Yet to work my first 'real' job, I have had my first real exposure to people in the industry through reaching out to a handful of PMs, associates, etc. Many are happy to grab lunch, well-mannered, yet, and particularly with more senior people, are unsmiling and morose.
It confuses me how someone can be serious and detached, yet compassionate enough in taking out some of the time in their day to chat.
Person A will be happy to chat with me for an hour, offer to shout me lunch, yet reply with a dull, uninterested tone and ignore my simple thank you message afterwards.
Small sample size, and obviously worlds away hierarchically and I am not their 'bro', but surprised at the behaviour of some.
Does banking select for a serious and apathetic demeanour? Lots of eccentric fund managers, and some execs like Lloyd Blankfein come off as genuine and friendly. But I want to ask, what do you think the wall street personality is and how does this come about? Has the way you acted changed with your years on the job?