Enthusiasm? Forum

[Anonymous User]

So I've stuck out of all my CBs. I am wonder if it's maybe my enthusiasm -- I usually try to just be myself and be polite, but I'm starting to think this comes off as unenthusiastic.

Am I supposed to walk into the attorney's office, and be like 'Hi! Great to meet you! What an office -- Great View! Thankful to be here and have the chance to interview!"?

Or are those who turn CBs into offers usually just "normal" and stay away from artificially increasing their enthusiasm?

[zhenders]

This has to be a "know thyself" kind of thing. There is a huge middle ground between the enthusiasm you described (OMG great view) and coming across as bored and uninterested. Certainly, for 100% of interviews, the middle ground is good, and the extremes are bad.

So: where do you fall? Does your normal "you" give a bored impression? Do your eyes wander or do you fail to make eye contact (which is certainly totally normal when just chilling with friends, but which, again, might signal "bored as hell" in an interview)? If so, then yes -- perhaps actively try to increase your engagement (this is really what's critical; enthusiasm may signal engagement, but as you noted, enthusiasm can get weird real quick). If you suspect that you come across as in any way disengaged, that's something you can work on. On the other hand, if you're coming across as engaged, then you're probably good on this particular front.

[stoopkid13]

This is really what mock interviews are for. One of your OCS counselors might be willing to do one with you. Otherwise you can ask a friend and/or videotape yourself. I don't think anyone can tell you through a text forum whether you are hitting the right level of enthusiasm.

I'd add that it's easier to show enthusiasm if you can find ways to steer the conversation to topics/experiences you genuinely enjoy talking about. Figure out what those are and then figure out how to incorporate them into typical interview questions.

[jbagelboy]

This has to be a "know thyself" kind of thing. There is a huge middle ground between the enthusiasm you described (OMG great view) and coming across as bored and uninterested. Certainly, for 100% of interviews, the middle ground is good, and the extremes are bad.

So: where do you fall? Does your normal "you" give a bored impression? Do your eyes wander or do you fail to make eye contact (which is certainly totally normal when just chilling with friends, but which, again, might signal "bored as hell" in an interview)? If so, then yes -- perhaps actively try to increase your engagement (this is really what's critical; enthusiasm may signal engagement, but as you noted, enthusiasm can get weird real quick). If you suspect that you come across as in any way disengaged, that's something you can work on. On the other hand, if you're coming across as engaged, then you're probably good on this particular front.

Tbh I actually always complimented the view from a partner's office before sitting down. Not even forced, they are often quite extraordinary.

[Anonymous User]

For the record in a cb where I complimented half my interviewers' views I got an offer. It was a sincere compliment.

[Anonymous User]

OP here, I do the same thing. Especially in a NYC corner office. My 1 CB; Ding.

[zhenders]

Yeah, come to think of it...

I take back everything I said. Compliment the fuck outta them windows. I had view conversations in a few of my own positive recent experiences.

[NoBladesNoBows]

Lol never even thought about this but I also complimented multiple office views.

[Hikikomorist]

Lol never even thought about this but I also complimented multiple office views.

Also did this. Most people seemed really happy to speak at length about this, too. It also can serve as a helpful tool when you later talk about how great the city is.

[Anonymous User]

FWIW I struck out at 2L OCI, got told I was not enthusiastic enough. Was fortunate to land one 3L interview so I turned up the enthusiasm, A LOT. Smiled and said hello to everyone I walked past, in the elevator, etc. Felt like I was being a bit over the top at times. Offer.

[run26.2]

Whether turning up the enthusiasm that much is going to help will be case-by-case. It would annoy me if I suspected it were over the top. Coming off as sincere is the best; if you tend to be underenthusiastic, you should work on that a long time before you head in for your callbacks so it is more natural.

[CaptainJapan]

I'm a semi-monotone talker by nature, and have been told by friends when they first met me, I seemed completely disinterested in them. It's just something to be cognizant of walking into an interview...do a little "acting" but obviously do it in a way that feels authentic to you. Not to sound like a grandmother, but it helps me to remind myself to smile, and the rest of the "act" follows from that pretty naturally.

[KidStuddi]

So I've stuck out of all my CBs. I am wonder if it's maybe my enthusiasm -- I usually try to just be myself and be polite, but I'm starting to think this comes off as unenthusiastic.

Am I supposed to walk into the attorney's office, and be like 'Hi! Great to meet you! What an office -- Great View! Thankful to be here and have the chance to interview!"?

Or are those who turn CBs into offers usually just "normal" and stay away from artificially increasing their enthusiasm?

OP, I don't think it's helpful to think of it as "being yourself" versus being "artificial." No one acts 100% the same in all contexts and circumstances unless you've got a psychological disorder of some sort. If you're like 98% of people, you're going to act and speak differently when you're on the phone with your mom than you do when you're hanging out with your friends, both of which are different than how you act and speak when you're asking your professors questions in class, which is also different than how you behave when you talk to a stranger you run into on the street, etc. It doesn't mean one of these is the "real you" while the others are fake. It just means you're a normal person who is socially aware. Interviewing is just another one of these contexts, and there's nothing fake or disingenuous about behaving differently during one than you would talking to your friends at a bar. In fact, I'm wondering if your lack of success wasn't caused by coming off weird by trying to force yourself to be "normal," when there's really nothing at all normal about walking around from office to office meeting strangers whose opinions of you potentially decide your career trajectory.

As far as what level of enthusiasm is most effective in the interview context, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. As others have said, you have to know yourself and what you can do and say without seeming forced, and stay firmly within those bounds. But you also need to read the interviewer. For some people enthusiasm on 11 will be very well received; for others it would be disastrous and you'd be better off toning the enthusiasm down to a 3. If you can't tell who's who, a middle-of-the-road approach is going to be the safest bet. But the people who really murder interviews are the ones who are socially adept enough to figure out what people are looking for.