2016 Pre-OCI Interviews Forum

[Anonymous User]

Davis Polk NY offer. 24 hours from CB->offer

I have a CB next week. Any tips?

[Anonymous User]

Recent S&C, STB, Weill, & Skadden CBs. Have offers from S&C and Weil. No word on Skadden or STB. Does anyone else feel like Skadden is more apt to take their time, or did I just blow it?

[Anonymous User]

Recent S&C, STB, Weill, & Skadden CBs. Have offers from S&C and Weil. No word on Skadden or STB. Does anyone else feel like Skadden is more apt to take their time, or did I just blow it?

Anecdotal - - if it was Skadden NYC, I got a ding 2 days later.

When did you have a CB with STB? I had one on Monday...radio silence.

[Anonymous User]

Recent S&C, STB, Weill, & Skadden CBs. Have offers from S&C and Weil. No word on Skadden or STB. Does anyone else feel like Skadden is more apt to take their time, or did I just blow it?

Multiple Monday night Skadden CBs heard back Tuesday

[Anonymous User]

Davis Polk NY offer. 24 hours from CB->offer

Congratulations! Would also appreciate tips before my CB next week.

Separately, the recruiter who set up my interview didn't mention anything about how to get travel costs reimbursed or guidelines about what a "reasonable" expense is. Anyone know?

[Anonymous User]

Davis Polk NY offer. 24 hours from CB->offer

Congratulations! Would also appreciate tips before my CB next week.

Separately, the recruiter who set up my interview didn't mention anything about how to get travel costs reimbursed or guidelines about what a "reasonable" expense is. Anyone know?

Be normal, enthusiastic, and conversational. They were nice and personable. I only had one interview where I was really grilled, but he/she was super cool nonetheless the rest of the interviews were just casual conversations about my resume, interests, and why X area of the law. Be prepared to talk about your resume, what you did during 1L, and summer job. Great people over there.

They put me in touch with their travel agent who booked my flight. They give you a reimbursement form at the end of your CB to fill out and return.

Good luck

[Anonymous User]

Latham (east coast non-NY) CB next week. phone screener -> CB within 2 hours.

[Anonymous User]

Davis Polk NY offer. 24 hours from CB->offer

Congratulations! Would also appreciate tips before my CB next week.

Separately, the recruiter who set up my interview didn't mention anything about how to get travel costs reimbursed or guidelines about what a "reasonable" expense is. Anyone know?

Be normal, enthusiastic, and conversational. They were nice and personable. I only had one interview where I was really grilled, but he/she was super cool nonetheless the rest of the interviews were just casual conversations about my resume, interests, and why X area of the law. Be prepared to talk about your resume, what you did during 1L, and summer job. Great people over there.

They put me in touch with their travel agent who booked my flight. They give you a reimbursement form at the end of your CB to fill out and return.

Good luck

Thank you very much for your advice and congrats again on your offer.

[Anonymous User]

After 4 early call backs and three offers in the V10, I just want to say its really a test in being normal. Can you hold the door, shake hands, make small talk, ascertain something about the person from his/her office, talk about your resume, etc.? I was below my schools GPA average for three of the firms and still got offers. I don't consider myself especially bright. I'm top 1/3 at a lower T14. I have been so surprised at how easy the process is. Seriously, if you can talk to someone next to you at a bar, you will crush interviews/CBs, even if you're just above median.

[Anonymous User]

What was the STB turn around for anyone with offers?

[Anonymous User]

After 4 early call backs and three offers in the V10, I just want to say its really a test in being normal. Can you hold the door, shake hands, make small talk, ascertain something about the person from his/her office, talk about your resume, etc.? I was below my schools GPA average for three of the firms and still got offers. I don't consider myself especially bright. I'm top 1/3 at a lower T14. I have been so surprised at how easy the process is. Seriously, if you can talk to someone next to you at a bar, you will crush interviews/CBs, even if you're just above median.

180

[Anonymous User]

For those of you that have done these pre-oci interviews, did you get very many explicit "behavioral" questions?

[Anonymous User]

For those of you that have done these pre-oci interviews, did you get very many explicit "behavioral" questions?

No. Behavioral questions aren't as common as you may think. Like anon above said, the interviewer just wants to know if you are a personable guy/girl who he/she could see working with at 2 in the morning on a big case or big deal lol. Be prepared to answer the standard questions (why X firm, why X practice, etc.) and be prepared to talk about any anomalies on your resume, but other than that just think of the interview as a normal conversation. Oh, and have questions for the interviewer.

Hope that was helpful. Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

After 4 early call backs and three offers in the V10, I just want to say its really a test in being normal. Can you hold the door, shake hands, make small talk, ascertain something about the person from his/her office, talk about your resume, etc.? I was below my schools GPA average for three of the firms and still got offers. I don't consider myself especially bright. I'm top 1/3 at a lower T14. I have been so surprised at how easy the process is. Seriously, if you can talk to someone next to you at a bar, you will crush interviews/CBs, even if you're just above median.

I think this bears repeating. At no point is the process about impressing the interviewer with your legal knowledge or your undying love for XYZ practice group. No one actually believe you know jack shit about the law, nor do they believe you actually have any idea what practice group you're interested in (unless you have some specific work experience) Just be chill. If they'd like to work with you on a personal level, you'll get hired.

For example, I was about bottom 1/3 at T6 and went hard after V10 firms (NY, CA, DC) pre-OCI and was able to get 8 interviews. The second I entered someone's office, I'd look around for something I liked. For one interview it was a bobblehead from a team I like, in another it was a unique chess board. I immediately asked about it, kept on that conversational line for longer than the typical 1-2 minute "we just met" pleasantry, and we'd spend most of the 15-30 shooting the shit off that topic and offshoots thereof. Eventually they'd ask a couple of the standard Qs, but it was basically me hanging out with someone. They liked me in the end, so I went 100% on CBs.

Also, you can absolutely lose an offer at lunch. The office interviews are to see if they can work with you, but the lunch is a great way to parse out if you can be trusted to represent them. Don't get too loose in the conversation. They aren't your friends, they're your potential coworkers. You should always be extra nice to those in the service industry, but if there was ever a time to hide being an asshole (i.e. not saying "please" and "thank you", disparaging them for any reason to the people at the table, etc) this is it. IMO, you don't order first either. Ordering something more expensive than anyone else at the table might be perfectly within the budget, but is poor form.

[Anonymous User]

It's all quite easy, but here are some things I've gotten better at after the first few call backs. First, hold the elevator for the person. The offices are all on multi floor so you bounce up and down with various people. Let person walk on first/get off first. Some of the doors are push, some are pull. The writing tends to be small, but look ahead and hold the door for the person. Also, super easy to make small chat in between. Don't think your interview ends after your "any more questions answer," etc.

The process is really simple. And, you can steer the conversation just as much as them in the short interviews. For example, if the first question about how you liked law school, you can bring in how much you enjoyed moot court. Second question will be about moot court. It's not hard. The only thing you need to remind yourself of is touching the points you want to touch in answers, not getting too long winded, and not saying anything negative about 1L/law school. You can be truthful about 1L, but do it in a way that's positive. "Let's just say, I'm really looking forward to 2L"

The process is so simple, it makes me wonder about the actual work we will be doing as young associates...

[BasilHallward]

...

[Anonymous User]

for those who had STB NY CBs/offers, what was the turnaround for screener-->CB?

[Anonymous User]

I just had a CB at a TX firm that I really like yesterday. They told me that they will let me know after OCI, as they need to gauge their expected incoming class for '17. Is this common? Or should I just write this off as a no-offer?

[Anonymous User]

for those who had STB NY CBs/offers, what was the turnaround for screener-->CB?

I had a screener in the morning, and received a CB invite via email later that evening.

Had the CB. Now just waiting on offer/ding...

[Anonymous User]

Same. My interview to CB was quick as well. Maybe a day or two. I think they are starting to pick up with the interviews this week and next, so I wouldn't worry if it's going to be a few days.

What's the practice regarding followup emails? I've just been emailing the recruiters with a blanket thank you. Should we email every person we met with?

[Anonymous User]

for those who had STB NY CBs/offers, what was the turnaround for screener-->CB?

Idk if NY does it differently, but so far I had 2 (morning) screeners in DC and got a call for a callback the same day

[accessislife]

for those who had STB NY CBs/offers, what was the turnaround for screener-->CB?

Idk if NY does it differently, but so far I had 2 (morning) screeners in DC and got a call for a callback the same day

can you share where the screeners were? first letters are fine

[Anonymous User]

. answered.

[Anonymous User]

It's all quite easy, but here are some things I've gotten better at after the first few call backs. First, hold the elevator for the person. The offices are all on multi floor so you bounce up and down with various people. Let person walk on first/get off first. Some of the doors are push, some are pull. The writing tends to be small, but look ahead and hold the door for the person. Also, super easy to make small chat in between. Don't think your interview ends after your "any more questions answer," etc.

The process is really simple. And, you can steer the conversation just as much as them in the short interviews. For example, if the first question about how you liked law school, you can bring in how much you enjoyed moot court. Second question will be about moot court. It's not hard. The only thing you need to remind yourself of is touching the points you want to touch in answers, not getting too long winded, and not saying anything negative about 1L/law school. You can be truthful about 1L, but do it in a way that's positive. "Let's just say, I'm really looking forward to 2L"

The process is so simple, it makes me wonder about the actual work we will be doing as young associates...

FWIW, holding the door for the person interviewing you is rude, assuming all same gender. Generally, the most senior person holds the door for the rest of the elevator. It gets more nuanced if the most senior person is a woman and you are a man, in which case there's no clear answer and it won't be held against you either way.

But I have pissed off both a federal judge and a senior partner by holding the door for them until I looked it up and realized I was being rude. Basically, if they're old school, you're telling them they're a woman.

So try not to make that mistake. You exit the elevator first and thank your interviewer for holding the elevator for you.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone do a CB with Davis Polk NY Wed/Thurs of this past week or later and get an offer?