Should I Put Mensa on Application?
Mensa --> society that accepts people who have top 1% IQ. Just wondering if this is a good idea to put on my resume or if it has no relevance and may seem them I'm too smart for my own good. But then again, since I'm from a non-target it would show that I'm not a nut.
Will this do any good?
Thanks!
Should I Put Mensa on Resume?
No. You should not put Mensa on your resume. While it is a great organization for social engagement with interesting people - it will invite ridicule and potentially more difficult questions in interviews. It also may trigger individuals those who work at banks that may have applied in the past or those who dislike the organization / the idea of an elite intellectuals group. Our users share their thoughts below.
I would not do it. The last time I volunteered my IQ score was around 10 years ago and I quickly learned that it does not impress the right people; in fact, it'll do the opposite - impress insecure morons while turning off the people worth impressing. Don't do it, it's a serious faux pas. One thing is to know your IQ - that's legitimate. Another thing is to mail in your score as an application for membership in a high IQ society - which I find tragic, but still legitimate. Another is to broadcast that to your employers - which is mindless.
Mensa is top 2%. And it won't do shit for your resume. I myself am a Mensan, and the real value the group provides is a social network. Unfortunately, it’s mostly for older people. A lot of people have misconceptions about Mensa, although these are probably justified (that Mensa is a way to validate your own intelligence, etc). This may be true for some, but the real hardcore members are in it just to socialize, much like anyone else who joins a social group (Elks, VFW, Italian Societies, whatever).
What Does Mensa Stand For?
Mensa is actually not an acronym. Instead Mensa means table in Latin. The group explains the meaning below on the Mensa website.
The word "Mensa" means "table" in Latin. Mensa is a round-table society, where race, color, creed, national origin, age, politics, educational or social background are irrelevant.
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Putting MENSA on your resume is a contradiction. By including it on your resume, you clearly aren't in the top 1% of intelligence.
Dude... why did you create multiple posts on this? You've done this for your free lunch thing too.
If you put MENSA on your resume, be ready for interviewers to go hard on you.
I put it under Job Search Advice and also Investment Banking since I figure 2 different categories of people read that. However, I will try to limit it to one post in the future.
Well put- I agree with comp banker... I would look for other more subtle ways of bragging about your intellectual abilities
you can get in mensa with 95%tile gmat. Hardly indicative of super freak genius intelligence. You could 99% on the verbal and 70th percentile math and achieve that.
its actually top 2 percent, so from one mensan to a supposed another... im not so sure how MENSA you are :P
Lol. Well, I was in OATHS society (which is 1%) but its members are far too individualistic. I find fellow mensans to be more friendly and the yearly fee isn't too bad either.
Correction: OATHS Society (.1%) A title I'm happy to give up for some actual tangible benefits that I derive from Mensan members.
noone will know what the fuck that is then... and i thought it was prometheus society?
There are many high IQ societies and MENSA is the most high-profile/least exclusive, taking people with a 98th percentile or higher and accepting standardized academic tests as proxies for the Weschler/Stanford-Binet/standard MENSA test.
I would not do it. The last time I volunteered my IQ score was around 10 years ago and I quickly learned that it does not impress the right people; in fact, it'll do the opposite - impress insecure morons while turning off the people worth impressing. Don't do it, it's a serious faux pas. One thing is to know your IQ - that's legitimate. Another thing is to mail in your score as an application for membership in a high IQ society - which I find tragic, but still legitimate. Another is to broadcast that to your employers - which is mindless.
Think about it for a moment: who's going to read your resumé? If the person has a more modest IQ, s/he's going to think "what an arrogant prick" - NOT "what a genius!". If the person has a MENSA level IQ and didn't bother becoming a member, s/he's going to think "what an insecure prick" - NOT "what a genius!". And if the person happens to be a fellow MENSA member, they're going to think "oh crap, better not associate myself with this prick, it'll undermine my own credibility in the firm." Your best hope is that the reader doesn't even know what MENSA is and thinks it's some "MEN'S Aftershave" group.
In addition to giving off a poor impression as a person, there are at least two further reasons why it's a silly move. 1. I'd say that easily a quarter of the front-office folks hired at top firms have that IQ (and I'm being conservative). If I had to guess, I'm more inclined to think that there are more folks who are "120ish IQ and incredibly hard working" but there are enough high IQ folks for it to be considered normal and wholly unexceptional, so you would not be standing out. 2. You're never going to be hired just for your brains: you're hired for what you can do with your brains. Accomplish or do things that show you have the brains, rather than tell them you have the brains (which, as I said before, won't help you stand out, but rather, show that you are normal by a top firm's standards). You will be inviting them to wonder whether you have any accomplishments at all to show your intelligence.
Good post. Good insight. It always comes down to insecurity.
Thank you for answering the question.
Haha, one of the few places where someone with a 120 IQ needs to be hard-working to keep up :-p
My guess is that you are neither an OATHS member nor a MENSA member, as you would have consulted with your network and/or local office for the answer to this question.
got a douchey-alert when I read this thread's title
I've never seen such a bunch of nitwits in my entire ife. Have you listened to yourselves?
network, local office... Douchey alert... funny. Maybe he just needed to hear an opinion from the "low IQ" people, who will possibly screen his CV :) Which he obviously did here... I would not put it in my CV as well, after reading this topic. Not only for the good arguments that I heard here, but also for the jealousy that went through some of the responses. Good to face it here rather than during my interview :D
what does IQ have to do with banking?
Mensa membership (Originally Posted: 09/10/2009)
Should I mention my Mensa membership on my resume when applying for I-banking jobs or would I come across as arrogant then?
I gotta tell you guys this story because I laugh my ass off every time I think about it. (Warning: Long Post - but worth it!)
I've got a buddy who is really bright, but he is ALL about recognition. He would literally rather receive a plaque in a room full of people than receive a cash bonus. Of course, I'm the exact opposite. I couldn't give a frog's fat ass what people think of me, but I'll take the money all day long. We know this about each other and it leads to a lot of good-natured ball busting.
Anyway, one day several years ago he says we should take the Mensa test and see who does better. I'm game until he tells me we have to go to a library at a specific time and be monitored taking an IQ test and it's just too much trouble for too little reward for me. So he goes by himself. (side note: we later took an IQ test together and his score beat mine handily)
Of course, he gets accepted to Mensa. Being the recognition whore that he is, he goes apeshit buying all kinds of Mensa shit like shirts and hats and what have you. The day his order comes in happens to be dollar drink night at a local country joint, and we make plans to go with a bunch of other buddies.
So this douchebag shows up in a button-down, long-sleeved shirt with MENSA on the tit, and he's acting like it's no big deal. I know instantly that it is my mission in life to fuck with him in a meaningful and permanent way.
I scan the bar looking for the most backward, inbred looking redneck I can find. I spot the perfect candidate over by the pool tables in a flannel shirt with cut-off sleeves and a CAT Diesel Power hat, alternately sucking down Bud Light and spitting chew into an empty bottle. I slip away from our group and approach said redneck.
"Dude, how'd you like to make a quick ten bucks?"
"I don't know, what do I have to do?" says Jethro Clampett
"You see that guy over there, leaning against the bar? Well, when I get back over there, just wander over, point at his shirt and say, 'Oh, you got one of those too?'"
He agrees and I go back to my friends at the bar. A few minutes later he comes wandering over and walks right past us. That's how fucking dumb this guy is. He walks right up to the bouncer standing by the bar who has a sheriff's badge with his name on it, and the redneck points to the badge and says to the bouncer, "Oh, you got one of those too?" The bouncer looks at him and tells him to get fucked or something because he looks at me confused and I'm jabbing my finger at my buddy going, "no...this guy".
So the redneck walks up to my buddy, points at the MENSA label on his shirt, and drawls, "Oh, you got one of those too?" My buddy looks down at him like he smelled shit and sneers, "Yeah. What did you think about the test?" sarcastically. I know at this point I'm busted.
The redneck shrugs his shoulders, takes a sip of beer, and deadpans, "It wuddn't that fuckin' tough." and then walks off. I swear to God, my buddy looked like someone just kicked him in the balls. Hell, I'm ready to go give the redneck a hundred bucks for a save like that.
My buddy is absolutely inconsolable at this point because it happened in front of all of us and we all couldn't stop laughing our asses off. What he didn't know is that we were all in on the gag and that's what we were laughing at. He thought we were laughing at the impotence of his MENSA membership.
After a couple hours of letting him walk around like someone shot his dog, I decided to come clean and tell him I'd set the whole thing up. This is the most hilarious part.
He was so crestfallen that he didn't believe me.
I told him it was all a gag, and he said, "Dude, I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but I know you didn't set it up. That fucking inbred passed the test. This shit is meaningless." I honestly couldn't convince him that I'd set it all up. To this day I'm not sure he believes me 100%.
But you can bet we never saw that Mensa shirt again, or heard about his Mensa membership.
So to answer your question. Since you can't put a fake tan, highlighted hair, or multiple popped collars on a resume, listing your Mensa membership will have to do if you want the corporate world to know you're a douchebag.
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LOL
Don't
absolutely incredible story.
How much did you pay the redneck?
I gave it to him upfront and just hoped he wouldn't fuck it up (which he almost did!).
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that's a hilarious story. he deserved at least 50 for that save.
Besides being arrogant/douchey, it's not even that special. The test scores that would qualify you for Mensa are almost de rigeur for finance.
The fact is, easily two-thirds of your co-workers would qualify for membership and had enough sense not to.
But it felt nice to feel special for a little while, huh?
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Mensa on Resume? (Originally Posted: 11/30/2010)
troll attack
mensa*
Not if you dont want to be ridiculed.
Haha first off, Mensa is top 2%. And it won't do shit. I myself am a Mensan, and the real value the group provides is a social network. Unfortunately, its mostly for older people. A lot of people have misconceptions about Mensa, although these are probably justified (that Mensa is a way to validate your own intelligence, etc). This may be true for some, but the real hardcore members are in it just to socialize, much like anyone else who joins a social group (Elks, VFW, Italian Societies, whatever).
Even more pretentious is Triple 9 Society.
http://www.triplenine.org/main/application.asp
So if I get above a 746 on my GMAT I am in this group? lol
Lol, that's one way of getting into it I suppose.
Actually, if you score above 730 you can get in. They accept the 95th percentile on the GMAT as qualifying.
Edit: after clicking on the link above your post I see what you were refering to.
I made fun of 999 before, but this group might be more helpful (as a network) since its smaller; easier to become closer with other members (not sure they'd work on WS).
You will be seen as a douchebag, adding it would be considered a social faux pas (as I can guarantee to the majority of people reviewing your resume are not part of Mensa, even if they are smart enough to be) and will weigh against their perception of your personality. However, if you are dropping it on the desk of an MD that is a member, then it is probably worth it.
The fact that you asked the question proves you are in fact in Mensa... haha as I said to my buddy who is a member and (not surprisingly) also socially tone deaf: you got just enough brains to get yourself into situations that your lack of social skills can't get you out of. He somehow takes it as a full fledged compliment... my point exactly.
On the contrary, I am actually very social.
Post another topic about it, that should help.
I already said in the other post that I put in under both Investment Banking and Job Search Advice because I thought 2 different groups of people would be reading it. In the future I will try to limit it to 1 post.
I already want to beat you up.
I love how no one but Anthony actually answered one of the questions.
Yes, this is a good taste of a mob mentality.
Mensa is cool dude, but I would not put it on your resume. IQ tests really do not mean you will be a good bankers and I think Mensa has a rap for being filled with weirdo's. Hopefully your GPA is high or else your Mensa bullet point will be pretty laughable.
In end, don't put it on. It doesn't relate to finance and that bullet point could be put to better use.
2% of the population are MENSA. Less than 2% of the population will ever make it into banking. MENSA isn't that selective compared to banking.
Being in Mensa is more about a social network, as previously mentioned... If you were a member of the promethius society or something insane like that it would be worth listing.... but if you were that smart you'd almost certainly be in another line of work (likely academia) and not be good with people
Well, I was initially going into Aerospace Engineering - Rocket Propulsion. But there's no money in Rocket Science. So I went into business. My highschool grades in Physics, Chem, Bio, Calc were all over 93.5% and I never studied for tests. Although my brain functions fast in those courses, I am interested in business and money. I was in OATHS society but it became unfulfilling so I joined Mensa, which has less individualistic members who actually reply to you, and although it is much less prestigious I don't really care.
Blah blah blah,.. your a genius.. blah blah blah.
Either this kid is a troll or he is full of sadness :( and needs a hug.
.
Anyway, you doorknobs do not know how to answer a single question. I abhor your hypocrisy and my complacency is as incisive as ever. WSO contains a myriad of imbeciles, but I do thank the ones that offered valuable insite.
Though there are many imbeciles here, it's the ridiculously stupid questions that lure them out. The bottom line is Mensa isn't an achievement, you haven't earned anything or sacrificed to be a better person/learn more, etc. It is simply a validation that you were more lucky/blessed than 98%+ of the people on earth...therefore, it only implies aptitude, not success.
I wouldn't put it on there because it is more likely for people to resent it than accept it but take that with a grain of salt because I'm old school and put more faith in people that have above average GPAs who worked in college than someone with a stellar GPA and everything handed to them.
Regards
I'm sorry for keeping this alive, but you're an asshole. And I'm pretty sure you're wearing your ass for a hat. If this is how you deal with people, you're probably not going to make it far in a sales-driven industry like IB. As I said in your other thread, work on your personality.
lol
Post Closed.
I found out what I was looking for and the general consensus of the WSO community is to keep Mensa and OATHS off my resume.
Thanks to those who participated (and those who tried but let their insecurity get the best of them).
I used to work with someone from Mensa. EVERYONE is our office hated her. She was the most socially awkward person I've ever met, but in an asshole kind of way. I actually befriended her because I felt bad that everyone hated her. I figured she just didn't know any better.
One night I went out with her and a group of her friends she knew from Mensa, and they were EXACTLY like her. It was the funniest thing ever.
To sum it up. My expeience with Mensa people is that they are socially awkward in an asshole-ish manor. Therefore, I'd say don't put it on your resume, because most people have the same experiences and opinions about your kind.
Ohh, and the post is not closed.
you don't spell very well for a certified genius. "insite"..."comrad"
maybe you are not a native english speaker and deserve a break.
and wtf is brock university. some kid got a high gpa and went to brock and you were almost as good as him? BFD. I used to fall asleep during tests in high school physics and I'd still ace them. it's high school physics, not fucking Caltech.
troll post. refer above.
I would only consider to mention it on your resume if you are an (very) active member (e.g. organize/do things such as presentations, etc.). Just as a ''note'' to your resume how you spend your spare time and nothing more than that. Never ever use it as a means of communicating that you are better than others for the sole reason of having high IQ.
IQ or MENSA membership on resume (Originally Posted: 08/07/2015)
I thought it could be a good idea to mention it in my cv but I found much discouragement.
I am new here and I want to apply for summer analyst position in IB in London so please be clear and sincere
I really don't understand why it is so negative to put a high IQ score.Is it such a bad thing? Very high score isn't an indication that you are smart? I mean if you have 150 it's better than 100.. Obviously such tests don't measure your real intelligence. But also your GMAT do not. It's just a test. Also your scholastic career does not reflect your potential. Isn't top bank industry interested in recruiting best minds? They also take students with non financial background.. Why many people say that put this kind of information is arrogant? I try to find a job, putting a 780 of GMAT isn't arrogant? Many recruiters encourage to add hobbies, interests or sports or personal achievements because it could be relevant for your work. Team sports for example. In my opinion, QI gives some relevant indication about you in you are interested in quantitative finance or other field where are required skills of problem solving.
Obviously I don't expect to be chosen only because of my QI..I think it's a good kind of information to put on you cv. It's up to HR to evaluate you and decide if you are suitable for the job you applied for.
Put your IQ and MENSA scores on your resume and see what happens. By the way, if you come off this arrogant in an interview then you'll get black listed very quickly.
Actually I'd like to know what happens
If you are only able to show your IQ on paper, then you're sol.
Yes definitely do this, no one will think you're a douchebag.
If you're smart, show them by having meaningful professional and academic experience, don't tell them.
IQ tests are just not that reliable. Yes someone who scores 150 is probably smarter than someone with a 100, but 140 vs. 150? Who knows if they were having a good day, a bad day, didn't sleep the night before, etc. Your age when you take it can matter even though it's not supposed to, blah blah blah.
Obviously those issues are at play with all tests, but with GMAT/SAT, almost all candidates have taken them, so they're better for relative comparison of candidates. Few people have taken legit IQ tests.
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