Bad Interview Moments Forum

[Chicago_Dog]

I interviewed with the satellite office of a larger firm. Office had about 50 attorneys.

During my callback I met with 7 or 8 attorneys -- Jim, Scott, Brian, Eric, Ivan, Ben, Bill, and Mark. I thought it was a bit odd to meet with all dudes since, as a female candidate, firms usually make a point of putting me with one or two women who talk about how the firm is a great place for women.

So after meeting with all those guys in the morning I went to lunch with two female associates. When we sat down to lunch, they asked me who I met with and after telling them the list of guys I jokingly said, "so, are you two the only women who work here?"

Their response: yes, actually, we are the only 2 female attorneys in this office. All of the senior level women walked out in protest recently after every one failed to make partner (for those interested, the firm gave paid maternity leave BUT didn't reduce the billable hour requirements for associates on maternity leave. So a bunch of lady attorneys took a month or two off after having a kid then went back to billing 200 hours a month as usual. They only realized that the 200+ hours they didn't bill while they were out on leave DID count against them when they were up for partnership and got passed over).

My face said it all. Did not recover from it. Did not get an offer.

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed with the satellite office of a larger firm. Office had about 50 attorneys.

During my callback I met with 7 or 8 attorneys -- Jim, Scott, Brian, Eric, Ivan, Ben, Bill, and Mark. I thought it was a bit odd to meet with all dudes since, as a female candidate, firms usually make a point of putting me with one or two women who talk about how the firm is a great place for women.

So after meeting with all those guys in the morning I went to lunch with two female associates. When we sat down to lunch, they asked me who I met with and after telling them the list of guys I jokingly said, "so, are you two the only women who work here?"

Their response: yes, actually, we are the only 2 female attorneys in this office. All of the senior level women walked out in protest recently after every one failed to make partner (for those interested, the firm gave paid maternity leave BUT didn't reduce the billable hour requirements for associates on maternity leave. So a bunch of lady attorneys took a month or two off after having a kid then went back to billing 200 hours a month as usual. They only realized that the 200+ hours they didn't bill while they were out on leave DID count against them when they were up for partnership and got passed over).

My face said it all. Did not recover from it. Did not get an offer.

Is this not a prima facie case for pregnancy discrimination?

[Anonymous User]

I interviewed with the satellite office of a larger firm. Office had about 50 attorneys.

During my callback I met with 7 or 8 attorneys -- Jim, Scott, Brian, Eric, Ivan, Ben, Bill, and Mark. I thought it was a bit odd to meet with all dudes since, as a female candidate, firms usually make a point of putting me with one or two women who talk about how the firm is a great place for women.

So after meeting with all those guys in the morning I went to lunch with two female associates. When we sat down to lunch, they asked me who I met with and after telling them the list of guys I jokingly said, "so, are you two the only women who work here?"

Their response: yes, actually, we are the only 2 female attorneys in this office. All of the senior level women walked out in protest recently after every one failed to make partner (for those interested, the firm gave paid maternity leave BUT didn't reduce the billable hour requirements for associates on maternity leave. So a bunch of lady attorneys took a month or two off after having a kid then went back to billing 200 hours a month as usual. They only realized that the 200+ hours they didn't bill while they were out on leave DID count against them when they were up for partnership and got passed over).

My face said it all. Did not recover from it. Did not get an offer.

Is this not a prima facie case for pregnancy discrimination?

I thought so. Crazy behavior for a law firm, right?

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

I interviewed with the satellite office of a larger firm. Office had about 50 attorneys.

During my callback I met with 7 or 8 attorneys -- Jim, Scott, Brian, Eric, Ivan, Ben, Bill, and Mark. I thought it was a bit odd to meet with all dudes since, as a female candidate, firms usually make a point of putting me with one or two women who talk about how the firm is a great place for women.

So after meeting with all those guys in the morning I went to lunch with two female associates. When we sat down to lunch, they asked me who I met with and after telling them the list of guys I jokingly said, "so, are you two the only women who work here?"

Their response: yes, actually, we are the only 2 female attorneys in this office. All of the senior level women walked out in protest recently after every one failed to make partner (for those interested, the firm gave paid maternity leave BUT didn't reduce the billable hour requirements for associates on maternity leave. So a bunch of lady attorneys took a month or two off after having a kid then went back to billing 200 hours a month as usual. They only realized that the 200+ hours they didn't bill while they were out on leave DID count against them when they were up for partnership and got passed over).

My face said it all. Did not recover from it. Did not get an offer.

Is this not a prima facie case for pregnancy discrimination?

Just so you know before you start working L+E, that isn't pregnancy discrimination at all. HTH

[Anonymous User]

Me: so why did you pick this firm?

Interviewer/Associate: I just needed a job. This was the only place I got an offer from. [babbles for a bit about horrible callback interviews she had then asks me if I'm judging her then tells me about how she cries at work all the time because its stressful]

No offer. To be fair, I just sat there looking dumbfounded for a few seconds because I didn't know how to respond right away.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I interviewed with the satellite office of a larger firm. Office had about 50 attorneys.

During my callback I met with 7 or 8 attorneys -- Jim, Scott, Brian, Eric, Ivan, Ben, Bill, and Mark. I thought it was a bit odd to meet with all dudes since, as a female candidate, firms usually make a point of putting me with one or two women who talk about how the firm is a great place for women.

So after meeting with all those guys in the morning I went to lunch with two female associates. When we sat down to lunch, they asked me who I met with and after telling them the list of guys I jokingly said, "so, are you two the only women who work here?"

Their response: yes, actually, we are the only 2 female attorneys in this office. All of the senior level women walked out in protest recently after every one failed to make partner (for those interested, the firm gave paid maternity leave BUT didn't reduce the billable hour requirements for associates on maternity leave. So a bunch of lady attorneys took a month or two off after having a kid then went back to billing 200 hours a month as usual. They only realized that the 200+ hours they didn't bill while they were out on leave DID count against them when they were up for partnership and got passed over).

My face said it all. Did not recover from it. Did not get an offer.

Is this not a prima facie case for pregnancy discrimination?

Just so you know before you start working L+E, that isn't pregnancy discrimination at all. HTH

It should be though.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Me: so why did you pick this firm?

Interviewer/Associate: I just needed a job. This was the only place I got an offer from. [babbles for a bit about horrible callback interviews she had then asks me if I'm judging her then tells me about how she cries at work all the time because its stressful]

No offer. To be fair, I just sat there looking dumbfounded for a few seconds because I didn't know how to respond right away.

Bullet dodged.

[Anonymous User]

I was at a firm and had 5 20- or 30-minute interviews with various partners, associates, etc. One associate asked me a few perfunctory questions about myself that took a few minutes, then asked if I had any questions for her. I kept asking her questions, aware that we had only been talking for a short time. After my third question she said, you know it's ok to not ask questions, right? I took the hint and told her she had covered everything. She brought me to my next interview early, which threw off everyone's schedule for the rest of the rotation.

[Anonymous User]

I was at a firm and had 5 20- or 30-minute interviews with various partners, associates, etc. One associate asked me a few perfunctory questions about myself that took a few minutes, then asked if I had any questions for her. I kept asking her questions, aware that we had only been talking for a short time. After my third question she said, you know it's ok to not ask questions, right? I took the hint and told her she had covered everything. She brought me to my next interview early, which threw off everyone's schedule for the rest of the rotation.

[Anonymous User]

Interviewer: Do you have any questions for me?
Me: Yes -- why did you choose to come to this firm?
Interviewer: Because it was the next rung up on the ladder.

[Anonymous User]

Screener. I was saying why I liked his firm, and the partner busted out laughing at my answer. Then he asked me about my work experience and said "I doubt it" about three times in a row.

I kept my cool but wow, was I pissed.

[Anonymous User]

Me: *Question about capital markets practice

Interviewer: Let me just stop you there. It's been ten minutes and you haven't even asked about our international work. I don't think you're a good fit for *firm*. I'm gonna stop the interview and just give you some advice. I'll try to be as nice as possible. We're looking for internationally minded people and frankly I'm worried that your Midwestern personality wouldn't make it in a big New York firm. Are there any lawyers in your family?

Me: No, none.

Interviewer: I see.

Me: Can I just go to my next screener so I'm not late, please?

[JenDarby]

Screener. I was saying why I liked his firm, and the partner busted out laughing at my answer. Then he asked me about my work experience and said "I doubt it" about three times in a row.

I kept my cool but wow, was I pissed.

This is great.

[Anonymous User]

Screener. I was saying why I liked his firm, and the partner busted out laughing at my answer. Then he asked me about my work experience and said "I doubt it" about three times in a row.

I kept my cool but wow, was I pissed.

At Penn, interviewed with a couple Philly firms without much reason to (although I do kind of like the city). Gave one of the guys my rehearsed "why Philly" bit when asked and he stopped me after about 10 words with "I know you're bullshitting me but it's ok" -> CB

[Anonymous User]

Screener. I was saying why I liked his firm, and the partner busted out laughing at my answer. Then he asked me about my work experience and said "I doubt it" about three times in a row.

I kept my cool but wow, was I pissed.

At Penn, interviewed with a couple Philly firms without much reason to (although I do kind of like the city). Gave one of the guys my rehearsed "why Philly" bit when asked and he stopped me after about 10 words with "I know you're bullshitting me but it's ok" -> CB

The thing that pissed me off the most is that it was my least bullshit screener.

I have the unfortunate quality of seeming more sincere when I'm bullshitting because my "natural self" is a weirdo (see also: aspie). Oh well.

[Anonymous User]

Screener. I was saying why I liked his firm, and the partner busted out laughing at my answer. Then he asked me about my work experience and said "I doubt it" about three times in a row.

I kept my cool but wow, was I pissed.

At Penn, interviewed with a couple Philly firms without much reason to (although I do kind of like the city). Gave one of the guys my rehearsed "why Philly" bit when asked and he stopped me after about 10 words with "I know you're bullshitting me but it's ok" -> CB

The thing that pissed me off the most is that it was my least bullshit screener.

I have the unfortunate quality of seeming more sincere when I'm bullshitting because my "natural self" is a weirdo (see also: aspie). Oh well.

I can definitely relate as well--when I'm being sincere I tend to babble and probably is very unconvincing (also aspie)

[LaLiLuLeLo]

At a callback, one partner started talking about his new car. I reflexively said, "Cool story, bro" because I'm so used to saying it to my friends.

No offer. To be fair it was a very uninteresting story.

[JenDarby]

An older partner from Seward & Kissel asked me "what were you like in high school" within the first couple minutes of a screener.

no CB and I ended up at a firm in the same (fairly small) building for 1L summer

[Anonymous User]

An older partner from Seward & Kissel asked me "what were you like in high school" within the first couple minutes of a screener.

no CB and I ended up at a firm in the same (fairly small) building for 1L summer

Hah. This is especially funny because all of the ones I met were massive nerds. Which way were they discriminating, I wonder?

I had an interview moment with them that I enjoyed, but that was probably technically "bad." I expressed an interest in a certain practice group, and my interviewer said, totally seriously, "they'll be happy to hear that, because no one ever wants to work with them." I thought it was funny, but when I told the story to a friend, he looked horrified.

[Anonymous User]

Screener and the interviewer asked: "So tell me about the arguments you made in X project on your resume?

Me: Well, I argued X, Y, and Z for these reasons. [I won't bore you to death with what I actually argued in this undergrad project.]

Interviewer: I could probably tear all those arguments apart... *laughter*

Me: *Most fake haha of my life*... Yeah.

Rejection letter.

[Anonymous User]

Interviewer took me down to the firm cafeteria to talk over coffee. I swallowed some coffee down the wrong pipe and spent half the interview coughing violently while trying to talk at the same time. Still got the offer

[Micdiddy]

Screener. I was saying why I liked his firm, and the partner busted out laughing at my answer. Then he asked me about my work experience and said "I doubt it" about three times in a row.

I kept my cool but wow, was I pissed.

At Penn, interviewed with a couple Philly firms without much reason to (although I do kind of like the city). Gave one of the guys my rehearsed "why Philly" bit when asked and he stopped me after about 10 words with "I know you're bullshitting me but it's ok" -> CB

The thing that pissed me off the most is that it was my least bullshit screener.

I have the unfortunate quality of seeming more sincere when I'm bullshitting because my "natural self" is a weirdo (see also: aspie). Oh well.

I can definitely relate as well--when I'm being sincere I tend to babble and probably is very unconvincing (also aspie)

Yep same. It's a similar phenomenon to being able to effortlessly flirt with girls once you're married. If the pressure is completely off it's so easy to be normal and likable. Once you want something, forget it.

[Anonymous User]

Professional poker on resume.

Interviewer opens with he is in gamblers anonymous.

I jumped straight to my volunteer (no other professional) experiences but I could tell he kept looking at the professional poker line.

No surprise I was dinged.

[SplitMyPants]

First callback. Didn't know wtf i was doing when first receiving CBs, so I scheduled an out-and-back in the same day. I have to wake up around 3:30am for my flight. I purchased 5 hour energy extra shots ahead of time so I don't have to pee a lot, but decided to steep some cold brew overnight to get me going in the morning, since it's early. My flight is delayed, so despite not planning to have coffee, I bought some starbucks. On the plane, I was feeling groggy so I got some more coffee. Then, as planned, and despite having had all this coffee, I take a 5 hour extra shot while descending. When we land I was feeling a bit out of it—light headed and a bit nauseous. Figured it must be the time of day, so I have the other 5 hour energy extra shot...

I get near baggage claim and head into the bathroom and start puking my guts out into a trashcan. Janitor pats me on the back and tells me to "get it all out, brother." I'm flush, my heart is racing, and I can't stop dry heaving... After doing the math on everything I drank, I realize I seriously fucked up and essentially OD'd on caffeine. (I should add, I'm not a breakfast guy, so all this was on an empty stomach.)

Thankfully I landed way early and it had mostly worn off by the interview. However, it did not help that my first interview was in a windowless room, teleconferencing with the recruiter in another office.

TL;DR—First call back; OD'd on caffeine

[Danger Zone]

Damn, hope ya brought a toothbrush