Summer 2013 Non-OCI Job Hunt (Mass Mail, Job Fairs, etc) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just got a V40 NYC screener for next week - emailed materials last Friday.

[Anonymous User]

Just to clarify: are most of you emailing the firm's recruiting contact rather than snail mail? I had been planning to smail mail everything, but was wondering if email is now the standard practice for this.

[Anonymous User]

recruiting contact. I'd always double check the firm's site, it'll almost always tell you who to address

Thanks, tedalbany. This whole process is making me a little neurotic...

Damn there were some people saying the app should be emailed to recruiting contact but the cover letter inside should be addressed to the hiring partner. I did that for my first 30 apps which happened to be my targets. Hope I didn't screw myself over.

[kalvano]

Just to clarify: are most of you emailing the firm's recruiting contact rather than snail mail? I had been planning to smail mail everything, but was wondering if email is now the standard practice for this.

Way to protect your identity there.

This has been asked 100 times in the past two weeks. Why would you even think about using regular mail? It's tedious and expensive and will probably piss off recruiters.

Email. Everything. It's 2012.

[kalvano]

recruiting contact. I'd always double check the firm's site, it'll almost always tell you who to address

Thanks, tedalbany. This whole process is making me a little neurotic...

Damn there were some people saying the app should be emailed to recruiting contact but the cover letter inside should be addressed to the hiring partner. I did that for my first 30 apps which happened to be my targets. Hope I didn't screw myself over.

It really doesn't matter. As long as you don't address it to someone in another firm, you'll be fine.

[tedalbany]

Can someone PM me this NY V40 that's doing interviews? I probably already bid on them, but just want to double check

[adammac17]

So I'm sending apps into every big/mid size firm in my target market but I realize I'm right on the bubble/slightly outside where my school places people into big law. Any thoughts on when I should start lowering my sights to smaller firms?

Im thinking I can wait until after I find out if OCI/this round of mass mailing works out before moving down to like the Chicago 4 or more list right? Best to put all my effort into big firms initially?

[kalvano]

So I'm sending apps into every big/mid size firm in my target market but I realize I'm right on the bubble/slightly outside where my school places people into big law. Any thoughts on when I should start lowering my sights to smaller firms?

Im thinking I can wait until after I find out if OCI/this round of mass mailing works out before moving down to like the Chicago 4 or more list right? Best to put all my effort into big firms initially?

This is the time for big firms and largish / medium firms to do most of their recruiting. So yes, focus on them, then move on to smaller firms. Most smaller firms won't start until later in the fall or spring.

[tedalbany]

Kalvano: Are there any firms in TX I could even bother with? No real ties (friends live there, family used to live there, might still be someone there), good grades at a major T30... Austin seems like a great place to work (though I've picked up that Austin is pretty much impossible to crack), and I have friends in San Antonio (though that seems even more insular).

Is it even worth mailing some of the larger firms?

[Anonymous User]

I got an interview offer from a firm asking for my availability. I sent them my schedule 3 days ago and haven't heard back. How long until a followup?

[kalvano]

Kalvano: Are there any firms in TX I could even bother with? No real ties (friends live there, family used to live there, might still be someone there), good grades at a major T30... Austin seems like a great place to work (though I've picked up that Austin is pretty much impossible to crack), and I have friends in San Antonio (though that seems even more insular).

Is it even worth mailing some of the larger firms?

Sure. Always worth a shot. It doesn't cost you anything except a bit of time, and the potential rewards are great.

And while ties matter, I think they are overblown somewhat on here.

[4444]

So my school has a New York edition of the OCI, being held in New York on one day - and about 40+ firms are on the list. At most, you can only have 10 interviews on this day.

In the chance that more than 10 firms want to interview someone, what's the plan? Mass mail them all now, and try to set up an interview outside of the OCI event? Or e-mail them after, saying because of the schedule and not being able to meet, can we meet at a different time?

[Anonymous User]

I got an interview offer from a firm asking for my availability. I sent them my schedule 3 days ago and haven't heard back. How long until a followup?

I'd PM you but your anonymous. The exact same thing has happened to me. V40 firm with a big class size?

[Anonymous User]

10 more firms and I think I have mailed almost every firm in the DFW/Houston area with a smattering of Austin (haha, like that'll happen).

What do I do then?

What have you been using to find firms? I've been using texaslawyer's top 100 list. I figure it is useful because it goes by strictly number of attorneys in Texas, which I figure is useful for finding larger summer classes.

I've been using resume launchpad primarily (just to research). It's out of date for some firms, but I found some great ones I wouldn't have seen otherwise. I'll have to check out that texas lawyer list though!

[Anonymous User]

So my school has a New York edition of the OCI, being held in New York on one day - and about 40+ firms are on the list. At most, you can only have 10 interviews on this day.

In the chance that more than 10 firms want to interview someone, what's the plan? Mass mail them all now, and try to set up an interview outside of the OCI event? Or e-mail them after, saying because of the schedule and not being able to meet, can we meet at a different time?

I would do the latter. Wait until you get selected and then mail everyone else (those who selected you and those who didn't as well). I think I'm at the same job fair, and we get out preselects Aug 1, which leads plenty of time to follow up. It appears most NYC firms aren't really moving much yet

[Anonymous User]

So my school has a New York edition of the OCI, being held in New York on one day - and about 40+ firms are on the list. At most, you can only have 10 interviews on this day.

In the chance that more than 10 firms want to interview someone, what's the plan? Mass mail them all now, and try to set up an interview outside of the OCI event? Or e-mail them after, saying because of the schedule and not being able to meet, can we meet at a different time?

I would do the latter. Wait until you get selected and then mail everyone else (those who selected you and those who didn't as well). I think I'm at the same job fair, and we get out preselects Aug 1, which leads plenty of time to follow up. It appears most NYC firms aren't really moving much yet

just got a callback from a midwest market (not chicago) firm that pays slightly above market. pumped!

[Anonymous User]

I got an interview offer from a firm asking for my availability. I sent them my schedule 3 days ago and haven't heard back. How long until a followup?

I'd PM you but your anonymous. The exact same thing has happened to me. V40 firm with a big class size?

Not a V40. Right outside of NLJ250. I'm thinking waiting a few more days before following up...thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

is it ok to mail firms that are coming to OCI but I'm not bidding on?

[lawyergirl47]

This is a stupid question, but for mass mailing NY, do I need to include any reason for wanting to be there? It is my understanding that the firms simply assume that we all want to end up in NY, but I just want to be sure...

thanks

[Anonymous User]

I think I bombed an interview. I was asked what my most recent supervisor would have said my greatest flaw was. I told her that I had never received any sort of criticism from my previous supervisor and was unsure. The attorney then asked what I would have said my greatest flaw in that job was. I talked about how rigid my schedule was and how I couldn't help cover other shifts because of class, which made me feel guilty when people were ill or had emergencies. The attorney laughed and said that wasn't a flaw because it was out of my control. Attorney then asked what my greatest character flaw in general is. All of the weaknesses I had come up with in advance in response to a possible "what's your greatest weakness" question weren't exactly character flaws. I feel like I have pretty good character. I then randomly said I really like to make everyone happy, which is difficult at times when you know that you can't give someone the answer they want. Attorney then scribbled notes furiously on my resume.

Derp.

[letsdoit]

I think I bombed an interview. I was asked what my most recent supervisor would have said my greatest flaw was. I told her that I had never received any sort of criticism from my previous supervisor and was unsure. The attorney then asked what I would have said my greatest flaw in that job was. I talked about how rigid my schedule was and how I couldn't help cover other shifts because of class, which made me feel guilty when people were ill or had emergencies. The attorney laughed and said that wasn't a flaw because it was out of my control. Attorney then asked what my greatest character flaw in general is. All of the weaknesses I had come up with in advance in response to a possible "what's your greatest weakness" question weren't exactly character flaws. I feel like I have pretty good character. I then randomly said I really like to make everyone happy, which is difficult at times when you know that you can't give someone the answer they want. Attorney then scribbled notes furiously on my resume.

Derp.

This doesn't sound that bad...you probably did fine.

[Anonymous User]

I think I bombed an interview. I was asked what my most recent supervisor would have said my greatest flaw was. I told her that I had never received any sort of criticism from my previous supervisor and was unsure. The attorney then asked what I would have said my greatest flaw in that job was. I talked about how rigid my schedule was and how I couldn't help cover other shifts because of class, which made me feel guilty when people were ill or had emergencies. The attorney laughed and said that wasn't a flaw because it was out of my control. Attorney then asked what my greatest character flaw in general is. All of the weaknesses I had come up with in advance in response to a possible "what's your greatest weakness" question weren't exactly character flaws. I feel like I have pretty good character. I then randomly said I really like to make everyone happy, which is difficult at times when you know that you can't give someone the answer they want. Attorney then scribbled notes furiously on my resume.

Derp.

"What is your biggest weakness" is the biggest TTT question ever. Though some people will ask it, so you should have a response to it.

[Anonymous User]

I think I bombed an interview. I was asked what my most recent supervisor would have said my greatest flaw was. I told her that I had never received any sort of criticism from my previous supervisor and was unsure. The attorney then asked what I would have said my greatest flaw in that job was. I talked about how rigid my schedule was and how I couldn't help cover other shifts because of class, which made me feel guilty when people were ill or had emergencies. The attorney laughed and said that wasn't a flaw because it was out of my control. Attorney then asked what my greatest character flaw in general is. All of the weaknesses I had come up with in advance in response to a possible "what's your greatest weakness" question weren't exactly character flaws. I feel like I have pretty good character. I then randomly said I really like to make everyone happy, which is difficult at times when you know that you can't give someone the answer they want. Attorney then scribbled notes furiously on my resume.

Derp.

"What is your biggest weakness" is the biggest TTT question ever. Though some people will ask it, so you should have a response to it.

OP here. I do have a weakness I came up with but not what one would consider a character flaw. What is a good example of an acceptable character flaw to mention?

[Anonymous User]

biggest weakness questions are fucking lazy, so I just give a lazy answer and say "i try too hard"

[shock259]

"I care too much"
"I work too hard"

etc

Also, my screener went well I thought. Sadly no callback decisions until after OCI. Early September. Booo.