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I have a phone interview this week at the USAO in my home state. A last minute flight home would have cost about 500 so I took them up on their offer to do a phone interview instead (I never brought it up, they did). However, now I'm worried that I may be put at a disadvantage against the other interviewees. It's a small state and therefore almost all of the other candidates will be from the local school and interviewing in person. Am I at a huge disadvantage being one of the few (or possibly even the only one) interviewing by phone?

Geist13 wrote:I have a phone interview this week at the USAO in my home state. A last minute flight home would have cost about 500 so I took them up on their offer to do a phone interview instead (I never brought it up, they did). However, now I'm worried that I may be put at a disadvantage against the other interviewees. It's a small state and therefore almost all of the other candidates will be from the local school and interviewing in person. Am I at a huge disadvantage being one of the few (or possibly even the only one) interviewing by phone?

Yes. It's just human psychology.

Kohinoor wrote:

Geist13 wrote:I have a phone interview this week at the USAO in my home state. A last minute flight home would have cost about 500 so I took them up on their offer to do a phone interview instead (I never brought it up, they did). However, now I'm worried that I may be put at a disadvantage against the other interviewees. It's a small state and therefore almost all of the other candidates will be from the local school and interviewing in person. Am I at a huge disadvantage being one of the few (or possibly even the only one) interviewing by phone?

Yes. It's just human psychology.

I have heard both theories (it puts you @ disadvantage and it doesn't) from people who have gone through the process. So you are probably going to hear both theories in this thread. I am aware of people who have gotten offers from phone interviews.

I did one last year, and the firm made it seem like I didn't get hired because of it, even telling me "it obviously put you at a bit of a disadvantage."

From my experience, phone interviews just tend to normalize. So if you interview really well, you don't get quite as big a bump on the phone as you do in real life, and if you screw the interview up, you don't get hit quite as hard.

Also, I think phone interviews are common place enough for 1L gigs that most of your competition will be doing them. If the law students in your home state are from a school that is good enough that the small difference between a phone interview and an in person one gets them hired over you, then I think you went to the wrong school my friend.

In sum, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Bosque wrote:Also, I think phone interviews are common place enough for 1L gigs that most of your competition will be doing them. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

TITCR

Doritos wrote:

Kohinoor wrote:

Geist13 wrote:I have a phone interview this week at the USAO in my home state. A last minute flight home would have cost about 500 so I took them up on their offer to do a phone interview instead (I never brought it up, they did). However, now I'm worried that I may be put at a disadvantage against the other interviewees. It's a small state and therefore almost all of the other candidates will be from the local school and interviewing in person. Am I at a huge disadvantage being one of the few (or possibly even the only one) interviewing by phone?

Yes. It's just human psychology.

I have heard both theories (it puts you @ disadvantage and it doesn't) from people who have gone through the process. So you are probably going to hear both theories in this thread. I am aware of people who have gotten offers from phone interviews.

I can't imagine how it would give you an advantage unless you're hideous and/or hideously incapable of the basics of human interaction.

Kohinoor wrote:

Doritos wrote:

Kohinoor wrote:

Geist13 wrote:I have a phone interview this week at the USAO in my home state. A last minute flight home would have cost about 500 so I took them up on their offer to do a phone interview instead (I never brought it up, they did). However, now I'm worried that I may be put at a disadvantage against the other interviewees. It's a small state and therefore almost all of the other candidates will be from the local school and interviewing in person. Am I at a huge disadvantage being one of the few (or possibly even the only one) interviewing by phone?

Yes. It's just human psychology.

I have heard both theories (it puts you @ disadvantage and it doesn't) from people who have gone through the process. So you are probably going to hear both theories in this thread. I am aware of people who have gotten offers from phone interviews.

I can't imagine how it would give you an advantage unless you're hideous and/or hideously incapable of the basics of human interaction.

I meant the theory that it puts you at a disadvantage and that you remain neutral. I agree I can't see how it would put you at an advantage

It depends in part on your personality/interview skills, I think. Personally, I am finding it a little more difficult to do phone interviews because I don't have the benefit of being able to see someone's reaction to what I say. Also, I sound like I am 10 years old on the phone. But some people are much smoother on the phone, and for them it's probably not a problem.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. I had this exact scenario come up with a USAO over a thousand miles away last year. I opted for a phone interview and got an offer. Obviously an interview in person is ideal, but USAO's usually understand and have to do this fairly often. I definitely agree with the posters that think you shouldn't worry too much about it.

I got a DOJ job solely from a phone interview and I was the only one who did the phone interview.

Yes.

jaxon05 wrote:I wouldn't sweat it too much. I had this exact scenario come up with a USAO over a thousand miles away last year. I opted for a phone interview and got an offer. Obviously an interview in person is ideal, but USAO's usually understand and have to do this fairly often. I definitely agree with the posters that think you shouldn't worry too much about it.

Same exact situation for me. USAO phone interview for my 1L position seemed like more of just a way to make sure that you are competent and someone they could get along with for a summer. I got the impression that they wanted to hire me based on my resume/ties, and that the interview was just to confirm.

Good luck!

Kohinoor wrote: I can't imagine how it would give you an advantage unless you're hideous and/or hideously incapable of the basics of human interaction.

can you imagine law school?

Reviving this thread because I am now in this position, although the position I am interviewing for is a permanent position with a state agency (I am a 3L). Please help me decide whether it's worth it to spend an upward of $400 for a half an hour interview or a phone interview would work.

Thanks TLS.

ETA: The place I am interviewing is close to home. So I can spend a weekend at home before finals as well.

Just go to the interview in person. It's worth it for a permanent job.

I went through 3 phone interviews and 1 video conference with the firm I will be joining in the fall. What I found pretty helpful is to do the interview in front of a mirror- you want to sound enthusiastic and interested, and glancing at my facial expressions throughout the interviews kept me on my toes.

Good luck!

I had multiple offers through phone interviews. I don't think it matters if you sound nice on the phone and look great on paper. However, I think it depends on how competition looks at the interview stage. I think I was already going to get the offer when I had my phone interviews, so it made no difference. But if a lot of candidates are being interviewed, you should go in person.

charcop wrote:I went through 3 phone interviews and 1 video conference with the firm I will be joining in the fall. What I found pretty helpful is to do the interview in front of a mirror- you want to sound enthusiastic and interested, and glancing at my facial expressions throughout the interviews kept me on my toes.

Good luck!

That's a good idea. I will remember that! I always feel awkward talking on the phone, but I can just pretend I am talking to handsome fella in the mirror.

Thanks for the tip. =)

Was wondering the same thing about video conference interviews. I assume that they're better than phone interviews but would I be disadvantaged for interviewing through a webcam instead of in person?