2014 Diversity Career Fairs Forum

[lhanvt13]

I fixed CCBA's attached PDF.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/228154222/CCB ... ao3DBbKALp

Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

Dang, I really wanted to attend ccba but one pd office is not worth going all the way there..coming from va..plus the interview date is the same as the Blsa job fair in ny..decisions decisions

[lhanvt13]

Is CCBA worth it? Seems like a shit show according to past threads: interviews not turning into callbacks etc

[Anonymous User]

Is CCBA worth it? Seems like a shit show according to past threads: interviews not turning into callbacks etc

Worth it. TT, top 15%, WE but no good softs. 5 screeners, 1 CB, 1 offer V30.

[lhanvt13]

Is CCBA worth it? Seems like a shit show according to past threads: interviews not turning into callbacks etc

Worth it. TT, top 15%, WE but no good softs. 5 screeners, 1 CB, 1 offer V30.

IP? Should we bid passively, aggressively, or a standard mix?

[Anonymous User]

Is CCBA worth it? Seems like a shit show according to past threads: interviews not turning into callbacks etc

Worth it. TT, top 15%, WE but no good softs. 5 screeners, 1 CB, 1 offer V30.

IP? Should we bid passively, aggressively, or a standard mix?

Not IP. I believe that I punched above my weight with good interviewing skills.

I had no idea when it came to bidding. Just fucking no clue. I "researched" firms and chose ones that I liked because of stupid shit (affinity groups, lifestyle, diversity, etc.), and it wasn't until my school's OCI that I finally posted my bidlist here for critique and realized what a shit job I was doing at it on my own. IIRC, it's half pre-select and half lottery, so the lottery part must've saved my ass.

My thinking is that if you have top grades from a T14 (that is lottery - all of them I think) then feel free to bid aggressively - use CCBA as a way to supplement the amount of screeners you get. But if you're median or below at a T14 or from a non-T14 or any school that does pre-select only, then bid conservatively.

Just as (more?) importantly, work on those interviewing skills now. Get a nice suit (like, I mean tailored and well-fitting, expensive if necessary, think of it as an investment in your future). Do whatever it take to look good, feel good (lose weight, get your teeth whitened, whatever. This sounds like stupid advice, but if you look good you'll feel good, and if you feel good you'll exude confidence that will help you sell yourself.

Also important (perhaps more than the above), work on your "Why Chicago," "Why Midwest," or "Why whatever Midwest city" story now. I was asked and grilled at every screener. Then asked at every Chicago CB. How you answer this question will be important.

[Anonymous User]

Thoughts on LGBT individuals doing these?

[lhanvt13]

Is CCBA worth it? Seems like a shit show according to past threads: interviews not turning into callbacks etc

Worth it. TT, top 15%, WE but no good softs. 5 screeners, 1 CB, 1 offer V30.

IP? Should we bid passively, aggressively, or a standard mix?

Not IP. I believe that I punched above my weight with good interviewing skills.

I had no idea when it came to bidding. Just fucking no clue. I "researched" firms and chose ones that I liked because of stupid shit (affinity groups, lifestyle, diversity, etc.), and it wasn't until my school's OCI that I finally posted my bidlist here for critique and realized what a shit job I was doing at it on my own. IIRC, it's half pre-select and half lottery, so the lottery part must've saved my ass.

My thinking is that if you have top grades from a T14 (that is lottery - all of them I think) then feel free to bid aggressively - use CCBA as a way to supplement the amount of screeners you get. But if you're median or below at a T14 or from a non-T14 or any school that does pre-select only, then bid conservatively.

Just as (more?) importantly, work on those interviewing skills now. Get a nice suit (like, I mean tailored and well-fitting, expensive if necessary, think of it as an investment in your future). Do whatever it take to look good, feel good (lose weight, get your teeth whitened, whatever. This sounds like stupid advice, but if you look good you'll feel good, and if you feel good you'll exude confidence that will help you sell yourself.

Also important (perhaps more than the above), work on your "Why Chicago," "Why Midwest," or "Why whatever Midwest city" story now. I was asked and grilled at every screener. Then asked at every Chicago CB. How you answer this question will be important.

Holy crap, thanks for all the advice! How did you answer the "why Chicago" Questions?

[samcro_op]

I have to bid for a diversity fair before I start my summer job. Do I just leave it off my resume?

[TooOld4This]

I have to bid for a diversity fair before I start my summer job. Do I just leave it off my resume?

No. Put it on with the dates showing that it is upcoming.

[samcro_op]

I have to bid for a diversity fair before I start my summer job. Do I just leave it off my resume?

No. Put it on with the dates showing that it is upcoming.

What do I put for a description, I only have a very vague idea of what I will actually be doing. Or since it is upcoming will they just understand? I guess I am just confused how to make this clear since it will have started by the time I interview/they look at the materials.

[lhanvt13]

I have to bid for a diversity fair before I start my summer job. Do I just leave it off my resume?

No. Put it on with the dates showing that it is upcoming.

What do I put for a description, I only have a very vague idea of what I will actually be doing. Or since it is upcoming will they just understand? I guess I am just confused how to make this clear since it will have started by the time I interview/they look at the materials.

I just have TBD for both of my job descriptions

[TooOld4This]

I have to bid for a diversity fair before I start my summer job. Do I just leave it off my resume?

No. Put it on with the dates showing that it is upcoming.

What do I put for a description, I only have a very vague idea of what I will actually be doing. Or since it is upcoming will they just understand? I guess I am just confused how to make this clear since it will have started by the time I interview/they look at the materials.

Selected as legal intern for XYZ Co.

Then bring updated resume with you.

[Anonymous User]

Holy crap, thanks for all the advice! How did you answer the "why Chicago" Questions?

I didn't have a particularly good reason, since I'm not from the Midwest and have only tenuous ties to the region. One firm (V75) straight up said they had a hard time believing that I was dedicated to living in Chicago, but another firm (V30) appeared to buy it and gave me an offer. It's aard to say based on my experience what passes for sufficient ties, and it may depend on the firm. But do have a story ready, as you will be asked.

[Anonymous User]

For those of you who put in bids today for CCBA: The email says go the next screen and hit apply. But I'm not seeing any option for next screen or even next. I put my bids in, but not really sure if there is an apply button or additional step after that. Any help would be great, thanks!

[Anonymous User]

IMO, do all the diversity fairs you can. Some of them will require you to skip work for it, do it. Some of them will require you to fly across the country and rent a hotel for it, I think if you snag some screeners then it's worth it. Though people differ on the latter one and I can understand why forking out $1000 for 1 screener is a hard pill to swallow. 3+ screeners and I think it's an easy call to do it. 1-2 screeners I think you have to assess what your odds are of converting them into a callback (though I'd lean towards yes since even if your odds aren't incredibly high, e.g. 10-20%, the upside is pretty huge).

If you are likely to get a lot of screeners, go to a school with lottery OCI, (e.g. top of your class at a top school) and have some firms you heavily prefer, you should try to interview with those firms at your OCI rather than at a diversity fair. Generally it seems to be easier to convert screeners into callbacks at OCI than it is at diversity fairs (likely because the competition is stiffer at diversity fairs where most candidates are preselect and because diversity fairs generally give out fewer callbacks). That said, this advice only applies to a small selection of people. Generally you should just be trying to get as many screeners as you can so you can have the highest chance of getting a job. Heck, the maximizing interviews advice still applies to people at the top as I've seen people with top grades at top schools end up with very few (or even just 1-2) offers and you definitely should be trying to avoid striking out.

IIRC, the signup windows for a lot of these fairs are ending soon or have already ended. People need to be on the ball for these things and not miss any deadlines.

At what point is it worth it to miss work and pay if you're asian at top 6 school? Would screeners at our school's OCI be enough? Would Asian give a boost enough for this?

Combine those two, how many screeners is worth $500-700?

[cookiejar1]

Just to be sure. . . the order of our bidding doesn't mean anything, right? Edit: this is for CCBA.

[lhanvt13]

Just to be sure. . . the order of our bidding doesn't mean anything, right? Edit: this is for CCBA.

Yes and no. You rank your bids since Ccba is half lottery (allegedly). But at the same time, I've heard it's not a real lottery and just all preselects. So no idea

[Anonymous User]

So I assume everyone got that CCBA email. Does anyone know if all the CCBA firms pay market?

[lhanvt13]

So I assume everyone got that CCBA email. Does anyone know if all the CCBA firms pay market?

Not all of them and also depends on the market. I think mcguirewoods does 140 Chicago. Double check that though.

Also, surprised about a couple firms on that list of unpopular kids.

[Anonymous User]

Is there any point to bidding firms like Kirkland, Sidley, etc?

[samcro_op]

Why do so many employers require a writing sample? UGH. I wanted to wait to get one from my internship but I won't have one in time. Damn.

[-dasein-]

Potentially dumb question: Is there any value for a 0L to attend one of these? I ask with an eye on the 1L summer gigs.

[Anonymous User]

We need a writing sample and transcript, in addition to resume for the BADCF, right? No cover letters?

For CCBA we only need a resume?

[Anonymous User]

We need a writing sample and transcript, in addition to resume for the BADCF, right? No cover letters?

For CCBA we only need a resume?

Yeah, some clarification on this front would be greatly appreciated. CCBA only allows us to upload a resume, even though some firms say they need cover letters (Jones Day, for example, wants one indicating multiple office preferences) and transcripts. I'm assuming they mean bring those materials to your screener if you're picked, right?

Conversely, BADCF won't let you bid for some firms unless you have a cover letter, transcript, and/or writing sample. Is it safe to assume that whatever is needed to bid is everything the firm wants?