How quickly do you respond to emails?

I've been working for 6 months now and was told I'm not very responsive to emails. I usually try and respond to people within half an hour or so, I usually respond faster on stuff that is more urgent or important but I've been getting so many emails every day, more than hundreds usually, and some stuff just takes a bit longer to get to.

Of course there is stuff where I can just respond to on Skype like "ok will do" I'll just quickly respond, but what's expected usually?

15 Comments
 

Depends - like you said if it’s something that’s easy to address with a short response, I’ll generally try to respond in a reasonable amount of time 

For stuff that’s either more difficult or if I don’t know the answer then it could take longer, but I’d usually let someone know that I’d be taking time to figure out the answer to their question rather than not responding 

 

I see, that's helpful. Seems like most people I work with are fine with my email response times but a few people get upset over the speed or lack of it. Is stuff really that urgent that people need a response within half an hour and get angry about it if they don't see something in their inbox within that time?

 

People have their own preferences. Try to get a sense of who is more impatient and who is more chill during times when you’re really busy (sounds like you get a ton of emails regularly). I’ll usually respond within 15 minutes to most emails if I’m not completely overwhelmed with work but to each their own. 
 

 

I got this feedback once when I was an analyst too. Someone taught me a good rule of thumb that helped me become known as one of the more responsive guys on the team: ALWAYS respond in 30 minutes or less, even if it's just a "sounds good, will do" or "Confirming receipt, let me do some digging and get back to you".

It may sound stupid, but it goes a long way. 

"I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse."
 

Not only does it go a long way, it’s easy as shit. I’m responsive AF (honestly will respond within 5 minutes most times, usually just a confirming receipt). This has significantly helped my reputation within the group, ppl see you as more “on top of things” and “engaged” but that’s definitely an assumption because I am neither of those. Also responding to client emails quickly is a massive help to the whole deal team bc they don’t have to wonder “ah do I need to respond to this or will XX take it”. Highly recommend being super responsive - easy to control, very easy to execute, immediate results.

 
coorslight

Slow. I also have at least dozens of LinkedIn message requests that I haven’t responded to. 

He said emails. 

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 
stockshark

100%* of emails will be responded by the end of the day (except client requests that take days of work; in that case a short „will do thanks“response)

*Excludes internal back office ppl

I have very good relations with the data guys. It's worth it. (I've needed it since they pulled my FactSet.  Apparently  M* Direct BBG AND Factset were too much for one of the bean counters)  The Indian grunt team on the other hand is lucky if they get a same day response.

The only difference between Asset Management and Investment Research is assets. I generally see somebody I know on TV on Bloomberg/CNBC etc. once or twice a week. This sounds cool, until I remind myself that I see somebody I know on ESPN five days a week.
 

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