My recent work review was almost perfect save for one mention of me making an error on a report. It's killed my motivation to come in to work.
My problem is that the white paper I wrote and the math associated with it were what I believed to be "by the book". I think my boss might be a total quack because he wanted me to work certain things out in a way completely different from every resource I've looked at. (Including wso)
Is it worth it to complain? I really want to get a good recommendation when I leave and I feel this guys' behavior is sabotaging me.
That's tough. It really depends on your relationship with your boss. I would approach him when you see there's some downtime (in his schedule) and ask him to walk you through his reasoning for educational purposes. As long as he's not a dick head, he should appreciate you asking to learn from him. I am sure there's some logic to his thought process that you may not see, and if he's completely wrong maybe he'll realize it as he walks you through it.
this. ask him to walk you through his logic and play dumb. you might just have your eyes open.
I think it is important to assertively but tactfully address points of contention with your boss but it sounds like you are blowing this out of proportion ("killed my motivation to come to work, sabotaging me"). Also, remember that theory and practice can be quite different and things are not always done by the book.
Perhaps I came across the wrong way. Let me explain.
It's really frustrating when he'd say things like OIBDA is the same exact thing as EBITDA without explaining himself at all. Net debt equals total debt... Really? Maybe the differences are trivial or open to interpretation, but it doesn't help your young employees who might be studying for things like the GMAT or CFA exam when you say things definitively without explaining why something may be going over their head.
If I'm wrong I'd like to know what I messed up so I can fix it. There's no feedback or elaboration on anything regardless of how I ask.
How about if somebody tells you that a DCF is absolutely never the source of any interview questions? "Nobody does that, I have x years of experience" that isn't helping me as much as qualifying why you're telling me this.
I'm still scratching my head on that last one since it hasn't been my experience.
All I expect is that if theory and actual practice are different then give me some insight why so I can start improving.
I still think our advice above applies to what you just said.
CFG, I agree with you, definitely going to approach it like this. There's been so many similar instances I wouldn't even know where to start and frankly they have just been adding up. This isn't about one correction. Thanks for the insight.
I think you are learning a valuable career lesson that there is a clear distinction between having a boss and having a mentor. A mentor invests in his subordinates and explains why things are done the way they are. Unfortunately, it sounds like you have a boss but don't be discouraged and use it to help shape the type of leader you will be in the future.
So your boss made a correction and you've lost your desire for work? Ask him to explain it so you can learn to do it correctly next time. He'll either teach you something or he will realize he might have made a mistake.
Honestly, this isn't surgery. Dude has been in the industry and wants it reflected a certain way. Life isn't by the book and finance is largely subjective. Furthermore, I doubt this guy gives a shit what you are studying. He wants something a certain way and you should do it that way. If you want to argue the minutia of a financial theory go talk to a professor.
Take heed of that second paragraph. Finance, and frankly business in general, has huge gray areas that no one would ever want to admit when you go through college because it would substantially devalue much of the structured learning you go through.
I can't stress enough how important it is to be comfortable with ambiguity and able to make assumptions/judgement calls, document the process and go from there. It's also important to understand how your boss likes things to be completed and what his 'criteria' are.
Very well said sir
My main contact won't explain things and that is is what has me unmotivated. I'm asking questions consistently since I realize it's not a classroom, I just want to get things done the way my boss wants it done the first time...
if that's all it take to discourage you on going to work, then you should seriously look into new career path. Basic wisdom, don't win a battle and lose a war.
delete
Killed your motivation to come into work is extreme. Assuming OIBDA is operating income....., how is it different? It's exactly the same. Perhaps cash is so low there's no real point in counting it, esp. if approximating? Etc.
Not saying you're wrong, but seriously - ask why he does things a certain way and you may learn something.
Finance in the workplace is not the same as CFA study materials or GMAT etc.
Being scolded privately killed your motivation? Sack up.
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