Thoughts on bringing "cheat sheet" into OCI interview? Forum

[Anonymous User]

OP here... So first round of OCI interviews were today. Didn't use the cheat sheet for any interviews until the last of the day. It got to the "do you have any questions" phase and I told the interviewer I had some very specific questions and was going to peak at my cheat sheet to make sure I got them answered. She stopped me immediately and offered me a call back mid interview.

I'm sure this isn't the norm but it just goes to show that while there may be a conventional way of doing things (as is propagated by tls'ers) but you're better off being unique and owning your own techniques- regardless of how quirky or dumb or unconventional they are.

see how far you can push this. Also small sample size. Congrats on the cb.

Thanks. I didn't mean to make it sound as if I'm going to bust into my next interview in board shorts because I like surfing and I want a firm that likes surfers. I just think TLS tends to promote the idea that there is a formula to get a big law job and that's essentially being as bland and contemporary as possible. And maybe that's true, but I think a better approach is to do what feels natural and allows you to be yourself during the recruiting phase. I may be an arrogant bastard but I think I have something to offer these firms and the best way for me to demonstrate that is to be me.

Also, this isn't all based off of just today, for a while I have been frustrated with the generally conservative and unimaginative advice given on TLS. Any deviation from the standard script is automatically written off.

[Anonymous User]

OP here... So first round of OCI interviews were today. Didn't use the cheat sheet for any interviews until the last of the day. It got to the "do you have any questions" phase and I told the interviewer I had some very specific questions and was going to peak at my cheat sheet to make sure I got them answered. She stopped me immediately and offered me a call back mid interview.

I'm sure this isn't the norm but it just goes to show that while there may be a conventional way of doing things (as is propagated by tls'ers) but you're better off being unique and owning your own techniques- regardless of how quirky or dumb or unconventional they are.

see how far you can push this. Also small sample size. Congrats on the cb.

Thanks. I didn't mean to make it sound as if I'm going to bust into my next interview in board shorts because I like surfing and I want a firm that likes surfers. I just think TLS tends to promote the idea that there is a formula to get a big law job and that's essentially being as bland and contemporary as possible. And maybe that's true, but I think a better approach is to do what feels natural and allows you to be yourself during the recruiting phase. I may be an arrogant bastard but I think I have something to offer these firms and the best way for me to demonstrate that is to be me.

Also, this isn't all based off of just today, for a while I have been frustrated with the generally conservative and unimaginative advice given on TLS. Any deviation from the standard script is automatically written off.

congrats on your CB with greenberg traurig

[A. Nony Mouse]

Well, I'll admit that if you're going to use a cheat sheet, that seems like a pretty smooth way to do it.