Columbia EIP 2014 Forum

[Anonymous User]

Same, gonna research firms once I get my bidlist. Will that be coming to us next week? I'd love to be able to start on that. Also, are you guys mass mailing NYC firms? I've been mailing my home markets, but given that I bid strictly NYC I figured I could wait a bit longer for that.

-Joseph Anton

We get schedules July 28th I believe

Isn't that the last day to cancel interviews through EIP?

I think we have like one day to cancel, which ends on the 29th.

Yeah just pulled the schedule off Symplicity:

July 3: Student bidding period begins
July 14: Resume Collections are available on Symplicity under the 'Job Postings' tab
July 28: Interview schedules will be available beginning at 5:00 pm
July 28 - 29: Interview Cancellation period (ends at 5:00 pm on July 29)
July 30 - 31: Practice Interview Program
July 30 - July 31: Interview Add period (ends at 5:00 pm on July 31)
August 5: EIP Kick-Off Panel

[Anonymous User]

Sorry if this seems clueless, buuut...

1. Is everyone generally ending their jobs before EIP starts? I was originally going to take some days off and then go back after EIP ends, but that becomes messy since I won't know when callbacks (hopefully) will happen. And if I did go back after, it'd just be for like a week.

2. I'm mass mailing CA this week. If I get callbacks from that (ha ha), it would most likely be before EIP starts. Would I just take days off work? Hold off until work ends? The advice seems to be to schedule callbacks ASAP, so I'm antsy about delaying, but also antsy about being too spotty at work.

Circumstances: I'm a SA at a smallish/mediumish firm that does give out offers and is a nice place to work, so I don't want to leave any bad impressions. They told me they're flexible as far as my end date goes. The instinctive answer seem to be "they probably won't care" but I guess I'm looking for reassurance.

[Anonymous User]

Sorry if this seems clueless, buuut...

1. Is everyone generally ending their jobs before EIP starts? I was originally going to take some days off and then go back after EIP ends, but that becomes messy since I won't know when callbacks (hopefully) will happen. And if I did go back after, it'd just be for like a week.

2. I'm mass mailing CA this week. If I get callbacks from that (ha ha), it would most likely be before EIP starts. Would I just take days off work? Hold off until work ends? The advice seems to be to schedule callbacks ASAP, so I'm antsy about delaying, but also antsy about being too spotty at work.

Circumstances: I'm a SA at a smallish/mediumish firm that does give out offers and is a nice place to work, so I don't want to leave any bad impressions. They told me they're flexible as far as my end date goes. The instinctive answer seem to be "they probably won't care" but I guess I'm looking for reassurance.

Returning for a short time after EIP doesn't sound like a good idea, at all.

It'll break up the continuity of your current assignments, for one, and you'd only be back for a very short time so it would be hard to assign you to anything new. Far more significantly, like you mentioned, you have no idea when your callbacks might be. I wouldn't risk jeopardizing your viability at EIP by locking up a full week for full-time work.

They'll understand how ridiculous it would be to come back. Tell them your school's OCI process is starting and you have to ditch.

[Anonymous User]

Returning for a short time after EIP doesn't sound like a good idea, at all.

It'll break up the continuity of your current assignments, for one, and you'd only be back for a very short time so it would be hard to assign you to anything new. Far more significantly, like you mentioned, you have no idea when your callbacks might be. I wouldn't risk jeopardizing your viability at EIP by locking up a full week for full-time work.

They'll understand how ridiculous it would be to come back. Tell them your school's OCI process is starting and you have to ditch.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking. What about potential callbacks before EIP starts? Schedule them after work ends or take some days off?

[Anonymous User]

i've already had a few and just gone during work. employer was cool with it but YMMV.

[Anonymous User]

Do you guys just say you're going for interviews / going to leave for OCI? Like is it in bad taste to allude to that to a place that might give you an offer, or is it pretty par for the course

[Anonymous User]

i've already had a few and just gone during work. employer was cool with it but YMMV.

this depends on your employer. if it's a gov't or PI org, of course they should accept you are pursuing paid work for next summer with the opportunity for FT. if it's a 1L SA where you are paid and expected to be present & also don't want to preclude getting an offer by coming off as totally uncommitted, snagging local CB's during work hours is a lot more questionable.

[Anonymous User]

Do you guys just say you're going for interviews / going to leave for OCI? Like is it in bad taste to allude to that to a place that might give you an offer, or is it pretty par for the course

When did you start work? Assuming you'll have worked a full 10 wks by august 1st, I can't possibly see how not staying longer would reflect poorly on you.

[Anonymous User]

OCS told me that firms are given a list of everyone who didn't get an interview but bid them—a waitlist they (rarely) draw from, if they want to interview more people.

In any case, they were pretty clear that firms are at least able to tell if you bid them or not.

Why not just say nothing? If a firm emails back wondering why they won't just interview you at EIP, then you can start twisting words if you want to pretend you bid them without actually saying so, but lying off the bat seems like a poor approach.

Yea, this makes sense. Don't make excuses for yourself if you aren't asked to.

I'm curious about the protocol for firms where you bid one of their offices, and want to apply directly to another office you couldn't bid. Then it's not that I didn't bid their firm at eip, it's more that I bid a different city.. Not sure which inference is worse lol

My question is whether one can pick up a firm if one cannot bid that firm twice. So if I get Gibson NY, can I pick up Gibson DC, or, because I cannot bid both Gibson NY & DC, I cannot pick up DC? OCS didn't know, so curious if anyone hear had heard of anything.

[Anonymous User]

What are you all doing to prepare for EIP and callbacks? I'm researching firms a little bit but haven't done much to prepare for interviews. Might start looking at those "frequently asked questions." Just feel like I should be doing more to prep...

3L dropping in. I had a lot of confusion about this last year and thought it might be useful to give some perspective. Firms seem to want you to show interest in them. To that end, knowing what the firms biggest practices are is helpful and looking at their website / wikipedia / chambers can be a good idea. But, don't freak out in terms of "prep." Think through your story / what you might say to the most common questions, but don't overdo it. You don't want to sound robotic.

[lunaraeon]

OCS told me that firms are given a list of everyone who didn't get an interview but bid them—a waitlist they (rarely) draw from, if they want to interview more people.

In any case, they were pretty clear that firms are at least able to tell if you bid them or not.

Why not just say nothing? If a firm emails back wondering why they won't just interview you at EIP, then you can start twisting words if you want to pretend you bid them without actually saying so, but lying off the bat seems like a poor approach.

Yea, this makes sense. Don't make excuses for yourself if you aren't asked to.

I'm curious about the protocol for firms where you bid one of their offices, and want to apply directly to another office you couldn't bid. Then it's not that I didn't bid their firm at eip, it's more that I bid a different city.. Not sure which inference is worse lol

My question is whether one can pick up a firm if one cannot bid that firm twice. So if I get Gibson NY, can I pick up Gibson DC, or, because I cannot bid both Gibson NY & DC, I cannot pick up DC? OCS didn't know, so curious if anyone hear had heard of anything.

If I remember correctly, the orange triangle isn't "no bidding multiple offices", it's "no interviewing with multiple offices", right? You'd just tell Gibson NY that you are also interested in DC.

Though if OCS doesn't know, maybe it's not so straightforward, since this must come up every year.

[Anonymous User]

I was planning on applying to some of the firms that are doing resume collects (secondary offices of the firms). However, I was hoping to potentially line up a few more callback interviews before EIP. Will these firms assess the resume collection applications as they come in (and therefore there is the potential to meet with them before EIP and I should apply through Symplicity), or will they only start reviewing applications at the deadline, and therefore it might be advisable to reach out to their recruiting directly? Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Is it okay to mention in the screener with one office that another office of that firm gave you an offer? I have a few pre-EIP offers in NY, but I'm trying to get into those same firms in DC or CA. I'm wondering if I can sell that as being super jazzed about the firm more broadly.

[Anonymous User]

Is it okay to mention in the screener with one office that another office of that firm gave you an offer? I have a few pre-EIP offers in NY, but I'm trying to get into those same firms in DC or CA. I'm wondering if I can sell that as being super jazzed about the firm more broadly.

Is there anyway you can leverage these offers to bypass the screeners entirely? Perhaps mention you're interested in splitting your summers (if the firm allows) and ask the HR contact in NY if she could put you in touch with the DC/CA contact to try and arrange a callback?

It might reflect a bit poorly on your interest in NY but I assume the offer is in writing and they won't be rescinding it for just asking.

(PS. super jelly of your pre-eip offers. Did you get them from mass mail/networking/1l summer employment?)

[Anonymous User]

Is it okay to mention in the screener with one office that another office of that firm gave you an offer? I have a few pre-EIP offers in NY, but I'm trying to get into those same firms in DC or CA. I'm wondering if I can sell that as being super jazzed about the firm more broadly.

what would be the purpose of letting them know that you received an offer from their other branch? just so that you can show them that you're "qualified" because one office of the firm decided that you were? i would highly advise against interviewing with a firm's other offices once you've received an offer from one of them.

first, the CA/DC office could care less that the NY office gave you an offer. Every office, even within the same firm, has a different culture, set of personalities, hiring needs, budget, etc. Ultimately, they're looking for a candidate who will fit their particular office, not someone else's.

second, i don't see how you're going to come across as being "super jazzed" about the firm when you're telling the CA/DC office point blank that you're interviewing with them even after having received an offer from the same firm. Although the NY office wouldn't rescind your offer for interviewing (or attempting to interview) with another office, the CA/DC office would be unlikely to give you one. These firms are a lot smaller than you think. The hiring partners and recruiters all communicate internally. Why would the CA office give you an offer when all the circumstances point to how undecided you are about where you want to be? They'd much rather extend that offer to someone who really wants to be in CA/DC and is likely to actually accept rather than someone who seems to be having trouble making up his mind.

the world's not going to end if you do decide to interview with another office. but it just leaves all the firm's offices that you do interview with with a poor impression of you. so to answer your question more succinctly: 1. no, don't mention in the screener that you've received an offer from another one of their offices (why would you ever do that?), but 2. they'll probably know even if you don't. if you're really really set on interviewing/being in CA/DC, I would just double check to make sure it isn't one of the firms that doesn't allow multiple interviews at OCI before doing so.

[Anonymous User]

Is it okay to mention in the screener with one office that another office of that firm gave you an offer? I have a few pre-EIP offers in NY, but I'm trying to get into those same firms in DC or CA. I'm wondering if I can sell that as being super jazzed about the firm more broadly.

[Voice of reason]

Yeah, that makes sense. Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Any advice for someone who hasn't gotten an offer from a firm yet in regards to interviewing at multiple locations? I had a callback in City X (smaller market), where I have strong ties to that I emphasized. I also am interested in living in City Y (weaker ties, but still some ties). Could I spin it so that it looks like I'm just really interested in working for the firm (which I am), and therefore am willing to interview in multiple offices to maximize my chances? Or will it just look like I'm not committed to City X?

[Anonymous User]

Any advice for someone who hasn't gotten an offer from a firm yet in regards to interviewing at multiple locations? I had a callback in City X (smaller market), where I have strong ties to that I emphasized. I also am interested in living in City Y (weaker ties, but still some ties). Could I spin it so that it looks like I'm just really interested in working for the firm (which I am), and therefore am willing to interview in multiple offices to maximize my chances? Or will it just look like I'm not committed to City X?

think this one should be fairly straightforward. ask whether they allow multiple interviews. if no, end of story. if they do, then interview.

[Anonymous User]

Any advice for someone who hasn't gotten an offer from a firm yet in regards to interviewing at multiple locations? I had a callback in City X (smaller market), where I have strong ties to that I emphasized. I also am interested in living in City Y (weaker ties, but still some ties). Could I spin it so that it looks like I'm just really interested in working for the firm (which I am), and therefore am willing to interview in multiple offices to maximize my chances? Or will it just look like I'm not committed to City X?

think this one should be fairly straightforward. ask whether they allow multiple interviews. if no, end of story. if they do, then interview.

Thanks. Should I ask the second city (the one I haven't interviewed at) if they allow for multiple interviews, explaining that I already interviewed with City X but am interested in City Y and would love any opportunity to work for Firm A? According to their website, you can apply to any firm you are interested in, but for EIP they ask that you only interview with one office.

[Anonymous User]

Any advice for someone who hasn't gotten an offer from a firm yet in regards to interviewing at multiple locations? I had a callback in City X (smaller market), where I have strong ties to that I emphasized. I also am interested in living in City Y (weaker ties, but still some ties). Could I spin it so that it looks like I'm just really interested in working for the firm (which I am), and therefore am willing to interview in multiple offices to maximize my chances? Or will it just look like I'm not committed to City X?

think this one should be fairly straightforward. ask whether they allow multiple interviews. if no, end of story. if they do, then interview.

Thanks. Should I ask the second city (the one I haven't interviewed at) if they allow for multiple interviews, explaining that I already interviewed with City X but am interested in City Y and would love any opportunity to work for Firm A? According to their website, you can apply to any firm you are interested in, but for EIP they ask that you only interview with one office.

if that's the case, i would just assume that they don't allow multiple interviews outside of EIP. the reason that some offices don't allow multiple interviews at EIP is because these offices usually have one hiring committee that coordinates the firm's recruitment efforts nationwide. i see no reason why that would be different outside EIP. if you really want to ask, however, i would e-mail the second office w/o mentioning your interview at the first.

[Anonymous User]

Geeze what's up with all these pre-EIP activities? I'm just sitting on my ass until I'm back in NYC and trying to enjoy the remainder of my summer!

[Anonymous User]

Geeze what's up with all these pre-EIP activities? I'm just sitting on my ass until I'm back in NYC and trying to enjoy the remainder of my summer!

Don't know about everyone else, but I'm trying not to do EIP if possible.

[Anonymous User]

Geeze what's up with all these pre-EIP activities? I'm just sitting on my ass until I'm back in NYC and trying to enjoy the remainder of my summer!

Don't know about everyone else, but I'm trying not to do EIP if possible.

Seconded. If my current offer will let me split with their DC office and let me know by 7/28, I'll cancel every interview and go to Europe.

[jbagelboy]

Geeze what's up with all these pre-EIP activities? I'm just sitting on my ass until I'm back in NYC and trying to enjoy the remainder of my summer!

Remember this is TLS, half the thread participants are kent & its hardly a representative sample. These are some of the most pro-active students in the class, you're fine. Although if you are targeting a market poorly represented at EIP (basically not NY or DC), definitely not a bad idea to do some solo legwork in advance.

[Anonymous User]

Geeze what's up with all these pre-EIP activities? I'm just sitting on my ass until I'm back in NYC and trying to enjoy the remainder of my summer!

Don't know about everyone else, but I'm trying not to do EIP if possible.

Seconded. If my current offer will let me split with their DC office and let me know by 7/28, I'll cancel every interview and go to Europe.

If I can get an offer with this firm and they allow me to split, can we go to Europe together