Bad Interview Moments Forum

[cavalier1138]

I really don't care or know the implications of whatever their answers might be at this point in the process) and try-hard.

(1) I don’t understand the first part. Not to be a dick, but if someone wants me to go to bat for them for a job, he/she should care about the cases we work on and be willing to put in the work to figure out the “implications” of the work.

(2) I think I’m a nice guy. But I work hard as fuck for my paycheck. I get that there are lots of easier legal jobs out there that I’d love to do but I don’t do them because they don’t pay nearly as well. I expect juniors to be willing to work hard for their big paychecks too. I have never thought of it as a bad thing to look “try hard.” We try super hard.

(3) I think this post comes across as super over the top douche, but I want to make sure it’s clear what biglaw is like.

As a counterpoint, I think it sounds massively arrogant and "top douche" to favor interviewees who focus their questions on what I have personally done in my career. I generally find my work interesting and rewarding, but I don't expect every person applying to the firm to pretend that they want to work in my practice area or that they find me to be a fascinating person. I'd be more than a little weirded out if some 2L started asking me about cases they'd found on Westlaw by searching my name.

Evidently, that's not true for all interviewers, so the moral of the story is that you cannot predict your interviewers' personalities.

[Anonymous User]

I really don't care or know the implications of whatever their answers might be at this point in the process) and try-hard.

(1) I don’t understand the first part. Not to be a dick, but if someone wants me to go to bat for them for a job, he/she should care about the cases we work on and be willing to put in the work to figure out the “implications” of the work.

(2) I think I’m a nice guy. But I work hard as fuck for my paycheck. I get that there are lots of easier legal jobs out there that I’d love to do but I don’t do them because they don’t pay nearly as well. I expect juniors to be willing to work hard for their big paychecks too. I have never thought of it as a bad thing to look “try hard.” We try super hard.

(3) I think this post comes across as super over the top douche, but I want to make sure it’s clear what biglaw is like.

As a counterpoint, I think it sounds massively arrogant and "top douche" to favor interviewees who focus their questions on what I have personally done in my career. I generally find my work interesting and rewarding, but I don't expect every person applying to the firm to pretend that they want to work in my practice area or that they find me to be a fascinating person. I'd be more than a little weirded out if some 2L started asking me about cases they'd found on Westlaw by searching my name.

Evidently, that's not true for all interviewers, so the moral of the story is that you cannot predict your interviewers' personalities.

There is a (fairly large) subset of biglaw partners and senior associates who are extraordinarily narcissistic. They love to hear how interesting and important their work is, and how smart they are. This whole 'search the attorney on westlaw and mention strategy in specific cases' thing just plays into that. Obvious exceptions for actually publicized / important cases.

[Anonymous User]

I think for questions re deals you're working on - it's all about context.

If someone tells me they're interested in my practice area and then bring up specific deals I've worked on, then I generally view it favorably because you've already expressed an interest in the area/work.

If someone tells me they're interested in litigation (not my practice area) and then brings up specific deals I've worked on, then I generally think they're just trying to name drop and prove they've done research. That's obnoxious. First, I'm not impressed by your ability to do a google search. Second, you're wasting valuable time when you should be evaluating the firm/whether you want to work here, and instead trying to name drop.

If someone tells me they're interested in litigation, but ask me general questions about my practice area and what kind of deals we work on - that's fine, shows curiosity.

[Anonymous User]

During a screener interview, had two interviewers who apparently could not see or hear each other. They were asking me drastically different questions and as I was answering the other one would look at me like I was a complete idiot. About five minutes in I finally asked if they could see or hear the other interviewer. They logged off and logged back on and all went well from there, but was definitely awkward for a few minutes.

[Anonymous User]

Killed it with a CB today but messed up when I met with the recruiter. I asked how he she liked transitioning over from X firm to current firm she's at, and proceeds to look at me with confusion while stating "I think you have me confused with another person bc I've worked here for the past 20 years ..." Completely fumbled, apologized, and moved on to other questions. Am I screwed for

[Anonymous User]

Killed it with a CB today but messed up when I met with the recruiter. I asked how he she liked transitioning over from X firm to current firm she's at, and proceeds to look at me with confusion while stating "I think you have me confused with another person bc I've worked here for the past 20 years ..." Completely fumbled, apologized, and moved on to other questions. Am I screwed for

[Anonymous User]

3.9 GPA at a T20. Just had an odd interview this week (one of my screeners, late in the day); my interviewer (V5 firm, LA office) was so casual the entire time that I thought something was wrong. She didn't know anything about me or ask me much, had her dog in the Zoom call, and was just all around scattered. It was so demoralizing--I knew within two minutes that she had made her mind up about me and that I wasn't going to get a CB. Got dinged today. I guess we just didn't click at the outset or she really liked the earlier interviewers that day.

[Anonymous User]

Killed it with a CB today but messed up when I met with the recruiter. I asked how he she liked transitioning over from X firm to current firm she's at, and proceeds to look at me with confusion while stating "I think you have me confused with another person bc I've worked here for the past 20 years ..." Completely fumbled, apologized, and moved on to other questions. Am I screwed for

That’s hilarious lol

[Anonymous User]

In my callback interview with the hiring partner/ committee chair (v25 firm). I asked something like, "can you tell me what you find most challenging about about your litigation practice"? They respond, "sorry to disappoint you, but I work in capital markets."

Got the job offer the next day, though.

[Anonymous User]

From the other side. I’m a 7th year associate and an interviewee on 2-3 different occasions referred to me as a junior associate - ask me how recently summering with the firm went, etc. I just rolled with it to be honest. Noted it in my review, but didn’t really hold it against her.

[Anonymous User]

3.9 GPA at a T20. Just had an odd interview this week (one of my screeners, late in the day); my interviewer (V5 firm, LA office) was so casual the entire time that I thought something was wrong. She didn't know anything about me or ask me much, had her dog in the Zoom call, and was just all around scattered. It was so demoralizing--I knew within two minutes that she had made her mind up about me and that I wasn't going to get a CB. Got dinged today. I guess we just didn't click at the outset or she really liked the earlier interviewers that day.

I think I interviewed with the same person and I have the same GPA as you too. She was super casual (almost unprofessionally so), but I hit it off great with her. Dinged. Truly confused what they're looking for.

[Anonymous User]

With pre-/OCI season coming up, let's bring back this blessed thread

[Anonymous User]

It was for a position in Paris. I was very international law oriented and so knew quite a bit about Paris as international arbitration capital. So, I went on and on about Paris and its importance in that regard, as well as the firm's qualities in arbitration. This took about 5 minutes from my end, and I thought I did a good job describing why I'd be a good fit and what I was looking for. The interviewer agreed.

Right after, the interviewer continues with "...but this interview is for our labor and employment group."

My mind shatters for a second, and I immediately switch gears and indicate that "that would be great too!"

Obviously did not get the position.

Still don't understand why they'd want a US lawyer to practice in L&E of a foreign jurisdiction, but probably am missing some cross border element, but woah, I truly felt like such a moron.

[Anonymous User]

Bringing this back.

Screener, firm sent one transactional partner to interview for all offices, convo sort of goes nowhere after I say I'm exclusively interested in lit in another office.

Partner ends interview with "well it was great to meet you and hear about your experience, I'm sure you'll have countless offers to choose from for next summer"

[Anonymous User]

Bringing this back.

Screener, firm sent one transactional partner to interview for all offices, convo sort of goes nowhere after I say I'm exclusively interested in lit in another office.

Partner ends interview with "well it was great to meet you and hear about your experience, I'm sure you'll have countless offers to choose from for next summer"

How did you expect the interviewer to respond?

[Anonymous User]

Bringing this back.

Screener, firm sent one transactional partner to interview for all offices, convo sort of goes nowhere after I say I'm exclusively interested in lit in another office.

Partner ends interview with "well it was great to meet you and hear about your experience, I'm sure you'll have countless offers to choose from for next summer"

How did you expect the interviewer to respond?

Yeah that's totally on me - to clarify, he didn't respond immediately with that - we chatted for 15 more mins before he dropped that line. But yeah, I probably should've faked interest in transactional or something...

[Anonymous User]

Bringing this back.

Screener, firm sent one transactional partner to interview for all offices, convo sort of goes nowhere after I say I'm exclusively interested in lit in another office.

Partner ends interview with "well it was great to meet you and hear about your experience, I'm sure you'll have countless offers to choose from for next summer"

How did you expect the interviewer to respond?

Yeah that's totally on me - to clarify, he didn't respond immediately with that - we chatted for 15 more mins before he dropped that line. But yeah, I probably should've faked interest in transactional or something...

That’s also a pretty ordinary thing to say.

[johndhi]

Old story since I did OCI a very long time ago but...

At MoFo San Francisco,I arrived to find out the people I was interviewing with were not available, so I'd be interviewing with entirely different people from those whose profiles I'd read and prepared for. I asked the recruiter if she wouldn't mind printing out the website bios of these people (in retrospect, I guess this is a little odd but not a horrible thing to do) and she just looked at me like I was crazy and didn't do it.

After the interviews (which went fine), she asked me if I had any further or additional questions. Being somewhat annoyed by her and honestly exhausted, I said: "you know what? I don't. I think I got all of my questions answered. I'm just... really tired from all of the interviewing. I have to go straight over to Gibson Dunn next."

She took that really poorly and gave me another harsh look.

The next day I got an email from my school saying MoFo had complained that the candidates from my school were horribly entitled and needed to be better trained (the only other person who'd interviewed from my school was an extremely polite girl -- so I knew who this was about).

No offer.

[Anonymous User]

Old story since I did OCI a very long time ago but...

At MoFo San Francisco,I arrived to find out the people I was interviewing with were not available, so I'd be interviewing with entirely different people from those whose profiles I'd read and prepared for. I asked the recruiter if she wouldn't mind printing out the website bios of these people (in retrospect, I guess this is a little odd but not a horrible thing to do) and she just looked at me like I was crazy and didn't do it.

After the interviews (which went fine), she asked me if I had any further or additional questions. Being somewhat annoyed by her and honestly exhausted, I said: "you know what? I don't. I think I got all of my questions answered. I'm just... really tired from all of the interviewing. I have to go straight over to Gibson Dunn next."

She took that really poorly and gave me another harsh look.

The next day I got an email from my school saying MoFo had complained that the candidates from my school were horribly entitled and needed to be better trained (the only other person who'd interviewed from my school was an extremely polite girl -- so I knew who this was about).

No offer.

I'll read this every time worry that I didn't smile enough or make enough eye contact and remember that there are way bigger and more obnoxious assholes out there. LOL!

This is actually a great lesson not to act like an obnoxious entitled d*ckhead to the secretaries and legal recruiters. These people will sink your offer regardless of how "fine" you think your attorney interviews went. Moreover, there's nothing cool or impressive, or justification, for acting like you're better than someone who's in an administrative role. It just screams pathetic insecurity and social ineptitude.

[Anonymous User]

Since this thread was revived, I'll add one from a few years ago. My interviewer for Cravath just never showed up. I later confirmed with OCS that I was in the right office and the Cravath person just messed up their schedule. Cravath just never rescheduled me. Sucks cause I was competitive too lol. Asked around and was able to find one other person in my class that this happened too, so maybe whoever Cravath sent legit just ghosted a bunch of candidates.

[Anonymous User]

Pretty sure I called Cleary 'Davis Polk' at some point during my screener. Did not receive a callback from Cleary. Did receive a callback from Davis Polk.

[johndhi]

I'll read this every time worry that I didn't smile enough or make enough eye contact and remember that there are way bigger and more obnoxious assholes out there. LOL!

This is actually a great lesson not to act like an obnoxious entitled d*ckhead to the secretaries and legal recruiters. These people will sink your offer regardless of how "fine" you think your attorney interviews went. Moreover, there's nothing cool or impressive, or justification, for acting like you're better than someone who's in an administrative role. It just screams pathetic insecurity and social ineptitude.

Haha, just to confirm - do you think I was an asshole in that situation? Reading what I wrote I see my mistakes for sure. To be honest at the time I didn't mean anything mean or bad, and I could see saying similar things to a friendly recruiter without problem. I think this situation was bad because I was already feeling adversarial with this particular recruiter, who seemed to be trying to make my life hard. Fortunately I lucked out by not getting MoFo SF and life is good a decade+ later

[bigboybob]

Pretty sure I asked on an interview, "how I would list the job on my resume in case I moved on."

[nixy]

I'll read this every time worry that I didn't smile enough or make enough eye contact and remember that there are way bigger and more obnoxious assholes out there. LOL!

This is actually a great lesson not to act like an obnoxious entitled d*ckhead to the secretaries and legal recruiters. These people will sink your offer regardless of how "fine" you think your attorney interviews went. Moreover, there's nothing cool or impressive, or justification, for acting like you're better than someone who's in an administrative role. It just screams pathetic insecurity and social ineptitude.

Haha, just to confirm - do you think I was an asshole in that situation? Reading what I wrote I see my mistakes for sure. To be honest at the time I didn't mean anything mean or bad, and I could see saying similar things to a friendly recruiter without problem. I think this situation was bad because I was already feeling adversarial with this particular recruiter, who seemed to be trying to make my life hard. Fortunately I lucked out by not getting MoFo SF and life is good a decade+ later

I don’t think you were an asshole exactly, but I think both things (asking her to print out bios and basically complaining about having too many interviews) are a pretty bad look for an interview. Was there anything besides not printing out bios that this recruiter did that seemed adversarial?

(I’m not saying MoFo calling your school about you was exactly cool, but it does give you some idea how you went over.)

[Anonymous User]

I was a very nervous law student who had never interviewed for a job before in my life. Was very fatigued at the end of a long day and got tongue tied while asking about a law firm's "pro boner" program. I immediately flushed red with embarrassment and my interviewers gave each other a look. Obviously did not get a callback, but a few years later I lateralled to that same firm and now I'm an equity partner there.