Posted: 23 Aug 2018 09:00 PM PDT
You have now completed all of your on-campus interviews; time to kick back and relax, right? Not so fast – the next step is completing your in-office callback interviews and then (hopefully) deciding between your offers. It can be an overwhelming process, but it is important to remember that every interaction you have with a firm starting from your on-campus interview to when you receive your offer is part of your evaluation. Set forth below are some tips to help you navigate the process and ensure that you leave a good impression in every instance.
Scheduling Callbacks
- Firms will usually call you after your on-campus interview to extend the callback invitation. If you miss the call and receive a voicemail, always return the call to express your gratitude even if the voicemail contains all the necessary information you need to schedule your callback interview.
- Respond to callback invitations quickly. The earlier you respond, the greater number of available time slots there are from which to choose.
- Be as flexible with your time as possible. Give firms a couple of date options for your callback interviews.
- When scheduling your callback, firms will often ask if you would like to meet with attorneys in a particular practice area. They will also usually accommodate other kinds of requests, such as interviews with female attorneys and attorneys of color. Firms are interested in maximizing your time during the callback and want to set your schedule accordingly.
Cancellation Etiquette
- Schedule callback interviews only with those employers in which you are seriously interested. Do not take up a slot that another interested candidate could use if you have no intention of going through with the callback.
- If you have determined from the on-campus interview that you are no longer interested in pursuing the firm, politely decline the callback invitation and express your appreciation for the invite. Never ignore a callback invitation.
- Be considerate. Try to give as much advanced notice as possible if you plan to cancel a callback interview or have decided you will not be accepting the callback invitation. Delaying your response to an employer adversely affects both the firm’s recruiting efforts as well as other candidates who might want the slot you are holding.
Navigating Offers
- National Association for Law Placement (NALP) rules provide that candidates have 28 days to accept or reject an offer from an employer. The 28-day offer period begins on the day following the date of the offer letter. If you need to ask for an extension, give the employer advanced notice, and state your reason for requesting one. Extensions are granted at the discretion of the employer.
- If you decide that an offer is not right for you, decline it as soon as possible. Holding an offer unnecessarily is unfair to both the firm (which is trying to determine its hiring needs) and other candidates (who might be extended an offer if you were to decline it). And while the offer does expire after a certain time even if you do not affirmatively decline, it is common courtesy that you inform the firm directly. Be mindful not to leave a voicemail declining your offer in the middle of the night to avoid what you think is an awkward conversation. Try your best to speak directly with the attorney who extended the offer or the recruiting department, and be aware that they will likely ask you where you have decided to work as they typically note this information for their recruiting statistics.
- Accepting an offer is simple: respond by telephone or email to the person who made the offer.
Bottom line: the important thing to remember is to always be gracious, professional and responsive in a timely manner. It is in your best interest to keep a cordial relationship with each firm you have interacted with throughout the process, as you are quite likely to encounter them again. Keeping this guidance in mind will help to ensure you have a smooth recruitment process.
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