What I wish I would have known going into my first OCI... Forum

[alicrimson]

Hello everyone,

I, like many ickle 1Ls, are about to embark on the fabulous journey that is first year spring OCI interviews. I was hoping that the wisdom of TLS could help making this transition a little bit less painful. Sooooo, to those of you who have gone through this process, what do you wish you would have known before you went into your first interview? What is the best tip you have every received? Thank you so much to anyone who contributes.

[r6_philly]

Hello everyone,

I, like many ickle 1Ls, are about to embark on the fabulous journey that is first year spring OCI interviews. I was hoping that the wisdom of TLS could help making this transition a little bit less painful. Sooooo, to those of you who have gone through this process, what do you wish you would have known before you went into your first interview? What is the best tip you have every received? Thank you so much to anyone who contributes.

There are many nice threads with a lot of good info by searching. Although I think those advice may not help the same way for spring OCI because there are just so few spots. But you should still peruse and pick up useful bits.

[mountaintime]

the best tip i have to offer is that you better not rely on 1L OCI to find an internship unless you are in the very top of your class. OCI is really where the grade competition is most fierce because you're competing with your entire class. if your grades aren't at the very top, you're probably better off finding your own opportunities.

[Anonymous User]

the best tip i have to offer is that you better not rely on 1L OCI to find an internship unless you are in the very top of your class. OCI is really where the grade competition is most fierce because you're competing with your entire class. if your grades aren't at the very top, you're probably better off finding your own opportunities.

what's the very top? Do you think top 8% at a t14 will do the trick?

[IAFG]

the best tip i have to offer is that you better not rely on 1L OCI to find an internship unless you are in the very top of your class. OCI is really where the grade competition is most fierce because you're competing with your entire class. if your grades aren't at the very top, you're probably better off finding your own opportunities.

what's the very top? Do you think top 8% at a t14 will do the trick?

No. At least not unless the "typical" 1L jobs are at your OCI. If you're talking about firms, absolutely not. When I was a 1L, most of the firms "recruiting" 1Ls didn't take anyone from my school.

[Anonymous User]

i wish i wouldve known i wasnt going to get a job. then i would have saved a shitload of time applying to 300 firms, going on 15 OCIs and 8 callbacks.

[c3pO4]

most people who get jobs don't wish they knew anything really, they're just happy to be through it.

people who don't get jobs often wish they had practiced interviewing more.

[LawIdiot86]

That however much you're doing, someone else is doing more and if you really want it, you'll match and exceed them.

[romothesavior]

the best tip i have to offer is that you better not rely on 1L OCI to find an internship unless you are in the very top of your class. OCI is really where the grade competition is most fierce because you're competing with your entire class. if your grades aren't at the very top, you're probably better off finding your own opportunities.

what's the very top? Do you think top 8% at a t14 will do the trick?

No. At least not unless the "typical" 1L jobs are at your OCI. If you're talking about firms, absolutely not. When I was a 1L, most of the firms "recruiting" 1Ls didn't take anyone from my school.

So credited. They are usually taking 1-2 people max and are interviewing at a whole host of schools. I was top 15% at a T20 and didn't even get an interview. Obviously 8% at a T14 is better and maybe you'll snag a few interviews, but odds are still low against you getting a job absent WE, IP, URM status, or a stellar undergrad. I also found that luck was a huge factor. A lot of people with tip top grades got nothing, while a few people lower down the ladder (below me) got jobs. You really have to have the total package plus a great personality that makes them say "Wow... we really need this person."

So I guess my best advice is: do your best and get some good practice in, but you better be doing other stuff to actually get a job.

[r6_philly]

i wish i wouldve known i wasnt going to get a job. then i would have saved a shitload of time applying to 300 firms, going on 15 OCIs and 8 callbacks.

Sorry

I am curious about your experience, maybe you could elaborate? Did 2L turn out better? Did you get all 8 callbacks from OCI? Why do you think you didn't get event one offer? Thanks.

[englawyer]

as others have said, don't expect anything meaningful to come out of Spring 1L OCI

[Grizz]

1L OCI = practice

[r6_philly]

1L OCI = practice

You are right about that. I can't believe not everyone want to participate, especially people with little interview experience. Mock interviews may be too forgiving.

[bk1]

No. At least not unless the "typical" 1L jobs are at your OCI. If you're talking about firms, absolutely not. When I was a 1L, most of the firms "recruiting" 1Ls didn't take anyone from my school.

1L OCI seemed more worthless than I expected (and my expectations were already pretty low).

[Bildungsroman]

No. At least not unless the "typical" 1L jobs are at your OCI. If you're talking about firms, absolutely not. When I was a 1L, most of the firms "recruiting" 1Ls didn't take anyone from my school.

1L OCI seemed more worthless than I expected (and my expectations were already pretty low).

Are you kidding? I've got two screening interviews with firms that will definitely end up not hiring me for my 1L summer. I'm rich with opportunity!

[Grizz]

1L OCI = practice

You are right about that. I can't believe not everyone want to participate, especially people with little interview experience. Mock interviews may be too forgiving.

Yeah everyone should do it, no question. I had 5 screening interviews and a CB out of it. Helped me be MUCH less nervous at subsequent screeners and CBs once you get those first ones out of the way.

[Bildungsroman]

1L OCI = practice

You are right about that. I can't believe not everyone want to participate, especially people with little interview experience. Mock interviews may be too forgiving.

Yeah everyone should do it, no question. I had 5 screening interviews and a CB out of it. Helped me be MUCH less nervous at subsequent screeners and CBs once you get those first ones out of the way.

Sounds extremely beta. If you want to be an ALPHA applicant you walk into the room and immediately start interviewing the firm rep, then end with "I'll let you know my decision in a few weeks."

[bk1]

Are you kidding? I've got two screening interviews with firms that will definitely end up not hiring me for my 1L summer. I'm rich with opportunity!

I get the feeling that the firm selection at NU is worse than other schools. We only had 3 Chicago firms (all of which were under 30 people and 2 of which weren't even NALP firms).

[Grizz]

1L OCI = practice

You are right about that. I can't believe not everyone want to participate, especially people with little interview experience. Mock interviews may be too forgiving.

Yeah everyone should do it, no question. I had 5 screening interviews and a CB out of it. Helped me be MUCH less nervous at subsequent screeners and CBs once you get those first ones out of the way.

Sounds extremely beta. If you want to be an ALPHA applicant you walk into the room and immediately start interviewing the firm rep, then end with "I'll let you know my decision in a few weeks."

Now I prefer to shout "Big swingin dick, comin through!" when I walk in the room, and then offer to show it to em.

[bk1]

Sounds extremely beta. If you want to be an ALPHA applicant you walk into the room and immediately start interviewing the firm rep, then end with "I'll let you know my decision in a few weeks."

So in Communist Russia, applicant interviews you?

[Grizz]

Are you kidding? I've got two screening interviews with firms that will definitely end up not hiring me for my 1L summer. I'm rich with opportunity!

I get the feeling that the firm selection at NU is worse than other schools. We only had 3 Chicago firms (all of which were under 30 people and 2 of which weren't even NALP firms).

It's not that bad down South, due to a greater propensity of those firms for hiring 1Ls (every Birmingham firm does, a few in MS, TN, GA, VA, etc.). But for about 95% of the people (those without stellar grades or ties to those usually small, insular markets), it's only worthwhile as practice.

[Bildungsroman]

Are you kidding? I've got two screening interviews with firms that will definitely end up not hiring me for my 1L summer. I'm rich with opportunity!

I get the feeling that the firm selection at NU is worse than other schools. We only had 3 Chicago firms (all of which were under 30 people and 2 of which weren't even NALP firms).

It's not that bad down South, due to a greater propensity of those firms for hiring 1Ls (every Birmingham firm does, a few in MS, TN, GA, VA, etc.). But for about 95% of the people (those without stellar grades or ties to those usually small, insular markets), it's only worthwhile as practice.

So 1L OCI is like a 5.

[bk1]

It's not that bad down South, due to a greater propensity of those firms for hiring 1Ls (every Birmingham firm does, a few in MS, TN, GA, VA, etc.). But for about 95% of the people (those without stellar grades or ties to those usually small, insular markets), it's only worthwhile as practice.

Ah that makes sense. I haven't talked to anyone who got more than 1 screener here, getting 5 would be unheard of (granted we only had like 7-8 firms total with half of them being in smaller midwest cities).

[romothesavior]

It's not that bad down South

The South is a dump.

Oh we're talking about firm hiring? My bad, carry on then.

[r6_philly]

It's not that bad down South, due to a greater propensity of those firms for hiring 1Ls (every Birmingham firm does, a few in MS, TN, GA, VA, etc.). But for about 95% of the people (those without stellar grades or ties to those usually small, insular markets), it's only worthwhile as practice.

Ah that makes sense. I haven't talked to anyone who got more than 1 screener here, getting 5 would be unheard of (granted we only had like 7-8 firms total with half of them being in smaller midwest cities).

I lucked into 4. I don't think we pre-screen.