Not good enough?
About a month into a new boutique ib job as an fulltime analyst and this week has been more stressful than the rest. Previous job was much lighter compared to this, so a very different environment. Trying to go hard and fast on asap items to please the team, missing things in the process, turning comments from an annoyed associate, i get frustrated as well, messing up from those, and the cycle repeats. Want to be useful but the frustration with myself feeds into it further and feels like everything is just not good enough at the moment.
Is this common for those starting out, and if so, how long did it take you to get into a rhythm and on your A game?
Advice I got, better to be slow and accurate than fast and sloppy.
Speed comes with reps
Take your time, ask questions, focus on process.
The more you stress and panic, the more you get in your head and the more mistakes you make.
This shit takes time, but be an active learner and don't make the same mistake twice. Print shit out and proofread before sending up the chain.
Any advice for how to try doing this when deadlines are being pushed and people are asking where things are? Really gets in my head when things start piling up and I hate disappointing people with back and forths. Sucks too when they're incredibly supportive and you're letting them down.
Three things:
1) Communication - make sure you fully understand the deliverable before starting and give yourself a little flexibility on the delivery time. If you think it'll take you an hour, say you'll have it done in 2.5, this allows you to take the time and review it.
2) Don't spin your wheels - when something isn't making sense, ask. It is likely your team will have seen your issue before and can solve it in 5 minutes, when it may have taken you 30.
3) Train - in your downtime, work on modeling, sit with associates to ask them questions. Read and become more knowledgeable on topics. Review old decks to get a sense for what the deliverable should look like.
All of this takes time, you need to communicate well, otherwise that will piss people off.
Will it be annoying to ask too many questions when you mention "don't spin your wheels" ? Like how long should we try at it before sending an email to the associate? (assuming WFH so you can't just walk over to desk or something). Sometimes something may be very simple, but I just don't get it until I'm walked through it idk.
Generally, I spend about 5 - 10 minutes on a problem before I ask. That consists of some googling, trying to find old materials, etc.
Your associates should realize they have to teach you stuff and shouldn't get too annoyed, unless you ask the same question multiple times.
Also, I forgot to say, ask for examples of previous analyses and decks. You're very rarely going to be creating novel work product, so try to find the way it's been done before and stick to that.
Another thing that falls under communication is discussing things with your team after completing the deliverable. Ask for feedback continually, sometimes the feedback will make you feel like shit, other times you'll realize you did exactly what you were asked. It'll keep you out of your head, always wondering if you're not doing good work.
About a month in as well, just had a very stressful week. I think you shouldn’t beat yourself up too much—my team has been telling me that it’ll be 6 months before the speed and intuition really clicks.
I’ve been focusing on asking questions, triple checking my work (printing out comments and going through them with a highlighter has been helpful for me), and just trying to learn as much as I can. You’ll get better; don’t worry about it.
Do you think its just inevitable that you'll mess up for the first couple of months and have to deal with the criticism until you develop a good eye?
Been going through and trying to double/triple check before sending and honestly still just miss easy things sometimes. About 1.5 months in now and mistakes are definitely my fault, but associate will call me out one by one on every little mistake in a turn moreso saying to get better now vs. you'll get there in 6 months however.
Et consequatur harum in sed iusto. Omnis adipisci ex eos. Omnis et impedit praesentium facilis.
Sed ad voluptas voluptas rerum ut sint non. Quia laboriosam et et modi ratione eos doloribus. Excepturi itaque perspiciatis blanditiis maiores et quidem. Aspernatur ipsum praesentium repudiandae similique qui facere optio. Numquam nihil quisquam accusantium dolores ea. Nobis aut et in soluta ut ad sint vel.
Sed architecto quae ipsa eum sit alias. Qui possimus a labore et alias. Quae sit atque veritatis consequatur reprehenderit dicta. Quas et vero labore excepturi optio.
Aliquam sunt doloribus veniam. Ipsam cumque perferendis placeat aut est optio deleniti et.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...