First Year Missed Bonus -- Should I Be Polishing Resume? Forum

[onionz]

I'm always curious in threads like this--are people posting hours based strictly on "paid" work, or anything the firm considers billable from an associate perspective? (i.e., pro bono work, writing alert memos or other biz-dev-y stuff). I assume it's strictly "paid" work, as the 1350 figure would be super low all in. For example, about 1/5 of my total hours are for pro bono and other biz dev items. As far as I'm concerned, if a partner asks me to do something, I'll do it and it's immaterial to me whether it's for a paying client or something else. But my firm also doesn't have any sort of target billables of any sort so maybe that's part of my misunderstanding.

Alot of corporate juniors dont do any of that pro bono/biz dev stuff. biz dev at v50 corporate as a junior is not happening unless you're coming from a business career or are otherwise connected as fuck (you went to an M7, your parents are rich/famous, etc.). pro bono is a tough sell because you can go 0 to 100 so quickly on actual work - biting off serious pro bono and then getting fucked when a few deals hit at once is a mistake you only need to make once.

Ah, sounds like I also didn't appreciate the lit. v. corporate differences either. Interesting insights, thanks.

[VulcanVulcanVulcan]

I'm always curious in threads like this--are people posting hours based strictly on "paid" work, or anything the firm considers billable from an associate perspective? (i.e., pro bono work, writing alert memos or other biz-dev-y stuff). I assume it's strictly "paid" work, as the 1350 figure would be super low all in. For example, about 1/5 of my total hours are for pro bono and other biz dev items. As far as I'm concerned, if a partner asks me to do something, I'll do it and it's immaterial to me whether it's for a paying client or something else. But my firm also doesn't have any sort of target billables of any sort so maybe that's part of my misunderstanding.

Alot of corporate juniors dont do any of that pro bono/biz dev stuff. biz dev at v50 corporate as a junior is not happening unless you're coming from a business career or are otherwise connected as fuck (you went to an M7, your parents are rich/famous, etc.). pro bono is a tough sell because you can go 0 to 100 so quickly on actual work - biting off serious pro bono and then getting fucked when a few deals hit at once is a mistake you only need to make once.

What is “M7”?

[EliotAlderson]

I'm always curious in threads like this--are people posting hours based strictly on "paid" work, or anything the firm considers billable from an associate perspective? (i.e., pro bono work, writing alert memos or other biz-dev-y stuff). I assume it's strictly "paid" work, as the 1350 figure would be super low all in. For example, about 1/5 of my total hours are for pro bono and other biz dev items. As far as I'm concerned, if a partner asks me to do something, I'll do it and it's immaterial to me whether it's for a paying client or something else. But my firm also doesn't have any sort of target billables of any sort so maybe that's part of my misunderstanding.

Alot of corporate juniors dont do any of that pro bono/biz dev stuff. biz dev at v50 corporate as a junior is not happening unless you're coming from a business career or are otherwise connected as fuck (you went to an M7, your parents are rich/famous, etc.). pro bono is a tough sell because you can go 0 to 100 so quickly on actual work - biting off serious pro bono and then getting fucked when a few deals hit at once is a mistake you only need to make once.

What is “M7”?

Business school (MBA) version of T14

[shock259]

1350 is really low. I think you need to be hitting at least 1700 or 1800 to stick around next year. But the substance of your review is obviously great. I'd focus on hitting the ground running this year and getting your hours up. If you do that, I think you'll be fine.

[Cobretti]

I'm always curious in threads like this--are people posting hours based strictly on "paid" work, or anything the firm considers billable from an associate perspective? (i.e., pro bono work, writing alert memos or other biz-dev-y stuff). I assume it's strictly "paid" work, as the 1350 figure would be super low all in. For example, about 1/5 of my total hours are for pro bono and other biz dev items. As far as I'm concerned, if a partner asks me to do something, I'll do it and it's immaterial to me whether it's for a paying client or something else. But my firm also doesn't have any sort of target billables of any sort so maybe that's part of my misunderstanding.

Alot of corporate juniors dont do any of that pro bono/biz dev stuff. biz dev at v50 corporate as a junior is not happening unless you're coming from a business career or are otherwise connected as fuck (you went to an M7, your parents are rich/famous, etc.). pro bono is a tough sell because you can go 0 to 100 so quickly on actual work - biting off serious pro bono and then getting fucked when a few deals hit at once is a mistake you only need to make once.

Juniors at my firm do plenty of business development hours, but that just means we're building a deck for a potential client or something, not exactly wining and dining them with the partners.

[jkpolk]

I'm always curious in threads like this--are people posting hours based strictly on "paid" work, or anything the firm considers billable from an associate perspective? (i.e., pro bono work, writing alert memos or other biz-dev-y stuff). I assume it's strictly "paid" work, as the 1350 figure would be super low all in. For example, about 1/5 of my total hours are for pro bono and other biz dev items. As far as I'm concerned, if a partner asks me to do something, I'll do it and it's immaterial to me whether it's for a paying client or something else. But my firm also doesn't have any sort of target billables of any sort so maybe that's part of my misunderstanding.

Alot of corporate juniors dont do any of that pro bono/biz dev stuff. biz dev at v50 corporate as a junior is not happening unless you're coming from a business career or are otherwise connected as fuck (you went to an M7, your parents are rich/famous, etc.). pro bono is a tough sell because you can go 0 to 100 so quickly on actual work - biting off serious pro bono and then getting fucked when a few deals hit at once is a mistake you only need to make once.

Juniors at my firm do plenty of business development hours, but that just means we're building a deck for a potential client or something, not exactly wining and dining them with the partners.

Possible just a different mentality/focus re pitches between firms. It's true, it happens, but I think "putting together decks for pitches" is probably under 25 hours yearly per junior at the places i've been (with 25 being a generous upward bound). marketing department handles a lot of that.