Got an offer, but have little interest in the firm/law area
Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:48 pm
This is a throwaway account for obvious reasons.
After I graduated this past May, I applied for jobs using the "shotgun approach": apply to any job that I qualify for and see what sticks. Implausibly I actually went far enough in the interview process that I actually got an offer from one firm. Unfortunately, this firm practices an area of law I have almost no interest in. Also, I was not impressed by the firm culture during my tour, and the parking lot was mostly full at 9-10pm both nights I was in town, which is not a good sign. I can't imagine working 80 hours a week in an area of law I find incredibly dull.
My parents and friends without offers think I am absolutely crazy not to accept the offer because it is the only offer I have out of the 31 jobs I applied for. Everyone regularly reminds me how poor the legal market is right now, and that my student loan payments start in 4 months. My salary offer was in the lower 60s.
I am really concerned that if I take this job and then quit a year or so down the road because I am miserable, I will damage my chances of getting another job.
What would you do?
After I graduated this past May, I applied for jobs using the "shotgun approach": apply to any job that I qualify for and see what sticks. Implausibly I actually went far enough in the interview process that I actually got an offer from one firm. Unfortunately, this firm practices an area of law I have almost no interest in. Also, I was not impressed by the firm culture during my tour, and the parking lot was mostly full at 9-10pm both nights I was in town, which is not a good sign. I can't imagine working 80 hours a week in an area of law I find incredibly dull.
My parents and friends without offers think I am absolutely crazy not to accept the offer because it is the only offer I have out of the 31 jobs I applied for. Everyone regularly reminds me how poor the legal market is right now, and that my student loan payments start in 4 months. My salary offer was in the lower 60s.
I am really concerned that if I take this job and then quit a year or so down the road because I am miserable, I will damage my chances of getting another job.
What would you do?