Penn OCI Forum

[Anonymous User]

What was with this Weil dinner tonight I'm hearing about? Is it like the Paul Weiss CB dinner?

[Anonymous User]

Baker & Hostetler NYC - Anybody?

[Anonymous User]

Did anyone hear back from Duane (interviewer initials LE)?

Yeah. I had LE. Got a callback by email this evening.

[Anonymous User]

Cravath

[r6_philly]

It seems like its going to be a really bad OCI/Recruiting seasons. Sucks.

I think its way too early to judge, but who knows. I "only" have 1 CB so far, but I'll honestly be happy if I end up with 4-5 since I'm around median.

I know people very much below median with 4-5. I think most people have the grades to get some callbacks, the rest depends on how you present yourself.

Also some people didn't get anything until after all the OCI interviews are over, it really depends on the firms you have.

[Anonymous User]

You know people well below median that got 4-5 cbs after 2 days?! Well then FML, and please don't post those things anymore. Youre not helping.

[r6_philly]

You know people well below median that got 4-5 cbs after 2 days?! Well then FML, and please don't post those things anymore. Youre not helping.

Overall. Change your strategy if you think it's not going well.

[Anonymous User]

5 CBs. Not far off from median.

[Anonymous User]

Linklaters

CB, I assume you mean?

Yea

[Anonymous User]

Change my strategy?! Should I stop researching the firms, being personable, talking about my experiences? Which one?

[Anonymous User]

Change my strategy?! Should I stop researching the firms, being personable, talking about my experiences? Which one?

I'm also right above median with 5 CBs. I haven't heard much from non-NY firms, so if you aren't aiming for NY, then don't worry too much. Even if it is NY you want, it has only been 2 days. But, here is what worked for me:
Relax. Be very personable, laugh, smile, etc. and don't spend too much time beforehand researching the firms - get what practice areas you're interested in, anything really obvious (e.g. Jones day '1 Firm...'), and what the interviewer does in case there are any connections you can focus on. Otherwise, just present yourself well - that may include talking extensively about your experiences or not - presentation counts more than substance at a certain point.

[Anonymous User]

Change my strategy?! Should I stop researching the firms, being personable, talking about my experiences? Which one?

I'm also right above median with 5 CBs. I haven't heard much from non-NY firms, so if you aren't aiming for NY, then don't worry too much. Even if it is NY you want, it has only been 2 days. But, here is what worked for me:
Relax. Be very personable, laugh, smile, etc. and don't spend too much time beforehand researching the firms - get what practice areas you're interested in, anything really obvious (e.g. Jones day '1 Firm...'), and what the interviewer does in case there are any connections you can focus on. Otherwise, just present yourself well - that may include talking extensively about your experiences or not - presentation counts more than substance at a certain point.

(Different anon, I'm the one with 1 CB so far)
I feel like I've been doing all this, and honestly am surprised since I thought I'd have 2-4 so far since I'm doing mostly NYC and have had interviews with a lot of "gettable" (IMO) firms so far. At this point, either my interviewing skills aren't as good as I thought (I always thought I was good, but not great), or maybe my K-JD status is really hurting me. Who knows. Its still early, so I'm definitely not in panic mode or anything, but it would be nice to get another CB or 2 today...

[Anonymous User]

Median here, only interviewed with NYC firms. So far only 1 CB, had 4 interviews wed, 5 yesterday. We'll see what today brings...

[Anonymous User]

Baker Hostetler email ding. No surprise there.

[Anonymous User]

Potentially dumb question: The person I interviewed with left me a voicemail, giving me another number to call to schedule a callback. Do I call back my interviewer as well to say thanks?

[Anonymous User]

Yeah, way above median here. A few NYC firms, a lot of DC. 7 Wednesday, 7 yesterday, only 1 CB so far. I seem to have had a lot of good interviews and have great experience so I'm wondering what's going on.

[Anonymous User]

About median and I only have one CB through OCI also (targeting NY). I got positive feedback from both interviewers when I did the mock interviews so...I'm still missing something, I guess. I'm sure it depends to some extent on which firms you interviewed with, but I know some of the firms that I interviewed with have given CBs. At least no dings through OCI yet either, though I fully expect a DPW/STB ding posthaste. I would not have even tried if they didn't have so many interview slots.

[Anonymous User]

About median and I only have one CB through OCI also (targeting NY). I got positive feedback from both interviewers when I did the mock interviews so...I'm still missing something, I guess. I'm sure it depends to some extent on which firms you interviewed with, but I know some of the firms that I interviewed with have given CBs. At least no dings through OCI yet either, though I fully expect a DPW/STB ding posthaste. I would not have even tried if they didn't have so many interview slots.

Haha same, which kinda sucks since I really liked my DPW interviewer and it was one of my best interviews yet.

Also, anyone know whats up with Cahill? Just noticed they had 60 interview slots last year (I won't say the callback/offer numbers publicly, but they were pretty decent last year), but only have 20 this year. I guess they're just planning on having a real small summer class.

[Anonymous User]

Some tips from one of the recruiting folks:

1) Don't talk about your grades out loud. If you mention how well you did in a class, you will look like a douche (unless of course you're asked about it... but don't insert it into conversation).

2) Take note of your audience and watch what you're saying. If, for example, you want to go into litigation, don't talk about how much corporate sucks where corporate attorneys will hear you.

3) Go to the restroom and check up on yourself everyone once in a while if, e.g., you get sweaty when nervous or your fly is down.

[Anonymous User]

Change my strategy?! Should I stop researching the firms, being personable, talking about my experiences? Which one?

I'm also right above median with 5 CBs. I haven't heard much from non-NY firms, so if you aren't aiming for NY, then don't worry too much. Even if it is NY you want, it has only been 2 days. But, here is what worked for me:
Relax. Be very personable, laugh, smile, etc. and don't spend too much time beforehand researching the firms - get what practice areas you're interested in, anything really obvious (e.g. Jones day '1 Firm...'), and what the interviewer does in case there are any connections you can focus on. Otherwise, just present yourself well - that may include talking extensively about your experiences or not - presentation counts more than substance at a certain point.

Mind sharing which firms? Wondering if you got pretty much all the firms mentioned so far or if there are other firms that have made calls.

[r6_philly]

Change my strategy?! Should I stop researching the firms, being personable, talking about my experiences? Which one?

Everyone is doing the same thing, what's making you standout? Find something someway to help you look better than the next person who researched firms, is personable, and talk about their experiences. You have maybe 10 minutes to present yourself, maybe try to focus on parts that you didn't choose to present before. You really don't know what they want anyway, so switch it around a bit, don't just go with the same old lines if they haven't been very fruitful.

ETA: I have a lot of interview experience (as an interviewer), I think most applicants are way off on assessing what works and what doesn't.

[r6_philly]

Potentially dumb question: The person I interviewed with left me a voicemail, giving me another number to call to schedule a callback. Do I call back my interviewer as well to say thanks?

It's always good form to say thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Median, dinged by Kirkland and Ellis (NY) by email.

[Anonymous User]

Below median, email ding from Stroock.

[Anonymous User]

What are the interviewer's initials from Stroock?