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Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:14 pm
by Anonymous User
Title says it all. Half of my callbacks have already resulted in rejections. Definitely a blow to my pride. Sat with OCS and they said I didn't have any glaring mistakes in my mock interviews. I'm just trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. I am waiting to hear on one more firm I already did a callback with and I only have one more callback to go. Not sure if I should try and drastically change up what I'm doing. Trying not to the let rejections affect my confidence for this next upcoming interview because I want to convey my enthusiasm to this firm.

Just wondering if anyone is/was in the same position as me. Not looking to wallow in my self-pity, but looking for advice or suggestions.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:16 pm
by IAFG
Do you have any sense of the CB:offer rate at the firms you did CBs at?

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:18 pm
by Anonymous User
Tried to get the information but I haven't heard anything concrete. I've heard rumors at under 50% for one firm and about 50% for another.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:21 pm
by IAFG
1) If you aren't already mass mailing, you need to get on that. Waiting to see what happens with your remaining CBs is NOT CREDITED.

2) In your shoes, I would contact the recruiting coordinators and ask for feedback (and I would explain that you have a CB remaining and want to learn from your mistakes). Maybe they'll be helpful, maybe they won't, but the stakes are pretty high. It's worth trying.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:22 pm
by Anonymous User
I'm in the same position as you OP. I'm top 1/3 at USC, had 4 callback rejections, waiting on 2, and have 1 more to go.

I know I'm not making any glaring mistakes, I did a mock with an OCI interviewer and he said I should undoubtedly be fine. Obviously I'm not fine and I can't figure it out either.

The only two things I think it could be are either the questions I'm asking the employers, or my writing sample.

I've been asking questions emphasizing fit/culture, and commending the firm for having a great culture that interests me. I'm thinking I'm going to focus almost solely on the type of work at the firm for my last callback, and using a different writing sample (a brief instead of the memo I had been using. I think the non-persuasiveness of the memo doesn't help when compared to another student's persuasive brief).

Hurts pretty bad right now.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:23 pm
by KidStuddi
Unless you have immaculate credentials, could it not simply be that there are other candidates every bit as likable as you are who have more A+'s and/or more relevant work experience? I'm not sure why that would be a blow to your pride. Try and keep the perspective that you're not the only applicant that's trying really hard to get a job. Sometimes the other guy or gal is just flat out more qualified.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:32 pm
by NYC2014
Hey OP, you're a straight white male, right? If you weren't you wouldn't have any trouble with callbacks.

'MERICA, land of opportunity (for minorities and women).

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:35 pm
by Anonymous User
Have done seven CBs, rejected at two of them so far. Just got a rejection heading into labor day weekend from a firm where I felt the interviews went well and I had great credentials for. The first rejection was for a firm in a secondary market with a class size of only 2/3 SA's, so that didn't bother me much, but this last one was a big NYC firm. Gonna be a long weekend.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:35 pm
by Anonymous User
OP here. I am ranked number number one at a tier 2 school. Was rejected from firms that hire at least one SA from my school every single year. So my credentials might not amazing compared to all law school students, but for me to get continued rejections makes me think I am doing something wrong. So when I look at it from that lens, I am competing with my peers at my school, and obviously not coming out on top. I know there are many candidates who are well qualified, but at the end of the day a rejection is a firm saying "we don't want you, we want your classmate", when I know that the grades are well in my favor.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:37 pm
by Anonymous User
I had about a 50% callback ratio. I'm a woman (27 years old), top 10% at a T-30 with Law Review. I think everyone has rejections, and we don't know why. It may be some of your answers. It may be how fast you talked. It may be how much enthusiasm you showed for the firm. It may be have been that they were never seriously considering anyone for that particular office outside the T-6. Just focus on your callbacks now. You just need one offer.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:41 pm
by mr_toad
NYC2014 wrote:Hey OP, you're a straight white male, right? If you weren't you wouldn't have any trouble with callbacks.

'MERICA, land of opportunity (for minorities and women).
Ridiculous. Am straight white male and 2/3 offers/callbacks so far. Must be nice to blame others for your problems.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:42 pm
by Anonymous User
NYC2014 wrote:Hey OP, you're a straight white male, right? If you weren't you wouldn't have any trouble with callbacks.

'MERICA, land of opportunity (for minorities and women).
I am actually a female, and still having trouble with callbacks.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:48 pm
by Anonymous User
NYC2014 wrote:Hey OP, you're a straight white male, right? If you weren't you wouldn't have any trouble with callbacks.

'MERICA, land of opportunity (for minorities and women).
Um, wut? I am a female candidate. I am also in the top 15% of my class and on law review and have an excellent work ethic (as demonstrated by my resume.)
The female part is the least of those, sorry of you are a white male lacking in those other categories.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:50 pm
by notedgarfigaro
NYC2014 wrote:Hey OP, you're a straight white male, right? If you weren't you wouldn't have any trouble with callbacks.

'MERICA, land of opportunity (for minorities and women).
Speaking as a straight, white male...go fuck yourself.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:53 pm
by Anonymous User
.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:54 pm
by shock259
NYC2014 wrote:Hey OP, you're a straight white male, right? If you weren't you wouldn't have any trouble with callbacks.

'MERICA, land of opportunity (for minorities and women).
You're an idiot.

Sorry you are having trouble, OP. I always viewed the CB stage as more of a fit/personality test. By giving you a callback, they are pretty much saying they are comfortable with your credentials and your ability to do the work. So focus on giving the best impression you can, smile a lot, and act genuinely excited to work at the firm.

Best of luck.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 3:56 pm
by bk1
NYC2014 wrote:Hey OP, you're a straight white male, right? If you weren't you wouldn't have any trouble with callbacks.

'MERICA, land of opportunity (for minorities and women).
You keep bringing this shit up. This is your final warning before I start banning you for being a crappy troll.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 4:05 pm
by Anonymous User
OP here. Thanks for the advice everyone. Definitely going to try and call the recruiting offices of firms that rejected me to see if they can give me any feedback whatsoever. Also have been mass mailing. Hope I make a great impression at my callback this week.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 4:07 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote:OP here. I am ranked number number one at a tier 2 school. Was rejected from firms that hire at least one SA from my school every single year. So my credentials might not amazing compared to all law school students, but for me to get continued rejections makes me think I am doing something wrong. So when I look at it from that lens, I am competing with my peers at my school, and obviously not coming out on top. I know there are many candidates who are well qualified, but at the end of the day a rejection is a firm saying "we don't want you, we want your classmate", when I know that the grades are well in my favor.
Well, what about work experience?

I too have had frustrating experiences with callbacks. In one particular instance, I felt that I did extremely well in the interview and connected with the people there only to be rejected while a classmate with a lower GPA was offered. Later I found out that my classmate had spent 4 years on the hill before law school and had tangible experience and insight to bring to the table that I really could not argue with. The point is you never know why you're being disfavored and to assume it must be something that you're doing wrong as opposed to something someone else is doing right is probably the wrong way to look at it, from an ego standpoint especially.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 4:21 pm
by Anonymous User
Are CB rejections usually e-mail or snail mail? Does it differ by firm?

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 4:26 pm
by Anonymous User
One of mine was snail mail and the other was an email

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 4:26 pm
by Anonymous User
URM above median at T14 having trouble with Callbacks, so it's def. not a white thing. Have not seen my URM (double URM) help me in any way in the CB process.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 4:47 pm
by Anonymous User
Last year I went through a similar thing. I got 12 callbacks from about 24 screeners, but I did 9 callbacks and got only 1 offer (I cancelled the rest after I got the offer). I am a female URM and was in the top 10% at a lower T10. I did mock interviews and they did not notice any glaring issues. I still don't know exactly what I did wrong, but I think I was just too nervous. I have since had interviews for other types of positions (mostly gov and judicial for academic year) and had good results.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:29 pm
by NYC2014
bk187 wrote:
NYC2014 wrote:Hey OP, you're a straight white male, right? If you weren't you wouldn't have any trouble with callbacks.

'MERICA, land of opportunity (for minorities and women).
You keep bringing this shit up. This is your final warning before I start banning you for being a crappy troll.
Obviously a good troll because everyone's taking it seriously. Learn to internet.

Re: Dealing with CB rejections...

Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:31 pm
by bk1
NYC2014 wrote:Obviously a good troll because everyone's taking it seriously. Learn to internet.
Enjoy your time off.