What gifts / gestures do you get for significantly more senior mentors to show appreciation?
My mentor (let's call him Sean) is a director of a fund. I'm incredibly lucky to have Sean as my mentor and I am unworthy of his help, yet he has taken me under his wing. I was non-target, diversity, and my major was in engineering, so I would not be in finance if not for Sean. I'm currently in my last year of school so I was applying for full time roles.
Recently I was interviewing for companies in Sean's industry, and told Sean I was interviewing with one of his direct competitors. He got on a call with me to go over interview questions he would ask and give advice on how to act during the interview. I got the offer
given this gap in our seniority and stages of life, I was wondering if you WSO friends have tips or suggestions for ways I can show I really^9 appreciate him? I have no idea what buy, what gifts are appropriate or what might just be weird or fall flat, or whatever. there's realistically nothing I can do to make Sean's life significantly easier because he already has his life together, and he's busy with work most nights. I'm have met his family and I always bring something when I go visit, but it seems like they won't have time to let me take them to dinner (young kid) or would absolutely refuse to let me pay. I'd love to hear what everyone has done that was worked (or not worked) to show appreciation for someone who's helped them (even if it's a handwritten note etc).
Card, bottle of wine and continue his legacy
As someone who isn’t familiar with wines, any tips for how to choose one?
As you can tell, I would not have made it without him
Choose something standard. A Cab sov, try Shafer.
I would get a card (hand write it and be neat, so maybe get an extra just in case) and a bottle of alcohol. You usually can't go wrong with a wine, but if you know for a fact he hates wine and loves something else (bourbon, scotch, tequila, etc.), then go for what you know he likes. Wine is probably the safest option and the most price friendly (figure out your budget as well) and it's best to go with a red (unless of course, you know for a fact he hates red or loves white). In terms of what type of wine, Cabernet Sauvignon is always a winner, but for any nice bottle you can't really go wrong if you're spending a nice amount on it. After that, the brand itself is less important since you're young and are not supposed to know a ton anyway.
Agreed with the rest of the posters but the one caution is that if it's not an immediate-leave job, I'd do the thank you card now and save the alcohol for the farewell. "Gifting up" can get weird when you have a continued professional relationship with someone even after their favor in terms of optics. Maybe I'm drawing too big a parallel to on-cycle IB -> PE recruiting but I gave my two major references cards when I first landed my offer but then scotch / bourbon / champagne only in my last few weeks nearly two years later.
He’s in school bro, not on the job
I dont disagree but there are times when it’s acceptable christmas, birthday, job anniversary, etc
I'm someone who does the bit of mentoring here and there, and who also enjoy his wine and whisky (I'm European after all).
By far the best thank you would be a thoughtful card or message, which does actually express how much what he has done means to you.
I don't think Sean needs any physical gift (if he's a lot more senior it can even be awkward) but if you feel like you want to, something like wine sounds about right (assuming he doesn't hate wine). The US alcohol distribution system baffles me and I'm not sure what your budget is, but a couple of reliable US wine brands would be The Mascot (more expensive) or Duckhorn (less expensive)
crayon drawing of you two closing a deal
Have done either nice bottles of wine (most people enjoy a Burgundy wine) or big fancy boxes of chocolate - also for a mentor that I genuinely appreciated and was exceedingly kind.
The best return of value you can provide is one that it sounds like you're already giving: undying appreciation and loyalty. Make him proud by always being the best you can be and don't get yourself in the news for anything stupid.
I would also second the card+wine suggestion for any situation. However, if this guy is THAT important to you and you think you are important to him (only you could judge this) then you could get something more memorable and meaningful. Think through the stuff that is special to him in his life and gift accordingly. Think something that he can hang on his wall at home or at work that would have meaning to him independent of where it came from (you). Artwork (you'd have to know him well for this), a small desktop sculpture or model of something (airplane, car, etc), something related to a hobby of theirs (Ex: golf driver headcover), something historical (assuming they are in finance, something like an old historical bond, stock certificate, or currency). Think creatively but keep it grounded and not over the top.
What’s with all these elaborate suggestions just tip them from your bonus like a normal person ?
I’m
Gift card to Bada Bing! club in New Jersey
Haha fr
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