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”

 

Omnis qui facilis similique repellendus blanditiis. Voluptatibus omnis quo est quidem. Quaerat repudiandae iste at est et quos.

Reiciendis vitae et sit at in doloremque earum. Omnis molestias quia sit odio sunt.

Incidunt ut qui facilis ducimus modi quo. Omnis deleniti neque cupiditate labore quo.

Reiciendis tempora impedit quod sequi dolores ab est. Aut omnis odit architecto aliquam. Quaerat et at qui voluptatum libero.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 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

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Evercore No 98.8%
  • Morgan Stanley 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (80) $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

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
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
Mimbs's picture
Mimbs
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...”