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(a) My first boss was and is an asshole to this day. More than half the time he wouldn't be in office or be available for any directions or guidance. Then would lose his shit when work product would be wrong or had faults. This was my very first year, he gave absolutely no guidance or mentorship, and I know for a fact he even gave wrong / convoluted advice once based on faulty legal interpretation. I realised this after I joined my next job.
He would constantly be unavailable to review deliverables, despite calls and emails, and when client sent a stinker, he would scapegoat anyone of the associates. He used to gaslight, taunt, demean associates all the time. His other partners also left eventually, because it wasn't feasible having him on board. This was long after I had bailed. By which time, I had lost all confidence and motivation.
(b) Next boss, (this one is a cliche across Tier 1s and mid level firms) - workaholic and expected you to be one too. Loved coming in on weekends despite having no work, would come and chill in office, while sitting and making you sit in late too. Absolutely abhorred giving leaves, made me miss a trip for my 2 year old's birthday under the pretense of some impending deal closing...
He's also made us work for 48 hours straight. He has also made us work, knowingly, unnecessarily on a regular basis where one wouldn't be sleeping for more than 2-3 hours of sleep. And would "offer you permission" to turn up late on a saturday, which was anyway not working, for not working.
(c) Other notable characters I have come across (most of the persons below are ones who get to exercise petty authority at A3, SA, PA, Non-Equity Partner Levels)
(i) Some who would berate and say the harshest things for the smallest mistakes. Questioning your integrity, calibre, background and so on.. I will forever remember these people and their tr
(ii) Mid level bosses like PAs who would give deliberately misleading instructions or half instructions to berate you in front of the partner.
(iii) Snakes who give wrong instructions and then pin the whole thing on you.
(iv) The most irritating type - one who expects you to be on their beck and call throughout the day - for the smallest of doubts on some deliverable. Or even asking you to send this small note / or that document from there..
Bloody hell sir! I have other deliverables too, I can't be sitting and be spoon feeding you. Plus, this distracts me, and keeps me from focusing on my work. But why the fuck would you care about it anyway?
(v) Ones who do not read or understand and start screaming first..
(vi) Ones who keep asking for an update, an hour after or 2 hours after they have given a 10 hour deliverable.
(vii) Ones who are just plain uncouth and mean and think they are the smartest person in the room. You deserve to rot in special dungeon.
(viii) Ones who throw jargon around and draft unnecessarily complicated shit and then shit on you for not understanding their gymnastic and flatulent drafting.
They love to find out embarrassing shit about their juniors either by asking directly, or by asking your peers, the snakes you mistakenly assumed to be friends with & shared normal personal anecdotes or stories with.
Then these bosses use this information to either mock you in front of others or more often, they ask you about it with utmost sincerity on their faces. Deep down you are aware that this is just their way of informing you that they know about the fucked up shit you've pulled in life.