PSA: Call firms to turn down offers, don't email Forum

[Anonymous User]

Call recruiting to decline an offer, don't email. When I called to turn down my offers for a firm in a different market, three (v10) firms said something along the lines of "If you are ever in New York again, please give us a call. We'd be happy to have you work here." One of these firms was S&C (which people around TLS seem to like for some reason).

No, I'm not sure if the whole "open offers" thing is flame or not. But the only cost is just one semi-awkward phone call. They will ask what firm you took over theirs, why, etc. for their own record-keeping purposes, and that's it. Might as well keep these connections open, even if you have your dream offer.

[Tiago Splitter]

Firms will say the same thing if you email.

[Big Dog]

Firms will say the same thing if you email.

Exactly. (That's what recruiters are for.)

[84651846190]

Firms will say the same thing if you email.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Firms will say the same thing if you email.

Exactly. (That's what recruiters are for.)

Yes.

I'd lean towards emailing because it's more respectful of people's time. They're busy fielding calls from dozens of candidates, and despite what they lead you to think, it's not generally that big a deal to them if you accept or not.

But if you want to call, call. It just doesn't matter.

[Anonymous User]

No, I'm not sure if the whole "open offers" thing is flame or not. But the only cost is just one semi-awkward phone call. They will ask what firm you took over theirs, why, etc. for their own record-keeping purposes, and that's it. Might as well keep these connections open, even if you have your dream offer.

I don't know how often it's genuine or not, but I had that awkward conversation with GDC DC and to my utter surprise they called me towards the end of my 2L summer and asked A) if I was clerking after school and B) whether I was happy with my 2L firm. It never got to them offering me a job because I had already accepted with the other firm, but it does seem like they keep names around. FWIW, I think they lost a shitload of their incoming class to multi-year clerkships and were basically trying to make sure they had enough fresh meat actually showing up the next fall. Probably aren't too many firms around that have that much potential "attrition" due to clerkships, but for those that face that problem might actually mean it.

[dbg]

Firms will say the same thing if you email.

Exactly. (That's what recruiters are for.)

Yes.

I'd lean towards emailing because it's more respectful of people's time. They're busy fielding calls from dozens of candidates, and despite what they lead you to think, it's not generally that big a deal to them if you accept or not.

But if you want to call, call. It just doesn't matter.

Ehh, I dunno, I think calling is nice if you really clicked with someone on campus or at a callback and/or they spent a lot of time talking to you, it's the right thing to do to deliver the news by phone.

[Bildungsroman]

Call recruiting to decline an offer, don't email. When I called to turn down my offers for a firm in a different market, three (v10) firms said something along the lines of "If you are ever in New York again, please give us a call. We'd be happy to have you work here." One of these firms was S&C (which people around TLS seem to like for some reason).

No, I'm not sure if the whole "open offers" thing is flame or not. But the only cost is just one semi-awkward phone call. They will ask what firm you took over theirs, why, etc. for their own record-keeping purposes, and that's it. Might as well keep these connections open, even if you have your dream offer.

In what fantasy world do you live that somehow calling instead of emailing changes the firm's view toward hiring you later?

[2014]

One of these firms was S&C (which people around TLS seem to like for some reason).

Lol

[Tanicius]

Call recruiting to decline an offer, don't email. When I called to turn down my offers for a firm in a different market, three (v10) firms said something along the lines of "If you are ever in New York again, please give us a call. We'd be happy to have you work here." One of these firms was S&C (which people around TLS seem to like for some reason).

No, I'm not sure if the whole "open offers" thing is flame or not. But the only cost is just one semi-awkward phone call. They will ask what firm you took over theirs, why, etc. for their own record-keeping purposes, and that's it. Might as well keep these connections open, even if you have your dream offer.

1.) They're often full of shit when they say they're going to stay interested in you. No one will even remember who you are a month from now. Any time they pretend otherwise, it's because they pulled your file before talking to you again.

2.) You're just wasting their time and expressing to them that you think you're more special than you are.

[SLS_AMG]

I realize this thread was supposed to be a thinly veiled humble brag about S&C, but it actually makes total sense that you would get an offer there. And, quite frankly, I'm surprised you didn't take it. With your mastery of social skills, you'd have fit right in.

[Old Gregg]

Every TLS employment thread seems like a classic fistfight between socially challenged haves and socially challenged have-nots.

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

One of these firms was S&C (which people around TLS seem to like for some reason).

Lol

Someone never read the shoulder bag post (although S&C is really just a patsy for the entirety of the white-shoe firms).

[Tanicius]

I realize this thread was supposed to be a thinly veiled humble brag about S&C, but it actually makes total sense that you would get an offer there. And, quite frankly, I'm surprised you didn't take it. With your mastery of social skills, you'd have fit right in.

Where'd you go to school again thou-who-doesn't-humble-brag? St. Louis State?

[SLS_AMG]

I realize this thread was supposed to be a thinly veiled humble brag about S&C, but it actually makes total sense that you would get an offer there. And, quite frankly, I'm surprised you didn't take it. With your mastery of social skills, you'd have fit right in.

Where'd you go to school again thou-who-doesn't-humble-brag? St. Louis State?

Princeton