Can't stand fellow grads on my grad scheme

It sounds to me a bit like the “American work ethic”, friends worked at Fermilab near Chicago, and their boss was shocked by them (Brit+French couple) wishing NOT to work all-day Saturday, but to go home and have a weekend. Plus, when they asked to take their ‘generous’ 2-weeks annual vacation, it was strongly hinted that there was too much work in the tevatron for things like ‘holidays’ to be honoured. Banks pretending to be American physics labs? or is it endemic in the investment banking industry?

You might have to pretend that you’re happy with that, for a yr or two, to get-on in the industry, until you are recruited by a better bank based on your gushing linked-in profile. Cliques, I personally ignore stuff like that, but that’s just me.

Focus on what you want/need from your grad scheme, and ignore frivolities :-)

I started a grad scheme for a large investment bank this summer.

I come from an inner city ghetto within the midlands.

I would class myself as a very open minded person who tends to get along with most people

i have never met so many middle class, pretentious people in my entire life.

Take a look at yourself first, before you **** of others. You punted for IB - were you really expecting 'inner city ghetto' social conventions?

Are you always going to define yourself and judge others by 'inner city ghetto' standards. If so, why bother ever leaving it, if that's the only company you are prepared to be comfortable with?

Check how you 'class yourself' because your very next sentence about 'middle class, pretentious' people reeks of judgement, and narrow mindedness.