What does it mean -- CB without lunch? Forum

[Anonymous User]

The interview will last just 2 or 2.5 hrs. Normal?
Does that mean I'm not a top candidate?

That could be understandable because I got the interview from mass mailing and never met them before...

[markymark]

It means nothing. I got multiple offers from morning CBs that didn't include lunch.

[Anonymous User]

It means nothing. I had a CB without lunch and got an offer within hours. Its just not part of every firm's CB process.

[Anonymous User]

It means nothing. I had a CB without lunch and got an offer within hours. Its just not part of every firm's CB process.

within hours?

i thought firms would do background check, which takes days, before handing out offers?

[YourCaptain]

It means nothing. I had a CB without lunch and got an offer within hours. Its just not part of every firm's CB process.

within hours?

i thought firms would do background check, which takes days, before handing out offers?

Really? I would think that they might do it post-offer before summer but pre-offer?

[Anonymous User]

It means nothing. I had a CB without lunch and got an offer within hours. Its just not part of every firm's CB process.

within hours?

i thought firms would do background check, which takes days, before handing out offers?

Yeah they can do that stuff post-offer. If they really like you and want you there, they will do everything they can to make it happen, and that includes making very quick offers in certain cases.

[What the f.supp?]

It means nothing. I had a CB without lunch and got an offer within hours. Its just not part of every firm's CB process.

within hours?

i thought firms would do background check, which takes days, before handing out offers?

Yeah they can do that stuff post-offer. If they really like you and want you there, they will do everything they can to make it happen, and that includes making very quick offers in certain cases.

This is how it worked in my experience for 2010 (DC Biglaw): When you go in for the callback, before your name is called and you're waiting in the fancy lobby, you fill out a basic employment application (your resume can usually supplement the application so that you don't have to fill out all the little employment history sections and whatnot.) It also asks you about felonies and misdemeanors--which you would need to disclose. After the callback, if they like you, I imagine they review your application to see whether you disclosed anything crazy. If nothing glaring, the firm will call with good news then mail you a "conditional offer" which is contingent upon background screen, verification of your employment and education history, eligibility to work in the U.S., etc. When you sign the conditional offer and mail it back, you also explicitly consent to a credit check and a couple other things I believe (criminal background check for sure). The kicker is that they don't run the background screen right away, because I guess they want to wait and see if you have any major lapse of judgment before starting the summer. I signed and sent my conditional offer in beginning October and my background check was completed middle March, 2011 (they may have run it twice--once in October then again in March, but I don't know). I don't have anything bad, but it makes you a little uneasy to not have a firm offer (pardon the pun) until nearly April, after which you have already secured and put a deposit on temporary housing.

I imagine firms handle this process differently, but it makes sense doing it how I described because firms can land sought after students much more quickly than if they have to wait days to run a background screen and risk losing him/her to other firms (especially because students often do multiple callbacks in a given week and may be getting offers on a rolling basis).

I am not sure where I was going with this post, but hopefully this information is helpful to some of y'all.

[Anonymous User]

It means nothing. I had a CB without lunch and got an offer within hours. Its just not part of every firm's CB process.

within hours?

i thought firms would do background check, which takes days, before handing out offers?

Yeah they can do that stuff post-offer. If they really like you and want you there, they will do everything they can to make it happen, and that includes making very quick offers in certain cases.

This is how it worked in my experience for 2010 (DC Biglaw): When you go in for the callback, before your name is called and you're waiting in the fancy lobby, you fill out a basic employment application (your resume can usually supplement the application so that you don't have to fill out all the little employment history sections and whatnot.) It also asks you about felonies and misdemeanors--which you would need to disclose. After the callback, if they like you, I imagine they review your application to see whether you disclosed anything crazy. If nothing glaring, the firm will call with good news then mail you a "conditional offer" which is contingent upon background screen, verification of your employment and education history, eligibility to work in the U.S., etc. When you sign the conditional offer and mail it back, you also explicitly consent to a credit check and a couple other things I believe (criminal background check for sure). The kicker is that they don't run the background screen right away, because I guess they want to wait and see if you have any major lapse of judgment before starting the summer. I signed and sent my conditional offer in beginning October and my background check was completed middle March, 2011 (they may have run it twice--once in October then again in March, but I don't know). I don't have anything bad, but it makes you a little uneasy to not have a firm offer (pardon the pun) until nearly April, after which you have already secured and put a deposit on temporary housing.

I imagine firms handle this process differently, but it makes sense doing it how I described because firms can land sought after students much more quickly than if they have to wait days to run a background screen and risk losing him/her to other firms (especially because students often do multiple callbacks in a given week and may be getting offers on a rolling basis).

I am not sure where I was going with this post, but hopefully this information is helpful to some of y'all.

thanks! i guess that process makes sense and might be common.

what about References?
in fact, i have not even given any list of ref.

would they cold call the former/current employers without getting a list of ref from you?

[keg411]

I've had CB's with no lunch in secondary/tertiary markets.

[Anonymous User]

Had a callback in DC were I was supposed to go to lunch according to the initial callback offer, but then never actually went to lunch when I went on the callback. Seems that the lunch was never scheduled. Received an offer later that week.

I don't think lunch means anything.

[Anonymous User]

It means nothing. I had a CB without lunch and got an offer within hours. Its just not part of every firm's CB process.

within hours?

i thought firms would do background check, which takes days, before handing out offers?

Yeah they can do that stuff post-offer. If they really like you and want you there, they will do everything they can to make it happen, and that includes making very quick offers in certain cases.

This is how it worked in my experience for 2010 (DC Biglaw): When you go in for the callback, before your name is called and you're waiting in the fancy lobby, you fill out a basic employment application (your resume can usually supplement the application so that you don't have to fill out all the little employment history sections and whatnot.) It also asks you about felonies and misdemeanors--which you would need to disclose. After the callback, if they like you, I imagine they review your application to see whether you disclosed anything crazy. If nothing glaring, the firm will call with good news then mail you a "conditional offer" which is contingent upon background screen, verification of your employment and education history, eligibility to work in the U.S., etc. When you sign the conditional offer and mail it back, you also explicitly consent to a credit check and a couple other things I believe (criminal background check for sure). The kicker is that they don't run the background screen right away, because I guess they want to wait and see if you have any major lapse of judgment before starting the summer. I signed and sent my conditional offer in beginning October and my background check was completed middle March, 2011 (they may have run it twice--once in October then again in March, but I don't know). I don't have anything bad, but it makes you a little uneasy to not have a firm offer (pardon the pun) until nearly April, after which you have already secured and put a deposit on temporary housing.

I imagine firms handle this process differently, but it makes sense doing it how I described because firms can land sought after students much more quickly than if they have to wait days to run a background screen and risk losing him/her to other firms (especially because students often do multiple callbacks in a given week and may be getting offers on a rolling basis).

I am not sure where I was going with this post, but hopefully this information is helpful to some of y'all.

Just curious how they handle official transcripts. I ordered 10 just in case, but none of my CBs have requested them.

[Anonymous User]

At my first CB lunch, the associates seemed more interested in talking to each other than to me. I had to barge into the convo at times.

I am THRILLED that my next CB includes no lunch, and only half as many attorneys (4) as the last. I wish they would all be like that.

[Anonymous User]

thanks! i guess that process makes sense and might be common.

what about References?
in fact, i have not even given any list of ref.

would they cold call the former/current employers without getting a list of ref from you?

I am also interested in this question. Are firms allowed to cold call former employers without requesting references from you?

[Anonymous User]

Just curious how they handle official transcripts. I ordered 10 just in case, but none of my CBs have requested them.

I'm pretty sure that whenever an employer recommends an official transcript, you can't give it to them, it has to come directly from the school. That's been my experience with other employers in the past at least. The official stuff, including transcripts and background checks usually come after an offer is accepted.

I am THRILLED that my next CB includes no lunch, and only half as many attorneys (4) as the last. I wish they would all be like that.

Me too! I find the lunch interview to be especially awkward since they usually choose a "nice" restaurant which turns out to be one of those ridiculous places with 9 courses smaller than my thumb and unisex bathrooms (yes, this just happened). Also about 7 of those 9 courses barely even resemble an edible food item, when on a normal day you'd just walk downstairs with your coworkers and grab a burger in the cafeteria to shoot the breeze.

I am also interested in this question. Are firms allowed to cold call former employers without requesting references from you?

Highly doubt that they would want to.

[Anonymous User]

Personally, I find it a little bit strange when a firm doesn't schedule in a lunch for a morning CB. I'm interviewing with all NY firms & have done a bunch of CBs so far, and all but one did either lunch (for a morning CB) or drinks & hors d'oeuvres (for a late afternoon/evening CB). The one that didn't do lunch stood out from the others in a bad way. That firm also seemed like they just had less concern for their interviewees in general (e.g., another interviewee & I were both thrown out in the pouring rain in our suits to get cabs for ourselves even though neither of us brought an umbrella since the weather was fine when we left; they could have at least asked the front desk to call us a cab since it's pretty tough to get one in the rain on a main NYC street). This was in pretty stark contrast to other firms who arranged car service for interviewees after the CB. I understand that ITE it's hard for firms to pay for all these extras, and I'm definitely not expecting car service after every CB, but compared to other firms this one ended up looking a little shabby & cheap (especially considering it's paying above-market bonuses). Definitely will not be considering that firm going forward.

[Anonymous User]

I agree with the above. I have one next week with no lunch, and all my others have included lunches. I don't have any stats of course, but it makes me wonder about why the firm is cutting corners (at least in comparison to what is commonly done in my city). IMHO

[Anonymous User]

I agree with the above. I have one next week with no lunch, and all my others have included lunches. I don't have any stats of course, but it makes me wonder about why the firm is cutting corners (at least in comparison to what is commonly done in my city). IMHO

Seriously guys? You're complaining about not having a lunch on a cb when the firms are willing to reimburse you for any lunch you have while on the cb trip? I dunno, but I'd rather just have interviews, then enjoy lunch with my friends instead of a quasi-interview lunch... I've rather enjoyed the cbs I've done in NYC without lunches scheduled.

Also, the same thing applies to cabs... If they're willing to pay for your cab, I don't think the fact that the front desk isn't jumping to call you one on the spot is especially egregious. If you're choosing firms based on this stuff rather then the work they do and the attorneys who work there so be it, but it doesn't seem particularly relevant.

[Anonymous User]

Also, the same thing applies to cabs... If they're willing to pay for your cab, I don't think the fact that the front desk isn't jumping to call you one on the spot is especially egregious.

Yes, this is some particularly egregious entitlement. "Thrown out in the pouring rain in our suits to get cabs for ourselves?" Give me a break. You need to have the firm call a car for you to escort you back to the hotel they're paying for? What are you, Leona Helmsley? Walk or take the train like everyone else. I'm sure they would be really upset to hear that you're not deigning to consider them anymore after this unpleasant episode.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think you guys realize, but there are a ton of students who have callbacks in NY that, you know, live in NY. So if someone has a callback with no lunch, and the firm proceeds to throw their candidates into the rain (boo-hoo), the firm does not incur any direct expenses.
I actually went to a V30 no-lunch callback that took place from 10a.m.-1p.m. The recruiter didn't even offer me a drink of water.

[ggocat]

The interview will last just 2 or 2.5 hrs. Normal?
Does that mean I'm not a top candidate?

That could be understandable because I got the interview from mass mailing and never met them before...

Since when is an initial interview a "callback"? I think your situation is distinguishable from someone who has already had a screener and was invited back to the firm for a second interview... so yes, I guess that means you are not a "top" candidate. But the lunch / no lunch issue doesn't play into it in my opinion.

Just go to the interview and stop worrying about where you are on the list.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think you guys realize, but there are a ton of students who have callbacks in NY that, you know, live in NY. So if someone has a callback with no lunch, and the firm proceeds to throw their candidates into the rain (boo-hoo), the firm does not incur any direct expenses.

That's true, but this whole philosophy that an employer should be spending money on you as a job candidate is just silly and would be laughable in any other field. You're there to interview for a job, not to have a free lunch. It just strikes me as severely misplaced priorities and pretty out of touch with the real world.

In terms of what it means not to be taken to lunch: It means nothing except that that firm likely doesn't take anyone to lunch.

[Anonymous User]

they obviously think your fat

[Anonymous User]

they obviously think your fat

ROFLMAO

[Anonymous User]

It means nothing. I had a CB without lunch and got an offer within hours. Its just not part of every firm's CB process.

within hours?

i thought firms would do background check, which takes days, before handing out offers?

Yeah they can do that stuff post-offer. If they really like you and want you there, they will do everything they can to make it happen, and that includes making very quick offers in certain cases.

This is how it worked in my experience for 2010 (DC Biglaw): When you go in for the callback, before your name is called and you're waiting in the fancy lobby, you fill out a basic employment application (your resume can usually supplement the application so that you don't have to fill out all the little employment history sections and whatnot.) It also asks you about felonies and misdemeanors--which you would need to disclose. After the callback, if they like you, I imagine they review your application to see whether you disclosed anything crazy. If nothing glaring, the firm will call with good news then mail you a "conditional offer" which is contingent upon background screen, verification of your employment and education history, eligibility to work in the U.S., etc. When you sign the conditional offer and mail it back, you also explicitly consent to a credit check and a couple other things I believe (criminal background check for sure). The kicker is that they don't run the background screen right away, because I guess they want to wait and see if you have any major lapse of judgment before starting the summer. I signed and sent my conditional offer in beginning October and my background check was completed middle March, 2011 (they may have run it twice--once in October then again in March, but I don't know). I don't have anything bad, but it makes you a little uneasy to not have a firm offer (pardon the pun) until nearly April, after which you have already secured and put a deposit on temporary housing.

I imagine firms handle this process differently, but it makes sense doing it how I described because firms can land sought after students much more quickly than if they have to wait days to run a background screen and risk losing him/her to other firms (especially because students often do multiple callbacks in a given week and may be getting offers on a rolling basis).

I am not sure where I was going with this post, but hopefully this information is helpful to some of y'all.

Anyone know what service most firms use for the background check? FBI?

[traydeuce]

Not to out myself to firms as a frivolous person with somewhat questionable affinities for rappers who brag about being drug dealers, but your thread title reminds me of this classic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQc4A-XBzBY