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Pre-interview "Meet & Greet?"
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:03 pm
by Anonymous User
The night before OCI interviews with a particular firm, that firm is inviting all of the interviewees over for a little (several hours long) get together at the office. I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this.
Put a bunch of people competing with each other into one room, add some alcohol, and see who survives?
Has anyone attended something like this? Any advice on how to handle it? I imagine the idea is just to go around and talk to as many people as possible. Right idea? (Yes, I know I'm probably over thinking it. It just seems like it could be so very awkward).
Re: Pre-interview "Meet & Greet?"
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 8:29 pm
by Gorki
Anonymous User wrote:The night before OCI interviews with a particular firm, that firm is inviting all of the interviewees over for a little (several hours long) get together at the office. I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this.
Put a bunch of people competing with each other into one room, add some alcohol, and see who survives?
Has anyone attended something like this? Any advice on how to handle it? I imagine the idea is just to go around and talk to as many people as possible. Right idea? (Yes, I know I'm probably over thinking it. It just seems like it could be so very awkward).
Essentially you and a boat load of law students will hover around whoever shows up from the firm and ask them about the firm and what they like about working there, etc. I have been to a few, they are mostly to gauge whether you show up and if you are obviously not going to 'fit' in with the firm. It is a test to see if you can be polite to and get along with strangers who are competing with you for a select number of positions. It could help if you do some research in general on the firm and treat it as an informal pre-screening process.
It will at times be awkward, but then again it is also awkward for the associates/partners that will be flanked by tons of rising 2Ls. Just make the best of it and try to be upbeat and balance between showing a serious interest in working at the firm while understanding they are literally doing a 'fit' test to see if you are a person the firm would feel comfortable/enjoy having a drink with.