Sabotaging Peers to Get Ahead?

Hey guys,

I'm going to be interning soon as a summer analyst at a prominent firm in NYC.  I already know I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, and have poor people skills.  But I am a master manipulator and fantastic liar which I have been able to leverage in order to secure my current position.  Considering my skill set, what are the best ways to sabotage your peers in order to gain an edge on them?  Gaslighting?  Royce Du Pont techniques?  

Open to anything and am eager for some veteran responses.

Thanks

34 Comments
 

The idea that the two are correlated is often misconstrued.  I am able to see people's desires and insecurities by getting them to talk about themselves (which most people love to blabber on about -- exemplified through some pretty basic neuroscience).  Afterwards, I am able to shape my personality and opinions to align with their way of thinking in a non-threatening but complementary way that boosts their ego, and gives them the false impression that we are alike (people subconsciously admire and like those who seem or look similar to them).  I can lie and confabulate false experiences on the spot easily, and my great long-term memory gives me an advantage in this matter. This way it is quite easy to obtain their misguided trust.  (It baffles me how quickly someone is so readily able to trust a complete stranger when they don't know the first thing about them!).  And while to the misguided, I may come across as socially aware, relatable, kind, generous and trustworthy.   I consider myself weak in people skills because despite having mastered one-on-one communication, I am terrible at using the same skills and strategies in group settings.  I am a naturally introverted person, and often I struggle to find genuine connection and relate to those in my immediate circumstance at social events.  You see, my manipulative tendencies are only strong when dealing with individuals not groups.  When placed in a crowd, I am unable to equally appeal to everyone the same as I am able to do in one-on-one interactions...  I am a malleable, amorphous, chameleon-like parasite, waiting for the opportunity to use the knowledge I have gained to my advantage.   

 

The idea that the two are correlated is often misconstrued.  I am able to see people's desires and insecurities by getting them to talk about themselves (which most people love to blabber on about -- exemplified through some pretty basic neuroscience).  Afterwards, I am able to shape my personality and opinions to align with their way of thinking in a non-threatening but complementary way that boosts their ego, and gives them the false impression that we are alike (people subconsciously admire and like those who seem or look similar to them).  I can lie and confabulate false experiences on the spot easily, and my great long-term memory gives me an advantage in this matter. This way it is quite easy to obtain their misguided trust.  (It baffles me how quickly someone is so readily able to trust a complete stranger when they don't know the first thing about them!).  And while to the misguided, I may come across as socially aware, relatable, kind, generous and trustworthy.   I consider myself weak in people skills because despite having mastered one-on-one communication, I am terrible at using the same skills and strategies in group settings.  I am a naturally introverted person, and often I struggle to find genuine connection and relate to those in my immediate circumstance at social events.  You see, my manipulative tendencies are only strong when dealing with individuals not groups.  When placed in a crowd, I am unable to equally appeal to everyone the same as I am able to do in one-on-one interactions...  I am a malleable, amorphous, chameleon-like parasite, waiting for the opportunity to use the knowledge I have gained to my advantage.   

Lmao you're not that unique homie 

 

Know someone like this and they were incredibly successful at a very young age.

Basically lied to get into HYP, making up fake leadership positions and shell non-profits.

Lied about their graduation date to get summer offers early on. Eventually got into a MF analyst program. This guy is in his mid 20s and is a principal at a top MF. Lying is an extremely useful skill that you can’t succeed without as you become senior.

 

Or maybe, I'm manipulating you by not lying?  Or maybe I'm lying and am not manipulating you or in this very post I am manipulating you by making you question if I am lying or manipulating you?  Or maybe I am just retarded? Who knows? 

 

He'll be a tech founder, any day now.

Investor (30+ years); IB/RE/PE/Corp (MD level); currently, head of boutique private equity firm; principal of family office.
 

Hey! If you could just lmk what bank your interning at, I want to make sure I’m not their when your fired. You seem the get angry and shoot a place up type.

 

What was that Dale Carnegie book? How to Tonya Harding your competition?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Enim itaque aliquam ut qui ut. Provident itaque atque sit modi molestiae odit. Eius cupiditate maiores tempore officia minima dolores.

Voluptatem molestiae aliquam voluptatem totam nam voluptatum similique. Vel qui ut eum odit dolores illo enim. Omnis officia sed qui.

Eaque sapiente dolorem aut eos id provident quibusdam. Voluptatum omnis accusamus aut sequi. Consectetur hic sed omnis dolor voluptatem ab. Ducimus rerum modi ut ab.

Illo sequi omnis libero. Quibusdam vel aut quas vitae ipsam. Voluptatem et molestias quo magni laborum. Id laborum illum provident sint et.

 

Voluptatem dolores quis dolores veniam at et voluptas. Ea recusandae voluptatum reiciendis hic rerum nostrum et aut. Quis voluptate quia impedit cum non eius quaerat quo. Aut repellat ducimus molestias a exercitationem sint voluptate. Vero quas est fuga expedita quas rerum in. Hic sed optio adipisci voluptate omnis. Repudiandae est sunt itaque.

Quaerat ullam harum voluptate facere et. Magni consequatur suscipit ipsa voluptatem suscipit est aperiam. Excepturi aliquid magnam voluptatum blanditiis quia. Placeat et et id quisquam.

Ullam sunt aut et deserunt earum ullam iure impedit. Vero dignissimos sint odit eius asperiores. Itaque rerum voluptatem ab molestiae.

Investor (30+ years); IB/RE/PE/Corp (MD level); currently, head of boutique private equity firm; principal of family office.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.8%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.2%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.8%
  • Evercore 01 98.2%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.6%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.2%
  • JPMorgan No 97.7%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (14) $434
  • Associates (43) $259
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (75) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (66) $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

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
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...”