Mistake to say I'm looking at other cities? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Had my first CB. When asked where I was looking instead of saying only their city I mentioned other cities. I did qualify my statement a bit by mentioning I went to the regional undergrad and that my entire colllegeiate social circle is in the area. Also mentioned the much lower cost of living while doing similar work.

[grades??]

Yeah mistake.

[Anonymous User]

Rule of thumb. You are of course only looking in the city in which you are currently interviewing.

[acr]

Rule of thumb. You are of course only looking in the city in which you are currently interviewing.

How is this possible though?

For instance, if OP has a callback in a secondary city (say Minneapolis), and they ask him if he's applying anywhere else, is he supposed to tell a totally unbelievable lie and say no? They have to understand that there are literally zero applicants only applying in one city, especially if it's a smaller one.

I think he would be fine by saying "I would really like to be in Minneapolis, it's my first choice, but I'm applying to some bigger markets as a fallback"

Other than blatantly lying, how do you get around a direct question like this?

What, applicants are supposed to bank on the 6 big law firms in a smaller city and not apply anywhere else?

[grades??]

Rule of thumb. You are of course only looking in the city in which you are currently interviewing.

How is this possible though?

For instance, if OP has a callback in a secondary city (say Minneapolis), and they ask him if he's applying anywhere else, is he supposed to tell a totally unbelievable lie and say no? They have to understand that there are literally zero applicants only applying in one city, especially if it's a smaller one.

I think he would be fine by saying "I would really like to be in Minneapolis, it's my first choice, but I'm applying to some bigger markets as a fallback"

Other than blatantly lying, how do you get around a direct question like this?

What, applicants are supposed to bank on the 6 big law firms in a smaller city and not apply anywhere else?

Or OP just says I am really interested in this market for x,y,z reasons and hence why I am here. OP just doesn't have to say anything about other cities.

[Anonymous User]

Rule of thumb. You are of course only looking in the city in which you are currently interviewing.

How is this possible though?

For instance, if OP has a callback in a secondary city (say Minneapolis), and they ask him if he's applying anywhere else, is he supposed to tell a totally unbelievable lie and say no? They have to understand that there are literally zero applicants only applying in one city, especially if it's a smaller one.

I think he would be fine by saying "I would really like to be in Minneapolis, it's my first choice, but I'm applying to some bigger markets as a fallback"

Other than blatantly lying, how do you get around a direct question like this?

What, applicants are supposed to bank on the 6 big law firms in a smaller city and not apply anywhere else?

That's what I basically said, that I bid on bigger markets just because most of the jobs are there (and career services pushed me to for reasons) but that this city was my number one due to x, y, and z. Guess I won't really know until I hear back, and even if they don't extend an offer I'll never know if it was due to this.

[Anonymous User]

Rule of thumb. You are of course only looking in the city in which you are currently interviewing.

How is this possible though?

For instance, if OP has a callback in a secondary city (say Minneapolis), and they ask him if he's applying anywhere else, is he supposed to tell a totally unbelievable lie and say no? They have to understand that there are literally zero applicants only applying in one city, especially if it's a smaller one.

I think he would be fine by saying "I would really like to be in Minneapolis, it's my first choice, but I'm applying to some bigger markets as a fallback"

Other than blatantly lying, how do you get around a direct question like this?

What, applicants are supposed to bank on the 6 big law firms in a smaller city and not apply anywhere else?

Yes, you lie and say no. When I was applying to a secondary market it would have been a big mistake for the applicant to say they were heading their bets with NYC. Now, that I interview ppl, that is a huge red flag. Just lie like everyone else. You love Minnesota and could never envision yourself anywhere else. And when you're in NYC Or whatever, you love the big city with sophisticated work and could not imagine living and working anywhere else.

Edit: sorry sent from my phone before I realized you had already said this to ppl. It's likely not an auto ding, but I wouldn't do this going forward.

[RaceJudicata]

Rule of thumb. You are of course only looking in the city in which you are currently interviewing.

How is this possible though?

For instance, if OP has a callback in a secondary city (say Minneapolis), and they ask him if he's applying anywhere else, is he supposed to tell a totally unbelievable lie and say no? They have to understand that there are literally zero applicants only applying in one city, especially if it's a smaller one.

I think he would be fine by saying "I would really like to be in Minneapolis, it's my first choice, but I'm applying to some bigger markets as a fallback"

Other than blatantly lying, how do you get around a direct question like this?

What, applicants are supposed to bank on the 6 big law firms in a smaller city and not apply anywhere else?

Should definitely lie. Have good reasons why you love X city, but for sure lie.

eta: scooped

[Anonymous User]

Rule of thumb. You are of course only looking in the city in which you are currently interviewing.

How is this possible though?

For instance, if OP has a callback in a secondary city (say Minneapolis), and they ask him if he's applying anywhere else, is he supposed to tell a totally unbelievable lie and say no? They have to understand that there are literally zero applicants only applying in one city, especially if it's a smaller one.

I think he would be fine by saying "I would really like to be in Minneapolis, it's my first choice, but I'm applying to some bigger markets as a fallback"

Other than blatantly lying, how do you get around a direct question like this?

What, applicants are supposed to bank on the 6 big law firms in a smaller city and not apply anywhere else?

Yeah you lie. I applied in smaller secondary markets and work in one. Biggest thing they're looking for are people committed to it. If it's a small Midwest market you can explain you're applying to the area if there are medium cities around it but X city is your number 1 choice for family/hometown/real or imaginary significant others.

It's a game. Half the time the employer knows you're lying. They still expect you to.

Edit: super scooped

[Ohiobumpkin]

Mistake. Not good idea to give interviewers any reason to not hire you.

[lolwat]

Hum. I'm actually a bit surprised at the answers here, but I have no reason to disagree with them. It just leaves a bad taste for me when people blatantly lie. At least nowadays. I get enough of that shit from opposing counsel, I don't also need it from people I might be working with. So I would personally appreciate it more if an applicant told me my market is their first choice but they also applied elsewhere for reasons, assuming that's the truth. But I'm not most interviewers.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think it is necessarily a mistake, depending on what cities you are looking in.

When I went through OCI I was targeting the following, in order: 1) Philadelphia 2) Not NYC 3) Not unemployed (AKA NYC). I didn't necessarily tell my non-philadelphia interviews that I was primarily interested in Philly, but I wasn't afraid to reveal that I had interviews in Wilmington and DC. In fact I think emphasizing that I specifically wasn't very interested in NYC strengthened my prospects. And I got offers in several cities.

So OP, if you were interviewing in say, Seattle, and you told them you really wanted west coast, and also had interviews in Portland and SF, or if you were interviewing in Dallas and told them you also had interviews in Austin and Houston, I'm not sure it would hurt you.

What I would not do is interview in one of those cities and tel them that you also had interviews in NYC.

[Anonymous User]

Hum. I'm actually a bit surprised at the answers here, but I have no reason to disagree with them. It just leaves a bad taste for me when people blatantly lie. At least nowadays. I get enough of that shit from opposing counsel, I don't also need it from people I might be working with. So I would personally appreciate it more if an applicant told me my market is their first choice but they also applied elsewhere for reasons, assuming that's the truth. But I'm not most interviewers.

i really wish this were the case for most interviewers. i bid chicago hard from NU, and every time i mentioned (when asked) that i have a few interviews in another market i didn't want to really work in, they look surprised and said "oh, so you ARE looking elsewhere?" or something like that, and then wrote something down. i would then have to reiterate that, yeah, I'm doing that, but i was just doing that because i want to maximize chances of having an offer somewhere; I am from chicago and really hope to stay. i didn't get a callback from any interview where i was asked where else i was looking- all my callbacks are with firms that didn't ask. of course, i don't know if thats what got me dinged.

i understand that hiring is a tough process, and that firms have to cut down people and justify it somehow when interviewing similarly qualified candidates. but i guess the problem i have is i don't know why law firms will believe something like "no, i am bidding no where else and am all in on this market that only has 300 SA positions", but won't believe or won't take into account "i really want to be in this market, and I am interviewing with you because you are a firm I will accept an offer from over any firm in the other market." theres a huge incentive to lie, and i don't know how that makes the process easier for law firms.

[Anonymous User]

I don't think it is necessarily a mistake, depending on what cities you are looking in.

When I went through OCI I was targeting the following, in order: 1) Philadelphia 2) Not NYC 3) Not unemployed (AKA NYC). I didn't necessarily tell my non-philadelphia interviews that I was primarily interested in Philly, but I wasn't afraid to reveal that I had interviews in Wilmington and DC. In fact I think emphasizing that I specifically wasn't very interested in NYC strengthened my prospects. And I got offers in several cities.

So OP, if you were interviewing in say, Seattle, and you told them you really wanted west coast, and also had interviews in Portland and SF, or if you were interviewing in Dallas and told them you also had interviews in Austin and Houston, I'm not sure it would hurt you.

What I would not do is interview in one of those cities and tel them that you also had interviews in NYC.

It was atl. I said NY but that I didn't really want to go there for reasons, only bid NY due to the number of jobs there.

[BulletTooth]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I got dinged at a CB for telling a firm that I was looking at firms in NY. Just lie.

[Vincent Adultman]

Yes.

[acr]

None of this makes any sense to me. But whatever.

[sparkytrainer]

None of this makes any sense to me. But whatever.

How hard is it to understand you gotta lie, regardless if you want to or not? Its an expectation out in the world, so it is what it is.

[acr]

None of this makes any sense to me. But whatever.

How hard is it to understand you gotta lie, regardless if you want to or not? Its an expectation out in the world, so it is what it is.

Then what's the point of even asking the question? To see if the applicant is willing to tell a blatant lie? Just seems twisted to me if that's the case.

[chargers21]

.

[acr]

I'm a year off from OCI, but how does this work for those going to school in NY who are wanting to target non-NY markets? I feel like the lie would be even more obvious

Apparently you're just supposed to "lie anyway" with blatant disregard for how it comes off.

[sparkytrainer]

I'm a year off from OCI, but how does this work for those going to school in NY who are wanting to target non-NY markets? I feel like the lie would be even more obvious

Apparently you're just supposed to "lie anyway" with blatant disregard for how it comes off.

Yes. How hard is that for you to understand? You just say you are focusing on X market for these reasons. No one is going to push you farther.

[acr]

I'm a year off from OCI, but how does this work for those going to school in NY who are wanting to target non-NY markets? I feel like the lie would be even more obvious

Apparently you're just supposed to "lie anyway" with blatant disregard for how it comes off.

Yes. How hard is that for you to understand? You just say you are focusing on X market for these reasons. No one is going to push you farther.

Again, then what is the point of the firm asking the question? And saying "you're focusing on X market for these reasons" isn't a direct response to the question.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Because clearly people still give answers that show they're not committed to that location, and then firms can rule them out.

[UVA2B]

I think I land more on the side of [quote="acr"][/quote].

Like any interview, the importance is selling yourself on why the employer should hire you, not on being solely committed to a single market. That can mean selling your undying desire in the market, but it doesn't have to do so. You can very reasonably respond to the question on wanting to be in [X city], while recognizing that you're interviewing in other markets at the same hiring event. Is there any job fair, hiring market, etc. where a potential associate can realistically claim they aren't interviewing in other markets (outside NYC possibly)? It doesn't mean you talk at length about those markets, but you can deflect that reality while focusing on why you want to be in the market you're interviewing in.

You can lie about your desire to be in other markets pretty easily by touting why you want to be in the market you're interviewing in, and that's probably equally effective, but it's not some death knell to acknowledge you're interviewing in another market.