Addressing interviewers differently depending on seniority? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I just finished my callback and decided I wanted to write personalized (but short, obviously) thank you notes to my interviewers. I've already emailed two partners who interviewed me and the recruiting coordinator (writing very formally and addressing them by their last names), but I'm unsure as to what to do with the junior associates who interviewed me. On the one hand, I do prefer to maintain formality at this stage, but on the other, the conversations with them were fairly chill and they are very much junior at the firm.

Should I keep consistency and refer to them by their last names too or should I just use their first names?

[Anonymous User]

I just finished my callback and decided I wanted to write personalized (but short, obviously) thank you notes to my interviewers. I've already emailed two partners who interviewed me and the recruiting coordinator (writing very formally and addressing them by their last names), but I'm unsure as to what to do with the junior associates who interviewed me. On the one hand, I do prefer to maintain formality at this stage, but on the other, the conversations with them were fairly chill and they are very much junior at the firm.

Should I keep consistency and refer to them by their last names too or should I just use their first names?

Refer to everyone by their first name. It's very uncommon in US to call any co-worker regardless of seniority/age "Mr. X".

[Anonymous User]

I just finished my callback and decided I wanted to write personalized (but short, obviously) thank you notes to my interviewers. I've already emailed two partners who interviewed me and the recruiting coordinator (writing very formally and addressing them by their last names), but I'm unsure as to what to do with the junior associates who interviewed me. On the one hand, I do prefer to maintain formality at this stage, but on the other, the conversations with them were fairly chill and they are very much junior at the firm.

Should I keep consistency and refer to them by their last names too or should I just use their first names?

Refer to everyone by their first name. It's very uncommon in US to call any co-worker regardless of seniority/age "Mr. X".

They aren't co-workers, though. They were interviewers.

[TigerIsBack]

Agree with the above. From the most junior associate to the most senior partner, just call everyone by their first name.

[Anonymous User]

When someone I interview writes back “Mr. Smith” to address me, I judge them pretty hard. Makes me feel like they don’t realize they’re not in a HS classroom anymore.

[Anonymous User]

I only use the "Mr/Ms" nomenclature if I'm cold-emailing a senior partner, and revert to first name when they inevitably sign off as such in the response. Always use first names for thank you notes.

[Anonymous User]

I just finished my callback and decided I wanted to write personalized (but short, obviously) thank you notes to my interviewers. I've already emailed two partners who interviewed me and the recruiting coordinator (writing very formally and addressing them by their last names), but I'm unsure as to what to do with the junior associates who interviewed me. On the one hand, I do prefer to maintain formality at this stage, but on the other, the conversations with them were fairly chill and they are very much junior at the firm.

Should I keep consistency and refer to them by their last names too or should I just use their first names?

Refer to everyone by their first name. It's very uncommon in US to call any co-worker regardless of seniority/age "Mr. X".

They aren't co-workers, though. They were interviewers.

You're interviewing to be their coworker - not their child's friend. I won't judge someone hard for using my last name, but I will think that they are either (a) not American (using last name's for bosses is still common in other parts of the world) or (b) very young/no work experience. Obviously neither of those are bad things nor are they uncommon for a first-year associates, but try and look the part. Are you gonna send an email or get on a conference call address the client "Mr/Ms X"? I don't need that.

[Anonymous User]

Absolutely go with first name.

[Iowahawk]

When someone I interview writes back “Mr. Smith” to address me, I judge them pretty hard. Makes me feel like they don’t realize they’re not in a HS classroom anymore.

Even though it's not the norm this is ridiculous, there is no reason 1Ls should know law firm social conventions, especially as lots probably just err on the side of formality

[Anonymous User]

When someone I interview writes back “Mr. Smith” to address me, I judge them pretty hard. Makes me feel like they don’t realize they’re not in a HS classroom anymore.

Even though it's not the norm this is ridiculous, there is no reason 1Ls should know law firm social conventions, especially as lots probably just err on the side of formality

This isn’t a law firm social convention; it’s an American workforce social convention. If you refer to someone by their last name, you are screaming that you either aren’t American (fine as it goes and obviously not a negative, but most US law students are Americans of course) or have zero work experience or awareness of how business culture works. Do not use Mr./Ms. with anyone.

[victoremsemper]

To echo the above, I think it'd be really weird, at least at an American company, to refer to anyone by "Mr/Ms. X" when addressing them. You're not a high schooler and they aren't your teachers.

[LBJ's Hair]

When someone I interview writes back “Mr. Smith” to address me, I judge them pretty hard. Makes me feel like they don’t realize they’re not in a HS classroom anymore.

Even though it's not the norm this is ridiculous, there is no reason 1Ls should know law firm social conventions, especially as lots probably just err on the side of formality

I'm with Anon lol. it's not "law firm" etiquette, it's more "sending a professional email" etiquette

which like, look I don't give a fuck -- harmless error. but no one who's worked an office job -- even an extremely stupid one -- would call me "Mr."

[nixy]

This isn’t a law firm social convention; it’s an American workforce social convention. If you refer to someone by their last name, you are screaming that you either aren’t American (fine as it goes and obviously not a negative, but most US law students are Americans of course) or have zero work experience or awareness of how business culture works. Do not use Mr./Ms. with anyone.

TBF, plenty of K-JDs don’t have (professional) work experience or any awareness of how business culture works. I get that it comes across weird but I was surprised at how many people had never worked 9-5 in an office till their 2L SA (not sure what they’d all done their 1L summer but lots of people don’t work in firms).

I agree people should use first names but if they’re K-JD and otherwise good candidates I’d cut them some slack. (Of course, another reason people shouldn’t go K-JD.)

[Anonymous User]

I had years of WE before law school and would not address a non-current-coworker over email by their first name unless they had introduced themselves by their first name either in an interview or via email signature. For example, if I were emailing a contractor or something, I would use last name in the initial email. It is pretty presumptuous to me to use first name off the bat, since it implies familiarity that does not exist. But I admittedly grew up in part abroad.

[Ultramar vistas]

It is pretty presumptuous to me to use first name off the bat, since it implies familiarity that does not exist. But I admittedly grew up in part abroad.

But it doesn’t imply familiar in US work culture. So it isn’t presumptuous.

Agree with everyone else - use first names for everyone.

[nixy]

I definitely get emails addressed to me by title, from people I haven’t met who are reaching out in a professional capacity, which is fine. I think that’s different than how you should communicate after you’ve interviewed for a job with someone, though. You’re not yet a co-worker but you’re a potential co-worker.

[Anonymous User]

I had years of WE before law school and would not address a non-current-coworker over email by their first name unless they had introduced themselves by their first name either in an interview or via email signature. For example, if I were emailing a contractor or something, I would use last name in the initial email. It is pretty presumptuous to me to use first name off the bat, since it implies familiarity that does not exist. But I admittedly grew up in part abroad.

Can we just chalk this up to: Cheers interviewee, this is the first of a long list of "learning" experiences where you will be judged on something completely innocuous that has no relation to your actual skills, but may harm your career for no reason other than a failure to appeal to the idiosyncratic preferences of those who play a part in controlling your success.

TLDR; it doesnt fucking matter, but probably just use first name since you're more likely to rub someone the wrong way by being too formal. it's the same reason we all wear bus cas to interviews now.

[Iowahawk]

I'm surprised so many people are defending dinging interviewees for something so pointless. It isn't an American workforce social norm, it's an American professional-class urban social norm. And law firms have strong public reputations for formality. I'm pretty sure that even someone with reasonably relevant work experience, like (community) banking or whatever, in my hometown would assume you use Mr. when emailing a law firm partner you are asking for a job, let alone people who worked as waiters etc.

What exactly do you think you're getting by enforcing shibboleths in interviews? What does "familiarity with business social norms" really mean, and is it desirable to require?

Regardless as an interviewee use the first name.