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Should I come prepared to ask the interviewer?

Obviously you can't plan out a conversation too much but I have 3 questions for this interviewer in case the conversation lags. Just wondering how 30 minute interviews tend to go

Anonymous User wrote:Should I come prepared to ask the interviewer?

Obviously you can't plan out a conversation too much but I have 3 questions for this interviewer in case the conversation lags. Just wondering how 30 minute interviews tend to go

It depends, OCS has told me 3-5 questions. But after having a bunch of interviews, I would have at least that many prepared, plus think of some based on your conversation. Some interviewers expect you to carry the conversation, so make sure you have enough to get through a 30 minute interview. I would have at least a few open ended questions (search around the legal employment forum, there are some good ones) that can spark a conversation.

Anonymous User wrote:Should I come prepared to ask the interviewer?

Obviously you can't plan out a conversation too much but I have 3 questions for this interviewer in case the conversation lags. Just wondering how 30 minute interviews tend to go

0:00-1:30: Handshake, pleasantries, interviewer looks at name and GPA for the first time;
1:30: First question about something on your resume;
1:30-7:30: Answer first question, and follow-up discussion;
7:30: Second question about something on your resume;
7:30-11:00: Answer second question and follow-up;
11:00: Third question about something on your resume;
11:00-15:30: Answer third question and follow-up;
15:30: Fourth question about the firm itself/practice area/goals/ambitions/interests;
15:30-17:00: Answer fourth question and follow-up;
17:00: Fifth question about whether you have any questions;
17:00-24:00: You ask banal questions interviewer has heard in previous eleven interviews, answers your questions;
24:00-29:30: Gaze into one other's eyes;
29:30-30:00: Handshake, pleasantries.

So, any where from 4-5 core questions and follow ups, along with a healthy staring contest

My first real interview, after greeting me, the hiring partner sat back and said "so, what questions do you have for me?"
I was on the spot for the next 40 minutes. In conclusion, you can never have too many questions prepared.

yngblkgifted wrote:My first real interview, after greeting me, the hiring partner sat back and said "so, what questions do you have for me?"
I was on the spot for the next 40 minutes. In conclusion, you can never have too many questions prepared.

This. They don't all have to be gems or all have to be information that you're actually eager to know. You just don't want to be stuck their in silence while you try to think up a 6th question because he answered your first 5 in 25 minutes.

yngblkgifted wrote:My first real interview, after greeting me, the hiring partner sat back and said "so, what questions do you have for me?"
I was on the spot for the next 40 minutes. In conclusion, you can never have too many questions prepared.

+1 - It's even harder on a callback when you have multiple interviews like this that are back-to-back. Have lots of questions ready and work on formulating follow up questions.

Very helpful.Thanks guys.

Varies so much. They might ask you 2-3 questions and ask if you have any questions, they might drill you with a dozen questions, they might ask you if you have any questions from the get go, or they might just talk most of the time about themselves/their firm. I had all types of interviews with all types of people. The length, style, and number of questions all depends on the interviewers, and there is almost no correlation between any of this and getting a CB.

The firm I am going to this summer interviewed me for 8-9 minutes total of the 20 minute slot at OCI. They asked me two questions, asked me if I had any questions, answered my questions super briefly, and then basically shuffled me out the door. It was probably the most awkward and downright bad interview I had at OCI, and now I'm working there. Moral of the story is to just do the best you can, be prepared for literally any scenario, and pray that you get hired.

One rule I was told by OCS and that worked well was to never stop asking questions. There is no reason to end an interview early because every second you're there is time he must acknowledge your existence. My friends who did hardcore OCI prep tried to have at least a couple dozen questions ready and I know some who had more.

LawIdiot86 wrote:One rule I was told by OCS and that worked well was to never stop asking questions. There is no reason to end an interview early because every second you're there is time he must acknowledge your existence. My friends who did hardcore OCI prep tried to have at least a couple dozen questions ready and I know some who had more.

+1. It also can be a good move in a callback to ask a question to a later interviewer in this format: "[Interviewer x] was talking about x/telling me about x, have you had the same experience/can you explain further/etc.?" I think it shows that you listen and care.