Columbia EIP 2014 Forum

[Anonymous User]

OCS said printing resumes on resume paper is required. Is this for real?

Do it. Everyone else will.

[txdude45]

I don't understand the resume paper thing generally, but particularly in this situation. They already have your resume in PDF and will likely have a copy with them on plain paper. Why must we pretend that resume paper is going anywhere but the trash at the end of the day?

[Anonymous User]

I don't understand the resume paper thing generally, but particularly in this situation. They already have your resume in PDF and will likely have a copy with them on plain paper. Why must we pretend that resume paper is going anywhere but the trash at the end of the day?

because the the point of EIP is to make sure that you're willing to check various bullshit boxes to prove you're not crazy/that you take things seriously

same reason you should wear conservative dress

same reason you have boilerplate safe questions to ask

same reason you have boring, boilerplate answers to almost every question they can ask you

Most firms don't actually want to know tons about you, especially at this stage. They just want to make sure you're competent and understand the game that you're playing.

[Anonymous User]

Who do I address my cover letter to (for a firm I'm interviewing with at EIP) if I am not told who the interviewer will be? "Dear *Name," for example.

there are only a couple of places that ask for that, so check to be sure

if sure, you should probably address it to the recruiting director. It's normally listed somewhere

Different anon here. If I can see the names of my interviewers, do you think I should still address the letter to the recruiting coordinator? This feels like the safer move.

[txdude45]

Most firms don't actually want to know tons about you, especially at this stage. They just want to make sure you're competent and understand the game that you're playing.

I really hate that this process is viewed as a "game" and that everyone winks/nods through stupid things. I don't have a fake bone in my body and that this whole thing is an exercise in being as fake as possible really irks me. If I'm being fake and you're being fake, we actually have no idea if me working where you work is actually a good fit. How is that productive?

I get it, but I hate it with a passion.

[jbagelboy]

I don't understand the resume paper thing generally, but particularly in this situation. They already have your resume in PDF and will likely have a copy with them on plain paper. Why must we pretend that resume paper is going anywhere but the trash at the end of the day?

Yo bro where do we cop that resume paper, can we print it in JG or do I have to do some other shit

[txdude45]

I don't understand the resume paper thing generally, but particularly in this situation. They already have your resume in PDF and will likely have a copy with them on plain paper. Why must we pretend that resume paper is going anywhere but the trash at the end of the day?

Yo bro where do we cop that resume paper, can we print it in JG or do I have to do some other shit

Bookstore? Staples? Idk.

[Anonymous User]

From the website:

A dedicated résumé printer is set up in 216I Jerome Greene Hall computer lab. This printer is not networked, therefore résumés have to be copied on a DVD drive or USB thumb drive and printed directly from the résumé computer. Please bring your own résumé paper, as it is not provided in the lab.

http://web.law.columbia.edu/information ... d-scanning

[enibs]

I don't understand the resume paper thing generally, but particularly in this situation. They already have your resume in PDF and will likely have a copy with them on plain paper. Why must we pretend that resume paper is going anywhere but the trash at the end of the day?

because the the point of EIP is to make sure that you're willing to check various bullshit boxes to prove you're not crazy/that you take things seriously

same reason you should wear conservative dress

same reason you have boilerplate safe questions to ask

same reason you have boring, boilerplate answers to almost every question they can ask you

Most firms don't actually want to know tons about you, especially at this stage. They just want to make sure you're competent and understand the game that you're playing.

I can't/won't speak for anyone else, but my firm couldn't care less whether your resume is printed on resume paper, so don't do it for us. Unless something has changed on your resume, we don't need you to give us another copy anyway. Also, we do want to know something about you (at least as much as we can learn in 20 minutes, which admittedly is limited). If you give me boring, boilerplate answers and ask me boilerplate safe questions, our interview is not going to go very well. I do agree on wearing conservative dress.

[StormyDay]

From the website:

A dedicated résumé printer is set up in 216I Jerome Greene Hall computer lab. This printer is not networked, therefore résumés have to be copied on a DVD drive or USB thumb drive and printed directly from the résumé computer. Please bring your own résumé paper, as it is not provided in the lab.

http://web.law.columbia.edu/information ... d-scanning

I've heard that the resume printer charges 10 pages for each page you print. I bought resume paper at Ivy League Stationers and had no issues printing resumes with the regular printers. Just make sure you get the watermark in the right direction.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Most firms don't actually want to know tons about you, especially at this stage. They just want to make sure you're competent and understand the game that you're playing.

I really hate that this process is viewed as a "game" and that everyone winks/nods through stupid things. I don't have a fake bone in my body and that this whole thing is an exercise in being as fake as possible really irks me. If I'm being fake and you're being fake, we actually have no idea if me working where you work is actually a good fit. How is that productive?

I get it, but I hate it with a passion.

I sympathize because I'm aspie-and-a-half, but lying at interviews is a prisoner's dilemma that you don't want to be on the wrong side of. It might be a little more relaxing to say "I'm sure you're nice, but I honestly can't tell you apart from any of these other firms" or "I already have a V5 offer, so you're not getting anywhere unless you really impress me," but as long as other students are pretending that Insert Firm & Here LLP is their number one choice, honesty gets the short stick. And to be fair, being able to say things that are either demonstrably untrue or vastly exaggerated in a convincing manner is a pretty integral skill for a Biglaw associate, so think of it as a skills demonstration.

[lunaraeon]

Most firms don't actually want to know tons about you, especially at this stage. They just want to make sure you're competent and understand the game that you're playing.

I really hate that this process is viewed as a "game" and that everyone winks/nods through stupid things. I don't have a fake bone in my body and that this whole thing is an exercise in being as fake as possible really irks me. If I'm being fake and you're being fake, we actually have no idea if me working where you work is actually a good fit. How is that productive?

I get it, but I hate it with a passion.

I sympathize because I'm aspie-and-a-half, but lying at interviews is a prisoner's dilemma that you don't want to be on the wrong side of. It might be a little more relaxing to say "I'm sure you're nice, but I honestly can't tell you apart from any of these other firms" or "I already have a V5 offer, so you're not getting anywhere unless you really impress me," but as long as other students are pretending that Insert Firm & Here LLP is their number one choice, honesty gets the short stick. And to be fair, being able to say things that are either demonstrably untrue or vastly exaggerated in a convincing manner is a pretty integral skill for a Biglaw associate, so think of it as a skills demonstration.

Look, we're all adults, so you can do what you feel is necessary to get a job and this is solely my opinion. But lying is not a habit you should be getting into, and I don't think it will ever be necessary in an interview, or in practice. It is an unnecessary crutch and I think it hurts you overall.

I'm with txdude on the silliness of resume paper, but it costs like 4 dollars to fit in so I'll probably just do it.

[jbagelboy]

Most firms don't actually want to know tons about you, especially at this stage. They just want to make sure you're competent and understand the game that you're playing.

I really hate that this process is viewed as a "game" and that everyone winks/nods through stupid things. I don't have a fake bone in my body and that this whole thing is an exercise in being as fake as possible really irks me. If I'm being fake and you're being fake, we actually have no idea if me working where you work is actually a good fit. How is that productive?

I get it, but I hate it with a passion.

I sympathize because I'm aspie-and-a-half, but lying at interviews is a prisoner's dilemma that you don't want to be on the wrong side of. It might be a little more relaxing to say "I'm sure you're nice, but I honestly can't tell you apart from any of these other firms" or "I already have a V5 offer, so you're not getting anywhere unless you really impress me," but as long as other students are pretending that Insert Firm & Here LLP is their number one choice, honesty gets the short stick. And to be fair, being able to say things that are either demonstrably untrue or vastly exaggerated in a convincing manner is a pretty integral skill for a Biglaw associate, so think of it as a skills demonstration.

Look, we're all adults, so you can do what you feel is necessary to get a job and this is solely my opinion. But lying is not a habit you should be getting into, and I don't think it will ever be necessary in an interview, or in practice. It is an unnecessary crutch and I think it hurts you overall.

I'm with txdude on the silliness of resume paper, but it costs like 4 dollars to fit in so I'll probably just do it.

so like $4 for how many pages at ivy league stationers? is that ~20 cents per page then?

[Anonymous User]

For canceling interviews at this stage, is our best bet to just send a politely worded email to the firms directly? Will OCS notice/take offense, or will the firms quietly remove us from the schedule? Its a waste of their time too if I would no longer be interested in working there.

[Anonymous User]

Columbia EIP vet here: Generally, Yes to lying / No to resume paper. But whatever makes you feel more comfortable is probably the best answer to both, tbh.

[lunaraeon]

so like $4 for how many pages at ivy league stationers? is that ~20 cents per page then?

I was going off online prices, which were like ~$8 for 100 pages, and assuming you could find someone to split with. I imagine ILS is more expensive. There's a nice stationary store on Broadway a few blocks south that I think might be cheaper (they have a better paper selection, at least).

[Anonymous User]

Is there a consensus on length for writing sample?

I'm afraid mine is too long, but I don't know how to cut it down, so I was wondering if there is some hard and fast rule I'd be violating if I left it as is. It seems like they'll just stop reading when they don't care anymore, so where's the harm in giving them a little more? (unless it makes it look like I can't follow the BS rules)

[txdude45]

Omit page breaks between sections if its a brief? Cut table of authorities? I think more than 10 pages is much too long.

[Anonymous User]

Now that journals have been added in, my transcript runs over to two pages. Do you all think it's necessary to have a transcript with the journal listed? (It's already on my resume of course). I know this is a silly/minor thing, but I feel like it would be easier to just hand an interviewer one printed page.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

Most firms don't actually want to know tons about you, especially at this stage. They just want to make sure you're competent and understand the game that you're playing.

I really hate that this process is viewed as a "game" and that everyone winks/nods through stupid things. I don't have a fake bone in my body and that this whole thing is an exercise in being as fake as possible really irks me. If I'm being fake and you're being fake, we actually have no idea if me working where you work is actually a good fit. How is that productive?

I get it, but I hate it with a passion.

I sympathize because I'm aspie-and-a-half, but lying at interviews is a prisoner's dilemma that you don't want to be on the wrong side of. It might be a little more relaxing to say "I'm sure you're nice, but I honestly can't tell you apart from any of these other firms" or "I already have a V5 offer, so you're not getting anywhere unless you really impress me," but as long as other students are pretending that Insert Firm & Here LLP is their number one choice, honesty gets the short stick. And to be fair, being able to say things that are either demonstrably untrue or vastly exaggerated in a convincing manner is a pretty integral skill for a Biglaw associate, so think of it as a skills demonstration.

Look, we're all adults, so you can do what you feel is necessary to get a job and this is solely my opinion. But lying is not a habit you should be getting into, and I don't think it will ever be necessary in an interview, or in practice. It is an unnecessary crutch and I think it hurts you overall.

I've never lied in a job interview, mostly because I've never felt the need to (though I've definitely exaggerated certain things and downplayed others). I hope I never feel the need to; frankly, it's mostly because the truth is just easier to remember and I've got enough things to remember about each firm as it is. I don't know if lying is ever "necessary," but suppose you really want to work in Market A and you've applied to Market B firms as a backup. When a Market B firm asks you if you're really committed to working in Market B, you'd understand the appeal of saying you were.

[banjo]

Now that journals have been added in, my transcript runs over to two pages. Do you all think it's necessary to have a transcript with the journal listed? (It's already on my resume of course). I know this is a silly/minor thing, but I feel like it would be easier to just hand an interviewer one printed page.

Wait, I don't understand the question. Your transcript shows your journal? And runs over a page? Mine is like a little over half a page.

[Anonymous User]

Now that journals have been added in, my transcript runs over to two pages. Do you all think it's necessary to have a transcript with the journal listed? (It's already on my resume of course). I know this is a silly/minor thing, but I feel like it would be easier to just hand an interviewer one printed page.

Wait, I don't understand the question. Your transcript shows your journal? And runs over a page? Mine is like a little over half a page.

Yep, at least for me, my (non LR) journal has been added as a Fall 2014 course, which pushes stuff towards the bottom of the transcript over to a second page. I figured it might be nice to have a transcript with that on it, as more "official" documentation. But like I said, maybe it's pretty useless to have that sort of update, in which case I'd like to keep the one page transcript, just because it looks cleaner.

(I recognize this is a very small thing, and I apologize for contributing to the pre-EIP freakout in any way, just thought I'd see if anyone else has an opinion).

[Anonymous User]

Now that journals have been added in, my transcript runs over to two pages. Do you all think it's necessary to have a transcript with the journal listed? (It's already on my resume of course). I know this is a silly/minor thing, but I feel like it would be easier to just hand an interviewer one printed page.

interested as well

[Anonymous User]

dumb question, but it goes w/o saying that we should bring an official law school transcript to each interview?

[banjo]

I seriously thought an unofficial transcript is fine. This is news to me.