Anybody have experience with this kind of situation? It's a pretty small group, and I think that I get along well with and do good work for everyone else in the group...but ultimately, it's going to be the group head's call as to whether or not I get invited back. It's already five weeks in and he barely knows me -- three weeks ago, he said he'd take me for lunch sometime and that has yet to materialize.
I just feel like I rub him the wrong way for some reason, despite the fact that I have a good attitude, am the first in and last out, and always asking what more work I can do or if I can help out on any other projects.
Perhaps he is just really busy, which is why he has not been able to take you out to lunch...
In my experience, interactions with senior people, especially a group head, is limited as is.
He probably doesn't like anybody ... he is a group head afterall. Kidding! Don't worry too much about it. If he doesn't know you, he will defer to the judgment of those that do know you well. Now, if he knew you really well and didn't like you, that would be something to be worried about.
My last internship, I thought the same thing the MD, always made jokes and remarks about me. I never got to directly show him my work, we were suppose to sit and chat a couple times and he always forgot. Then at the end he told me how he was very pleased with all my work, and everyone had great things to say about me. He also offered me to come back.
Group Heads are very busy and have a million different things to deal with daily, making sure the summer kid is happy is the last of their worries. You shouldn't take it personally and push him to make time if he can not. If you are interested in coming back though, I would say to remind him about your lunch plans and see if you can arrange something in the next 2 weeks.
I'm an analyst in a small team and to be honest I don't usually have much interaction with my MD, that is the way it always is. He has also promised many times to take me for lunch or dinner but always forgets since he's always traveling. First time I took offense a bit but now I realise he's just way too busy and forgets. I know that he likes me, however most of the time I only have non work related interaction (ie not just dumping some thing he had asked me for on his desk) when I seek him out myself.
Don't worry, although of course it's his decision whether to invite you back, he'll be asking the juniors for their views. The guy isn't an idiot, if the feedback is overall positive he will say ok since he knows himself he hasn't interacted with you. He'll only say no if he's a real ass or he really dislikes you for some reason (for example thinks you're arrogant - I've dinged a few guys in interviews who were, despite everything else about them being impressive)
im a rising junior so i havent done IB yet, only PWM/ER internships. but to the OP, maybe you need to work on your schmooze a little bit?
naturally you have to be a hard worker-- sounds like you got this down pat. but beyond this i would work on revealing your personality to this group head so he would be more interested in talking to you and taking you out to lunch. and if its been three weeks since he said he would take you to lunch, it really wouldnt hurt to remind him. Like everyone else said, these guys are super-busy and its very easy for them to forget their lunch plans with the little SA.
furthermore, if you ever do chat with the group head for a little bit, id try crack a joke or two when u get a chance--assuming you have a good sense of humor. lightening the mood and talking about something besides work does wonders. if you can put a smile on your co-workers face, you know youre in good shape. talk about sports as well if you get a chance, everybody loves baseball.
"How to Win Friends and Influence People" is a classic, you should check it out.
i apologize if i totally missed the point here, im not trying to say ur communications skills arent good, and i know MDs are significantly harder to approach than an analyst/associate. but i just think schmoozing is a real art, and it goes a lonngg way.
I wouldn't encourage this if I were the MD in question. However, I've been told that I'm sufficiently intimidating to our juniors that I've rarely had an analyst try.
yeah, that makes sense. im basing it off my experience with MDs in PWM, but even some of them were quite intimidating and aloof. i can imagine it wouldnt be a good idea to go out of your way to charm your MD as a summer analyst.
Don't worry about it. Even on a small team, group heads usually don't take genuine interest in summers.
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