People make fun of me in IB

I got an MBA associate role at an elite boutique. I body build on my free time so my meals are around six times per day. I tend to eat cans of salmon and tuna every day because they are high in protein, I make sure mercury isn't too high don't worry. 

One of my MDs saw me doing it and started calling me cat boy. So now everyone in my office calls me the Cat who eats cat food. Even the analysts will call me this. Idk might lateral out of here even though I could crush my Mds skull with my hands. 

Anyone else get this type of shit culture? or is this just me? 

113 Comments
 

People who are disciplined and pursue their goals make others feel worse about themselves, so they'll try and find ways to belittle you. They'll get over it soon enough.

 

You're getting a lot of shit replies here. And while mine will also sound the same, I am dead serious on this: 

Is this your first time working around men? I don't meant that to challenge you, I mean that as a serious question. 

Anyone who has been around "the guys" knows the #1 rule - you only fuck around and mess with the guys you love. You should be worried when they don't mess around with you, that means they don't like you. Yes, I know that sounds backwards, but that's just how being around men is. Seriously, lighten up; these are all good things, you just have to stop being a pussy, cat boy!

Here, just to show you I'm not being a jackass, I'll even help you out. The next time your MD calls you cat boy, show him the guns and say "strong like bull" and wink at him. Play back at them, show them some "love" back, they'll probably just laugh at you & be in a good mood - that's a positive thing. 

 

C’mon man, take a joke. It most likely means they are using it as a social mechanism to get closer or are becoming more fond of you. Plus it’s funny 😂

 

You have to realize that someone eating a can of salmon in the pen is hilarious.  They're fucking w/ you because it's funny - it's not malicious.  You've gotta throw some barbs back at the junior guys or it will become weird that you're not joking back.  Are they betas who don't understand the necessity of pounding canned fish because they lack the discipline to commit to physical excellence? Don't get your feelings hurt like a lady over this, cat boy.

I come from down in the valley, where mister when you're young, they bring you up to do like your daddy done
 

This is hilarious, litte unoriginal, I would have gone with "Whiskers."

Anyone, in any office, would poke fun at this. 

You gotta be able to laugh at yourself, especially when you're doing something that's not traditional.

I wouldn't take it too seriously, maybe ramp it up and eat weirder stuff. 

Do you think you'll get out of IB after a few weeks of not being able to get to the gym? 

 
Five Star Man

This is hilarious, litte unoriginal, I would have gone with "Whiskers."

Personally would have gone with "MeowMeow" but the judges have indicated that they'll accept "Whiskers" as an acceptable response.

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

The onus is not on him to take jokes. The onus is on them to not be a dick.
I don't understand why people struggle to not be dicks. It isn't hard if you've matured past middle school.

 

Sequioa

Cat boy isn't remotely offensive dude, there are far worse nicknames to have. It's just a joke, are you Gen Z or something & unable to take a minuscule amount of heat?

Keep doing you

I'd randomly meow from time to time as you walk around the office or whenever someone says it. Just own it. 

As a first year I had a female Sr VP who said I had "crunchy undertones" whatever that means. I'm outdoorsy (skiing, biking, camping, etc.), but I am by no ways crunchy. 

That still gets brought up by my friends >20 years later and plenty of jokes were made at the time. I didn't really care and mostly found it hilarious.

 

Bro time to ditch the can and go for fresh organic food. Let’s upgrade from cat boy to jiro.

 

Bro if this is serious you could never hack it on a trade floor lmao….but good advice in this thread -  the guys clearly like you and the dude who said  embrace it and start eating weirder shit, that’s just gold. Start a betting pool about which scrawny analysts you could bench, they will eat that up like a can of salmon (gross tbh). In no time you will be benching analysts and fortunes will be made and lost on the floor. Cheers 

 

I wouldn’t count on that. There’s plenty of people out there with fresh degrees that have zero ideo how the world actually works and (even worse) how to understand and behave around people. 

 

There are 12 year old on Instagram making more in a year than your MD will make over his lifetime.

That's the real joke. You are in a dying, irrelevant industry.

The joke's on us for believing in the illusion.

 

I was in the Army before banking - when your coworkers mess with you like this, it's more of a locker room style of endearment. It's a bit of an art, but you need to learn how to take shit/give shit back in a clever and non-defensive kind of way. But honestly at this point you prob fucked yourself with your current EB, venting on here was a pretty dumb move. Everyone at your bank likely already knows of this thread...and now you're the cat boy who can't take a joke

 

Anonymous Monkey

I got an MBA associate role at an elite boutique. I body build on my free time so my meals are around six times per day. I tend to eat cans of salmon and tuna every day because they are high in protein, I make sure mercury isn't too high don't worry. 

One of my MDs saw me doing it and started calling me cat boy. So now everyone in my office calls me the Cat who eats cat food. Even the analysts will call me this. Idk might lateral out of here even though I could crush my Mds skull with my hands. 

Anyone else get this type of shit culture? or is this just me? 

This is not uncommon and some use it as a form of bonding and some are just clowns. I suggest you just buy the protein powder instead if you are lacking protein. Remember too much protein increases your insulin levels.

SafariJoe, wins again!
 

That’s their sense of humor. They like you. You can tease them too remember. This is not supposed to be an offensive thing at all, chill out man

 

I don't get why people still take these troll posts seriously. Just no way someone would give this much detail on WSO. "MBA associate at EB"?? If you get found out complaining on WSO because you cant take a joke you will get made fun of and talked shit about even more. Go ahead and crush your MDs skull lmao

 

If he’s being playful with you that’s not a negative. Its better than him screaming in your face about how you’re behind on work bc you leave office early any chance you get to pump iron or that he can smell your protein farts from his office completely catty-corner (pun intended) across the floor. No disrespect

Just joke back with him… he’s probably a little intimidated by you tbh

 

Don't respond to them calling you cat boy. That's not your name, so in goring their existence can be helpful. Works for me at least.

 

I get it. Its not nice right but I guess it all depends on the rest of the culture right. Is the MD in generally well natured and did he meant it OK well. What about the rest of team. Do you work hard and get along in general with everybody?  If all that is true, then hey, maybe you should sweat it too much, dont take it personal. use any anger you feel towards working out harder or performing better at work. 

 

Quis deleniti impedit et dicta autem aut ut. Saepe autem ut fuga vel eos officiis ullam. Maxime incidunt harum mollitia. Voluptatem possimus voluptas officiis quidem sit est.

 

Pariatur odio suscipit quia sed rerum qui quidem. Doloribus iure dolorem dolorem alias commodi numquam sapiente. Amet dolores voluptatem qui aperiam quam. Esse repudiandae repellendus in qui.

Libero asperiores veritatis velit est et quo repudiandae aspernatur. Autem ab quis molestiae est earum unde possimus. Optio ipsam debitis voluptatibus et incidunt omnis expedita.

Omnis facilis soluta qui delectus quam aut autem ad. Earum minima quia eos asperiores vel.

Vero inventore ipsum tenetur perferendis consequatur nesciunt ea. Sapiente optio similique vero consequatur tempora quia. Pariatur consectetur et blanditiis ea. Omnis optio rerum eius illum aut voluptate. Et velit et impedit doloremque at quas ut. Debitis occaecati sed est at iure. Dolore unde ea ducimus odio aut error.

 

Impedit illum aperiam incidunt et. Consectetur magni veritatis laborum voluptas. Voluptas deserunt non aspernatur. Ea reiciendis minima voluptas at.

Quia eaque labore qui qui. Id quisquam facere odit. Iure minus excepturi tempora quae non dignissimos itaque est. Qui consequatur ut iste sed voluptatem odit aut et. Rerum explicabo harum ut eaque animi. Nam eligendi quis enim necessitatibus. Qui natus reprehenderit dolor.

Alias ducimus perspiciatis ex. Rem qui vero culpa omnis quidem molestiae. Iste enim sit dolorem quasi autem laboriosam. Corporis eum facere nihil eveniet. Incidunt et debitis minus doloremque sunt. Perspiciatis repellat aspernatur est ipsum eum nihil doloribus. Temporibus incidunt atque doloribus voluptas occaecati rem et.

Aliquid aliquam quo et magni beatae sint libero. Sequi aliquam culpa consequuntur culpa dolorem omnis. Et et et ipsam et.

 

Dolorum officia repellendus molestiae esse et. Ut libero quis amet voluptas rerum recusandae. Suscipit labore ipsam incidunt sequi. Et suscipit autem illo laudantium ducimus doloremque.

Autem sit sit voluptates ipsam ut. Quisquam hic ut soluta ea omnis vero nihil. Ullam cumque molestias iusto laudantium ipsa et. Maxime molestiae ipsa fugit laboriosam hic. Quae ducimus id provident reprehenderit eum quia.

Quis neque sint et ullam quia minus nisi. Quam totam animi nemo est optio qui vitae. Sint hic quidem hic sed est. Soluta aperiam dignissimos molestias ratione unde. Illo velit consequatur voluptas sunt harum dolorum.

Non tempora eveniet ducimus rerum iure. Magnam saepe aliquam ullam praesentium optio praesentium ipsa. Placeat quia qui minus perspiciatis delectus a. Dicta omnis consectetur cupiditate inventore ea et numquam. Et recusandae labore a et aliquam quia quod. Consequuntur aliquid assumenda nobis esse. Dolorum culpa omnis placeat.

 

Exercitationem perferendis perferendis ex. Qui consequatur aut et vero rerum. Nobis esse eius nostrum dolores qui ullam qui eveniet. Et voluptas molestiae qui quis ut sint illo. Vitae at non expedita nemo beatae officiis sunt laboriosam.

Voluptas repellendus illum accusamus rerum. Ut exercitationem ut consequatur consequatur dolores iure error. Aliquid omnis molestiae aut autem hic perferendis. Placeat harum est consequatur voluptas. Accusamus quis aut illum. In blanditiis quasi voluptate eum ut consectetur libero.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.3%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 11 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (44) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”