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I have my first callback tomorrow. Is there anything I should take: resumes, writing samples, that stupid leather notebook, knee pads?

Bring the padfolio, couple copies of resume, transcript, writing sample. That's all you will need, and probably won't even need any of it. But better to be prepared.

AND REFERENCES

I've never needed any of that, but I've always taken it.

Wheely backpack. Requirement.

bring sunscreen and lots of quarters

seriously though i always bring those things (references included), but never really need them


One time i had to fill out a bunch of paperwork before the interviews started so having my reference sheet was handy

Anonymous User wrote:AND REFERENCES

Yeah, references too. Thanks, helpful anon!

5ky wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:AND REFERENCES

Yeah, references too. Thanks, helpful anon!

Have people seriously been asked for references during callbacks for firms that don't ask for them ask the screening stage? That seems bizarre to me.

Anonymous User wrote:

5ky wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:AND REFERENCES

Yeah, references too. Thanks, helpful anon!

Have people seriously been asked for references during callbacks for firms that don't ask for them ask the screening stage? That seems bizarre to me.

Yes. It isn't like they expect you to have them if they did not ask for them, but it is a plus. In one interview I said... "one of my mentors told me XXXXXX". The partner was like, who was that? Do you have references I can look at?

Well of course I do... I am always prepared and thinking steps ahead! Doesn't that sound like something you want in an associate?

Glock wrote:Wheely backpack. Requirement.

Offer, everytime.

Glock wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

5ky wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:AND REFERENCES

Yeah, references too. Thanks, helpful anon!

Have people seriously been asked for references during callbacks for firms that don't ask for them ask the screening stage? That seems bizarre to me.

Yes. It isn't like they expect you to have them if they did not ask for them, but it is a plus. In one interview I said... "one of my mentors told me XXXXXX". The partner was like, who was that? Do you have references I can look at?

That has never come up in any of my callbacks or in any of the callbacks of people I know. What type of firm was this?

I mean, don't bring a reference list if you don't want. Chances are very small you'll be asked for it. But is it really that hard to slip an extra piece of paper in your padfolio?

5ky wrote:I mean, don't bring a reference list if you don't want. Chances are very small you'll be asked for it. But is it really that hard to slip an extra piece of paper in your padfolio?

I didn't bother e-mailing former employers, professors, etc. asking if I could use them as a reference. More work than just slipping a piece of paper into my padfolio. A V15 partner at a roundtable at my school mentioned that they don't need references, and he knows of only a firm or two that requires them and in those cases, they're used at the screening stage to determine who to give callbacks to (Covington is an example of this).

Maybe some regional firms or something want them? I don't know. Between me and my friends, we've gone on dozens upon dozens of V20 callbacks and it's never once come up.

Anonymous User wrote:

5ky wrote:I mean, don't bring a reference list if you don't want. Chances are very small you'll be asked for it. But is it really that hard to slip an extra piece of paper in your padfolio?

I didn't bother e-mailing former employers, professors, etc. asking if I could use them as a reference. More work than just slipping a piece of paper into my padfolio. A V15 partner at a roundtable at my school mentioned that they don't need references, and he knows of only a firm or two that requires them and in those cases, they're used at the screening stage to determine who to give callbacks to (Covington is an example of this).

Maybe some regional firms or something want them? I don't know. Between me and my friends, we've gone on dozens upon dozens of V20 callbacks and it's never once come up.

Yeah, as I said, it doesn't come up too often. But shame on you for playing the Biglaw game of roulette and not even bothering to work up a list of references on the off chance you might need it for the most important job search of your life.

5ky wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

5ky wrote:I mean, don't bring a reference list if you don't want. Chances are very small you'll be asked for it. But is it really that hard to slip an extra piece of paper in your padfolio?

I didn't bother e-mailing former employers, professors, etc. asking if I could use them as a reference. More work than just slipping a piece of paper into my padfolio. A V15 partner at a roundtable at my school mentioned that they don't need references, and he knows of only a firm or two that requires them and in those cases, they're used at the screening stage to determine who to give callbacks to (Covington is an example of this).

Maybe some regional firms or something want them? I don't know. Between me and my friends, we've gone on dozens upon dozens of V20 callbacks and it's never once come up.

Yeah, as I said, it doesn't come up too often. But shame on you for playing the Biglaw game of roulette and not even bothering to work up a list of references on the off chance you might need it for the most important job search of your life.

Yeah, shame on me for not doing something that has never been required of anybody I ever know who did OCI/callbacks without the firm specifically requesting that thing. I'm sure living dangerously.

Anonymous User wrote: Yeah, shame on me for not doing something that has never been required of anybody I ever know who did OCI/callbacks without the firm specifically requesting that thing. I'm sure living dangerously.

I'll make sure I bring those flowers for my next callback, thanks chief, because having a list of references is clearly the same level of absurdity.

5ky wrote:

Anonymous User wrote: Yeah, shame on me for not doing something that has never been required of anybody I ever know who did OCI/callbacks without the firm specifically requesting that thing. I'm sure living dangerously.

I'll make sure I bring those flowers for my next callback, thanks chief, because having a list of references is clearly the same level of absurdity.

You could always have them delivered after the callback with your handwritten thank-you notes personalized for each interviewer.

Anonymous User wrote:

5ky wrote:

Anonymous User wrote: Yeah, shame on me for not doing something that has never been required of anybody I ever know who did OCI/callbacks without the firm specifically requesting that thing. I'm sure living dangerously.

I'll make sure I bring those flowers for my next callback, thanks chief, because having a list of references is clearly the same level of absurdity.

You could always have them delivered after the callback with your handwritten thank-you notes personalized for each interviewer.

Nah I'm with you there, thank you notes are weak. Not worth the time it takes to write them.