Bad Interview Moments Forum

[Anonymous User]

Was this NYC? Had my first cb without a lunch today. Pretty disorganized firm as well, but not quite that level.

Oh no my firm didn't give me an unnecessary expensive lunch!

Actually liked not doing lunch better. I'm just going to eat lunch somewhere and expense it anyway. Good food without a couple of awkward associates trying and failing to hold a decent conversation while in the midst of a soul-crushing doc review project (true story).

Yeah I actually preferred not wasting associates' precious billable hours

Cocktail receptions at night were cool tho

I did feel bad knowing that they probably were going to have to stay at the office much later that day because of our 1.5 hour lunch.

[WokeUpInACar]

At a CB at a large firm, I expressed interest in practice area X. On my 3rd interview of the day, I reiterated that interest. Lateral partner in a completely different practice area who had been at the firm only 3 months tells me that the firm essentially doesn't do X at all, and proceeds to subtly dig at me for the rest of the interview.

"During our summer program, we really like to let people explore lots of different practice areas... provided we have that practice area."

Not only was he just wrong, but my screener had been with the managing partner of that office of the firm, and I had gotten a callback after expressing interest in only practice area X. Never been so thrown off or baffled in an interview in my life. Got dinged obv.

[Anonymous User]

Had a partner loudly chew gum throughout the interview. I mean obnoxiously, with open mouth.

Only partner I interviewed with.

Dinged.

[Anonymous User]

Had my first interview on a CB with a very old-fashioned/formal partner. Thought I bombed the interview. Later that day at lunch, the associates were asking who I met with earlier in the day and I told them this partner's name. They immediately groaned and said this partner is miserable and hasn't smiled in years. I moronically respond with, "Yeah s/he was kind of a bitch."

Still got the offer.

[Anonymous User]

screener. interview starts 7 minutes late, interviewer says he had a phone call. halfway through, phone rings, he has yet another conversation for 7 more minutes. our entire real interview literally lasted 6 minutes. ding.

[Anonymous User]

Man, I had so many gaffs and awkward interview moments, plus some absolutely hilarious ones. I had a sort of go-for-broke strategy that involved tiptoeing the line of what was socially acceptable in legal interviews on the off chance that my interview found me humorous and good natured. It resulted in a few callbacks from firms that were way out of my league because they liked my personality/spunk, but tons of rejections from interviewers who didn't think my cracks were appropriate.

I will share a few egregious moments that are generic enough to not result in me outing myself (I had many more truly cringe inducing moments):

One interviewer asked if I smoke weed. (it seemed like it was more because he himself smoked weed and actually would view it as a plus, as opposed to my comments suggesting I smoked weed)

I mentioned to one interviewer that I thought a close family member of mine was guilty of a white collar crime (in a relevant context). His jaw dropped and he just stared at me clearly thinking I was a complete idiot, and I immediately regretted making the comment. Haven't heard back from the firm.

I, on multiple occasions, when asked why biglaw, said (among other things) because I wanted the higher salary. Almost unanimously the partners/associates did not seem to think that was a bad reason, (though people say never to mention it) and I got offers from every firm I did a CB with where I said that.

Was asked "Why is X office of Y firm your top choice?" at my first interview of one callback. I responded with something to the effect of "Uh, it isn't. You are the first person other than the screener I have spoken to, so I don't know why you think I would be sold on the firm at this point." Looking back, that answer was autistic, and that firm was obsessed with high yields. Haven't heard back, unsurprisingly. I really thought the question was some kind of trap to see if I was full of shit, but I think that guy was actually serious (he then made the comment that his firm was the best in city Z, which was absurd and obviously untrue).

In the end, despite my social ineptitude, got offers at some top ranked vault firms - perhaps despite it all or perhaps because they liked my personality. I guess we should just be happy that law firms don't communicate your gaffs to other firms...

[Anonymous User]

I was kicked out of a callback early. I was being walked to my next interview and a recruiting person stopped us and said that the final 2 interviewers on my list had something come up and wouldn't be able to interview me. Don't call us, we'll call you, and she escorted me down to the lobby. 60 seconds later, I was out in the sun wondering what had happened. Still have no idea what I said that could've triggered that level of response. And I got offers at 4 of my 6 CBs, so it's not like I have a habit of bombing interviews in such a Hiroshima-like fashion.

[PennBull]

tiptoeing the line of what was socially acceptable in legal interviews on the off chance that my interview found me humorous and good natured.

jesus fuck people

[Anonymous User]

During cb interview with a boutique firm with a highly specialized field, one of the partners kept asking me for names of firms I interviewed with and was waiting to hear back from... I gave him some names at first, then when he kept asking, I finally told him I applied everywhere, because of the economy.... wondering how that one will go.

[beepboopbeep]

so it's not like I have a habit of bombing interviews in such a Hiroshima-like fashion.

While I LJLed, maybe it was this.

[Anonymous User]

I have a background in education, so the interviewer started talking about kids. I mentioned the age of my youngest. My interviewer said he wouldn't have guessed that I have children that old.

Instead of accepting the compliment gracefully and moving on, I said, "Well, that's what happens when you start young!"

[Anonymous User]

At a CB at a large firm, I expressed interest in practice area X. On my 3rd interview of the day, I reiterated that interest. Lateral partner in a completely different practice area who had been at the firm only 3 months tells me that the firm essentially doesn't do X at all, and proceeds to subtly dig at me for the rest of the interview.

"During our summer program, we really like to let people explore lots of different practice areas... provided we have that practice area."

Not only was he just wrong, but my screener had been with the managing partner of that office of the firm, and I had gotten a callback after expressing interest in only practice area X. Never been so thrown off or baffled in an interview in my life. Got dinged obv.

I met up with associates at firm X who told me about the semi-free market assignment system at firm X and how much they like it.
During the interview, I went "I am into the firm because of the semi-free market assignment system blah blah blah." Interviewer goes "no, that's not true, we don't have that." (I was completely caught off guard)
Spent the next 10 minutes trying to convince her I like corporate work. The interviewer looked at me at the end and said coldly "I don't know much about corporate work and have never done it."

[salix]

[quote="[entire thread]"

fuck interviews.

[Wingtip88]

-

[Anonymous User]

tiptoeing the line of what was socially acceptable in legal interviews on the off chance that my interview found me humorous and good natured.

jesus fuck people

FWIW, I did same thing and got a (predictably) unpredictable hit-or-miss experience. Offers from a few V5's and V30-50, but shut out of V6-29. I know Vault rankings don't correlate perfectly with competitiveness of hiring, but still.

On bright side, many great stories were had. OCI was fun.

I, on multiple occasions, when asked why biglaw, said (among other things) because I wanted the higher salary. Almost unanimously the partners/associates did not seem to think that was a bad reason, (though people say never to mention it) and I got offers from every firm I did a CB with where I said that.

I also did this. Often the response was "most people wouldn't admit that." To which my response was "most people are either lying by omission or have fooled themselves, then." Like you, got offers from every firm where I admitted this.

[Anonymous User]

I was kicked out of a callback early. I was being walked to my next interview and a recruiting person stopped us and said that the final 2 interviewers on my list had something come up and wouldn't be able to interview me. Don't call us, we'll call you, and she escorted me down to the lobby. 60 seconds later, I was out in the sun wondering what had happened. Still have no idea what I said that could've triggered that level of response. And I got offers at 4 of my 6 CBs, so it's not like I have a habit of bombing interviews in such a Hiroshima-like fashion.

...Nothing at all to tip you off as to what caused that? I'm genuinely curious!

[Anonymous User]

chairman of firm in home market asked me a substantive question about my writing sample during CB. I didn't even remember what i had turned in at first. Kinda fumbled through it. Did not get offer.

I had the exact same thing happen with the managing partner. It was the one firm I was positive I had a good shot at going in (had maintained good correspondence with them since beginning of 1L, had gone to a "mock interview" with them prior to OCI in their office, had been invited to a small pre-CB dinner (but only like 10% of the people with CBs were invited) to be "sold" on the firm where literally every other person ultimately got an offer except me. Woops.

[Anonymous User]

Lavender law screener - I've lived in the deep south for almost fifteen years, screening with a Minneapolis firm (my home region where my parents still live.) One gay and one black attorney ask why I want to return north. My response, "I'd love to return to white food...."

Holy fuck. As soon as I heard that emanate from my mouth I could feel the ding. Salvaging it with an array of bland monochromatic Norwegian delicacies from my childhood was of no avail. I could do nothing but laugh and move on.

Cut your losses kids. Know when to fold.

[Anonymous User]

1. Screener that ran way too long for some reason. At one point we just stared at each other for about 15 seconds, nodding and raising our eyebrows trying to prompt the other person to speak.

2. Whenever I felt pressure or unprepared for a question, I would break eye contact and my face would become red. I knew this was bad when I was doing it but I just couldn't help it.

3. For some dumb reason, I said yes whenever I was offered water and took sips way too much. Like way too much. Also fidgeted in my seat a lot.

Also had many humiliating moments during my SA (still got the offer) but don't want to out myself.

[Anonymous User]

In a callback in my small home market. "So, why did you go to Harvard instead of local TTT?" I have no idea how much time passed in the real world, but it was like an hour in my head.

[Anonymous User]

Interview with a named partner at a small major market firm:
Me: Some question about work-life balance.
Him : It's just another day, another dollar. PERIOD.

[Anonymous User]

I was kicked out of a callback early. I was being walked to my next interview and a recruiting person stopped us and said that the final 2 interviewers on my list had something come up and wouldn't be able to interview me. Don't call us, we'll call you, and she escorted me down to the lobby. 60 seconds later, I was out in the sun wondering what had happened. Still have no idea what I said that could've triggered that level of response. And I got offers at 4 of my 6 CBs, so it's not like I have a habit of bombing interviews in such a Hiroshima-like fashion.

...Nothing at all to tip you off as to what caused that? I'm genuinely curious!

Not really. I mean, I can guess, but nothing at all obvious.

[Mal Reynolds]

Was asked "Why is X office of Y firm your top choice?" at my first interview of one callback. I responded with something to the effect of "Uh, it isn't. You are the first person other than the screener I have spoken to, so I don't know why you think I would be sold on the firm at this point." Looking back, that answer was autistic, and that firm was obsessed with high yields. Haven't heard back, unsurprisingly. I really thought the question was some kind of trap to see if I was full of shit, but I think that guy was actually serious (he then made the comment that his firm was the best in city Z, which was absurd and obviously untrue).

Wow

[beepboopbeep]

Was asked "Why is X office of Y firm your top choice?" at my first interview of one callback. I responded with something to the effect of "Uh, it isn't. You are the first person other than the screener I have spoken to, so I don't know why you think I would be sold on the firm at this point." Looking back, that answer was autistic, and that firm was obsessed with high yields. Haven't heard back, unsurprisingly. I really thought the question was some kind of trap to see if I was full of shit, but I think that guy was actually serious (he then made the comment that his firm was the best in city Z, which was absurd and obviously untrue).

Wow

There's definitely a less aspie way to answer the question, but it's still a terrible question, and I'd feel worse about the firm after talking to the guy.

I'd also respect the hell out of someone who gave me that answer, but there's probably a reason I'm not on that side of the desk.

[Mal Reynolds]

Was asked "Why is X office of Y firm your top choice?" at my first interview of one callback. I responded with something to the effect of "Uh, it isn't. You are the first person other than the screener I have spoken to, so I don't know why you think I would be sold on the firm at this point." Looking back, that answer was autistic, and that firm was obsessed with high yields. Haven't heard back, unsurprisingly. I really thought the question was some kind of trap to see if I was full of shit, but I think that guy was actually serious (he then made the comment that his firm was the best in city Z, which was absurd and obviously untrue).

Wow

There's definitely a less aspie way to answer the question, but it's still a terrible question, and I'd feel worse about the firm after talking to the guy.

I'd also respect the hell out of someone who gave me that answer, but there's probably a reason I'm not on that side of the desk.

Part of interviewing is dealing with unfair questions. This is perhaps the worst answer I can think of for this question.