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Paypal Hello, I've been offered Data engineer /Software Engineer at PayPal, india.
How's the company doing, is it profitable? Bit skeptical about the recent layoffs at PayPal.
Any data engineers at PayPal around? Whats your thoughts, how's the team doing and how would be the growth?
YOE - 5 TC offered : 19 Base +10k RSU (3 years)
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Hii Fishes, I am java fullstack with 9 yoe, currently based out of thane Mumbai have offers from HERE Technologies mumbai goregaon , HSBC India India pune, Citi pune. All are giving almost same CTC with almost same role. Which organisation should i join . Also I have question if pune will suit me or not. Citi is having poor wlb as per Glassdoor and some linkdin feedback. How is hsbc bonus , job security, wlb. Thanks
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Best consulting firms without the massive ego?
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Sounds like you're in the wrong line of work, or more likely have been thrown into a role that you do not yet have the skills for. What we do isn't often rocket science, despite what you may read from some folks here.
That said, you should reach out for help, if you haven't already. Don't start with "I can't do this," or "I don't know how to do this, please help!"
Start with, "I'm having some difficulty with (x) part of this task. I'd like to be more efficient and contribute more. Do you have some time to discuss this?"
I don't like helping people who come from a place of desperation due to lack of skills. I sure as heck don't mind helping people who want to get better and are specific in their ask as it shows you understand enough about the problem, and the gap, to be helped.
Keep in mind it may not be that they don't want to help you, and more that they do not have a lot of time, or they may not understand your position, or any other myriad of reasons. Give it a shot, modify your approach to get your desired outcome. Don't give up easily, and if all else fails search for something that better suits you. Life is short, spend it happy.
This is normal. Every consultant gets thrown in the deep end at first. There’s only so much that can be taught. Only constant practice and struggling through things make you better. If you can’t “swim” then you’re going to be facing issues in pretty much any job that requires technical skills.
You obviously have the skills because you landed the job. Like others mentioned, your colleagues are probably swamped because of the time of year and don’t have the time to help you.
Don’t give up just yet. You CAN master excel. Here are resources for you:
1. Schedule this weekend to only learn excel:
https://www.udemy.com/course/microsoft-excel-2013-from-beginner-to-advanced-and-beyond/
2. Have a reference book (not eBook) and work ALL of the examples: https://www.amazon.com/Excel-2021-All-Step-Step/dp/B09FC8973D/ref=asc_df_B09FC8973D_nodl/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=532852595509&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12780984655381068399&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9013464&hvtargid=pla-1430102102339&psc=1
3. Bookmark and follow the examples. https://www.mrexcel.com/
Take online excel training. There are thousands a available.
Sorry, its sink or swim in most cases… learn fast, learn on the weekends
I felt this way when I first started in consulting as well. I’ve been in consulting for nearly 2 years now and still feel that way sometimes. Important to realize you are not alone in that feeling and we have all been there where we have no idea what we are doing. Sounds like your team might be somewhat distant and doesn’t provide you the support you need, so maybe it would be possible to switch teams? If not then try to use any additional resources your firm offers in the meantime. Especially with learning excel there are a ton of online resources - spending 2-3 hours doing a LinkedIn learning excel course would be a good investment of time for your work. Good luck and hang in there!! You were hired for a reason and you are not stupid!
OP Keep at it! They hired you because they think you have the dedication to get through it. Think of it like boot camp. It’s going to be tough but you’ll come out the other end much better. Lean on your teammates for help. They are going through the same thing even if they won’t admit it. Don’t take it personally if they aren’t much help but I’m sure you can find someone. Did they give you a mentor?
Your key to success will depend on how much you want to self-educate yourself on nights and weekends.
To be blunt, I would feel burdened to have to teach someone Excel fundamentals and “calculations” on an engagement. I don’t mind coaching and feedback, but teaching is not something o would be thrilled to provide
I agree. If we are going full steam ahead on a project and I have to teach a full-time analyst how to do a vlookup or pivot table, I'm going to be annoyed. Partially because I don't think we should be hiring folks who don't know Excel, but mostly because there is literally nothing you can't figure out with a few Google searches or YouTube tutorials. Unless we are talking particularly complicated stuff (which shouldn't be the case in consulting—this isn't private equity), I expect full-time analysts to be capable of self-education. It isn't rocket science. If someone genuinely couldn't figure out how index matching works after watching a YouTube video, I question whether they have the right aptitude for the job... people do slip through the cracks... not everyone who "breaks into" consulting is cut out for it.
Relax, this is the hardest environment for any new joiner to get up and running with remote work
It is a lot easier to learn in person on client site when you are starting out
Have touch bases with your internal mentor and also managers
If you feel to ramp up, you need more sessions then go for it (set up weekly quick 30 minute calls)
Keep asking for feedback on how to get better and how to get promoted
Start to see the bigger picture on the case/project. Why do they have you there and what challenge is your team trying to solve? This will make it easier for you to build your decks/models
Be the person taking meeting minutes on every call or work shop. Our incredible analyst did this without even being told and our client loved it
Nobody expects you to know all the answers or be perfect as you leads are also figuring out things on the fly! Keep learning and you”ll laugh about how you are feeling now when you train the new analyst
Bro just watch some YouTube videos over the weekend….put in 5-10 hours and you’ll be fine. Excel is not that complicated
Pro
I’m a poli sci major and I’m terrible at excel. If I can make it, you can too.
Spend time watching YouTube videos or seeing if your firm has online learning. There’s excel for consultants. I had to learn how to build a pro forma early in my career…the only non-finance/business person on my team.
How do you do calcs? That’s where I struggle SO much. Not knowing how to conduct calculations AT ALL
Oh and also, I have a lot of trouble understanding calculations and what to perform 😞
There is merit in taking Udemy classes but EY3 while blunt is also correct in that the learning curves are steep and being flustered easily is going to get in the way of success
Rising Star
Why do you think we all have to read about that chick making half a million dollars for her excel tik toks
Everyone goes through this feeling at some point. Keep working through it and you’ll be fine I promise. I had OD imposter syndrome out of university
Chief
The fact that you think you can’t is actually the only reason you can’t.
I have an engineering background and the only difference for me is that all of undergrad was being thrown into the deep end with thermodynamics and fluids and heat transfer and calc and not that much help. I can’t do ANY of those things today, it’s just that I was able to manage to (barely) pass a couple tests
It’s a major test of your ego, for sure. But you have *all* of the tools you need on the other end of Google searches. Consulting is more of a learning environment than a teaching environment. You have to be motivated to do it on your own.
And if you’re not motivated to do it on your own, it’s just not something you’re probably interested in enough and that’s okay. It’s okay to search for something you like better. It’s not okay to put yourself down. You can absolutely do it. Just figure out if it’s worth it for you.
P.S. calculus is no longer worth it for me 🤣
That’s normal. That’s how you get better. A few college courses don’t prepare you for the actual work you’ll need to do. You will get better over time if you stick to it.
Keep at it and don’t feel discouraged! I felt the same way at the beginning but over time you’ll realize that things that used to perpetually confuse you have become second nature. I also can get flustered easily and highly recommend taking it slow with excel work - if something isn’t clicking for me I write the formula or problem down on paper and think through it piece by piece. Also will sometimes draft out what I plan to do in excel on paper before starting to implement it in excel. Helps to keep my thoughts organized
You will do fine GM
GM?
You have the skills and mindset required and you are qualified. You were hired as an analyst for your potential, not your achievements in a narrow area. Feeling out of your league is a sign of growth, and as long as you embrace it and learn, you will excel (pun intended). Tough lesson, but put in the long hours learning, getting really good at whatever you think you’re bad at. Get really good at whatever you think you need to learn two steps down the line. It will pay you off tenfold a year and a half from now because you will be able to mentor someone who was in your position and will understand how to perform at a level above where you “need to perform”.
Hello, I studied business and started my career in tech consulting. I felt like an idiot for my first few months. I still feel like an idiot and am surprised to have made it this far on occasion. 🙂 Try looking at your educational background as a strength rather than a weakness. I’m sure in regards to project contributions you would run laps around some folks if you were on a public sector engagement. That being said, you do need to spend some time catching up. I did as well. However, education is simply the launching pad of your career. I view life and career experiences similarly to how I view a financial portfolio, diversifying produces stronger outcomes 😉. Best of luck.
Just practice and contribute in different ways - lighten the load of those around you and they’ll be grateful.
If this is a cry for help I am happy to provide mentorship and perhaps even tutor you on excel challenges you face at work. Feel free to DM me
Never do something which you don’t like.