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I am a 1L at a T. 50 law school who was selected for an OCI interview w/ a business's legal department. I heard hardly anyone is getting jobs from OCI these days. How serious should I take this interview? Should i consider this interview just "practice" or is is this something I can lose or gain based on my interview. Thanks, any feedback is appreciated.

Speaking with the head of the hiring committee of the largest regional firm where I live... He said that baring some great mitigating factor (i.e. your dad is a federal judge) once the committee has decided to grant you an interview, they "almost never" refer back to your grades/resume.

That is just how that firm does it... I don't think everyone is that way, but it surprised me how much emphasis they put on it.

thelawguy777 wrote:Speaking with the head of the hiring committee of the largest regional firm where I live... He said that baring some great mitigating factor (i.e. your dad is a federal judge) once the committee has decided to grant you an interview, they "almost never" refer back to your grades/resume.

That is just how that firm does it... I don't think everyone is that way, but it surprised me how much emphasis they put on it.

This applies more to a call-back interview, rather than the screening interview at OCI.

I would take this interview very seriously. Typically, in-house positions are for 1Ls and are definitely a realistic option at 1L OCI.

Usually OCI interviews are serious, and you should approach it that way. But keep in mind they might interview 20 people at your school, plus the same number at a few other schools, only to hire one.

I would approach it the same way regardless, so it doesn't seem that relevant.

I don't understand the question. You are interviewing for a job. Take it however seriously you take finding a job.

And of course doing an interview means you can gain or lose based on the interview -- if they knew they weren't going to hire you they wouldn't interview you, and if they knew for sure that they were going to hire you they wouldn't interview you either.

(I don't mean to be snarky, but I just really don't understand what kind of answers you are looking for.)

NewHere wrote:I don't understand the question. You are interviewing for a job. Take it however seriously you take finding a job.

And of course doing an interview means you can gain or lose based on the interview -- if they knew they weren't going to hire you they wouldn't interview you, and if they knew for sure that they were going to hire you they wouldn't interview you either.

(I don't mean to be snarky, but I just really don't understand what kind of answers you are looking for.)

Well said.

Yeah i agree it was kind of weird question but my main point is that I didn't want to get my hopes up for a job that I won't get or have little chances of getting. I'm wasn't to sure that I understood OCI. I was told by 2l's and 3l's at my school that it's was really hard to get a job from OCI. and one girl told me that the interviewers actually told her in the interview that the were on hiring freezes. But thanks anyway, I'll def take it "seriously"

NewHere wrote:I don't understand the question. You are interviewing for a job. Take it however seriously you take finding a job.

And of course doing an interview means you can gain or lose based on the interview -- if they knew they weren't going to hire you they wouldn't interview you, and if they knew for sure that they were going to hire you they wouldn't interview you either.

(I don't mean to be snarky, but I just really don't understand what kind of answers you are looking for.)

I had one interview during this year's 1L OCI where the guy pretty plainly said they were just planting seeds for fall OCI and had no plans to hire anyone.