Wild story: kid got blacklisted over email signature

So I was catching up with a kid who goes to my alma mater on their IB recruiting process, and they told me they are worried that they might’ve been blacklisted from a firm (EB) that they devoted a huge amount of energy to.

Reason being: they had a riddle/brainteaser in their email signature.

They heard they were being ridiculed by the people at that firm and screenshots of their email were passed around in group chats.

I looked at their email; it was a solid professional email, and I would say it even fell on the more technical side (brought up ongoing trends in the industry, and their observation was correct).

The brainteaser itself was pretty short, nothing offensive. I’d say it was a little quirky, which actually showed the energy of our alma mater. Maybe not the best to put in a professional email signature, but personally I wouldn’t blacklisting someone over it. I mean, my firm (EB) ask kids brain teasers during an interview lol.

I may be biased, so I’m curious about what everyone thinks:
As someone on the receiving end of an email like this, is this something that you would blacklist a kid over?

31 Comments
 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

No?? Why???

If it was my group (rather nerdy) we’d probably just chuckle. My VP might roll his eyes, but he definitely wouldn’t tell us to black list that kid.

My analyst buddy and I would be happy to hop on a call with him if we aren’t too busy (nerdy group, we love brainteasers, and this sound like an interesting person to work with). That said, my VP prob wouldn’t respond, but not out of despise but rather something like “ugh, kids these days, I can’t”

 

I agree. I can imagine some more senior/ more serious people not liking it, but I don’t think anyone I know would go as far as putting the sender on a firm wide blacklist

 

I remember encountering petty people like those when I was recruiting.
I’ve been trying my best to not be like them.

 
  • Smurf-obsessed MD, middle aged at least
    - asking do you like blue as a serious interview question
    - actually taking that answer as a critical hiring criteria
    - being so petty while making dad puns
    - proudly announcing this to whole bullpen

There’s actually so much going on in here i do not know whether I’d feel lucky or extremely worried if I’m working under this guy

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

Yeah to be fair I think EB analysts should barely have time to read through an entire cold email. If they really are making fun of the student for having a brainteaser in the email signature, their VP needs to get them staffed.

 
[Comment removed by mod team]
 

This is quite literally the most wholesome thread I’ve seen in a while

 

I’m sorry but some of these EB banking people be crazy fr
I’m in consulting; my buddy and I would love a good brainteaser lmao

 

Feels like OP made a bunch of accounts to back himself up on this thread. Sending a brainteaser in your sig is super weird and is something I would react negatively to.

 

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