Reminder: Stop Reading Tea Leaves; Start Mass Mailing Forum

[Anonymous User]

Yesterday, I sent an email to a partner (alum) who hosted a reception back in spring at my school asking him if he can tell me about his work and the firm in general. I just got an email today from a recruiting director who wants to set up a phone call to "speak to [me] about our firm."

In email, I mentioned that I landed a screening interview through bidding process and also attached my resume and transcript for reference.

Is it just going to be an informational phone call telling me about the firm? Or should I take this as an early screening interview or some sort? I really think it's the former but just wanted to make sure if I should prepare for an interview.

*The firm is V50.

[w7ldcard]

When is too soon to begin mass mailing for the coming summer?

[sandwhich]

Yesterday, I sent an email to a partner (alum) who hosted a reception back in spring at my school asking him if he can tell me about his work and the firm in general. I just got an email today from a recruiting director who wants to set up a phone call to "speak to [me] about our firm."

In email, I mentioned that I landed a screening interview through bidding process and also attached my resume and transcript for reference.

Is it just going to be an informational phone call telling me about the firm? Or should I take this as an early screening interview or some sort? I really think it's the former but just wanted to make sure if I should prepare for an interview.

I think the correct mentality is to approach every interaction with someone who works at the firm as though it were an interview. But I mean that in the sense of acting interested in the firm and being polite etc. As far as preparing, no I don't think you need to prepare for the phone call beyond coming up with a few intelligent questions to ask.

[Anonymous User]

When is too soon to begin mass mailing for the coming summer?

For the 2016 summer? Many people have already started. I've seen people (purportedly) with CB's already.

[sandwhich]

When is too soon to begin mass mailing for the coming summer?

Like, 3 weeks ago? I think between now and the end of July is a good time to start without worrying about it being too soon. I've already got one callback set up going outside of OCI.

Edit: scooped

[w7ldcard]

When is too soon to begin mass mailing for the coming summer?

Like, 3 weeks ago? I think between now and the end of July is a good time to start without worrying about it being too soon. I've already got one callback set up going outside of OCI.

Edit: scooped

Thanks!

[SuperTrooper]

When is too soon to begin mass mailing for the coming summer?

Like, 3 weeks ago? I think between now and the end of July is a good time to start without worrying about it being too soon. I've already got one callback set up going outside of OCI.

Edit: scooped

Nice. Was it a non-OCI firm/office? Also, cover letter attached or in the body?

[Kratos]

Yesterday, I sent an email to a partner (alum) who hosted a reception back in spring at my school asking him if he can tell me about his work and the firm in general. I just got an email today from a recruiting director who wants to set up a phone call to "speak to [me] about our firm."

In email, I mentioned that I landed a screening interview through bidding process and also attached my resume and transcript for reference.

Is it just going to be an informational phone call telling me about the firm? Or should I take this as an early screening interview or some sort? I really think it's the former but just wanted to make sure if I should prepare for an interview.

*The firm is V50.

be prepared for either

[sandwhich]

When is too soon to begin mass mailing for the coming summer?

Like, 3 weeks ago? I think between now and the end of July is a good time to start without worrying about it being too soon. I've already got one callback set up going outside of OCI.

Edit: scooped

Nice. Was it a non-OCI firm/office? Also, cover letter attached or in the body?

No it was an OCI firm, but since I'm transferring I applied so that I could interview before leaving. And I attached my cover letter in a PDF with my resume and transcript. I put a short body in the email, where I also mentioned that I would supply a writing sample if they wanted one.

My recommendation would be to go to as many of these firm receptions that are going on as you can, find a current SA, talk to him/her and 9 times out of 10 they'll introduce you to somebody more important. I find this much easier and less awkward than randomly approaching some partner who's in the middle of a conversation with a group of 4 or 5 other people.

[Manteca]

Yesterday, I sent an email to a partner (alum) who hosted a reception back in spring at my school asking him if he can tell me about his work and the firm in general. I just got an email today from a recruiting director who wants to set up a phone call to "speak to [me] about our firm."

In email, I mentioned that I landed a screening interview through bidding process and also attached my resume and transcript for reference.

Is it just going to be an informational phone call telling me about the firm? Or should I take this as an early screening interview or some sort? I really think it's the former but just wanted to make sure if I should prepare for an interview.

*The firm is V50.

be prepared for either

My informational interview with a V100 partner (actually a lot higher than that, but vague for anonymity's sake) turned into an interview about halfway through, fwiw.

[GGMcSwift]

I've read about people applying to like 500 firms for mass mail.

How is that even possible? Are there even that many firms that have summer programs (lots of midsize firms don't) or are people just cold emailing firms and asking them if they need help next summer?

Or is the only way to get to that number to apply to many of the top firms but in several different offices each?

[Anonymous User]

Yesterday, I sent an email to a partner (alum) who hosted a reception back in spring at my school asking him if he can tell me about his work and the firm in general. I just got an email today from a recruiting director who wants to set up a phone call to "speak to [me] about our firm."

In email, I mentioned that I landed a screening interview through bidding process and also attached my resume and transcript for reference.

Is it just going to be an informational phone call telling me about the firm? Or should I take this as an early screening interview or some sort? I really think it's the former but just wanted to make sure if I should prepare for an interview.

*The firm is V50.

be prepared for either

My informational interview with a V100 partner (actually a lot higher than that, but vague for anonymity's sake) turned into an interview about halfway through, fwiw.

So how did it go? What happened after the interview?

[sandwhich]

I've read about people applying to like 500 firms for mass mail.

How is that even possible? Are there even that many firms that have summer programs (lots of midsize firms don't) or are people just cold emailing firms and asking them if they need help next summer?

Or is the only way to get to that number to apply to many of the top firms but in several different offices each?

I think even from a very pro-mass mailing perspective that's an absurd number. While it's impossible to tailor an application to every firm, I think 50 well tailored applications would receive just as many interview invited as 500 generic ones.

And fwiw I think you're off to a good start just by being in this thread and showing concern about how to go about mass mailing. Most of my friends haven't even added their 1L WE to their resumes yet or even thought about mass mailing.

[ManoftheHour]

I've read about people applying to like 500 firms for mass mail.

How is that even possible? Are there even that many firms that have summer programs (lots of midsize firms don't) or are people just cold emailing firms and asking them if they need help next summer?

Or is the only way to get to that number to apply to many of the top firms but in several different offices each?

I think even from a very pro-mass mailing perspective that's an absurd number. While it's impossible to tailor an application to every firm, I think 50 well tailored applications would receive just as many interview invited as 500 generic ones.

And fwiw I think you're off to a good start just by being in this thread and showing concern about how to go about mass mailing. Most of my friends haven't even added their 1L WE to their resumes yet or even thought about mass mailing.

No one I've talked to even knows what mass mailing is.

[hoos89]

I've read about people applying to like 500 firms for mass mail.

How is that even possible? Are there even that many firms that have summer programs (lots of midsize firms don't) or are people just cold emailing firms and asking them if they need help next summer?

Or is the only way to get to that number to apply to many of the top firms but in several different offices each?

I think even from a very pro-mass mailing perspective that's an absurd number. While it's impossible to tailor an application to every firm, I think 50 well tailored applications would receive just as many interview invited as 500 generic ones.

And fwiw I think you're off to a good start just by being in this thread and showing concern about how to go about mass mailing. Most of my friends haven't even added their 1L WE to their resumes yet or even thought about mass mailing.

Yeah but there's nothing to stop you from essentially tranching your applications. To your top X firms, you customize much more. And then as you get lower on your list you can customize less. 50 is not a reasonable number for a mass-mail campaign at all. That's not even most of the major firms in NYC alone.

[sandwhich]

I've read about people applying to like 500 firms for mass mail.

How is that even possible? Are there even that many firms that have summer programs (lots of midsize firms don't) or are people just cold emailing firms and asking them if they need help next summer?

Or is the only way to get to that number to apply to many of the top firms but in several different offices each?

I think even from a very pro-mass mailing perspective that's an absurd number. While it's impossible to tailor an application to every firm, I think 50 well tailored applications would receive just as many interview invited as 500 generic ones.

And fwiw I think you're off to a good start just by being in this thread and showing concern about how to go about mass mailing. Most of my friends haven't even added their 1L WE to their resumes yet or even thought about mass mailing.

Yeah but there's nothing to stop you from essentially tranching your applications. To your top X firms, you customize much more. And then as you get lower on your list you can customize less. 50 is not a reasonable number for a mass-mail campaign at all. That's not even most of the major firms in NYC alone.

You're absolutely right and I wasn't intending to be literal, but I know that's hard to read through text.

[GGMcSwift]

So what is a reasonable mass mail number?

I am only interested in NY. I would rather not have a 2L SA job lined up than move cities. So how many firms even have a NY SA program? I'm sure it's less than 200.

[pancakes3]

Just use whatever resources are available to you - NALP, Vault, Resume Launchpad, Martingale, and it'll just happen. Even if someone did tell you that there are exactly 168 firms in NYC who have SA programs, you'll still have to compile the list yourself. Whether you come up with 158 firms or 178 firms... what difference does it make?

[hoos89]

Also you don't need to know they have a summer program before applying. The worst that happens if they don't is they tell you they don't have a summer program but thanks for your interest.

[GGMcSwift]

That is a huge waste of time when a simple few clicks on their website will tell you if they have a program or not.

The point I'm making is, for someone like me, who is interested only in one city, mass mailing means not sending out many emails. Assuming I don't apply to the firms coming to my OCI, there are just not many left.

[hoos89]

A) firm websites aren't always 100% accurate and B) it really doesn't take that long to mass-mail. I doubt any firm that didn't have a summer program will be high on your list, so you would be sending out cover letters to them with relatively little customization.

Also, bear in mind that NYC is the easiest market to lateral into. There's also a possibility of getting something 3L if you get an offer from a 2L SA in another city, or moving from satellite office to NYC office.

[Kratos]

That is a huge waste of time when a simple few clicks on their website will tell you if they have a program or not.

The point I'm making is, for someone like me, who is interested only in one city, mass mailing means not sending out many emails. Assuming I don't apply to the firms coming to my OCI, there are just not many left.

why are you arguing about this? we get it, you only want NYC so the majority of the advice here doesn't apply, so don't listen to it. your initial question is impossible to answer because there is no "reasonable" mass mail number, different shit works for different people. hoos is offering his opinion that your strategy might be short sighted and I agree. I dunno your circumstances so whatever, but I know I wasn't doing anything that important last summer which made mass mailing a huge time burden.

[Anonymous User]

Yesterday, I sent an email to a partner (alum) who hosted a reception back in spring at my school asking him if he can tell me about his work and the firm in general. I just got an email today from a recruiting director who wants to set up a phone call to "speak to [me] about our firm."

In email, I mentioned that I landed a screening interview through bidding process and also attached my resume and transcript for reference.

Is it just going to be an informational phone call telling me about the firm? Or should I take this as an early screening interview or some sort? I really think it's the former but just wanted to make sure if I should prepare for an interview.

*The firm is V50.

OP here, it looks like I will be just talking to a recruiting director, not an associate or a partner. i guess it is just an informational phone call after all.

[Anonymous User]

If I mailed firms last weekend, when should I typically expect to hear back from them? Is it too early?
I just want to get an idea of what I should expect so I'm not checking my email every 5 minutes like a crazy person.

[RaceJudicata]

That is a huge waste of time when a simple few clicks on their website will tell you if they have a program or not.

The point I'm making is, for someone like me, who is interested only in one city, mass mailing means not sending out many emails. Assuming I don't apply to the firms coming to my OCI, there are just not many left.

why are you arguing about this? we get it, you only want NYC so the majority of the advice here doesn't apply, so don't listen to it. your initial question is impossible to answer because there is no "reasonable" mass mail number, different shit works for different people. hoos is offering his opinion that your strategy might be short sighted and I agree. I dunno your circumstances so whatever, but I know I wasn't doing anything that important last summer which made mass mailing a huge time burden.

Play the odds. You certainly could get lucky and get a call back and offer on sending a single mass mailer (i guess that wouldn't even be "mass"), but that isn't very likely. Might as well spend an extra 6-8 hours and send 100 more. Once the hiring period is over, its over. Can't go back and send the extra emails

If I mailed firms last weekend, when should I typically expect to hear back from them? Is it too early?
I just want to get an idea of what I should expect so I'm not checking my email every 5 minutes like a crazy person.

Most will probably not respond. No need to sit and wait for replies; they will come in time.