Taking/Referring To Notes during CB Interview Forum

[dougroberts]

Is it acceptable to refer to your notes while during a CB interview? I ask because CB's are generally 4-8 lawyers and it is often hard to keep each straight/it would be helpful to refer to your notes if you have specific questions tailored for each interviewer.

Is it appropriate to take notes during said interview?

[underdawg]

lol no

[270910]

Fine to take notes, but don't get too into it. Also probably fine to glance at a list of questions now and then, but I wouldn't do it in every interview or multiple times per interview, it would probably be a negative and get noticed.

[yellowjacket2012]

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[dougroberts]

Fine to take notes, but don't get too into it. Also probably fine to glance at a list of questions now and then, but I wouldn't do it in every interview or multiple times per interview, it would probably be a negative and get noticed.

Yea, that is what I meant, glancing at your list of questions if you absolutely cannot remember your next question. I am not sure how much time I have in between interviews (my CB schedule does not have timing) so I don't know what to expect regarding whether I have time to quickly read my notes before the next interviewer.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think it's a particularly great idea unless you are taking down a name or phone number or something like that. You should be engaged with the interviewer the whole time. And I wouldn't refer to notes at all if possible. It's not that hard to learn who 4-6 people are and what they do. If they've done something interesting enough that you want to ask them about it, you ought to be able to remember it, in my opinion.

[awesomepossum]

I would not take notes. The main point is to have a conversation and GET A JOB. If there's any key point that you really have to know, I'm sure you can remember it.

[NYAssociate]

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[Anonymous User]

Don't refer to notes or even worse take notes! They will think you are interviewing them. Not a good idea.

[presh]

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[sperry]

Are you actually serious? Thousands of law students are hired, and I can bet you 99.9% didn't touch a pen and a paper for the callback. Prepare for the interviews like you've never prepared before. If you can't, find another job.

Jesus christ.

Had one interview where the partner was giving me some pointers and in the middle of it asked me "aren't you going to write this down?"

[Renzo]

Are you actually serious? Thousands of law students are hired, and I can bet you 99.9% didn't touch a pen and a paper for the callback. Prepare for the interviews like you've never prepared before. If you can't, find another job.

Jesus christ.

Had one interview where the partner was giving me some pointers and in the middle of it asked me "aren't you going to write this down?"

To which you replied, "No need--I can remember it."

[MrAnon]

its a conversation, not class time. You take their card or ask the recruiting girl to email you all their addresses in case you forgot who you spoke to.

[rynabrius]

You should probably bring a laptop with internet access so you can look up the answer to anything you don't know. Also bring a phone so you can call a friend and get their opinion.

[presh]

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[Anonymous User]

how do people feel about writing thank you emails after callbacks? mandatory? not a good idea? somewhere in between?

[chup]

You should probably bring a laptop with internet access so you can look up the answer to anything you don't know. Also bring a phone so you can call a friend and get their opinion.

Poll the Audience?

I'd like to see the look on the hiring partner's face when OP asks to use his 50/50.

[presh]

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[chup]

You should probably bring a laptop with internet access so you can look up the answer to anything you don't know. Also bring a phone so you can call a friend and get their opinion.

Poll the Audience?

I'd like to see the look on the hiring partner's face when OP asks to use his 50/50.

Right before he/she says that "you are the weakest link, goodbye."

Shit, multiple gameshow references? I can't keep track of this.

Hold on, lemme grab a pen and paper...

[BobSacamano]

It's pretty normal in the real world to have notes in front of you in an interview and to take notes in an interview. I have no idea why this is apparently not true in the legal world.

[presh]

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[Anonymous User]

how do people feel about writing thank you emails after callbacks? mandatory? not a good idea? somewhere in between?

BUMP

[NYAssociate]

.

[sperry]

Are you actually serious? Thousands of law students are hired, and I can bet you 99.9% didn't touch a pen and a paper for the callback. Prepare for the interviews like you've never prepared before. If you can't, find another job.

Jesus christ.

Had one interview where the partner was giving me some pointers and in the middle of it asked me "aren't you going to write this down?"

OK Einstein, if a partner asks you to pull out a pen and paper, you do it. OP clearly isn't referring to that. OP is referring to a situation similar to the one in which Sarah Palin read off her hand, except he wants to use a piece of paper and not a limb.

Because my anecdote was obviously meant to show that it's acceptable to read a script during an interview, and not simply me relating something humorous that happened in an interview that was relevant to the current topic

[PwnLaw]

I generally perfer people who are looking at me, not their notepad, when doing a callback. Also, this stuff isn't rocket science, a few stock questions should be all that's required to get your through. Good interviews are conversations.