Feels like I need to leave firm...
I'm an AVP (in responsibility but associate YOE) at a small GP. Feels like I'm underappreciated at best, or getting pushed out at worst. I like what I do, how much I'm able to learn, how flexible my job is, etc. But I'm losing the pride of ownership in my work and I just don't care about the firm's success or its people. The culture is hostile and that won't change because it's from top down. I feel like they're grooming one of my cohorts to be my replacement. Ultimately it's just not a place I can see myself at long term and I'd value any promote offered to me as zilch. That said I was hoping to be here for the medium term and move up in responsibility (not get replaced) and learn so much more so I'm conflicted and it feels like I have Stockholm Syndrome.
Anyways, I'm wondering what my best course of action would be right now... the writing isn't quite yet on the wall, so I'm worried about slacking off on performance in order to aggressively apply elsewhere, in case I'm able to hang in for a year or so more (maybe dealflow gets active and I get motivated again?). But I also don't want to get caught flat footed in a "layoff"/firing. Hard to read the temperature - firm is notorious for blindsiding staff with cuts/employee exits.
Really at a loss on what to do. Would the most prudent thing to do be to continue working hard at my job despite being really unmotivated, and just spend after hours applying and reaching out about new positions? I'd appreciate any support or advice here. Never been let go but seen it happen to the people around me at this firm and I want to fight back. F this toxic place!
Sorry to hear you feel like that. Perhaps they are grooming someone else, or perhaps they feel you are performing and don't need the attention. It doesn't really matter and i don't really know the intricacies your situation from just reading your initial post, if you have lost motivation that sucks and I'd say yes look out for other opportunities. This will happen in most people's careers at least once. In the meantime, keep performing and doing your job, just don't care as much about your position and rank. Focus on something else like family if you have it or working out etc.
Change is positive and motivating, and I'm evolving to the philosophy that if you aren't moving up, you should be looking for other roles. A sad fact that Scott Galloway has reiterated is that most employers look at you through the lens they did when they hired you, and not who you've grown to be. So in some cases they would rather look for external candidates to fill a more senior role vs promoting an incumbent. Hence, it's good to be that external candidate if you interview well.
Can’t stress the point of an employer looking at you through the lens you were hired. Personally had a few people (internal & external) always view me as “the intern” or not the decision maker, even though I’d grown to the region leader over the years and had pretty broad authority. Eventually changed firms to a similar role and suddenly that never happened again. It’s no different than your parents still treating you like the idiot teenager you once were despite being self-sufficient in your personal life and professionally successful.
Time to branch out.
Regardless of who the firm is trying to groom, that stuff is largely out of your control.
The elephant in the room is your loss of motivation. Doing a job you have no drive for sounds miserable doesn’t it? Do the bare minimum on the job while looking for an exit as soon as practicable.
We are all prone to Stockholm Syndrome from time to time. Remind yourself that the firm doesn’t give two s**** about its employees. Loyalty doesn’t exist.
All the best, I’m sure you could thrive some place else.
Leave as soon as possible. If you find out you are underpaid, not getting the attention you need/want or others are treated differently than you! Don’t put up with it. Leave! I promise you that someone else will pay you more and treat you like a rockstar! Do not stay where you are not wanted!! The emotional toll actually starts to hinder your ability to do your job as you will be more focused on what others are doing which kills motivation. It will drain your soul and will impact how you interact with your colleagues. Please dust up your resume, and make 2025 great for you!
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