V15 Partner/OCI Interviewer Answering Questions... Forum

[Myself]

.

[clone22]

How do lawyers who are single (that is, not in a relationship) meet other people if there so busy all the time (working 80-90 hours a week)?

Can you tell us any stories?

they cry themselves to sleep alone

[Anonymous User]

Just had a CB with my favorite firm. I think I clicked pretty well with a few of the people, so I was thinking about sending a thank you note or two. However, one of the interviewers made a big point about how they are a "no BS" firm that doesn't bother with formality, gestures, or typical rituals. Would sending thank you notes make me seem like a bad fit?

[dingbat]

How do lawyers who are single (that is, not in a relationship) meet other people if there so busy all the time (working 80-90 hours a week)?

Can you tell us any stories?

they cry themselves to sleep alone

good answer to a bullshit question

[anon168]

Man, I'm sure you've been asked this already, but it's hard to search for it in this thread because a lot of people tell you "thank you."

But I was wondering, how do you feel about thank you notes after screeners? Do you think of someone more highly/less if they do send it? How about if they don't send it?

How would you personally approach it today if you were an applicant?

Thank you.

I have never cared for any thank you notes that I've received -- either at OCI or CB. In fact, more often than not, thank you notes can hurt more than help your chances.

In fact, I can't ever recalling ding-ing someone because they didn't send a thank you note; and I know I never recommended an offer or a CB because of a thank you note.

And really, when you think about it. What the hell are you thanking them for? It's their job to do the OCI or the CB. They either elected to be part of recruiting or were told to do it. And they weren't at OCI just for you.

[anon168]

Just had a CB with my favorite firm. I think I clicked pretty well with a few of the people, so I was thinking about sending a thank you note or two. However, one of the interviewers made a big point about how they are a "no BS" firm that doesn't bother with formality, gestures, or typical rituals. Would sending thank you notes make me seem like a bad fit?

See http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 5#p5864421

[Myself]

.

[canesfan1986]

Over callback lunch, two partners basically told me that they would frown upon people not sending thank you notes. Really, if a firm isn't going to hire you because you sent a thank you note, is that a place that you really want to work for?

[Myself]

.

[Sheffield]

If the interviewer is cold/stilted, I pass on a thank you note. If I am not certain about the connection, I let it slide. However, if there was a genuine connection, I think a thank you note makes plenty of sense.

[rouser]

Man, I'm sure you've been asked this already, but it's hard to search for it in this thread because a lot of people tell you "thank you."

But I was wondering, how do you feel about thank you notes after screeners? Do you think of someone more highly/less if they do send it? How about if they don't send it?

How would you personally approach it today if you were an applicant?

Thank you.

a thank you letter / email to me is almost certainly coming after I've made my decision

[jd20132013]

how often are you able to take a Sunday and just relax? I don't mind working weekends at all obviously but sometimes you just need a day to unwind.

[anon168]

Man, I'm sure you've been asked this already, but it's hard to search for it in this thread because a lot of people tell you "thank you."

But I was wondering, how do you feel about thank you notes after screeners? Do you think of someone more highly/less if they do send it? How about if they don't send it?

How would you personally approach it today if you were an applicant?

Thank you.

I have never cared for any thank you notes that I've received -- either at OCI or CB. In fact, more often than not, thank you notes can hurt more than help your chances.

In fact, I can't ever recalling ding-ing someone because they didn't send a thank you note; and I know I never recommended an offer or a CB because of a thank you note.

And really, when you think about it. What the hell are you thanking them for? It's their job to do the OCI or the CB. They either elected to be part of recruiting or were told to do it. And they weren't at OCI just for you.

In what ways have thank yous hurt?

Typos, saying dumb/awkward things, sending thank you notes to multiple people with the same exact message.

[Anonymous User]

Man, I'm sure you've been asked this already, but it's hard to search for it in this thread because a lot of people tell you "thank you."

But I was wondering, how do you feel about thank you notes after screeners? Do you think of someone more highly/less if they do send it? How about if they don't send it?

How would you personally approach it today if you were an applicant?

Thank you.

I have never cared for any thank you notes that I've received -- either at OCI or CB. In fact, more often than not, thank you notes can hurt more than help your chances.

In fact, I can't ever recalling ding-ing someone because they didn't send a thank you note; and I know I never recommended an offer or a CB because of a thank you note.

And really, when you think about it. What the hell are you thanking them for? It's their job to do the OCI or the CB. They either elected to be part of recruiting or were told to do it. And they weren't at OCI just for you.

In what ways have thank yous hurt?

Typos, saying dumb/awkward things, sending thank you notes to multiple people with the same exact message.

Do people actually take the time to compare thank you notes? I can see them not being helpful. And maybe even being hurtful if they have typos or are blatantly generic. BUT, that some people would compare them with their colleagues seems a bit far-fetched to me. And frankly, pathetic.

FWIW, this comes from someone who (1) did send thank you notes to most people (so long as the interview went ok), and (2) was pretty formulaic/generic in substance....so maybe I'm the exception that proves the rule.

That said, I just don't see how a polite "thank you for taking the time to meet with me" (recognizing that they're basically doing you a favor) could hurt. And if it does, that place sounds awful. And to clarify, I mean following CBs only.

[anon168]

Do people actually take the time to compare thank you notes? I can see them not being helpful. And maybe even being hurtful if they have typos or are blatantly generic. BUT, that some people would compare them with their colleagues seems a bit far-fetched to me. And frankly, pathetic.

FWIW, this comes from someone who (1) did send thank you notes to most people (so long as the interview went ok), and (2) was pretty formulaic/generic in substance....so maybe I'm the exception that proves the rule.

That said, I just don't see how a polite "thank you for taking the time to meet with me" (recognizing that they're basically doing you a favor) could hurt. And if it does, that place sounds awful. And to clarify, I mean following CBs only.

Like I said, it can only hurt because there's only downside; no upside.

I have never recommended an offer, or a CB, because of a thank you note. In fact, at a CB, my recommendation for you as a SA is finished probably less than 20 minutes after you've left my office. At an OCI, by the time you walk out of that conf room I've already decided whether or not you should get a CB.

So, no, a thank you note has little relevance.

The only time I can think of where a thank you note may help you, or have an intended effect, is when you are pursuing a lateral position and the firm's committee will meet following a round of interviews. It's one way to leave a further lasting impression.

(As to how we knew the same message was sent to the entire firm? The candidate, IIRC, was guilty of a malapropism which someone brought up and then we all went back and actually opened up the stupid thank you note envelope and wouldn't you know it, it was the same exact message. Most of us hadn't even opened up the envelope, and wouldn't have but for the word-smithing gaff.)

[Anonymous User]

Man, I'm sure you've been asked this already, but it's hard to search for it in this thread because a lot of people tell you "thank you."

But I was wondering, how do you feel about thank you notes after screeners? Do you think of someone more highly/less if they do send it? How about if they don't send it?

How would you personally approach it today if you were an applicant?

Thank you.

Not the original poster, but thank you notes can only help you, especially in this economy. Send them in a timely fashion (same day or next day) too so your interviewers receive them before writing an evaluation of you.

[Flips88]

Man, I'm sure you've been asked this already, but it's hard to search for it in this thread because a lot of people tell you "thank you."

But I was wondering, how do you feel about thank you notes after screeners? Do you think of someone more highly/less if they do send it? How about if they don't send it?

How would you personally approach it today if you were an applicant?

Thank you.

Not the original poster, but thank you notes can only help you, especially in this economy. Send them in a timely fashion (same day or next day) too so your interviewers receive them before writing an evaluation of you.

are you an oci or callback interviewer like the couple posters above who say it doesn't matter?

[Anonymous User]

Man, I'm sure you've been asked this already, but it's hard to search for it in this thread because a lot of people tell you "thank you."

But I was wondering, how do you feel about thank you notes after screeners? Do you think of someone more highly/less if they do send it? How about if they don't send it?

How would you personally approach it today if you were an applicant?

Thank you.

Not the original poster, but thank you notes can only help you, especially in this economy. Send them in a timely fashion (same day or next day) too so your interviewers receive them before writing an evaluation of you.

are you an oci or callback interviewer like the couple posters above who say it doesn't matter?

I'm an interviewer at both and I agree that thank you notes are really important. Within two days of each interview, I review and rank those I met with. Thank you notes make a difference in how I rank because if you can't be bothered to say thank you after I took time out of my day to interview you (and usually, interviews mean I am going home later in the night since work doesn't do itself), then I might not be bothered to give you the job over those who do say thank you. Just created a thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 3&t=193519

[itbdvorm]

Do people actually take the time to compare thank you notes? I can see them not being helpful. And maybe even being hurtful if they have typos or are blatantly generic. BUT, that some people would compare them with their colleagues seems a bit far-fetched to me. And frankly, pathetic.

FWIW, this comes from someone who (1) did send thank you notes to most people (so long as the interview went ok), and (2) was pretty formulaic/generic in substance....so maybe I'm the exception that proves the rule.

That said, I just don't see how a polite "thank you for taking the time to meet with me" (recognizing that they're basically doing you a favor) could hurt. And if it does, that place sounds awful. And to clarify, I mean following CBs only.

Like I said, it can only hurt because there's only downside; no upside.

I have never recommended an offer, or a CB, because of a thank you note. In fact, at a CB, my recommendation for you as a SA is finished probably less than 20 minutes after you've left my office. At an OCI, by the time you walk out of that conf room I've already decided whether or not you should get a CB.

So, no, a thank you note has little relevance.

The only time I can think of where a thank you note may help you, or have an intended effect, is when you are pursuing a lateral position and the firm's committee will meet following a round of interviews. It's one way to leave a further lasting impression.

(As to how we knew the same message was sent to the entire firm? The candidate, IIRC, was guilty of a malapropism which someone brought up and then we all went back and actually opened up the stupid thank you note envelope and wouldn't you know it, it was the same exact message. Most of us hadn't even opened up the envelope, and wouldn't have but for the word-smithing gaff.)

I generally agree with this (and have had very similar experiences). It's not that I don't like them - it's that they generally won't come fast enough to matter.

[itbdvorm]

because a few people have been asking me privately, let me know if you'd like me to weigh in on decisions (publicly or privately). will give thoughts to the extent i know.

[Anonymous User]

Candidate readily accepts your CB, but before your CB occurs candidate receives a good offer and is 99% sure they will accept it. I imagine this happens frequently. Do you prefer that the candidate inform you about this development before your CB?

I guess that one possibility is that you still might want a shot at the candidate, the other possibility is that it could be a waste of your time. From the candidate perspective, meeting with you might prove to be beneficial [to the candidate] somewhere down the road.

[fumagalli]

How do lawyers who are single (that is, not in a relationship) meet other people if there so busy all the time (working 80-90 hours a week)?

Can you tell us any stories?

they cry themselves to sleep alone

This actually sounds like an interesting question. I mean, knowing how busy lawyers are, meeting your special someone might not be easy.

I know of many (like, 4) single lawyers in their late 30's and early 40's and it kinda scares me too.

[Anonymous User]

1-2 Transactions? That seems so early, how can you tell that easily?

You'd be surprised - talent really is distinguishible almost immediately.

itbdvorm, this is an old quote, but I was reading through this thread and noticed that you said you thought you could tell whether a junior associate was getting it or had talent after one or two transactions with them. If I had excellent reviews all summer on 10+ projects, is it likely I "get it" or are people just way nicer in reviews than they are when judging talent in their heads? I presume it's the latter, but it is frustrating to not know where you really fall. I got increased responsibility and some contact with outside people on deals, which I should probably take as a better sign than my reviews, I guess.

Also, have you noticed any correlations between "getting it" and various characteristics (school range, grades, etc)? I know you mentioned having more issues with transfer students, but is there anything else?

Can you describe an instance of distinguishing talent immediately?

[itbdvorm]

Candidate readily accepts your CB, but before your CB occurs candidate receives a good offer and is 99% sure they will accept it. I imagine this happens frequently. Do you prefer that the candidate inform you about this development before your CB?

I guess that one possibility is that you still might want a shot at the candidate, the other possibility is that it could be a waste of your time. From the candidate perspective, meeting with you might prove to be beneficial [to the candidate] somewhere down the road.

If you're really not coming (no chance), cancel. Why waste my time?

[itbdvorm]

How do lawyers who are single (that is, not in a relationship) meet other people if there so busy all the time (working 80-90 hours a week)?

Can you tell us any stories?

they cry themselves to sleep alone

This actually sounds like an interesting question. I mean, knowing how busy lawyers are, meeting your special someone might not be easy.

I know of many (like, 4) single lawyers in their late 30's and early 40's and it kinda scares me too.

Luck has a lot to do w/it...happens eventually though. Easier for guys (sorry)