Professional problem - Insecure Coworker

kaktus

kaktus

kaktus

Associate
Joined
28 Jul 2003
Posts
1,219
I'm not sure where to start.

So about a month ago I started a new job. I went through a rigorous interview process, several rounds, several difficult tasks (private equity field) and I aced them with flying colours.

I interview with the Chairman (founder) and CEO and HR director.
In the interviews I had to prepare financial models, presentations and other work to show that I have a firm grasp of the industry, a solid skill set etc.

At the end of the final interview I was told by all three interviewers that I had managed to produce the best financial model and presentations they had ever seen from any candidate and that they were prepared to offer me the job on the spot. I accepted and started the following week without meeting the rest of the team.

Long story short, first week was great until I met my counterpart who is at the same level and does the same role (she was on maternity leave and was due to be back that week).

I could feel tension between us and she was very cold and very stand-offish toward me everyday.

Anyway she opened up to me today and told me that she was disappointed that I was hired, that she was threatened by me and that she felt it was disrespectful to her that they hired me. She was expecting a junior person instead to run her cash flows and models and that there was no reason for both of us to be in the company. (bear in mind that I have seen the quality of her work and it is rubbish, literally, some of the worst I have ever seen). I stayed quiet and basically just said hm ok thanks for letting me know.

Now ordinarily I would just ignore this and move on, but she also mentioned that she talked to the Chairman about me and couldn't understand why he hired me and that she wasn't happy. I didn't realize this and didn't realize the impact that this had because all I have noticed is that over the last month, I have all of a sudden been sidelined from working on live deals 4 times and instead asked to focus on some side-project instead which has nothing to do with my role at the company.

Furthermore, I am finding out now that the deals I was working on, she is basically taking over and is being involved in the meetings regarding them while I am hearing nothing and am now being left out of.

Needless to say I am rather disappointed by her behavior and also by the behavior of the chairman to have obviously caved in to her complaints.

I am considering just resigning and moving on but I thought I might get a more sensible perspective. It is not a good idea for me to accept this as a) it lowers my self esteem b) it makes me look weak which I am certainly not, just that Ive only been in the company for a month so I'm not really in a position to go on the offensive yet without looking like I'm being the bully. Please bear in mind that this is at a Senior level in a finance and investments related firm.

I'm not sure how others on the team feel about her either, there is a generally poor culture in the firm where no-one seems to get along and it seems to be quite cutthroat.

Any ideas what I can do?
 
What have you got to lose? Go speak to your manager or whichever senior figure you think you should talk to. Explain the situation, be honest, make your case. Seems like the worst that can happen is nothing, in which case if you don't see the situation improving (and you're not getting a chance to prove your quality), consider leaving before your coworker (who seems to have at least some kind of influence) has you pushed?
 
Are you on probation, if so it might be a case of having to deal with it until that is over. Are you able to speak to your manager in private and voice your concerns? Maybe keep a record of what was said by her and when she said it. Punch her in the ovaries?
 
Show them what an asset you are compared to her, you appear to be the better person for the job so keep on doing your best.

Good, honest hard work always pays off in the end.
 
Judgeneo said:
If you're thinking of leaving anyway, then making your voice heard seems like a good idea
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I'm not sure it would do much good though to voice my concerns, what I've come to realize is that Management basically sack people left, right and centre here and so basically no-one has a team spirit and it's all very cut throat. It appears they don't care at all.

What makes it slightly more complex is the chairman is French, and she is also French so there's already an advantage there.
 
In all seriousness mate being so new to a company keep your head down and work on what you are told to.
Do everything to the best of your ability. If they then decide to "let you go" after your probation its only their loss.
Keep looking elsewhere until you pass probation.
 
Try to get another job before you resign, from what was said to you after your interview process getting another job shouldn't be too hard, once successful give your notice and voice your concerns re their response to your post natal colleague, on the way out don your full face balaclava and as previously mentioned punch her in the ovaries or offer her out for a scrap on the carpark mano a mano.
 
Just leave. A company that puts an incompetent in power over someone who knows what they're doing is not one you want to work for.
 
Arrange a meeting with your manager and explain the concerns in the OP with regards to you being sidelined from the roll you expected to be doing upon accepting the position.

If the management take action and look to address your concerns stay, if not look for a new job. No point quitting until you have an alternative lined up.
 
Kid is probably his. Sounds like an episode of The Apprentice tbh. When she answers her mobile phone, does she hold it horizontally 12 inches away from her face in front of her?
 
Work your probation period, whilst keeping an eye on the current job market.

work hard and like the above says, let the quality of work do the talking.

After your probation period is over you could then always make your opinions heard. Also, log everything she does/says to you. This can work in your favour.

If you do decide to "let you go" then you've already got other opportunities as you've already been looking!

JonJ678 said:
Just leave. A company that puts an incompetent in power over someone who knows what they're doing is not one you want to work for.
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Unfortunately most companies fall into this category!
 
Finance fields can be pretty dog-eat-dog, and who you know can be a lot more important than what you know.

So I'd say go on the offensive if you can, move on if you can't. Just make sure that you're getting in with the right people, make sure that your work is clearly your work for all to see and know about, and that your rubbish co-worker can't take credit for all your effort. Blow your own horn and make sure your reputation is not just for doing good work, but also being seen to do good work.

You can also try spreading a good rumour to manipulate her reputation. Some secretary to the boss where I worked liked to make issue of my time-keeping where she had no place to. From then on I was always sure to associate her with "taking a cigarette break somewhere" even if she was off working elsewhere. Soon everyone was repeating it and she got a reputation for constantly skiving for fags. That soon shut her up (fighting stance!)
 
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James J said:
Stay and let the quality of your work do all the talking
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+1 Show them how it's done, they'll soon come around especially the Chairman who will judge you on results. Don't go out of your way to help her but at the same time don't destroy your relationship with her, stay civil and professional. She's threatened as you could potentially make her little empire look weak, nothing more.
 
I don't get personal with coworkers, I don't think it brings enough benefit to justify.

Go on the offensive and barge into the directors office, say to him you know whats going on and you won't stand for it.

You're senior management for goodness sake, don't go acting like the teaboy because you're new in the company, your job is to call the shots and if you're being arsed about how does that make you look I wonder? Weak.
 
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