Annual review advice?

Not sure if this is the right forum, I'll happily re-post to the relevant one if it isn't.

AN1 at a Growth Equity firm. Due for my annual review in a week, and needed some advice.

I joined being given one set of responsibilities, but slowly lost them because I don't have a finance backround.

What is happening is that I'm being slotted into an IR role. I initially said I could add value there (moreso because I wasn't sure where else I could, feeling dejected at having lost some of my responsibilities), and I am doing decently in the role, so far.

But I don't want to remain in IR; I don't despise it, and it's good for another six months to a year, but I want to get on to other teams as well (especially on the value creation side of diligencing).

So, my question: any advice on the best way to communicate this during my review? It's known to be a safe space to talk and perhaps the only time in the year where you can talk for as long as you want. And I'm more than willing to put the time and effort required to make it on my own merit. But communicating that, even if only this one time every year, is part of the process.

Let me be clear, I'm not being ungrateful for the opportunity. PE is something I've spent a good amount of my adult life trying to get into. But IR isn't what I want. I'm a lateral hire from another field, so there's the imposter syndrome feeling, plus not being sure about how to 'fit in'. Trying to reconcile the two with not doing the kind of work I can see myself doing long-term is difficult.

I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks in advance.

3 Comments
 
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Had a friend in a not so different position. He leveraged personal connections to get a PE Associate role straight out of college, whereas everyone else had two years of IBD experience. Not knowing how to do any of the basics, he was quickly pulled from all financial work. He was essentially pushed into an ops role, and even after 3 years, had no path forward into a true PE Associate role. His solve? He went to IBD to build the skillset he needed from the beginning. He started as an A1, from complete scratch. 

My advice to you? See if there is any role within the firm that is not IR that you are qualified to do. If there isnt, you need to get out. Not sure how you landed the job in the first place but you are having responsibilities removed from you not because you are bad at them, but even worse, because your firm has deemed you not capable of learning how to do them. You are so far from able to do them that it sounds like they would rather remove responsibility than teach and educate you. Not saying any of this is your fault, seems like a poor hiring decision on there part. Unfortunately, I think you need to either accept the IR role, find a similar internal role, or look for other jobs. Best of luck man, I know this situation is brutal. 

 

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