Interview Blues Forum

[Anonymous User]

I just want to lament at my distaste for this process. I interviewed at some firms 3 weeks ago and my phone, email, and snail mail have been dead. Some of the interviews were screeners, some of them were "call backs." The anxiety is terrible.

Anyone else have a similar experience, for better or worse?

[270910]

Yep. This process is very taxing. It isn't just physical exhaustion - though on many days that helps. It's a ton of anxiety, and a lot of social pressure, especially for introverts.

Naps help. As does working out. Or substituting either of those for liquor. Like, enormous amounts of liquor.

[radek]

No me gusta.

[JazzOne]

Yep. This process is very taxing. It isn't just physical exhaustion - though on many days that helps. It's a ton of anxiety, and a lot of social pressure, especially for introverts.

Naps help. As does working out. Or substituting either of those for liquor. Like, enormous amounts of liquor.

+1

Why do I have to be an introvert? Life is so much easier for extroverts.

[Anonymous User]

I adopted this "I dont care" attitude to the whole thing even during 1L oci. After I got a couple offers this year I started caring even less about how I do in interviews or what a firm thinks. My real anxiety has been centered around picking the right firm.

[Pablo Ramirez]

I adopted this "I dont care" attitude to the whole thing even during 1L oci. After I got a couple offers this year I started caring even less about how I do in interviews or what a firm thinks. My real anxiety has been centered around picking the right firm.

Good for you. But not everyone enjoys the luxury of having MULTIPLE OFFERS!

[Anonymous User]

I adopted this "I dont care" attitude to the whole thing even during 1L oci. After I got a couple offers this year I started caring even less about how I do in interviews or what a firm thinks. My real anxiety has been centered around picking the right firm.

Good for you. But not everyone enjoys the luxury of having MULTIPLE OFFERS!

Or even one.

[Anonymous User]

I stopped caring after one offer, since I like the firm.

[Anonymous User]

I adopted this "I dont care" attitude to the whole thing even during 1L oci. After I got a couple offers this year I started caring even less about how I do in interviews or what a firm thinks. My real anxiety has been centered around picking the right firm.

Good for you. But not everyone enjoys the luxury of having MULTIPLE OFFERS!

I understand that. I did also point out that even before I knew what was going to happen I didn't care. Being relaxed and being myself in interviews has worked for me. I've gotten my fair share of rejections for sure (in fact, I've gotten waaaaay more rejections than callbacks), but the firms that have given me offers are places that I genuinely like, and who genuinely like me exactly as I am.

I just think you can't worry so much about this stuff. You really cant control it. Obsessing over cb/offer ratio or turnaround time doesnt help anything.

[joobacca]

this anxiety crap never stops.

first it's the lsat. then acceptances to school. then grades. now this.

i know what i was getting myself into... but it still sucks

[Anonymous User]

I adopted this "I dont care" attitude to the whole thing even during 1L oci. After I got a couple offers this year I started caring even less about how I do in interviews or what a firm thinks. My real anxiety has been centered around picking the right firm.

Good for you. But not everyone enjoys the luxury of having MULTIPLE OFFERS!

I understand that. I did also point out that even before I knew what was going to happen I didn't care. Being relaxed and being myself in interviews has worked for me. I've gotten my fair share of rejections for sure (in fact, I've gotten waaaaay more rejections than callbacks), but the firms that have given me offers are places that I genuinely like, and who genuinely like me exactly as I am.

I just think you can't worry so much about this stuff. You really cant control it. Obsessing over cb/offer ratio or turnaround time doesnt help anything.

Well said. I find myself obsessively checking this forum to see who got a CB at a firm I interviewed with. Then naturally, when I didn't get one at the same time, I freak. I keep telling myself it's an uneven process, and I think that's likely true. Offers, CB, whatever go out at different times. Maybe I am telling myself this to make me feel better, but it helps.

[Anonymous User]

As someone who is in a similar position at a T10, I share in your pain.

I think the worst part is just the sheer embarrassment. In the past, whenever I heard/met someone who went to a prestigious law school and couldn't land a big firm SA gig, I assumed they lacked all social skills. I hate being in that spot now.

Along those lines - what should those who don't get firm jobs at OCI be doing now? Mass mailing law firms is one obvious answer, but that's unlikely to be successful, especially for those who can't/won't go to secondary markets.

[270910]

As someone who is in a similar position at a T10, I share in your pain.

I think the worst part is just the sheer embarrassment. In the past, whenever I heard/met someone who went to a prestigious law school and couldn't land a big firm SA gig, I assumed they lacked all social skills. I hate being in that spot now.

Along those lines - what should those who don't get firm jobs at OCI be doing now? Mass mailing law firms is one obvious answer, but that's unlikely to be successful, especially for those who can't/won't go to secondary markets.

Target letters to smaller firms even in big markets (they exist), apply broadly to fed gov jobs, hunt down in house positions (they exist but will be harder to advertise), mail the firms listed on symplicity, "network" shamelessly, talk to career services, ask professors you have a raport with for leads, look into public interest positions, look into political positions (congress, campaigns, etc.), drink.

[radek]

I stopped caring after one offer, since I like the firm.

Thank you for making me feel like shit. I appreciate it.

[NYAssociate]

.

[Anonymous User]

profession of law self-selects depressed people, or people prone to depression

they select it because the legal industry contains certain milestones that can be used as sources of downward comparison (law school, review, rank, firm, etc.)

So all this stuff NYAssoc. put up there - nobody's putting a gun to your head to follow that plan - but most people do because everyone says its a good thing to do

[shmoo597]

first it's the lsat. then acceptances to school. then grades. now this.

Never have truer words been spoken. Allow me to elaborate:

1) College grades
2) LSAT
3) Applications to law school
4) Fall 1L Exams
5) Spring 1L Exams
6) OCI
7) 2L Exams (if one has plans outside of staying at the firm)
Summer Performance Reviews
9) Permanent Offers
10) Clerkship Applications
11) Bar Exam
12) First year associate reviews
13-20) Every single step between associate and partner
20) Partnership decision
21) (assuming you made partner) are you still making it rain? are people pushing you out?

etc. etc.

It never ends, friends. If you can't take it, leave NOW.

After every step, you foolishly think that you are now battle-hardened for the next. Yet, somehow, the next step manages to produce just as much, if not more, anxiety than the previous one.

I had this exact thought yesterday. It never ends. And there are so many points on the path where you can fall off and fail. Each step eliminates more people.

[chup]

first it's the lsat. then acceptances to school. then grades. now this.

Never have truer words been spoken. Allow me to elaborate:

1) College grades
2) LSAT
3) Applications to law school
4) Fall 1L Exams
5) Spring 1L Exams
6) OCI
7) 2L Exams (if one has plans outside of staying at the firm)
Summer Performance Reviews
9) Permanent Offers
10) Clerkship Applications
11) Bar Exam
12) First year associate reviews
13-20) Every single step between associate and partner
20) Partnership decision
21) (assuming you made partner) are you still making it rain? are people pushing you out?

etc. etc.

It never ends, friends. If you can't take it, leave NOW.

After every step, you foolishly think that you are now battle-hardened for the next. Yet, somehow, the next step manages to produce just as much, if not more, anxiety than the previous one.

I dunno if this dynamic is unique to law. It may be more extreme in the legal profession, but I think this "if I can just get to the next step I will be truly happ-- OK, maybe just one more step after that" dynamic is how many people of our generation treat happiness generally.

[NYAssociate]

.

[Blindmelon]

Ya know whats even more awesome? Getting a CB at to a firm well outside your range - then have a great experience at the firm, interviews go really well - have a lot of fun - get good feedback. Then rejected by email 2 days later. Rock on.

[Anonymous User]

Since you at least got a callback, no one feels sorry for you.

[Blindmelon]

Since you at least got a callback, no one feels sorry for you.

Yea, I'd much rather get my hopes up, waste a whole day interviewing and a day prepping, then to not have to do all those things and end up in the exact same position. /sarcasm.

[Anonymous User]

Since you at least got a callback, no one feels sorry for you.

Yea, I'd much rather get my hopes up, waste a whole day interviewing and a day prepping, then to not have to do all those things and end up in the exact same position. /sarcasm.

Right, because meeting with partners/networking/flying to another city on the firm's dime is a TREMENDOUS waste of time.

[Blindmelon]

Since you at least got a callback, no one feels sorry for you.

Yea, I'd much rather get my hopes up, waste a whole day interviewing and a day prepping, then to not have to do all those things and end up in the exact same position. /sarcasm.

Right, because meeting with partners/networking/flying to another city on the firm's dime is a TREMENDOUS waste of time.

Guess so - but the firm was 20 mins away, theres no way in hell anyone I met would be able to help me out - I got reimbursed for 0 of it. haha

[Anonymous User]

Since you at least got a callback, no one feels sorry for you.

Yea, I'd much rather get my hopes up, waste a whole day interviewing and a day prepping, then to not have to do all those things and end up in the exact same position. /sarcasm.

Right, because meeting with partners/networking/flying to another city on the firm's dime is a TREMENDOUS waste of time.

Guess so - but the firm was 20 mins away, theres no way in hell anyone I met would be able to help me out - I got reimbursed for 0 of it. haha

Well if you really liked the place, you will be an advantage if you want to lateral in someday. I know it sucks to hear "look on the bright side" when you're disappointed, but...well...try.