Top Law Schools

Is there any downside to stating the above during my callback at a firm that I will absolutely be willing to work for next summer?

Is there an upside?

My gut tells me all upside, no downside, but I'd love to get you guys' take on this. There is literally not a single firm I'd work for among my callbacks than this one.

Who doesn't love overt desperation?

Kohinoor wrote:Who doesn't love overt desperation?

yeah, i think this could come off as weakness. think of it as being on a first date with someone who says "If you propose right now, I'll accept."

I think it makes you sound desperate, and they might think that they're your only callback. If it's a smooth transition, and you're able to bring it up, maybe mention that they're your first choice, but I certainly wouldn't say "I'll accept your offer on the spot."

Kohinoor wrote:Who doesn't love overt desperation?

+1

Sounds so desperate. Not attractive.

what if in your cbs they ask if you'll accept if given an offer and you say you're not sure. I can't help but feel that if i don't get offers it will be because i wasn't super excited and said "YES! RIGHT NOW"

Tsispilos wrote:

Kohinoor wrote:Who doesn't love overt desperation?

yeah, i think this could come off as weakness. think of it as being on a first date with someone who says "If you propose right now, I'll accept."

I don't think there is anything wrong with telling a firm that they are your first choice. This is especially true if you've built a raport with members of the firm prior to the whole oci process. In some instances, you may actually be proded by a firm to reveal where on the list you rank them.

I had a callback where the firm made obvious signs that they really liked me and wanted to know whether or not I would accept their offer. After sensing this, I told a member of the hiring committe that they were my first choice. Two minutes later I accepted their offer.

I think this is potentially OK if you have an offer about to expire from another firm that you don't like as much.

It's risky. You want to come across as being very enthusiastic about the firm, but you might just sound desperate for anything. If you already have an offer from another firm, and your number one firm knows about the offer, then you won't sound as desperate, but if that scenario doesn't apply then you should be careful.

this raises issues about people possibly LYING to candidates about having other offers on-hand to appear less desperate, which is not ethical/recommended, especially given that "firms talk"

Anonymous User wrote:this raises issues about people possibly LYING to candidates about having other offers on-hand to appear less desperate, which is not ethical/recommended, especially given that "firms talk"

1. huh?
2. why anonymous?

Cavalier wrote:It's risky. You want to come across as being very enthusiastic about the firm, but you might just sound desperate for anything. If you already have an offer from another firm, and your number one firm knows about the offer, then you won't sound as desperate, but if that scenario doesn't apply then you should be careful.

I'm in the situation where my first CB (of two... so far... please OCI Gods, make it rain callbacks) is my #1 choice, and the second one really isn't in the same ballpark. I want to emphasize as much as possible that I love firm 1, but I don't want it to be so obvious that firm 1 is so much better than firm 2. It's quite the sticky wicket.

Anonymous User wrote:this raises issues about people possibly LYING to candidates about having other offers on-hand to appear less desperate, which is not ethical/recommended, especially given that "firms talk"

Lying would just be stupid. All three times on callbacks that I mentioned I had an offer, the response I got was "congratulations. Where at?" The interviewer wrote down my response. I imagine there's a small but significant risk of getting caught lying.

so... I have one callback. If asked about other cbs, be bluntly honest or skirt the issue a bit "obviously I still haven't heard from some screening firms/I haven't scheduled others yet?"

NEVER tell a firm they are your only CB. lie and tell them you have a handfull, but don't mention anywhere specifically. firms want to think you are in demand.

Anonymous User wrote:so... I have one callback. If asked about other cbs, be bluntly honest or skirt the issue a bit "obviously I still haven't heard from some screening firms/I haven't scheduled others yet?"

definitely don't be honest.

Anonymous User wrote:Is there any downside to stating the above during my callback at a firm that I will absolutely be willing to work for next summer?

Is there an upside?

My gut tells me all upside, no downside, but I'd love to get you guys' take on this. There is literally not a single firm I'd work for among my callbacks than this one.

it's tacky and you look like a desperate fool.

if you really wouldn't work for your other CBs, wouldn't you have canceled them?

Have a T-Shirt made that says I <3 (Insert Firm Name), and wear it over your shirt and tie (but under your suit jacket. That should do the trick and its much more subtle.

Isn't the most logical thing to do to tell them they are your first choice either in a thank you note or during the initial interview and tell them why so they know you are serious? Saying "I will accept your offer on the spot" makes it look like a shady deal... For example, if I said, I will sell you this car RIGHT NOW for $400, wouldn't you think it odd?

Just sounds unprofessional. The marriage proposal example was much better than mine.

Anonymous User wrote:NEVER tell a firm they are your only CB. lie and tell them you have a handfull, but don't mention anywhere specifically. firms want to think you are in demand.

booyakasha wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:so... I have one callback. If asked about other cbs, be bluntly honest or skirt the issue a bit "obviously I still haven't heard from some screening firms/I haven't scheduled others yet?"

definitely don't be honest.

Haha, ok. I don't know if I was expecting that, or if these responses are sarcastic. I definitely don't want to lie though. What if the follow up is, what firms? And I mention a firm that they know someone at etc...

LOL if you think individual callback interviewers are following up with people at other firms' recruiting offices to see if you've received callbacks from them, too.

Anonymous User wrote:so... I have one callback. If asked about other cbs, be bluntly honest or skirt the issue a bit "obviously I still haven't heard from some screening firms/I haven't scheduled others yet?"

I have one callback too, but OCI isn't over. So I'll just say that I'm still waiting for other firms to get back, and that this is the first callback I've gone on "so far."

Alternatively, you can also emphasize that you have other options, like working for your dad's hedge fund or something.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:NEVER tell a firm they are your only CB. lie and tell them you have a handfull, but don't mention anywhere specifically. firms want to think you are in demand.

booyakasha wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:so... I have one callback. If asked about other cbs, be bluntly honest or skirt the issue a bit "obviously I still haven't heard from some screening firms/I haven't scheduled others yet?"

definitely don't be honest.

Haha, ok. I don't know if I was expecting that, or if these responses are sarcastic. I definitely don't want to lie though. What if the follow up is, what firms? And I mention a firm that they know someone at etc...

no, I'm serious... avoid conveying that other firms unanimously find you undesirable.

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:so... I have one callback. If asked about other cbs, be bluntly honest or skirt the issue a bit "obviously I still haven't heard from some screening firms/I haven't scheduled others yet?"

I have one callback too, but OCI isn't over. So I'll just say that I'm still waiting for other firms to get back, and that this is the first callback I've gone on "so far."

Alternatively, you can also emphasize that you have other options, like working for your dad's hedge fund or something.

If only all of us had parents who were hedge fund managers.

booyakasha wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:NEVER tell a firm they are your only CB. lie and tell them you have a handfull, but don't mention anywhere specifically. firms want to think you are in demand.

booyakasha wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:so... I have one callback. If asked about other cbs, be bluntly honest or skirt the issue a bit "obviously I still haven't heard from some screening firms/I haven't scheduled others yet?"

definitely don't be honest.

Haha, ok. I don't know if I was expecting that, or if these responses are sarcastic. I definitely don't want to lie though. What if the follow up is, what firms? And I mention a firm that they know someone at etc...

no, I'm serious... avoid conveying that other firms unanimously find you undesirable.

Thanks, I'll take the advice. I'm sure they have a good idea of how desirable I am anyway, but you are probably right that they don't want it spelled out so clearly.