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Nine Interview Don'ts
by Bitter Staff
09/09/09
Advice from an Ex-Bitter
I Turned Down Summer Offers
by Ex-Bitter
02/24/09
Bitter Exclusive
OCI: Hiring Partners Tell All—Part 2
by Bitter Staff
09/16/09
Bitter Exclusive
OCI: Hiring Partners Tell All—Part 3
by Bitter Staff
09/18/09
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OCI: Hiring Partners Tell All
by Bitter Staff
03:59 AM, 09/14
[Ed. Note: As a follow up to our pithy list of nine interview don’ts, this exclusive is the newest piece in our focus on the OCI/interview/job hunting process for law students. Bitter Lawyer is actually trying to be helpful? Youbetcha. We do what we can. And there will be several more in the upcoming weeks that we hope provide a scintilla of assistance for bitter law students living in this insane legal era.]
The decimated OCI season is in full swing. And while we totally understand that all schools are at different points in the process—first rounds, callbacks, etc.—everyone is freaked out about interviewing well enough to receive a job offer. An offer to actually work as a lawyer and not a paralegal or building contractor.
What’s standing between every law students and a sweet law firm gig? An interviewer. So, we caught up with some hiring partners around the country to ask them for a little help on how to ace (or, more precisely, how not to eff up) an interview.
Although we wish they all had been willing to go on the record, not all of the partners wanted to be directly quoted. And that’s probably because the last thing they want to hear about in an interview is how you really like their advice on Bitter Lawyer. So for those who preferred to remain anonymous, we’ve identified them by their firm’s approximate AmLaw ranking and the city where they’re based.
________________________________
What’s the toughest question you love to ask?
Alex Fugazzi, Partner, Snell & Wilmer LLP (Las Vegas):
“Why do you want to work in Las Vegas, or what is your connection to Las Vegas?
Because Las Vegas is billed as a fun, transient, resort town, we often get resumes from impressive candidates with East Coast pedigrees and absolutely no Nevada connection. Initial telephonic screening interviews beforehand are a good idea. I have had too many people schedule Friday interviews with our firm, only to find out they have a friend’s bachelor/bachelorette party that weekend or are looking to have fun in Las Vegas before going back to their geographic roots.
Surprisingly, students are often unprepared to answer this question. I get hesitant responses like, ‘I’ve spent some time on the Strip and really like it.’ One student told me she planned to be a professional poker player. Her plan was to play the tables all night and work all day. She reassured me that she was one of those people who ‘doesn’t need to sleep.’ I was not reassured.”
Andrew Struve, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (Los Angeles):
“Why are you interested in our firm?
I want someone to show that they’ve done research about us. Or, I want to see if they’re just applying to the top 20 biggest firms in LA, and we happen to be on that list. That, I don’t want. It’s basically an opportunity to show interest in our clients or our practice areas. And it’s a good chance to set yourself apart from the pack.
But I don’t ask the silly questions like what your favorite book is. I don’t care about that, and I don’t think it’s fair or that it necessarily shows me anything.”
________________________________
How does the resume factor into the interview? Do you ask about it? Ever caught someone in a lie or embellishment?
Anonymous Partner, AmLaw 75 (Los Angeles):
“The resume sort of guides the interview. I’ve never caught anyone really lying, but that’s probably because we do a serious background check like most firms. I don’t really worry about lies.
But I do try to get a feel for embellishments. If someone has a lot of groups and activities on their resume, I try and get a sense of whether they’re just doing some resume padding or if they’ve really taken an interest in something. Usually, when they just mention a group that they’ve joined, it’s a sign that they aren’t really doing a whole lot. If you’re going to put it on the resume, I’m looking for someone who has shown actual interest and maybe even leadership in that group.”
Anonymous Partner, AmLaw 150 (New York):
“The resume is important because it’s the talking point. I’m looking for interesting things there. Sometimes I’ll comment on personal interests that are list. I once had someone who had written a little bit about his interest in literature, but when I asked him, he really fumbled. It was clear he really didn’t know anything about literature and didn’t read much, which is fine, but you look really dumb when you try to make yourself out to be smarter than you are.”
Anonymous Partner, AmLaw 125 (Washington, D.C.):
“I don’t use the resume much at all. For me, the interview is about thinking on your feet and putting your best foot forward. That’s what I want to see. So, if I’m looking at your resume, you’ve probably already lost me, and I’m just trying to throw you a line by giving you something to say that’s interesting.
But, honestly, the resume is what gets you in the door. In the interview, I want to see if you’re someone I want to work with.”
________________________________
What’s something you know now that you wish you had known when you were an interviewing law student?
Andrew Struve, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP (Los Angeles):
“One thing I didn’t know then was that the interviewer is actually trying to help you. They really do want you to do well because it means they have a good candidate. But I would have liked to have known then how much of a difference sincerity and enthusiasm makes. Lawyers are about helping people. If you can play to that subtly, do it. And if you can’t be subtle, be overt. Humanize yourself. When it’s a close call, enthusiasm makes all difference.”
Anonymous Partner, AmLaw 75 (Los Angeles):
“I think on some level I knew this intuitively, but it is painful to be the interviewer. It’s far more painful than the student who has to see a dozen partners in a day; I see three times the amount of people, and it’s pretty dull.
So, you really need to think of something to distinguish yourself. Don’t just ask me about the summer rotation, you can get that on the website, and I get asked questions like that all day. If you’re a student who’s on the bubble, figure out what’s interesting about you and tell me about that. The best interviews I’ve had were with people who shared interesting life stories. I like hearing stories that make people stand out.”
________________________________
Think back to when you were a law student. What was your biggest fear going into an interview? What was the worst interview you had? What was the result?
Alex Fugazzi, Partner, Snell & Wilmer LLP (Las Vegas):
“My biggest fear was not being taken seriously by the lawyers interviewing me. I went straight from college to law school. Although I was fortunate enough to land an unpaid internship with a judge after my first year of law school, all my prior real-world work experience was completely unrelated to law—busboy, medical lab courier, landscape worker, things of that nature. So, my biggest fear was that I wouldn’t be able to convince lawyers that I was worthy of a six-figure income and could be trusted with their clients’ problems.
My worst interview was probably with a regional Midwest firm. Two attorneys who had children took me to dinner and spent the entire time discussing their kids, nannies and the difficulty of juggling work and kids.
Now that I’m ten years older and have kids, I realize there was merit to many of the frustrations they expressed at that interview, but at that time I simply couldn’t relate. More importantly, I couldn’t figure out a way to get actively involved in their conversation.
A few days later, I received a very prompt, curt rejection letter, and I immediately blamed them. The lawyers that took me to dinner clearly didn’t know their audience, and they didn’t even try to get me involved. I still think that is true, but now that I’m on the other side of the fence, I also realize that I was equally to blame because I was unable to figure out how to actively participate in the interview.
Students need to be prepared to allow the interviewer to guide the interview. If they want to talk about their own hobbies and interests, the law student should act interested and at least ask questions and try to stay involved in the interview. As unfair and unfortunate as it may seem, it is the law student looking for the job, not the lawyer, so if students get stuck with a bad interviewer, they simply need to make the most of it. This is especially true of the dreaded lunch/dinner portion of the interview, which is supposedly less formal and intended to get to know the candidate rather than just discuss their academic and professional achievements.”
On Wednesday, the partners will confess the worst things interviewees can possibly say, the most common mistakes and how to do damage control if you blow it in the first five minutes.
Update: Part 2 here, Part 3 here.
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