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Anonymous User wrote:I usually put a full blown cover letter on the body of my email and then attach resume and transcript. I hope that the full blown cover letter makes it seem personalized but what do I know.

Anonymous User wrote:Person above asking about writing after 11 days when hiring timeline was a week to 10 days.

1) The interviewer has always answered my e-mails promptly and seems very informal, so an ongoing e-mail conversation would not be too pesky or invasive.

2) This is an in-house position. I have a civil litigation resume. They really liked my resume however. Between two interviews we chatted for three hours. I was very sincere about the fact that I don't quite know what I want to do with my legal degree but loved the idea of going in-house but hadn't seen very many specific entry-level in-house positions so was looking for good experience with good people with the goal of going in-house in mind down the road. I talked specifically about loving working with contracts, negotiating, etc. etc. and was generally incredibly enthusiastic. But I did not say in the interview or in any of my follow up emails "This is my absolute top choice, I want this job" and I wish I had. I also said something at one point where the interview was almost two hours in and I think I got a little too chatty "I'm not going to pretend that my specific goal was to work in-house at xx type of company but xyz are exactly why I think this would be a great long-term fit." Now all that's sticking out in my mind is the "not my specific goal" comment and that it was dumb ass. I said a LOT right in what was a VERY good, back and forth high energy interview but that sticks out to me. I would like to write the interviewers and just say I wanted to stay in touch because I had been thinking about things they had said during the interview, talking to people in the field just by chance, etc. in the last couple weeks and because of elements xyz I believe that this job/work are the best fit for what I'm looking for in a job, that the people sound great, etc. etc., it's my top choice and I would love to offer xyz skills and knowledge that make me a great hire to the firm. I'm rambling here but always get great feedback on my writing and cover letters so could keep this to a pithy, non-desperate sounding, sincere paragraph.

3) I regret not writing back a quick follow up to the interviewer's "a week to 10 days" e-mail.

4) I figure I have not heard yet because a) they went with someone else or b) they got busy working on a deal and just haven't had the hiring conversation yet. I figure if a) obviously I have nothing to lose and if b) there's a chance a short, sincere e-mail reiterating my interest in concrete ways could help things in my favor or they are leaning my way and like me it's not gonna hurt things. And c) I am doing all the right things carrying on applying to jobs, etc. and even have another interview in the works but I am suffering some pretty acute anxiety waiting to hear back and given that sending this e-mail seems low risk ANY info on the hiring process would make my life significantly more bearable.

BUT I know there is a risk of pestering someone so want to get some feedback about how high the risk of that is. THANK YOU so much everyone here. The success stories are nice to see and the commiserating is great too.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Person above asking about writing after 11 days when hiring timeline was a week to 10 days.

1) The interviewer has always answered my e-mails promptly and seems very informal, so an ongoing e-mail conversation would not be too pesky or invasive.

2) This is an in-house position. I have a civil litigation resume. They really liked my resume however. Between two interviews we chatted for three hours. I was very sincere about the fact that I don't quite know what I want to do with my legal degree but loved the idea of going in-house but hadn't seen very many specific entry-level in-house positions so was looking for good experience with good people with the goal of going in-house in mind down the road. I talked specifically about loving working with contracts, negotiating, etc. etc. and was generally incredibly enthusiastic. But I did not say in the interview or in any of my follow up emails "This is my absolute top choice, I want this job" and I wish I had. I also said something at one point where the interview was almost two hours in and I think I got a little too chatty "I'm not going to pretend that my specific goal was to work in-house at xx type of company but xyz are exactly why I think this would be a great long-term fit." Now all that's sticking out in my mind is the "not my specific goal" comment and that it was dumb ass. I said a LOT right in what was a VERY good, back and forth high energy interview but that sticks out to me. I would like to write the interviewers and just say I wanted to stay in touch because I had been thinking about things they had said during the interview, talking to people in the field just by chance, etc. in the last couple weeks and because of elements xyz I believe that this job/work are the best fit for what I'm looking for in a job, that the people sound great, etc. etc., it's my top choice and I would love to offer xyz skills and knowledge that make me a great hire to the firm. I'm rambling here but always get great feedback on my writing and cover letters so could keep this to a pithy, non-desperate sounding, sincere paragraph.

3) I regret not writing back a quick follow up to the interviewer's "a week to 10 days" e-mail.

4) I figure I have not heard yet because a) they went with someone else or b) they got busy working on a deal and just haven't had the hiring conversation yet. I figure if a) obviously I have nothing to lose and if b) there's a chance a short, sincere e-mail reiterating my interest in concrete ways could help things in my favor or they are leaning my way and like me it's not gonna hurt things. And c) I am doing all the right things carrying on applying to jobs, etc. and even have another interview in the works but I am suffering some pretty acute anxiety waiting to hear back and given that sending this e-mail seems low risk ANY info on the hiring process would make my life significantly more bearable.

BUT I know there is a risk of pestering someone so want to get some feedback about how high the risk of that is. THANK YOU so much everyone here. The success stories are nice to see and the commiserating is great too.

Bumping for advice. Thanks

Anonymous User wrote:I had two 3L OCI screeners 6 weeks ago and haven't heard anything from either. I emailed a follow up to the recruiting contracts a week ago and haven't heard anything...I think it's possible they may have moved on but people I know haven't heard back either and my interviews went well. Guess I can't do anything but wait it out?

chrisbru wrote:Got my first callback. Huzzah.

spleenworship wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:I had two 3L OCI screeners 6 weeks ago and haven't heard anything from either. I emailed a follow up to the recruiting contracts a week ago and haven't heard anything...I think it's possible they may have moved on but people I know haven't heard back either and my interviews went well. Guess I can't do anything but wait it out?

Talk to classmates who also had same screeners? Talk to career services?

spleenworship wrote:

chrisbru wrote:Got my first callback. Huzzah.

Yay!

chrisbru wrote:Got my first callback. Huzzah.

Jessuf wrote:I finally have a legitimate interview, but it is about 5.5 hours driving distance from where I am and travel costs are not reimbursed. If I flew, travel cost would be about $400. If I drove, maybe $100 tops. I am poor. Should I just drive it? I really want this and don't want to screw it up.

Jessuf wrote:I finally have a legitimate interview, but it is about 5.5 hours driving distance from where I am and travel costs are not reimbursed. If I flew, travel cost would be about $400. If I drove, maybe $100 tops. I am poor. Should I just drive it? I really want this and don't want to screw it up.

Cyne wrote:Yo bros, I'm leaving the Vale.

What a fucking ride. Had an SA lined up that tanked like two months before summer. Lined up two unpaid internships. One of them became a jerb. Small firm paying market (da fuq didn't know that could happen).

Quick story in case it helps others. T50, 25%, no LR. Lol fucked right? I thought so. I somehow scrounged up that one SA position through sheer hustle. When I lost it I thought I saw the last chapter in the book called My Life. I worked my ass off in both firms I worked for over the summer. Luckily, I am pretty good with people, and proved early on I could generate business. That is what saved me. I would say I spend about 60 hours a week working over the summer, and another 20 trying to bring in business (without them asking). When I started, it was made clear to me there was no room for a new employee.

This thread is by far and large the best thread on TLS. All of your stories kept me motivated to push harder. Thank you so much. Special thanks to Rad, NYState, etc (long-timers in this thread). Ya'll friggin rock hard. You continue to post here to help others out, and I could not be more grateful. It certainly helped me.

To those still struggling, keep pushing. This is likely one of the worst times in your life (it was for me). I have gone through a lot of BS and tragedy in my life, but being in the Vale began to seriously screw with my health and mental well being. I had to regulate my mental health for the first time in my life. You can make it. This market blows donkey balls, but it only takes one offer. Best of luck, and I'll post any open positions I see crop up.

Cyne wrote:Luckily, I am pretty good with people, and proved early on I could generate business. That is what saved me. I would say I spend about 60 hours a week working over the summer, and another 20 trying to bring in business (without them asking).

whatsyourdeal wrote:got a callback from a small boutique firm! thought i had a good interview, but in this market, there's so many candidates for every opening. gonna keep my fingers and toes crossed until i see my desk/cubicle/office

anyway, for second interviews, even at boutique firms (nope, not IP, and definitely not shit law), i imagine a salary negotiation takes place. anybody got experience on this? I looked at Robert Half Legal's Salary Guide and have numbers in mind, but do I even have room to negotiate? I don't want to scare off this employer because there are loads of applicants out the door behind me ready to take this job.

thoughts, valers?