Telling Firm They're #1? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have a CB interview next week with one of W&C, Covington, or WilmerHale (all DC). This firm is my #1 and I would accept an offer on the spot. Should I tell them this during the CB? Can it boost my chances? I'm well within their GPA range at my school but obv these firms are all pretty baller. If so, whom should I tell? Recruiter or one of my interviewers? Thanks.

[Anonymous User]

Maybe if you do it tactfully... it seems a little desperate to me

[Bosque]

There was a thread on this subject last year, but I don't really feel like looking for it right now. The gist of it was there is nothing wrong with saying the firm is your number one, but don't expect the firm to believe you unless you have some extraordinary way of demonstrating that.

I think most of that actual thread was dedicated to a debate over whether it was ok to lie and tell multiple firms they are your number one. I know I came down on the side of no, but I am pretty sure the majority said yes. And even though I don't think you SHOULD do it, I don't think anything is going to happen to you if you do. Other than the interviewer you lied to might think you are a dick.

[Anonymous User]

Tough call. I am in a similar position with an NYC firm. I intend to express extreme enthusiasm but stop short of saying I will definitely accept.

[thwalls]

You...are...the duke of New York, A, #1!

(please tell me that someone out there gets that reference.)

[romothesavior]

I told my number 1 choice that they are my number 1 choice. But I think they actually believe me because I have been very enthusiastic with them all year and I have made a number of strong contacts with the firm. So YMMV.

[Dustin.]

The answer to your question:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FltRUoAaGdo

[snailio]

Actually you should have told them at OCI if you knew, but yes you should tell them, if you are sincere you'll have no problems.

I don't understand why people think enthusiasm is a weakness, they expect this of you. I know people who this has worked for.

Makes for less callbacks too. It's nice to have your number #1 pick salted away.

[Anonymous User]

I am also considering doing this and would love any input

[irie]

This exact question came up in a Q&A with a hiring partner from a major NY firm this past semester. The partner said that if a firm is truly your #1 runaway choice, and you would be willing to accept an offer on the spot, you should absolutely let them know. It may sound silly at first--even a bit childish, but firms invest tremendous resources toward building their summer class and would actually take into account (favorably so) your commitment to join.

That being said, if you tell a firm they are #1 and you get a better offer elsewhere, it'll be pretty awkward to renege...

[Bosque]

That being said, if you tell a firm they are #1 and you get a better offer elsewhere, it'll be pretty awkward to renege...

Which would be why you only use this card once, and make sure to mean it.

[Anonymous User]

That being said, if you tell a firm they are #1 and you get a better offer elsewhere, it'll be pretty awkward to renege...

Which would be why you only use this card once, and make sure to mean it.

OP here. Whom do I tell? My schedule is 3 interviews, then lunch. Should I find the recruiter at some point?

[irie]

That being said, if you tell a firm they are #1 and you get a better offer elsewhere, it'll be pretty awkward to renege...

Which would be why you only use this card once, and make sure to mean it.

OP here. Whom do I tell? My schedule is 3 interviews, then lunch. Should I find the recruiter at some point?

Tell every one of the partners you meet with--they are the ones that will make the decision and go to bat for you in front of the hiring committee. You can tell the recruiters too, but it is much more important to impress the partners. Look and sound sincere, show good reason, if you have spent all year building your relationship with this firm and demonstrating your interest be sure to work that into the interview somehow. You'll almost certainly get the "why our firm" question at some point--make the most of it.

[Anonymous User]

You'll usually meet the recruiter briefly between the interviews and the lunch. Do tell the most senior person you meet with (or, if one of them is a member of the recruiting committee, that person). Can't hurt to tell everyone, though.

[Bosque]

Can't hurt to tell everyone, though.

This. For this to work, you really need to make a good pitch as many times as you can. And you better have a better reason than "You're the highest ranked/paying firm that I think will take me" (I assume you do) or you shouldn't try.

Good luck!

[Anonymous User]

Bumping this thread.

I'm waiting on a few callbacks with no offer yet. After visiting the firms, I now decisively know which one is my absolute #1. Should I contact the recruiter at that firm and let her know this?The firm takes a small class and I thought letting them know how serious I am may help. But at the same time, I don't want to come off as scary or desperate.

[Anonymous User]

Bumping this thread.

I'm waiting on a few callbacks with no offer yet. After visiting the firms, I now decisively know which one is my absolute #1. Should I contact the recruiter at that firm and let her know this?The firm takes a small class and I thought letting them know how serious I am may help. But at the same time, I don't want to come off as scary or desperate.

FWIW, I e-mailed a recruiter at a V5 on Wednesday, told her that I got an offer last week (so she can update my file), thanked her for all of her help in putting together my callback, and in so many words told her that the firm was my #1 choice. Got an offer on Friday. Was it because of that letter? No, of course not. Did I come off as desperate? Maybe (probably). But it obviously wasn't a deal-breaker. Be tactful and don't come off as a weirdo desperate stalker and you should be fine. I would find some reason to e-mail, even if it's apparently an excuse to e-mail (e.g. I wanted to update you on X, I wanted to thank you for your time and effort in arranging everything during my callback).

[Anonymous User]

I had a callback with my #1 choice 3 weeks ago. I called them earlier this week to tell them that I had another offer deadline approaching, and that if they made me an offer I would 'almost definitely accept.' I got an offer 2 days later. Later, at the firm's reception, I asked somebody in recruiting if he thought my phone call contributed to receiving the offer shortly afterward, and he said that it definitely did.

[Anonymous User]

I had a callback with my #1 choice 3 weeks ago. I called them earlier this week to tell them that I had another offer deadline approaching, and that if they made me an offer I would 'almost definitely accept.' I got an offer 2 days later. Later, at the firm's reception, I asked somebody in recruiting if he thought my phone call contributed to receiving the offer shortly afterward, and he said that it definitely did.

Bumping this thread.

I'm waiting on a few callbacks with no offer yet. After visiting the firms, I now decisively know which one is my absolute #1. Should I contact the recruiter at that firm and let her know this?The firm takes a small class and I thought letting them know how serious I am may help. But at the same time, I don't want to come off as scary or desperate.

FWIW, I e-mailed a recruiter at a V5 on Wednesday, told her that I got an offer last week (so she can update my file), thanked her for all of her help in putting together my callback, and in so many words told her that the firm was my #1 choice. Got an offer on Friday. Was it because of that letter? No, of course not. Did I come off as desperate? Maybe (probably). But it obviously wasn't a deal-breaker. Be tactful and don't come off as a weirdo desperate stalker and you should be fine. I would find some reason to e-mail, even if it's apparently an excuse to e-mail (e.g. I wanted to update you on X, I wanted to thank you for your time and effort in arranging everything during my callback).

Thanks for your responses. I would just feel better doing this if i had an offer to leverage but I think now that contacting them is the right move.

[Redzo]

I'm a 1L and so I'm not even close to the job search yet. However, if I were going to use this tactic, I imagine that I would try to support the point with several good reasons why they were my number 1 choice. Like, "This firm is my number one choice because you have interesting clients, you do the kind of work that I want to do, and it has a reputation for being a good place to work," or something.

Otherwise, it might just sound like you're being disingenuous.

However, I haven't been through this process at all so I could be totally wrong about all of the above. Disclaimer.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 1L and so I'm not even close to the job search yet. However, if I were going to use this tactic, I imagine that I would try to support the point with several good reasons why they were my number 1 choice. Like, "This firm is my number one choice because you have interesting clients, you do the kind of work that I want to do, and it has a reputation for being a good place to work," or something.

Otherwise, it might just sound like you're being disingenuous.

However, I haven't been through this process at all so I could be totally wrong about all of the above. Disclaimer.

Yeah, I think that's trying too hard.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 1L and so I'm not even close to the job search yet. However, if I were going to use this tactic, I imagine that I would try to support the point with several good reasons why they were my number 1 choice. Like, "This firm is my number one choice because you have interesting clients, you do the kind of work that I want to do, and it has a reputation for being a good place to work," or something.

Otherwise, it might just sound like you're being disingenuous.

However, I haven't been through this process at all so I could be totally wrong about all of the above. Disclaimer.

Thank you 1L- it really hadn't occurred to me to say something intelligent about why I wanted to work at the firm.

[Anonymous User]

I think a good general answer is this: If you are sincere about your ranking of the firm as #1, you can tell them, BUT there is a caveat - be clever about it. If they're your number one, they'll probably be your first or early cb. When they ask you 'how are interviews going etc' you can tactfully say 'Oh, as a matter of fact this is my first interview, and I scheduled it first because I genuinely ranked it as my top choice' ... that way it looks like it naturally came out of the conversation. Also, when you thank the recruiter for setting up the interview schedule (I did this by email), you can say 'thanks for scheduling this interview early, I'm glad to have been able to visit my blah blah firm early since it is my top choice'

generally, be tactful so as not to appear desperate. hope this helps

[MrAnon]

No, it sounds desperate. No one likes desperation. they like to court.