reserved for those who aren't proactive and continue to make the same mistakes.
Thank you so much for your response. I’m just curious , given a couple analysts who are all very proactive and have great attitude, technically sound, what fundamentally differentiate them when comes to ranking?
Luck
75% politics 20% work ethic 5% skill.
99% of analysts have the same “ability”, this job is very easy and outside of a few people that are absolute machines or complete clowns, every analyst is basically the same.
Work ethic is similar, some people just go above and beyond on everything and work 24/7, some people don’t respond to emails on a weekend, but the vast majority of analysts work pretty hard but still have a semblance of self respect (a bit slower on weekends, go out on Friday night, etc)
A few people will clearly be top or bottom bucket based on the above, but the vast majority of analysts fall in the same tier of being good at their job and hard working but not truly exceptional.
It’s the politics that differentiate this bucket, as some of those will end up top, most will end up middle, and a handful bottom.
If you’re someone the MDs like to work with and are fun to be around, they’re more likely to give you a little push to be top. If you’re a weird goober, more likely to one of the unlucky few who gets pushed into bottom because HR says some percent of the group needs to be bottom even though you’re work quality is fine.
Figure out who the key decision makers are, every bank has a different format. Is there one MD who likes to be involved in reviews? Who are the key decision makers who might vouch for you?
At my bank associates gave most of feedback but no one really cared what they said, it was an inner circle of a handful of VPs and directors who the MDs really respected that had all the power. The MD in charge of our comp didn’t know any analysts or really about us, so they’d just ask the VPs they liked for rankings. I was a completely average analyst but had 2 VPs who really liked me and I got top bucket even though others in the group worked way harder.
So summary is don’t overestimate the stupid skills required to turn comments on logo alignment and make sure to remember the big picture. When they’re talking about you on the review committee no one will remember the one time you missed a footnote.
How did you figure out that it was the VPs that really had the most say vs the associates? Any tips on finding out the influence holders subtly as a new analyst?
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