Magnolia wrote:FGCUguy123 wrote:Magnolia wrote:drummerboy wrote:not a question of charm its the ability to network properly to secure a job independent of oci.
Networking is only helpful in securing employment to the extent that someone may put in a good word for you if (and only if) you're already being considered for the job. Going to a firm's event demonstrates interest that can give you a leg up over a similar applicant who hasn't shown any interest in the firm. But all the networking in the world isn't going to overshadow your resume. Even outside of OCI, networking will only help you get jobs for which you're already qualified. It's not going to do anything for you if your grades aren't up to par.
Drummerboy wasn't not saying that. If someone puts in a good word for you, do you think it matters what your resume looks like (more specifically, whether or not you are in the top 20%)? And before you decide to refute that...think about whether or not you truly believe, without a doubt, that a student who is, let's say, top 43% of the class (yet who goes to several symposiums and lectures from a specific law firm and, further, is very amicable) would be less likely to get a job at that specific firm then a student who is at the top 20% of the class who never showed interest. Remember what drummerboy said..."independent of OCI." Obviously if you aren't qualified for OCI jobs, you won't get them. There are other opportunities to meet future employers and secure lawyer jobs at Emory, however, for those students not qualified for OCI. For example, Emory has a program called EPIC (Emory Public Interest Committee). EPIC, essentially, is a clinic. They also have vast amounts of fundraising events where students have one-on-one time with attorneys. This is NOT OCI nor is it reserved for the top of the class. Do you REALLY believe that a student in the top 20% who never met any of the lawyers or firms involved with EPIC has a better shot at a job with them over a student who is in the top 43% yet has been at every event and is friendly with all the aiding attorneys? It just doesn't make any sense to me.
I believe that every firm/government agency/PI org/etc. has hiring standards. I don't think that they all have the same hiring standards, they don't all require you to be top 20%, but they all have standards.
I'll use your example of the 43% student vs. the 20% student. If being top 43% at Emory meets a certain employer's hiring standards, then yes, a student in the top 43% who attends events and meets partners could have a leg up over the student who is top 20%. But if being top 43% doesn't meet their hiring standards, then I don't believe any amount of networking will change the fact that the student is unqualified by that employer's metrics. This applies whether we're talking about OCI, EPIC, resume drops, cold calling, etc. Until your qualifications have met the minimum threshold, networking doesn't mean a thing.
FTR, I'm not arguing that this is Emory-specific. This is the case at everywhere.
That is where we disagree. This might sound slightly metaphysical...but the nature of this world and, more specifically, our future profession is as much who you know as what you know. I am going to use a hypothetical, however, it will illustrate well what I'm saying. Let's say, for instance, you go out your first year and find out where a bunch of attorneys drink after work. You start building a rapport with them (aka networking) and they, in general, like you a lot. Now, the time comes where you need a job. Oh crap...you aren't within their hiring bracket. Luckily, law is a business. Businesses need to sell their product or service or else, as I'm sure you know, the business fails. Firms are looking for lawyers who they feel will fit this criteria. Further, and it has already been touched on, people want to work with people they LIKE. That means, those hiring partners won't give a flying F if you were 12th in your class if, when you interview with them (on or off campus), you remind them of Rain-main. Because those people liked you, you may get the job despite not being up to par with their hiring standards. An awesome example is in the show Boston Legal (which I love btw). There is this dude with Asperger's Syndrome. His name in the show is Jerry Espenson. Now Jerry has an MBA/JD from Harvard but, since he's so freaking awkward (and though he has been working at the firm for many years), they refuse to make him partner. Obviously he already had the job at the firm, yet the message is similar. Just as he was overlooked for partner, so will some people in law school be overlooked for jobs. The more personable you are, the more likely your resume will be overlooked. It's not that it's necessary but not sufficient, it's that the probability of getting hired out of a specific "range" greatly increases, insofar as law IS a business, with your affability.