How long does it take after direct mailing? Forum

[como]

How long does it generally take after sending a cover letter/resume email to hear something from a firm? Is there anything I should do to touch base with a firm that hasn't responded?

[Anonymous User]

I'm a rising 2L.

From what I've sent out this summer, I've gotten two interviews so far from mailing. One I heard back the day the firm received it, one I got around 4 days after they received it. These were in specific cities however to match days that I would be there.

From 1L mailing, I sent everything out at Christmas break and didn't hear back for more than 4 months.

Maybe follow up briefly around the 3-4 week mark after you sent out?

[como]

I'm a rising 2L.

From what I've sent out this summer, I've gotten two interviews so far from mailing. One I heard back the day the firm received it, one I got around 4 days after they received it. These were in specific cities however to match days that I would be there.

From 1L mailing, I sent everything out at Christmas break and didn't hear back for more than 4 months.

Maybe follow up briefly around the 3-4 week mark after you sent out?

It's only been a day. I heard from the smaller markets immediately, but not NY yet. I was just wondering what the time-frame is. I'm starting to think I should have snail-mailed. Do you think it would be a bad idea to snail-mail to the same firms tomorrow?

[Anonymous User]

I'm a rising 2L.

From what I've sent out this summer, I've gotten two interviews so far from mailing. One I heard back the day the firm received it, one I got around 4 days after they received it. These were in specific cities however to match days that I would be there.

From 1L mailing, I sent everything out at Christmas break and didn't hear back for more than 4 months.

Maybe follow up briefly around the 3-4 week mark after you sent out?

It's only been a day. I heard from the smaller markets immediately, but not NY yet. I was just wondering what the time-frame is. I'm starting to think I should have snail-mailed. Do you think it would be a bad idea to snail-mail to the same firms tomorrow?

I don't think it would hurt. The best reponse I got was to snailmailers.

[IzziesGal]

I'm a rising 2L, and it took several months for me to hear back from some of the firms. I started sending out apps quite early, and have gotten a good response.

Also: Most firms will say on their website to not email and snail mail info. They only want to get the info once, otherwise it is annoying for them. So I'd double check on that.

[como]

What do you guys think about following up with a phone call? If I were to do this, what do you think I should say?

I was thinking:

"Hi, this is como. I emailed you a copy of my resume on ___, and I'm just following up to make sure you received it. I understand this is a busy time for your office, but I just wanted to confirm that my email was received."

I feel like it sounds annoying, but I also don't want my stuff to just sit in a massive inbox with little probability of anyone reading it. I regret not snail-mailing all my stuff initially. Bah..

[como]

What do you guys think about following up with a phone call? If I were to do this, what do you think I should say?

I was thinking:

"Hi, this is como. I emailed you a copy of my resume on ___. I understand this is a busy time for your office, but I just wanted to confirm that my email was received."

I feel like it sounds annoying, but I also don't want my stuff to just sit in a massive inbox with little probability of anyone reading it. I regret not snail-mailing all my stuff initially. Bah..

[doyleoil]

What do you guys think about following up with a phone call? If I were to do this, what do you think I should say?

I was thinking:

"Hi, this is como. I emailed you a copy of my resume on ___. I understand this is a busy time for your office, but I just wanted to confirm that my email was received."

I feel like it sounds annoying, but I also don't want my stuff to just sit in a massive inbox with little probability of anyone reading it. I regret not snail-mailing all my stuff initially. Bah..

I vote yes, just to hear the reaction to the bolded.

(in all honesty, i'm not sure - understand your hesitance to annoy, but also your desire to make sure it hasn't dropped down a black hole)

[270910]

No.

You're nervous, we're all nervous. Your mailing is not lost and your persistence will not be a boon. They'll recruit (or ding) you when they damn well please

[truthypants]

Also curious about this. Is no news good news? Some firms I applied to immediately sent rejection letters, but others haven't responded yet. Does that mean i'm still in the running?

[270910]

Also curious about this. Is no news good news? Some firms I applied to immediately sent rejection letters, but others haven't responded yet. Does that mean i'm still in the running?

No news means the firm hasn't told you whether you were dinged or called back yet. i.e. it's... no news

We're all stressed, but come on guys. Deep breaths. The speculation isn't going to help, and there is no way to peer behind the veil of bureaucracy at these firms in the aggregate much less individually.

[como]

Also curious about this. Is no news good news? Some firms I applied to immediately sent rejection letters, but others haven't responded yet. Does that mean i'm still in the running?

No news means the firm hasn't told you whether you were dinged or called back yet. i.e. it's... no news

We're all stressed, but come on guys. Deep breaths. The speculation isn't going to help, and there is no way to peer behind the veil of bureaucracy at these firms in the aggregate much less individually.

True. I guess I should say that a good chunk of the firms I mailed are coming to our OCI next week. Although I'm happy with the bids I got, I emailed all the other firms I bid on to see if I could arrange an interview with them nonetheless. Ideally I would hear from them before I go to the city.