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If there is an open time slot on a firm's OCI schedule that has not been filled by an alternate is it bad form to email the interviewer expressing your interest although the firm did not select you when you applied for OCI?

Most likely, if said firm was interested in you, and you bid on that firm, then the firm would have 1.) selected you for a screening interview, or 2.) designated you an alternative should an opening exist. Since you are neither, I would refrain from emailing them to fill the spot. I suppose it would not hurt anyway if you did, but just realize they will most likely decline (or if the accept you, they will promptly reject you after the screening interview).

Some interviewers may purposely create a break in their OCI schedule to catch up (since the screening interviews almost always go past the time limit) or to eat.

I understand your points and definitely agree. However, from what I heard at the patent job fair in Chicago, people were hustling interviews they didn't receive pre-selects for by sliding resumes under doors.

This seems similar but maybe OCI is a different beast since it's just your own school you're competing against?

I would think you might as well do for it. The worst that will happen is they say no. At least you gave it a shot.

dougroberts wrote:Most likely, if said firm was interested in you, and you bid on that firm, then the firm would have 1.) selected you for a screening interview, or 2.) designated you an alternative should an opening exist. Since you are neither, I would refrain from emailing them to fill the spot. I suppose it would not hurt anyway if you did, but just realize they will most likely decline (or if the accept you, they will promptly reject you after the screening interview).

Some interviewers may purposely create a break in their OCI schedule to catch up (since the screening interviews almost always go past the time limit) or to eat.

The worst they can say is no. Go for it.

why would that be bad form?

somewhatwayward wrote:why would that be bad form?

Went for it...we'll see. I was thinking bad form because they didn't pre-select me the first time around?

The worst they can say is no, and perhaps they'll like you more for trying. It won't hurt anything, as long as you asked politely and are okay with a no.

I know someone who got interviews doing this. No worries at all.

I have gotten interviews leading to call-backs doing this. The worst is they say no. The best is they appreciate your enthusiasm for the firm and like that you are showing initiative. Two of my interviewers squeezed me in during lunch saying they were impressed that I wasn't just accepting what was handed to me and went after what I wanted.

I have no idea why people wouldn't do this. Being a successful lawyer takes ambition. All you are really showing is ambition and persistence. If you can show that in real life, firms are going to be more likely to hire you.

IOW, don't be a beta.

They probably have alternates who get first dibs.

i got 3 interviews like this at my preselect schools OCI. one of the partners said when he received the e-mail he thought "this is the type of guy I want working for me."

it works sometimes, it doesnt others. why not try?

Some schools have a walk-in policy that allows you to do this type of thing the day of the interview - you might check with your career office and see if that's the appropriate route to go here.