Levfin NQ - how common is no training/feeling like nobody gives a shit about you

Hi all, I qualified about six months ago into a levfin team at the US firm I trained at.

One of the main reasons I chose this team was the people - it had a genuinely positive, supportive vibe and I felt like I was learning loads every day. I didn’t have much direct contact with partners as a trainee (and it was a bit awkward when I did), but overall I really enjoyed it.

Since qualifying, though, a lot of people (including my lovely trainee supervisor) have left and the dynamic has changed. It’s noticeably less friendly, but more importantly perhaps there’s basically no training, support or feedback. If I’m the only finance associate on a deal, I can in theory go to partners, but they are not anpproachable at all and it really feels like they don’t actually give a shit.

I started as an NQ with some big holes in my knowledge (just because of what matters I happened to have worked on as a trainee) and have made a concerted effort to fill those in myself, I spend a lot of time figuring things out alone (and I had an epiphany this weekend that the only positive words I get these days are from Harvey telling me ‘user has asked a very perceptive question...’ 😭).

When I chat to partners in other teams I completed seats in, at firm events, they’re friendly, they’re genuinely interested in how I’m doing now, and it reminds me how different things felt when I felt I was in a more supportive environment. One partner In particular, she was just the best and I put so much effort in and went really above and beyond for her because she was building a particular type of practice and I WANTED her to succeed (and still do). Definitely don’t feel like that now in this team.

When I qualified, I thought I’d stay here for years. Now I find myself actually reading recruiter emails and wondering if it could be better elsewhere. But then I second-guess it, like, is this just what being an NQ is ? Less hand-holding, more figuring things out yourself, minimal feedback unless something goes wrong? And is levfin just like this everywhere? And would the partners at the next firm over just be even worse?

Keen to get a sense of what is normal. thanks