All talk no bite?

I'm nearing the end of my internship in a small boutique in NYC with 4 interns. There is this one guy who's an incoming BB 2024 SA, but since we've been on the same team all summer, I'm fully aware of the fact that he knows very little yet talks all the time.

In our group meet with partners, he always follows up on whatever they say, like "yeah that's what I'm thinking" or just rephrasing what partners say to a point where other interns can't even speak up, so I'm always irritated since there is no value added to the conversations. Yet he acts condescending, and one of the partners is showing signs of giving him a return offer for next summer (which he won't ever take lol).

Thoughts on this? If it makes you more likable to senior people but not fellows, should I do the same thing in IB?

10 Comments
 

Don't hate the player, hate the game. 

Deal with it, you are going to find people like this everywhere. He managed to get a summer in a BB so obviously he is doing something right. 

 

Completely agree, but should I do it then? I'm afraid it might backfire and got both interns and seniors hating me

 

No.  It’s likely everyone can see he’s a bullshitter.  They allow it because they don’t care as long as the work gets done. Doesn’t mean they like it.  Contrary to some of the other comments acting as though this idiot is playing 4D chess or something, you’d rather  be the normal person who just works and doesn’t annoy others.

TBH it’s quite foolish that people will connect his BB offer with this behavior.  People can have all kinds of weaknesses and still get BB offers. Doesn’t mean they’re not weaknesses.

 
Most Helpful

No shortage of these people anywhere you go (unfounded confidence, juniors acting as if they know their elbow from their ass)

BUT, it’s fair game and frankly, part of the game.  The reality is, this type of pointless input many times is viewed favorably by management/ senior people on the team because they see this as being engaged / actively communicating and participating. It’s the good old faking it till you make it. As you indicated, he’s on track to getting a return offer, which means whatever bullshit he’s pulling is working.

Nothing you can do but play the same game at a higher level (offering more fulsome/ valuable input than parrot boy) or keep your head down and continue as is.

 

A little jealousy is healthy, but only to the extent it motivates you to do better. If you're actively harboring resentment against someone but not doing anything to take his place you probably belong in the cheap seat you throw stones from

 

Not hating him for the talks, but more of his attitude of thinking he's superior to 3 other interns who also landed EB and MF SA offers. Thanks for the input tho

 

Had this happen once at an invite only event. Some Kellogg student kept doing this and I just started repeating what he did quicker than he could. I think he realized quickly how we all were trying to talk to the same person. If the event was longer, I probably would have pulled him aside and let him know it's annoying (in a more polite way but you know what I mean). Once he saw me say similar comments faster than he was, he stopped doing it and the group conversation became a lot more fluid.

 

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