THE CALLBACK INTERVIEW
After an initial interview (typically through on-campus and off-campus interview programs) many legal employers will invite candidates to interview further at their offices in a “callback” or “flyback” interview. If you have landed a callback interview with a firm, public interest organization or government agency, congratulations! You are one step further in the interview process and closer to receiving an offer from that employer.
When Should I Schedule my Callbacks?
- Respond promptly to any callback invitations to acknowledge receipt of the invitation (at least within 24 hours of the call, email or letter notifying you). Even if you feel overwhelmed and cannot yet schedule a date, call the employer and let them know you received the message and will call back in a day or so to schedule an actual date for the interview.
- Schedule the callback date as quickly as your schedule allows. Typically, hiring decisions are made on a rolling basis, so it is to your advantage to get in early. Generally, you want to be as early in the interview process as possible for the employers in which you are most interested.
- Pay attention to the OCI calendar as you schedule callbacks. Do not miss an on-campus interview opportunity because you have scheduled a callback in another city. Inability to manage your calendar reflects negatively on you and the School of Law.
Make the most of your visit to a city and try to schedule all your callbacks during one trip, if possible. Be sure to ask each employer how long to allow for the interview and be prepared to stay as long as necessary. - Avoid rescheduling callbacks unless absolutely necessary. This reflects poorly on you and the School of Law.
- For employers in which you are interested but who may not be at the top of your list, schedule the callback interview a little later in the recruiting season and hold off booking your travel until about 2 weeks prior to the scheduled interview date. If you receive an offer prior to the scheduled callback, you may then decline the scheduled callbacks with employers in which you have less interest. If you have already booked nonrefundable airline tickets, contact the employer and let them know you have received an offer that you are very likely to accept and ask them how they want you to proceed with respect to the scheduled callback interview. Contact the CCD for additional advice with respect to your individual situation.
May I Decline a Callback Interview?
- If after the initial interview, you know that you are not interested in working for a particular employer, it is perfectly acceptable to decline a callback invitation from that employer. In fact, employers prefer that you withdraw from consideration if you truly have no interest in working for them. It saves both you and the employer valuable time and saves the employer the expenses associated with interviewing you further.
- Remember to decline any callbacks in a professional and polite manner – you never know when you might decide to apply to them again in the future. Don’t forget to thank them for the opportunity and let them know you enjoyed meeting the on-campus interviewer.
- Decline or cancel scheduled callback interviews as PROMPTLY as possible so that the employers can schedule other interested candidates in that interview spot. Hopefully, another Washington University Law student will get the callback you declined.
Will the Employer Pay My Travel Expenses?
- Typically, most law firms (especially large law firms) will pay your reasonable travel expenses associated with a callback interview (transportation, hotel accommodations, and meals). BUT you want to be clear about expense reimbursement early on to ensure there will be no confusion. Find out what the limitations, policies and procedures are for that employer BEFORE you travel. Ask the recruiting department or the staff person who is organizing your visit.
- If you have several callback interviews in the same city, many employers encourage the sharing of expenses with the other employers that you are visiting during that trip. Most often, one employer in that city will serve as your “host” to whom you submit your expenses. The host will then seek reimbursement from the other employers. Ask the recruiting department or the staff person who is organizing your visit.
- Some employers have in-house staff that will make travel arrangements for you. Others will expect that you will schedule your own travel and submit receipts for your expenses. Get clarification if needed and try to book reasonably-priced travel.
- If the employer you are visiting does not have an expense reimbursement form of their own, use the one provided by NALP (available in the CCD, on the CCD website or at www.nalp.org). Remember to get receipts for all your expenses (taxis, meals, etc.).
- Submit your expense form and receipts PROMPTLY.
- If you plan to “piggyback” other initial screening interviews onto the callback, be sure to disclose this to the employer that is paying your expenses and offer to pay a portion of the travel costs.
- For some employers (such as smaller law firms, government agencies or public interest organizations), you may have to pay your own travel expenses. Use your investment wisely and try to arrange other interviews and informational meetings during that trip.
Five Key Questions to Ask When Scheduling Callbacks
- What is the employer’s reimbursement policy and do they have a form that should be used?
- How will travel arrangements be made and do they have a policy regarding fully refundable vs. nonrefundable airline tickets?
- How long should you allow for the callback interview?
- Can you contact the recruiting department closer to the interview date to obtain a copy of your schedule and interviewer names?
- What should you bring?
What Should I Wear?
- Even if the office is business casual, you still want to present your most professional appearance. Wear a dark, conservative business suit. It’s okay to wear the same suit you wore during your initial interview – they won’t know or remember.
- OCI attire tips still apply: limit cologne or perfume, cover visible tattoos, wear a t-shirt under your dress shirt (men), close-toed shoes (women), shined shoes, minimal jewelry, etc.
- Always carry your interview suit onto the plane – don’t check it. If your luggage is lost, you don’t want to interview in the jeans and a t-shirt that you may have worn on the plane. It’s not a bad idea to wear or take along a set of “back up” clothes.
- Be sure to check the weather forecast to see if you’ll need an overcoat or umbrella.
What Is the Format for a Callback Interview?
- Depending on the employer, you may have dinner with a couple of attorneys the evening before your callback interview. Be sure to wear your appropriate “back up” clothes to the dinner, just in case you spill something. When ordering, keep in mind the eating difficulty that some food items present (spaghetti, some shellfish, etc.). Alcohol with dinner is fine, but no more than one cocktail or glass of wine – use the good judgment that they are looking for. If you have any dietary restrictions (such as kosher), mention them to the recruiting department or person who is organizing your visit.
- At law firms, you typically have 4-6 interviews and will meet with attorneys from various practice areas. It will generally be a mix of associates and partners. At least some of your interviewers will be members of the recruiting committee. If you have expressed an interest in one practice area, you may meet with more people from that area. If you are interviewing as a 3L for a specific department, you will generally only meet with attorneys from that practice group.
- In most cases, you will first meet with someone from the recruiting staff (or maybe the hiring partner in smaller firms) who will go over your schedule for the day. Most recruiting departments try to get your schedule to you in advance; however, don’t be surprised if the schedule changes at the last minute. Attorneys’ schedules are notoriously fluid and client demands often result in last minute schedule changes. Remember to remain flexible. If you need to supply any requested additional information (writing sample, official transcript, references, etc.), give it to the recruiting person.
- After meeting with the recruiting department, you will begin meeting with the attorneys on your schedule, either alone or sometimes in teams. Interviews typically take place in the attorneys’ offices. The day will resemble a series of the 20-minute interviews that you did on campus. Don’t worry if you feel like you are repeating yourself – you likely will. Remember that it may be the sixth time you’ve said it, but it’s the first time they’ve heard it. Do not change the substance of what you are saying.
- Treat each interview separately. Remember that you have to sell yourself to each and every interviewer because everyone with whom you meet will be evaluating you. Try to work in the talking points in your interview pitch with each interviewer.
- Remember to have questions for each and every interviewer. Saying that you don’t have any questions may signal a lack of interest to that interviewer.
As you walk through the office, remember that you are also evaluating that employer. Notice how attorneys and staff greet each other in the hallways and whether doors are open or closed. Try to get a feel for the office atmosphere to see if it is a “fit” for you. Always remember you can schedule a mock interview … practice makes perfect.
Good Luck!!