Disclaimer: I know how douche-y this sounds, but with only two callbacks I need all the help I can get.
My only desirable callback is this Thursday with my top choice, a V20 firm based in my home market. I was very surprised to get it and still think that they may have made a mistake (good work experience but around the bottom 1/3 of MVP).
I just learned that my dad is decently good friends with the chair of the firm's Litigation practice. I've never met the guy. My dad said he'd be happy to reach out, but isn't sure what to ask for. Is there any way to use this family connection without seeming like a spoiled, immature d-bag?
Using Family Connection Forum
Forum rules
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
Anonymous Posting
Anonymous posting is only appropriate when you are revealing sensitive employment related information about a firm, job, etc. You may anonymously respond on topic to these threads. Unacceptable uses include: harassing another user, joking around, testing the feature, or other things that are more appropriate in the lounge.
Failure to follow these rules will get you outed, warned, or banned.
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432537
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Using Family Connection
Last edited by Anonymous User on Mon Aug 18, 2014 11:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
DELG
- Posts: 3021
- Joined: Thu May 15, 2014 7:15 pm
Re: Using Family Connection
If it were me, I would have dad just send an email or call to say "my kid is going to be in your office, small world!" And leave it in the partner's hands to decide how much pressure to put on the recruiting committee.
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432537
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Using Family Connection
I had this experience - I got the person's contact info from my Dad and got him to ask if it would be OK if I could reach out to the person. I then sent a very standard networking email asking the person if they'd be willing to chat with me about the firm and answer questions leading up to my callback. My dad did not ask them to put in a good word and I did not ask for that either because it's tacky - but the person said they would do so, presumably because I made a good impression via the networking chat. Be light handed and let them volunteer to take any steps on your behalf. In all likelihood they will.
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432537
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Using Family Connection
It should be done through your father, and with a delicate touch. But it can make a real difference if they've already given you the CB (the general rule is that a connection wont get a manifestly unqualified person hired, but it will allow a place to pick one qualified applicant over another, and if they gave you a CB without knowing about the connection, you're qualified).
-
jbagelboy
- Posts: 10361
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:57 pm
Re: Using Family Connection
Large law firms frown sternly upon internal nepotism (which is why partner's kids are almost always at peer firms but not the same firm), but children of clients tend to see surprisingly healthy returns on their parents status. This relationship straddles the two; it seems like it won't make much difference since your dad and his friend would have already been in touch/scheming about an offer for you if they were tight enough for the partner to go out on a limb.
Want to continue reading?
Register now to search topics and post comments!
Absolutely FREE!
Already a member? Login
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432537
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Using Family Connection
I was in almost the exact same shoes as OP. Father was old buddies with senior partner at a firm way out of my league that I managed to get a CB to on my own. Had dad send a casual email saying whats up, son is interviewing, any advice? It definitely helped and I got an offer somewhere I should not have based on stats alone. OP would be foolish not to avail himself of the advantage he has.
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432537
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Using Family Connection
Definitely have your dad drop him an email. Pretty sure I got a callback at a v100 because of a family connection. The interview went well but I didn't walk out of there thinking I blew his socks off and my grades were a little below their median on the school offer report
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432537
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Using Family Connection
Judge that I clerked for called up his friend who was a bigshot partner at a firm that I had a callback at to give the firm his personal recommendation. Only difference I see between this and using your father is that he wouldn't be outright recommending you, but imagine it could still be helpful (especially since he's the chair of litigation), if your dad calls him up to tell him that you're interviewing.
-
Anonymous User
- Posts: 432537
- Joined: Tue Aug 11, 2009 9:32 am
Re: Using Family Connection
One of my dad's friends was a former big shot partner at a major firm. Had left several years before to become a GC of a company. My dad told me to get lunch with him before my screener at his former firm. At the lunch he told me he would make sure I got put on a special list at the firm. When my screener rolled around, the partner interviewing said that he'd been expecting me, and then didn't ask me a single question the whole interview, just talked about sports and such. Got a callback soon after (the callback was normal) and an offer after that. Ended up going elsewhere, but this firm was way above my level grade wise (though not school wise), so knowing people definitely helps!
