Having a terrible experience 2 months into the job. What should I do?..
Hi all.
I started my REAM investment analyst job at a 50-people AM firm in Europe some 2 months ago and I just hate it.
During the recruitment I was given the impression that I would be learning fin modelling, taking part in calls etc. All I do is meaningless crap tasks such as searching for data online and looking at useless accounting stuff. Other people who started at the same time as I did are doing modeling, taking part in meetings, they work in finance, I don't. I feel rejected, demotivated and I don't see an end to this. Every time I get something to do that involves doing a model, some "urgent task" comes in and I have to abandon the interesting stuff and do the same shit work as always. Just now an interesting project I wanted to work on was archived because "it's not urgent" Well, I feel it is for me because I am going crazy! I need to feel stimulated and challenged... All I feel is that I've been been there for 2 months and learned NOTHING. I worked on a model for like 3 hours and it were the happiest time I had there.
The seniors are not communicative and I can't get a bloody meeting with them to even set my objectives and expectations. They seem to not care at all.. I am also studying for CFA 2, so it opens some more doors as I hope and to learn some more finance, which I love.
I am thinking of:
- Resign straight away, study for CFA and search for another job. But I heard that it's better to search for a job while you are employed...
- Keep surviving there, preparing for CFA, do it in June and then start searching for jobs in UK, Asia, whatever (after Brexit is over with) - seems ideal solution but I'm not sure I can last for this long. Plus, what will I say on my next interview? "-Tell us what you've learned in the past 7 months" me: "Nothing, I googled stuff all day long", so wouldn't it be better to just resign straight away so this becomes an "internship" and not a failed job experience?
What you guys think of all this? Is this normal?.. I feel I was lied to by the company. They promised me to train me and then just abandoned me and gave all the cool stuff to other more experienced guys... :(
Sorry for the rant, but I really need to share it with someone and have some feedback :)
Thank you for your time! .
This is the part of your post that jumped out at me. This is telling me that it's possible to do the things you want to do at this place, but for whatever reason, your peers have moved onto this and you haven't. You need to do some self reflection/introspection and understand if you're not where they are yet due to a) shitty management or b) something that you are or aren't doing. If you happen to have a different supervisor than they do who happens to be a shittier manager/mentor, then there's not a lot you can do about it, but if not, I would tend to assume it's B. In that case, you need to at least try to find out what, if anything, you're doing wrong or could be doing better, so that you try to make it work there. If you do that and it still isn't a good fit, then at least you'll be more confident going into the next gig. If you are messing stuff up there and it's pigeonholed you there (or some similar situation), better figure it out now or it will probably happen to you at the next place. I'm not in any way judging your character or work ethic, but the reality is that a lot of people look externally to place blame before taking a look in the mirror. Are you working as hard as the others? Are you taking the time to check your work? Are you volunteering for extra responsibility? etc.
Dude, stop being a pussy.
Any opportunity is what you make of it.
Don't move on until you put on your big boy pants and voice your concerns to your superiors. Prior to voicing your concerns, which mostly consist of a "lack of modeling", here is an idea, learn to model. Take a course, play around with internal models, etc. It literally takes one weekend (if that) to become half decent at building RE models. Put down the bud lattes and pick up an excel model.
Obviously the modeling duties are being passed on to those that KNOW modeling. If they aren't going to teach you then take the initiative.
Yes it is screwed up that the firm pulled the ole bait n switch, but here we are so make the best of it. Frankly, I don't care (and you shouldn't either) what your idiotic colleagues think of the firm's tendencies to develop talent. That is nonsensical. If you are good and smart WHY ON EARTH would they let you walk / not develop? Akin to what some others have said this may be a you problem, dude. Oh, and P.S. Cathy from property management doesn't know shit, I'll tell you that for free.
If your first option is to keel over and die then this is not the industry for you.
I apologize for the tone, but tough love is still love...