Demystifying and Navigating On-campus Interviews and the Early Interview Week
What is OCI or EIW?
As the end of July nears, the on-campus interview (OCI) or early interview week (EIW) season is just starting up. OCIs and EIWs are held at law schools during the end of July / beginning of August. During this process, law firms send representatives to various law schools to meet with rising second year students and secure the top talent for their summer programs. If you are participating in OCI, you are interviewing for a spot in a firm’s summer class for the following summer. After completing an on-campus interview, a firm may decide to invite you for a second interview in their office to meet with additional attorneys. These meetings are called callback interviews and upon completing this round, a firm may then extend an offer to you for a summer position. The entire interview process takes place in a very compressed time period and thus can be very stressful. The following tips are meant to help calm your nerves and give you a better idea of what to expect this August!
Preparation
- Research — Before you bid for your interview spots, research the different firms and their locations, substantive practice areas and culture. This will help prepare you to make informed decisions on firms that are a good fit for your interests, geographic preferences and goals.
- Schedule — Given the different bidding processes at various schools, you may not secure an interview with all of the firms with which you want to interview. Please see our previous post on OCI Bidding for further details. When you receive your OCI schedule, be sure to be on time! These interviews run on a tight schedule, and you certainly do not want to be late for your meeting.
- Organize – Stay organized. Be sure to prepare notes on each firm that you can review prior to your interview. You will receive large amounts of information during a small period of time. Be sure to stay up to date and review any “current events” on the firms in which you are interested. Do your best to digest the different statistics and facts from each firm so that you have a clear understanding and can speak to a specific firm intelligently.
- Prepare – Know your resume inside and out and be prepared to answer questions on anything you have listed. Prepare some questions that you can ask of your interviewer – just be careful to try to ask questions that are not easily ascertainable by a review of the firm’s website. Use the research you do to show you are interested in the firm and have done your ‘homework.’
Day(s) Of
- Handouts – Be sure to bring extra copies of your resume, transcript, and writing sample with you to the OCI to give to interviewers, recruiters as well as any attorneys who may need them.
- Relax – Be sure to take some time for yourself during the process to decompress so that you can put your best foot forward for your interviews. You need to be clear and focused on the day of your interviews.
- Ask Questions – Your interview is the perfect time to ask questions. Be sure to have a tailored list of questions prepared to make the most of this opportunity and show your interest in the firm.
- Take notes — After your interviews, jot down a few notes about your interview or interviewers to refer back to when following up, visiting for a callback interview or making a decision.
- Be Yourself – You are interviewing for a position in which you will work closely with many different people at a firm. Stay true to yourself and give an accurate representation of your personality and work, so that you can find a position where you truly fit. Don’t be afraid to talk about what matters to you– be genuine and confident!
The OCI season is a time to let your experience, hard work, personality and dedication shine. Doing a bit of preparation before the interview and staying focused during the process will help you navigate the process and find a firm that is best for you.
Check out more helpful tips and articles on Akin Gump’s Legal Scoop blog HERE