Bad Interview Moments Forum

(On Campus Interviews, Summer Associate positions, Firm Reviews, Tips, ...)
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting

Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.

Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
Sgtpeppernyc

Bronze
Posts: 156
Joined: Fri Feb 26, 2010 5:51 pm

Bad Interview Moments

Post by Sgtpeppernyc » Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:43 am

Freaking out over my last interview, which had some fun faux pas' on my part. Everyone post your most embarrassing / possibly damning interview moment.

Mine: interview with managing partner. He asked about NY sports (I don't follow sports). I said that I grew up a stone's throw away from Shea Stadium, yet refuse to root for the Mets.

He's a Mets season ticket holder.

Zindras

New
Posts: 71
Joined: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:33 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Zindras » Mon Sep 10, 2012 10:46 am

I went into a callback interview with no prep. I asked the guy, "So, why did you choose to join [firm]?" He responded, "I was a founding partner."

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:04 am

I showed up a day early for an NYC callback. They wouldn't let me up, and told me to come back the next day.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:15 am

One interviewer asked me some very inappropriate questions about how it felt to be a member of a minority religion.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:25 am

Christianity?

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:26 am

Alabama firm. Screener. Discussing how we got interested in law with clearly tired lawyer late in the day. Lawyer says she was a choral voice major in college. I mention I was in chorus in high school and loved it for bonding purposes. It works, she gets excited, we talk chorus nerd stuff. Then, "So do you still sing now? In your church choir?"

Me, in unintentionally cutting tone: "I'm Jewish."

Awkward fiddling with papers, "Do you have any other questions about the firm?"

No callback.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:30 am

I had an interview on the day before a long weekend (labor day). In fact, it was in the late afternoon the day before a weekend. Last interview of the day for me is with the hiring partner. Immediately after sitting down he asks me "So, what can I tell you about the firm." A few minutes into the interview he just starts getting up and organizing/preparing his office. He ended up leaving the building before I did.

User avatar
notedgarfigaro

Silver
Posts: 1484
Joined: Wed Jan 11, 2012 2:33 pm

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by notedgarfigaro » Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:31 am

Interviewer: "So, I see you're interested in healthcare law"

Me (resume SCREAMS it): "Yes I am"

Other Interviewer: "You do know our entire health care section just left in April"

Me dumbfounded b/c the website hadn't been updated with that relevant news "err, yes?"

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:31 am

2 of my 5 interviewers asked, in a critical tone, who my OCI interviewer was.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


avb87

New
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2012 4:26 pm

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by avb87 » Mon Sep 10, 2012 11:32 am

Leg spasm in the middle of the last screener of the day. No callback.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:49 pm

Two interviewers, one old and one young. I asked a question about a program for partners to the associate in the room, asking if he had done it before. He said no, because he is an associate and it's only for partners. I asked the older interviewer what he thought of it. He said "no idea, because I'm a counsel, not a partner."


No CB.

Meep13

New
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2012 1:51 pm

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Meep13 » Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:51 pm

Interviewer: What wakes you up in the morning?

Me: (laughing)...ummm, my alarm clock.

No CB.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:51 pm

notedgarfigaro wrote:Interviewer: "So, I see you're interested in healthcare law"

Me (resume SCREAMS it): "Yes I am"

Other Interviewer: "You do know our entire health care section just left in April"

Me dumbfounded b/c the website hadn't been updated with that relevant news "err, yes?"
Something similar happened to me on my first OCI interview. A 20 minute scheduled interview lasted 5 minutes. Great way to start the week.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:53 pm

Was asked (on a CB at a V10) about my summer job doing public benefits work. Was then lectured for 5 minutes about how the "entitlement culture" is ruining America. Did not receive an offer.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:03 pm

Interviewer opens door looks me up and down "I don't know who is telling you its ok to wear a black suit but its not ok to wear a black suit" (I am female, thought it was ok) "I don't know if you are going to take my order or prep me for my funeral"

Later

"You know you should really take more substantive classes" (looks at my paperwork, sees that I am taking substantive classes) "Oh..." crickets start chirping and the interview dies. Luckily I was dressed appropriately for its funeral.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:52 pm

was excitingly telling the interviewer about a local restaurant near my school and its delicious meat dishes.

After I was done, the interviewer calmly revealed to me that she was a vegetarian...
Last edited by Anonymous User on Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 1:59 pm

Was asked in an OCI screening interview, if you were running for president, which celebrity would you want to endorse you?

I answered Jeff Gordon, explaining that I knew nothing about NASCAR and he could help me reach out to people. I then said something about "who watches NASCAR anyways," or something like that, joking around - one interviewer totally agreed. Bear in mind this was an interview for a Grand Rapids firm - the right wing part of the state. I already had a job offer from a peer firm so I wasn't on guard, but yeah, basically said NASCAR was a stupid sport for rednecks.

No call back.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:01 pm

Was once asked, in a serious way, why I did not do well enough in undergrad to get into Harvard law.

Walked out of the screener.

User avatar
glitched

Silver
Posts: 1263
Joined: Wed May 19, 2010 9:50 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by glitched » Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:03 pm

Anonymous User wrote:Interviewer opens door looks me up and down "I don't know who is telling you its ok to wear a black suit but its not ok to wear a black suit" (I am female, thought it was ok) "I don't know if you are going to take my order or prep me for my funeral"

Later

"You know you should really take more substantive classes" (looks at my paperwork, sees that I am taking substantive classes) "Oh..." crickets start chirping and the interview dies. Luckily I was dressed appropriately for its funeral.
post is full of win.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:22 pm

.

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:52 pm

Interviewer said his firm was expanding globally, and he joked they were aiming for world domination.

I respond, "Like Pinky and the Brain?"

One interviewer laughed, because he got it. Other was deadpan. No callback.

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

Register now, it's still FREE!


User avatar
moonman157

Silver
Posts: 1040
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2011 10:26 pm

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by moonman157 » Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:59 pm

Anonymous User wrote:Interviewer said his firm was expanding globally, and he joked they were aiming for world domination.

I respond, "Like Pinky and the Brain?"

One interviewer laughed, because he got it. Other was deadpan. No callback.
I really really want to be friends with you

User avatar
luckyme

Bronze
Posts: 367
Joined: Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:41 pm

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by luckyme » Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:01 pm

"Do you have any questions for us?"

"I think your website pretty much covered everything."

Anonymous User
Posts: 427953
Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by Anonymous User » Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:04 pm

luckyme wrote:"Do you have any questions for us?"

"I think your website pretty much covered everything."
We were all thinking it.

User avatar
drmguy

Silver
Posts: 1004
Joined: Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:43 am

Re: Bad Interview Moments

Post by drmguy » Mon Sep 10, 2012 3:15 pm

luckyme wrote:"Do you have any questions for us?"

"I think your website pretty much covered everything."
I prefaced a really in depth question with something like this. The interviewer didn't know the answer to any of my questions. I learned that the conventional advice of "don't ask something you can find on the website" doesn't apply to firms with really detailed websites. No CB

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


Post Reply Post Anonymous Reply  

Return to “Legal Employment”