Play up diversity in CB? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I'm interviewing with a firm in DC next week that is my top choice. I've noticed that their office only has about 5 female partners and roughly 10% female attorneys overall. Every alum from my school that is an attorney at the firm is male. Should I play up the fact that I am female and could help boost their diversity and "women's initiative" credentials if they extend an offer? Would I sound completely desperate?

If I somehow did attempt this, how could I go about it?

[ymmv]

I'm interviewing with a firm in DC next week that is my top choice. I've noticed that their office only has about 5 female partners and roughly 10% female attorneys overall. Every alum from my school that is an attorney at the firm is male. Should I play up the fact that I am female and could help boost their diversity and "women's initiative" credentials if they extend an offer? Would I sound completely desperate?

If I somehow did attempt this, how could I go about it?

Are you serious? Why would anyone need to "play up" the fact that she is female? Is it not apparent to the average observer?

[Single-Malt-Liquor]

This seems like a terrible idea. They know that you're a woman, the hiring committee will definitely remember that. Don't waste time you could be spending telling them about how valuable you could be to the firm talking about how you're a woman and could help them be more gender diverse. The associates will only care about whether or not you're someone they can work with and the partners will only be looking for evidence that indicates that you can bill (and fit into the culture of the firm).

[DELG]

I was really hoping this would be about a minority hitting the tanning bed.

[Anonymous User]

No. It could actually be insulting to the interviewer.

[El Pollito]

How does one play up the fact that they are female? Is that like wearing a push up bra?

[Holly Golightly]

DF, get in here and tell this lady about tasteful interview cleavage.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I mean, they have to know they have few women. If they care about diversity and hiring more women, then they will be well aware that you're female and there's no point in bringing it up. If they don't care, bringing it up won't win you any points (will probably lose you points) because they don't see any need to change.

[Pikappraider]

I'm interviewing with a firm in DC next week that is my top choice. I've noticed that their office only has about 5 female partners and roughly 10% female attorneys overall. Every alum from my school that is an attorney at the firm is male. Should I play up the fact that I am female and could help boost their diversity and "women's initiative" credentials if they extend an offer? Would I sound completely desperate?

If I somehow did attempt this, how could I go about it?

Are you serious? Why would anyone need to "play up" the fact that she is female? Is it not apparent to the average observer?

[jigglypuffdreams]

Women's groups at a lot of law schools tend to be feminist groups so it might actually be weird to play that up unless you're trying to get some sort of public interest job. Playing up that you're a minority makes sense in certain cases, such as when you join BALSA to show everyone that you're black on your resume. But if you're a woman, people can tell just by looking at your name most of the time. If you really want to play it up, maybe wear a skirt and a heels and some makeup? But even if you're super androgynous, they can usually tell once they meet you in person.

[toothbrush]

I was really hoping this would be about a minority hitting the tanning bed.

180

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

I was really hoping this would be about a minority hitting the tanning bed.

180

[Anonymous User]

Starting every sentence with, "As a woman," is really not going to help you. Either the firm is concerned about its (lack of) gender diversity and will take your gender into account in a positive way whether you "highlight" it or not, or the firm doesn't care, in which case emphasizing your gender will probably grate on some people and reduce your chances at an offer (unfair though that may be).

[DELG]

Pointing out that I have a functional uterus is generally my last goal in interviews. Just me?

[09042014]

I'm here for chew interbiew!

[mvp99]

I usually speak Spanish the first 2-3 minutes of the interview