Top Law Schools

Hi all,

I'm wondering how turned off interviewers during OCI are by nervousness/anxiousness. I think it's going to be apparent that I'm nervous, and given that I'm doing 24 firms in three days, I feel that I may get worn out to the point where the physical manifestations (stutter, jittery hands, etc) begin to show.

Are interviewers ok with nervousness? I know they're human as well, but I begin to wonder sometimes if the partners at these big NYC firms are just souless/emotionless legalbots that have no empathy.

Anonymous User wrote:Hi all,

I'm wondering how turned off interviewers during OCI are by nervousness/anxiousness. I think it's going to be apparent that I'm nervous, and given that I'm doing 24 firms in three days, I feel that I may get worn out to the point where the physical manifestations (stutter, jittery hands, etc) begin to show.

Are interviewers ok with nervousness? I know they're human as well, but I begin to wonder sometimes if the partners at these big NYC firms are just souless/emotionless legalbots that have no empathy.

Everyone's nervous a little, the point is to get better every interview that you do. Think back over what seemed to be important to the interviewer and what you could have done better. You won't be nervous after the first couple.

Law Sauce wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Hi all,

I'm wondering how turned off interviewers during OCI are by nervousness/anxiousness. I think it's going to be apparent that I'm nervous, and given that I'm doing 24 firms in three days, I feel that I may get worn out to the point where the physical manifestations (stutter, jittery hands, etc) begin to show.

Are interviewers ok with nervousness? I know they're human as well, but I begin to wonder sometimes if the partners at these big NYC firms are just souless/emotionless legalbots that have no empathy.

Everyone's nervous a little, the point is to get better every interview that you do. Think back over what seemed to be important to the interviewer and what you could have done better. You won't be nervous after the first couple.

Thanks for the advice. Nice Fischer avatar, btw

Anonymous User wrote:Hi all,

I'm wondering how turned off interviewers during OCI are by nervousness/anxiousness. I think it's going to be apparent that I'm nervous, and given that I'm doing 24 firms in three days, I feel that I may get worn out to the point where the physical manifestations (stutter, jittery hands, etc) begin to show.

Are interviewers ok with nervousness? I know they're human as well, but I begin to wonder sometimes if the partners at these big NYC firms are just souless/emotionless legalbots that have no empathy.

Being nervous is OK. Letting it incapacitate you isn't good, since you're entering a profession that requires you to perform under pressure. Surely you've been in situations that require you to be "ready" before; do whatever you've done in the past. For me, this is planning everything out meticulously (I want to know EVERYTHING I can about the interviewers and firms before I go in there), sleeping enough, and smiling.

Also, you're going to be having a conversation, so practice. When you and your friends are sitting around before the interviews, talk to them to get the conversational juices flowing. Don't talk so much that you forget when to go or don't get the chance to do research, but it's a good way to get your jaw moving. Also, do a faux-interview with CSO or even a family friend. It'll make you feel much more ready.

As to fatigue, that's just part of the game hombre. Don't let it fuck with you; you're in law school, so you're used to working hard. Continue to do it.

It depends in what happens to you. If it is just butterflies, that is normal. Continue practicing. If it is incapacitating in that you are having panic attacks and nearly fainting, get a beta blocker drug like propranolol. It is mild and primary care physicians are okay prescribing it, unlike other anxiety drugs. (And if someone from the peanut gallery tries to belittle you for taking it, ignore him, as he has no idea what he is talking about. I myself have to take it in exam situations as I will otherwise faint no matter how well prepared I am.)

Being nervous is normal, just do what you can to try to control how your nervousness manifests itself. For instance, when I get nervous, I tend to speak really quickly (especially so when I first began speaking in court). I also tend to use my hands a lot more when I am nervous. So I just make a conscious effort to slow down when I speak, and calm the hand motions down. Your friends (or a CDO mock interview) might be able to help you figure out what your nervous tics are. If you are worried about your hands shaking, try crossing them on your lap, for instance. Good luck!

For more severe anxiety, how about Xanax? Zoloft has bad side effects and tends to screw with likeability. Anything else?

After four or five interviews, your nerves will turn to confidence or boredom.

Anonymous User wrote:For more severe anxiety, how about Xanax? Zoloft has bad side effects and tends to screw with likeability. Anything else?

dude-- do not take xanax before your interviews. try klonopin the night before; it has a long half life.

Why not Xanax?

Anonymous User wrote:Why not Xanax?

Do you really need it to be explained why experimenting with Xanax before an interview might not be the best idea?

Anonymous User wrote:Why not Xanax?

Xanax can make you pretty drowsy. If you are used to taking it for anxiety without side effects, go for it, but you want to be fresh and alert for your interviews. Personally, klonopin helps a lot with my anxiety and makes me feel less inhibited. It makes me sleepy though, so I take it the night before; it stays in your system for like 24 hours. You could also try taking the xanax at night, but I don't know if xanax has such a long half life. Ask your doctor.

Anonymous User wrote:After four or five interviews, your nerves will turn to confidence or boredom.

This.

Except it's more like after one, not 4-5.

I was incredibly nervous before interviews, and took a Xanax before the first one. But I have a prescription for it, so I know how it affects me (e.g. I don't get visibly drowsy, etc.). As others have said, after the first few, you just completely zone out and are on a weird sort of mental auto-pilot. After the first two were over, I wasn't even slightly nervous for the rest, even though I am a somewhat anxious person in general.

Dunno. I had 14 mostly back to back, and I only did well on the first few. I got more nervous and stumbled more as time went on.