Interview tips for Fed honors program Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hello all,

So I got an OCI interview at DOL for their honors program. Here are my sad, sad, little stats:

Below median at t14 (bet you can't guess which one!)
Internship in Treasury Department, Commerce Department, EEOC, Peggy Browning Fellow at Teamsters Union- I have a good bit of experience in labor and employment law and government, which is what I want to do!
No journal, no extracurriculars.

Yeah, I know, my chances are slim and does it look like I have a few too many internships?

Any advice to help me put my best foot forward would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

[anon168]

Hello all,

So I got an OCI interview at DOL for their honors program. Here are my sad, sad, little stats:

Below median at t14 (bet you can't guess which one!)
Internship in Treasury Department, Commerce Department, EEOC, Peggy Browning Fellow at Teamsters Union- I have a good bit of experience in labor and employment law and government, which is what I want to do!
No journal, no extracurriculars.

Yeah, I know, my chances are slim and does it look like I have a few too many internships?

Any advice to help me put my best foot forward would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

Actually, you have a pretty good profile for DOL Honors.

While your grades may not be stellar, the Honors program doesn't just focus on academic credentials. They look for geographic diversity (in terms of law schools), diversity in socio and ethnic backgrounds as well as work and life experience.

I wouldn't be so quick to sell yourself short. Stress how devoted and interested you are in L/E and have a couple of vignettes handy from your work experience and internships about how important a goal it is to protect labor rights and the integrity of the American workforce, because the Anerican workforce is the underpinnings of what makes this country unique and a global powerhouse etc.

Also weave in the fact you had to take a faux "maternity leave" to have a child and how that really hit home how important it is to ensure that workers in all different circumstances - moms, fathers, disabled, poor, rich, etc. - are provided the same types of opportunities as everyone else. You get the idea ...

Good luck.

[Anonymous User]

Thank you so much for your kind response!

So I take it you're a vote for talking directly about having the baby and taking the semester off? You know, I've been avoiding it but I do feel like it is this looming issue in every interview that I've had, as if the interviewer is wondering what happened, or if I had a nervous breakdown or something.

[3ThrowAway99]

Hello all,

So I got an OCI interview at DOL for their honors program. Here are my sad, sad, little stats:

Below median at t14 (bet you can't guess which one!)
Internship in Treasury Department, Commerce Department, EEOC, Peggy Browning Fellow at Teamsters Union- I have a good bit of experience in labor and employment law and government, which is what I want to do!
No journal, no extracurriculars.

Yeah, I know, my chances are slim and does it look like I have a few too many internships?

Any advice to help me put my best foot forward would be greatly, greatly appreciated.

Lol I just interviewed with them at my T20 a week ago. My friend said last year they didn't even bother to send her a fucking rejection letter when she interviewed with them, so I'm not holding my breath even though I think my interview went well. Good luck.

[anon168]

Thank you so much for your kind response!

So I take it you're a vote for talking directly about having the baby and taking the semester off? You know, I've been avoiding it but I do feel like it is this looming issue in every interview that I've had, as if the interviewer is wondering what happened, or if I had a nervous breakdown or something.

Yes, I would.

There is no shame in having a baby. In fact, you should be proud of the fact that you did have a baby while going though law school (even though you took time off). Most people have a hard enough time just making it through law school without procreating at the same time. You did both. You should be proud.