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Hi I've joined Harman in May but hasn't been assigned to any project yet. I've asked hr and reporting manager they said they're working on it and there's nothing to be worried about However I just want to know if there's anything I should be concerned about what's the bench policy? Harman Connected Services Harman
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Coach
That is a bit odd - I have never staffed a 4th and 5th year on the same matter with the expectation of hierarchy.
Coach
mmh, but then you would profit on efficiency by not having a review - different skillsets involved?
Coach
I see it happen only when the fourth year is considered substantively a few years behind the fifth year
I aggressively avoid working under/for people or above people too close to my class year. It’s just a weird dynamic.
That doesn’t usually happen. Consider whether the partner is telling the 5th year to review your work. It’s happened to me right after lateraling and I was honestly offended.
Subject Expert
This is an unusual staffing setup in funds IME.
Coach
Coordinate with them and ask what they think/prefer.
Be a team player. Be flexible. Communicate. Not everything is a strict heirarchy and that is ok.
Be open to owning workstreams and express enthusiasm for taking things on independently.
But if they want to review everything, let them.
You can tell them you aren’t used to working with a fifth year in a chill way.
Don’t get your ego involved. Not worth being in a snit over this stuff.
Staffing has a lot of moving parts. Partner may want both of you to get experience on this type of deal for whatever reason. May want 5th year to give feedback on working with you because they have heard good/bad/mixed things. Maybe juniors are slammed/bad.
Just roll with it.
This is how I got to 7th year with limited technical skills and poor attention to detail. Easygoing and no ego.
Enthusiast
i did a double take at the end lmao
Whoever wants to take the lead can take the lead I am not wasting my time caring about someone extra reviewing my work. That’s their problem and can explain it to the partner. I am confident about my abilities and I’ll do whatever need to be done to get the deal done. So should you.
Private funds in case helpful for context
What does staffing above you look like? If it’s a more senior partner, maybe they don’t want to be bothered with review and maybe it makes a little sense. But if it’s counsel or a junior NEP, I’d complain about too many head chefs, not enough sous chefs, ask for separate work streams, if if no one listens, finagle a way to get out.
It happened for me because they did not think the 4th year was competent. At first I thought we were splitting workstreams but then I was told by the partner that I needed to own all of the workstreams.
Coach
Awkward
Happened to me- was staffed because the fifth year was really busy, so I was sort of covering. And then I was out for a few weeks and then they were ooo for a couple other weeks when I stepped in. I ran a couple things by them for additional thoughts or as a cya sometimes but they didn’t really review my work product. I generally worked with the partner. If it’s a free market assignment system, I would push back on such staffing.
I don’t think it’s normal to have your work fully reviewed by a 5th year unless, I’m sorry, you’re shit. Sometimes I’m staffed with an 8th year / a counsel, and they don’t review my work unless I flag to them that I’d want them too or it’s a very complicated issue / document. I’m also in funds.