When interviewing, is it ok to say that my nickname at school is "The Machine"?

Shows them my humour etc. Basically people call me this name at school because I'm a beast in excel and RE. People call me it when I walk by them in the hallway. Some kid I didn't even know called me the Machine in a class earlier this year. For example here's a sample use:

Person A: "Oh man, I have no idea how to do this assignment" Person B: "Don't worry, don't you remember 'The Machine' is in our group? He's got this"

Thoughts?

36 Comments
 

No.

"The Machine" makes you sound like a robot and loser, as if the only skill you have is apparently your ability to do work and nothing else.

Someone self-reporting that his nickname is the "The Machine" will just sound stupid

 

in no way should anyone coming out of school be bragging even the slightest amount about being a "beast in excel and real estate".

agree with cpgame that this is outright dumb.

depending on the job, employers generally want to see work ethic, humility and lack of entitlement. this means someone who will be willing to learn, work hard and won't think they know more than the boss.

calling yourself the machine, out loud, in front of other people, in an interview, goes against all of the above.

if someone else recognizes you and walks by and says it... well that might be cool. but if you say it yourself its really bad.

 

If I had an interviewee go out of their way to tell me that their college nickname is "the machine", regardless of the genesis of the nickname, I might give you a rye smile, chuckle for a second, and end the interview within 3 minutes.

Nice to have self-confidence, but when it spills over into sounding or being arrogant, self-serving or condescending, hiring managers will show you the door in a hurry. Lots of people out there who are very good at the skillset that has earned you the moniker of the machine.

 

How bad do you want this job? Tell me when and where and I’ll show up and randomly walk through the office and scream “OMG EVERYONE ITS THE MACHINNNNEEEE. JUST GOT HOME AND LEAVE YOUR WORK AT YOUR DESK. HE WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING”

 

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