1 / 15

Preparing for Callbacks

Preparing for Callbacks. Making the most of every opportunity. What will my Callback be like?. Multiple 20 or 30 minute interviews May include lunch May be “hosted” through the day by a member of the recruiting staff or the on-campus interviewer Request for additional documents likely

verdie
Download Presentation

Preparing for Callbacks

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Preparing for Callbacks Making the most of every opportunity

  2. What will my Callback be like? • Multiple 20 or 30 minute interviews • May include lunch • May be “hosted” through the day by a member of the recruiting staff or the on-campus interviewer • Request for additional documents likely • Often receive a schedule in advance • Interviewers may change at the last minute

  3. How do Callbacks differ from OCI? • Selling v. Assessing • More natural business and social settings • More of a marathon than a sprint • Multiple interviewers/exponentially larger number of questions to prepare • Firms will expect more in depth knowledge • Firm has chosen you to interview – and at least one person is invested

  4. What Are They Looking For? • Intelligence – and common sense • Ambition and work ethic • People skills • Maturity and professionalism • Serious about private practice • Planning to stay in their city • Interest in the firm • Potential as a partner/business generator

  5. How to Prepare – the Basics • Research firm’s location, make transportation plan • Allow plenty of time – but don’t arrive too early • Get plenty of sleep • Eat breakfast • No smoking – get nicotine gum if necessary • Prepare extra copies of resume/transcript/writing sample/reference list • Turn off your phone/blackberry when you arrive! • Pump yourself up/calm yourself down • Plan to dress impeccably*

  6. * • Dark suit – lint roller before leaving home • Business shirt/blouse • Shine shoes • Wear hose • Conservative heels, jewelry, bag, hair and makeup • Interviews are not the time to make a statement • Note that you will see violations of all of these rules as you walk around the firm – fine for them – they’ve already gotten an offer from the firm

  7. How to Prepare - Research • Research the firm, the interviewers, and current issues in any practice area you are interested in • Start with the website • NALP reports • Martindale.com & Leopard Solutions • Chambers (www.chambersandpartners.com) • Google searches • Recent cases • Law Review Articles • Students who have worked there • Business and legal publications

  8. Types of Interviewers • Interviewers will range from those who haven’t read your resume, to those with a strategy based on your perceived weaknesses • The Prepared Interviewer • The Resume Reviewer • The “What Can I Tell You About The Firm” Interviewer • The Aggressive Interviewer • The Chatty Interviewer • ALL interviewers will provide feedback

  9. Questions to Ask Associates • Ask about the summer program – but don’t ask about simple things already covered on the website • Ask about life as an associate – ditto – covering: • How assignments are given out • What their current case/deal load is like • How early associates get responsibility • How much supervision/feedback they get on their work • Compensation/Review structure • Growth of their practice area • Their favorite and least favorite thing about the firm • Do not assume that associates are assessing you less than partners – often they are more interested in your skills

  10. Questions to Ask Partners • How they staff their matters • How they use associates • Direction of the firm and growth in their specific practice area • Associate evaluation – what they are looking for in associates as they progress in years • Firm governance and associate involvement in firm management • Why they chose the firm and what they like best

  11. Questions You May Have To Answer • Grades • Journal Involvement • Ties to the city • Long term plans/interests • Who else are you interviewing with? • Tell me about yourself • Why should we hire you? • Why are you interested in FIRM NAME

  12. Your Answers • Welcome all questions – no push back! • Clear, concise and concrete • Always positive – never go negative • Don’t worry if you repeat yourself in each interview • Eye contact at all times • Never offer excuses – but explain when necessary • Firm specific at all times

  13. Details to Pay Attention To • How the interviewers relate to each other • How the partners relate to associates • How the attorneys relate to staff • How the attorneys furnish their offices • Open and closed doors • Is the firm (and interviewers) prepared for you?

  14. The Lunch • Usually Associates rather than Partners • Relax – but remember you are still interviewing! • You will probably have to order first – be prepared and order only an entrée • Do not order alcohol – even if the attorneys do • Think up some lighter questions to ask at lunch • Be sure to say thank you after the lunch

  15. After the Callback • Send perfect, typo free, thank you notes immediately • Handwritten notes are fine, email notes are fine too – just so long as they are perfect – don’t ruin a good impression • If the firm is your top choice, let them know • If no one mentioned the hiring timeline, ask the recruiter when they anticipate making decisions • Follow up on anything that merits follow up • Thanks so much for the book/movie/restaurant rec • You are right, Prof X did tell that story the second day of class • Move on with your job search

More Related