Interview mess-up Forum

[Anonymous User]

Recently interviewed for AUSA position in middle USA. Quick question regarding it.
I externed for a judge for a semester while in school who had previously been an AUSA. I was talking with her about paths I'd like to pursue, one of which was AUSA. She said, hey, call up this person Z over there and talk to them. I called Z and told them I worked for my judge here and judge recommended I talk with Z. Z was super helpful and got me an interview with AUSA. I think Z thought I was a clerk though, not a clerking extern. This was confirmed to me when at the interview, Z, Y and W (two others on the board for hiring) asked me about working for my judge; I said she was awesome etc. And Z said, yes we love clerks from your judge. Interview ended.
Now, Z, Y and W have my resume, which clearly states my position as an extern. Should I call and rectify? Or just wait and see (honestly, high chance they reject me anyways).
Appreciate any insight!

[Anonymous User]

Recently interviewed for AUSA position in middle USA. Quick question regarding it.
I externed for a judge for a semester while in school who had previously been an AUSA. I was talking with her about paths I'd like to pursue, one of which was AUSA. She said, hey, call up this person Z over there and talk to them. I called Z and told them I worked for my judge here and judge recommended I talk with Z. Z was super helpful and got me an interview with AUSA. I think Z thought I was a clerk though, not a clerking extern. This was confirmed to me when at the interview, Z, Y and W (two others on the board for hiring) asked me about working for my judge; I said she was awesome etc. And Z said, yes we love clerks from your judge. Interview ended.
Now, Z, Y and W have my resume, which clearly states my position as an extern. Should I call and rectify? Or just wait and see (honestly, high chance they reject me anyways).
Appreciate any insight!

I'd lump this in with the advice people give on whether to disclose something on your bar app: better to disclose and explain than to let it go unsaid. Think about it from their perspective. If whether you clerked is consequential, they are bound to catch it reading your resume (or worse, hire you assuming you were a clerk and then find out later). Telling them about it now isn't going to make it any worse of an issue, but it could make you seem unreasonable. On the other hand, if it isn't consequential (they like you for another reason or externing was enough), saying something about it can only make you look more honest/respectable.

You could be super short - almost like a thank you note with something extra: "Hi [interviewer], [typical thank you language]. It struck me after our conversation that it may have been unclear as to my role with Judge - I externed for Judge while in law school, but did not clerk. Still, I learned a lot about Y with Judge, and attribute my desire to be an AUSA with your office in large part due to Judge's advice. I apologize if there was any confusion."

[Anonymous User]

I agree entirely with the above. It may have been an unartful comment by Z and not confusion, but it’s good to clarify. (I’m sure no one will think you meant to deceive because if you had, you wouldn’t have put “extern” on your resume.)

If for no other reason, as an AUSA you sometimes have to contact the court to address some kind of a misunderstanding and it’s good to show you’d be able to do that.

[Anonymous User]

This is the OP. Thanks all. It has been about a week and I've already sent a thank you email. Should I just send a follow-up one?

[Anonymous User]

Honestly I don't read the comment as saying they thought you were a clerk at all. If they think that, it's their screwup, not yours. Pointing it out would make you look anxious (which, to be fair, many lawyers are) and prone to over-self-correction.

So yeah, IMO don't do it.

[Anonymous User]

You did not lie about anything; sending a follow up is weird. Don't do it.

[Casper123]

Yeah don't do it. If they don't read your CV that's their problem.

[Anonymous User]

I stand by my first comment that honesty is the best policy, but given that you've already sent a thank you and one week has passed, you've probably missed the boat. I agree it would be weird to send now.

[thisismytlsuername]

I would suggest sending a note along the lines of the following:

"Z, I wanted to write again to both reiterate my interest in the position and to clarify our interactions. I haven't been able to stop thinking about something that you said in passing; I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't get it out of my head. Hopefully, sending this email will allow me some relief, as I'm not sure how much longer I can go on like this.

Notwithstanding the impression that I apparently gave during the interview process, I did not clerk for the Judge, but merely externed for the Judge. God, that feels good to finally say. I recognize that my resume clearly lists my externship, and yes, it's possible that you merely spoke imprecisely when you said you like candidates who "clerk" for the Judge, but I am a lawyer, goddamnit, and I am so anxious and tightly-wound that I would never have been able to move on from this possible minor misunderstanding without sending this unnecessary, weird followup. So, to be clear, just like my resume says, I was an extern for the Judge, not a full-fledged clerk.

I look forward to hearing from you."

[nixy]

I would suggest sending a note along the lines of the following:

"Z, I wanted to write again to both reiterate my interest in the position and to clarify our interactions. I haven't been able to stop thinking about something that you said in passing; I can't sleep, I can't eat, I can't get it out of my head. Hopefully, sending this email will allow me some relief, as I'm not sure how much longer I can go on like this.

Notwithstanding the impression that I apparently gave during the interview process, I did not clerk for the Judge, but merely externed for the Judge. God, that feels good to finally say. I recognize that my resume clearly lists my externship, and yes, it's possible that you merely spoke imprecisely when you said you like candidates who "clerk" for the Judge, but I am a lawyer, goddamnit, and I am so anxious and tightly-wound that I would never have been able to move on from this possible minor misunderstanding without sending this unnecessary, weird followup. So, to be clear, just like my resume says, I was an extern for the Judge, not a full-fledged clerk.

I look forward to hearing from you."

oh come on.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone who is likely to be offended is a former clerk, and will also know that externs accidentally call themselves clerks all the time. As long as it's correct on the res, I wouldn't worry about it.