Penn OCI 2015 (C/O 2017) Forum

[Anonymous User]

Independent outreach is extremely frustrating. Lots of "we'll consider you when the time comes." And a lot of silence too.

[Anonymous User]

I know quite a few people who have had success with independent outreach this summer, but they mostly have impressive grades and/or interviewed for 1L positions.

[Anonymous User]

Yeah I'm going to hold off on more independent apps for a couple weeks, I feel like right now my apps are just going into an abyss and no one is considering until August.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any info on how successful people have been landing jobs through Regional OCI in the past? Specifically in CA.

[Anonymous User]

New poll added to stimulate activity in this dull thread.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any info on how successful people have been landing jobs through Regional OCI in the past? Specifically in CA.

Seconded. I feel like a 2L last year said something like "well...it's great practice!" when talking about the CA regionals, so that's probably a bad sign.

[Anonymous User]

I'm also interested in info on how successful Regionals are. I heard good things about Atl (from two people), but outside that I haven't heard anything.

[Anonymous User]

Re regionals, use the 3L employers list to see how many people are in the region you are interested in. Some of the California students definitely got their jobs through regionals, so yes you can definitely get jobs through regionals.

[Anonymous User]

Re: Cali Regionals

I got multiple CBs, but no offers. The offices I had CBs with took only one person from Penn and they were all LR people. Got the vibe that if those people hadn't been interviewed I probably would have gotten the offer.

I know of at least one person that got an offer from regionals. But I also think a fair number of people that got offers in CA got them from mass-mailing and regular OCI.

Definitely good pre-OCI practice, but not worth the expense of flying out if you aren't already out there just for the practice. But if you are already out in Cali definitely worth it.

[Anonymous User]

Also, now is the time to reach out to summers and/or associates for informational interviews at firms you are interviewing with at OCI. Reach out to Penn people, because they will be the most eager to chat.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone get any same day callbacks from reigonals?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone get call backs from Texas regionals?

[PPL]

Anyone get any same day callbacks from reigonals?

I can confirm CBs from Chicago firms yesterday (not same day but 2 day)

[Anonymous User]

Have heard second hand that people have gotten CBs in SF, but can't confirm definitively. Already got ding via email from a firm in SV. Haven't heard anything about LA/CC.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden LA ding through regionals.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden LA ding. Thought the interview went well but obviously my grades are too abysmal for them to ever consider me. Ditto Davis Polk PA.

AFAIK, Orrick SF, WilmerHale PA and Kirkland SF have sent out callbacks

[PennBull]

PSA:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=252045

[Anonymous User]

Getting silent treatment from regionals. Is this a ding?

[PennBull]

Getting silent treatment from regionals. Is this a ding?

No?

[Anonymous User]

3L here.

When do you guys start OCI?


I'd be happy to answer any questions you guys have.

[Anonymous User]

Hi, our kickoff meeting is this tuesday and interviews start wednesday.

I was wondering what your thoughts were on whether one should adjust their interviewing style depending on their grades? For instance, does someone with not so great grades have to be more aggressive in selling their other strengths? Likewise, should someone with good grades and LR not talk about their other strengths so much to avoid sounding arrogant? Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Poster above here,

The only time time I discussed my lawschool performance was when I was asked about it. A lot of interviewers (none?) won't have your grades before the interview, and many won't look at them until after the interview is over.

You're obviously a smart person--you're at penn. They want to see if you can think analytically, so to that end they'll ask you questions about your current summer experience. The best way to talk about how smart you are without saying "i'm so smart look at my grades" or to say "don't look at my grades, believe me i'm smart" is to tell a very detailed story about a project you worked on over the summer, especially a complicated hard one. Start with what the problem was, your first estimation of it, how it surprised you, how you worked efficiently and effectively on it, and how you finally solved it. Other than that, act like you were raised right and you'll be fine.

So I don't really think you should alter your interview style. Whether you're relying on your grades or you feel like your grades are going to hold you back, you should approach the interviews the same. Some firms don't care how charming you are, if you don't have a 3.8 you're not getting a callback at these types of firms no matter how good an interviewer you are (this is where a ton of people tell me they know a guy with a 2.9 who got a callback at Wachtell). Remember you're selling yourself, show people how good you are (don't just tell them) and you'll be great!

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know where I can find the swap board for interviews?

[Anonymous User]

canvas

[PennBull]

Poster above here,

The only time time I discussed my lawschool performance was when I was asked about it. A lot of interviewers (none?) won't have your grades before the interview, and many won't look at them until after the interview is over.

You're obviously a smart person--you're at penn. They want to see if you can think analytically, so to that end they'll ask you questions about your current summer experience. The best way to talk about how smart you are without saying "i'm so smart look at my grades" or to say "don't look at my grades, believe me i'm smart" is to tell a very detailed story about a project you worked on over the summer, especially a complicated hard one. Start with what the problem was, your first estimation of it, how it surprised you, how you worked efficiently and effectively on it, and how you finally solved it. Other than that, act like you were raised right and you'll be fine.

So I don't really think you should alter your interview style. Whether you're relying on your grades or you feel like your grades are going to hold you back, you should approach the interviews the same. Some firms don't care how charming you are, if you don't have a 3.8 you're not getting a callback at these types of firms no matter how good an interviewer you are (this is where a ton of people tell me they know a guy with a 2.9 who got a callback at Wachtell). Remember you're selling yourself, show people how good you are (don't just tell them) and you'll be great!

Agree with all of this. Effective interviewing doesn't really change between different grade-performance levels.

I think candidates with top grades can be choosy from the outset with respect to firms that engage in a narrow industry the candidate is interested in, but that's about it.