Negative Review - Advice?
Posted: Tue Feb 25, 2020 3:44 pm
Anon for below reason.
So I'm working in biglaw, secondary city, specialized corporate/transactional practice (no rotation), started in Aug. Got a mid-year review based on two more senior people on my team and it was quite negative. The partner said she would do another review in 6 months. Some of the stuff was "somewhat" unfair while others were true (e.g. getting stuff on time, understanding aspects of the job, etc.) It did take 2-4 months for me to feel comfortable doing the work and since the review I've made an extra effort to get things on time, take ownership of the work, etc. While I personally feel like I've improved and am doing better, I also have this upcoming (about 3-4 months away) review and it's messing with me a little bit, since I really feel like I need to know whether these two people on the team feel that I'm doing better. I don't want to have good feelings about my work and then get surprised if they let me go at the next review. To add to that, I'm making personal decisions in the upcoming months that will make it more important that I have a steady job and it's creating a bit of pressure. From what I understand it's not easy to get let go from this position (historically I haven't heard of it happening to anybody) but I'm feeling anxious.
The question is, can I approach these two people (I work with them on a daily basis) and ask them "what am I doing well/what can I be doing better?" to get a better idea of where I'm standing? (and also so I can improve in certain areas). I feel like etiquette would prevent be from being blunt, but would it be fine to ask them outright how I'm doing, etc.?
Thanks, all advice appreciated
So I'm working in biglaw, secondary city, specialized corporate/transactional practice (no rotation), started in Aug. Got a mid-year review based on two more senior people on my team and it was quite negative. The partner said she would do another review in 6 months. Some of the stuff was "somewhat" unfair while others were true (e.g. getting stuff on time, understanding aspects of the job, etc.) It did take 2-4 months for me to feel comfortable doing the work and since the review I've made an extra effort to get things on time, take ownership of the work, etc. While I personally feel like I've improved and am doing better, I also have this upcoming (about 3-4 months away) review and it's messing with me a little bit, since I really feel like I need to know whether these two people on the team feel that I'm doing better. I don't want to have good feelings about my work and then get surprised if they let me go at the next review. To add to that, I'm making personal decisions in the upcoming months that will make it more important that I have a steady job and it's creating a bit of pressure. From what I understand it's not easy to get let go from this position (historically I haven't heard of it happening to anybody) but I'm feeling anxious.
The question is, can I approach these two people (I work with them on a daily basis) and ask them "what am I doing well/what can I be doing better?" to get a better idea of where I'm standing? (and also so I can improve in certain areas). I feel like etiquette would prevent be from being blunt, but would it be fine to ask them outright how I'm doing, etc.?
Thanks, all advice appreciated