Cringiest thing you’ve said and/or done in an interview?

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At the end of what seemed to be a good interview, the interviewing partner said I need to get back to you on timing, for which I responded saying, ‘that’s okay, I like it when things take their time (?!)’. And boy, did they take their time. I’m still waiting to hear from them, after 3 years and multiple follow-ups.

likefunnyuplifting

While I was with my first firm out of law school the internal recruiting team of another firm reached out to try and poach me. I hadn’t specifically been looking to leave and was happy at my current place so I came to the interview with only benevolent interest. A key detail was that the section partners I interviewed with had not been informed that their firm had contacted me first.

When asked “so why do you want to leave your current position and come work for us?” I responded like a complete tool and said “I’m not sure I do - why don’t you tell me why I’d want to work here.” Needless to say they were taken aback and very confused until learning that their internal recruitment had made the first move.

Despite that incredible cringe moment, having stated from the outset that I wasn’t desperate or even convinced I wanted the position completely changed the tone of the interview. Instead of me being in the hot seat the meeting was a split between me interviewing them about the firm and position, and the three of us just chatting and talking shop about the field and the people and judges we knew in the practice area. In the end I actually ended up joining their firm after they gave me a salary increase of approximately 35% so I guess they didn’t hold my being a douche against me too much.

likeupliftingsmart

Oh wow... thank you. My BDE will be conveyed immediately through use of the same acronym.

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Recent IconRecent

Not something I said, but definitely a cringeworthy interview.

I was still in law school and interviewing for a 1L summer position. Right off the bat, the interviewer told me that they didn’t really need any help, he wasn’t sure a law student could bring anything valuable to the table, and if they hired me it would only be as a favor to the professor who had connected me with him.

He then proceeded to say “I know I’m probably not legally allowed to ask this, but are you Irish? You’re so pale.” He then had a long rant about sunburn and skin cancer and said I was one of the palest people he’s ever seen so he’d be shocked if I didn’t get skin cancer in my lifetime. Then he said he was surprised I was so tall because Irish people tend to be short like leprechauns?? He thought he was hilarious. I was just confused.

funnylikesmart

I did actually! I was shocked because the entire experience was so bizarre and uncomfortable. But I had already accepted another offer. Even if I hadn’t, I would’ve turned it down. This guy was weird.

likefunny

Was tripping over my words due to nervousness and was told I didnt need to be nervous and I told them all about how a bird shit all over my shoulder as i was walking into their office and had to run to mcds down the block to wash my suit jacket in their bathroom and dry it in the dryer and run back to make it on time...interviewer laughed...I got the job

likefunnysmart

Something an interview candidate had done to me.... asking how many months pregnant I was.... I had already had the baby and was just back from maternity leave 🥺

likefunny

“13 months”

likefunny

During OCI back when I was in law school I had a 2 on one interview (2 partners) from a well known top 25 AmLaw firm. I am racially diverse. One of them actually asked me the following question: “since the majority of large law firms are white - and our firm is no different - how would you feel being in our firm and what steps would you take to acclimate yourself within our culture?”

I asked him to clarify because I was so dumbfounded that a partner would ask that and he simply repeated himself in essentially the same way. His colleague turned pale and I could tell he legitimately was embarrassed.

Anyway I said I probably wouldn’t acclimate in their culture if they had to ask such a question and said that I clearly was not a fit and walked out. 15 years later I get a call from the head of a practice group at the same firm trying to recruit me as a lateral partner- I just laughed.

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I had a similar experience last year. Interview for a summer internship at an English firm with two partners. I am black. One of the partners proceeded to tell me his wife is also black and his daughter is mixed race (zero people had asked(?)). The other partner looked like he wanted the ground to open up and take him

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I am female and grew up as the only daughter/granddaughter. I was also a tomboy for most of my life.

I say all of that because: I was in an interview with two male partners. I don’t remember exactly what they said, but I responded with “That’s what she said.”

They looked shocked. My cheeks turned red. We spent the rest of the interview talking about how I grew up surrounded by men and that was where I felt the most comfortable. And yes, I got an offer. I don’t know how I pulled that one off.

likefunny

That’s what she said.

likefunny

Went on and on and on about how I didn’t like DC while in law school, how it was not a “real city” compared to NYC, only to find out that the interviewer was born and raised in DC 🥴🥴🥴

funnylike

I mentioned my husband about a zillion times.

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A16, that’s sweet.

As an associate, I applied to lateral to another firm nearby and had a day of interviews with partners, ending with a group interview with several associates. Partner interviews all went great, but for some reason (maybe low blood sugar from running on empty too long?) I started to sweat. And then I got nervous and embarrassed about my sweating, which made me sweat more. And more. And more. Until one of the associates asked if I was ok and wanted some water, which was a kind enough gesture but just made things 1000x worse.

Was so embarrassed that when the recruiter called to follow up, I said I wasn’t interested in the job anymore.

funnylike

During my 2L year I was at a networking event at my law school, one of many that takes place for students to meet alumni. There is always a small bar set up where a caterer serves beer and wine. I saw a judge that I had appeared before while shadowing an attorney during my internship the prior summer. I introduced myself while he was talking to a Professor at my school and we got on very well. The professor was beaming because she knew it might lead to a great opportunity for me. When the convo lulled I suggested we grab another drink, and the Professor whispers in my ear that the judge prefers red wine so that I could show off and order him one. When the three of us got to the bar, for some compulsive reason I will NEVER UNDERSTAND, I asked the server, “hey yeah can I please have 3 Jell-O shots?” Absolutely NO ONE found it funny, especially not the Professor, but hey, that’s showbiz, baby.

funnylike

Outstanding.

At an on campus law school interview, I was asked by a senior partner at a large respected firm if I thought I could be a good mother and a good lawyer. I was surprised at the question and immediately asked if he thought he could be a good father and a good lawyer. I got an offer.

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Oh wow good answer as a man I approve. Law firm proved to be a good place for working as a women? That feels like an inappropriate question for him to ask?

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First interview out of law school I said to a 2000 hr billable firm that one of my “weaknesses” was time management

funnylikehelpful

😂😂😭😂😂😭

Second story from me:

Doing OCI interviews for 1L summer position. Got invited to interview at a somewhat impressive firm and was sent an e-invite for an interview at 6pm. I was a bit surprised at the timing but figured that it may have been to find time at the end of a busy day so I accepted the interview and on the day showed up at 6 for the interview as scheduled.

The place was closed and locked tight, all lights turned out.

Completely stunned, I double checked my e-invite and at this critical juncture noticed that the invite was set to Greenwich Mean Time as opposed to Eastern Standard. I had missed the interview by 5 hours because I hadn’t notice the time zone discrepancy.

Needless to say, I did not get the position. But I learned the value of always reading and rereading the finer points and details of written info.

Stay smart folks, and reread your messages!

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What firm is sending invites using GMT? Why would they not just use the local standard?

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Had an OCI interviewer tell me they mostly hired from Ivy League, but were willing to take a chance on students from my school. Then told me that because the last two hires were female, he was mostly interested in male candidates.
Note: They selected me for the interview. I’m female...
I called as soon as the interview was over and told the recruiter what a waste of time it was.

likesmart

Jesus. There’s so much wrong with that.

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Interviewed with a “global elite” US firm. At the end of the interview I was asked why I think I should get the job.

I said: “because I’m fun! All other qualities such as, being hard working, excellent academics, etc., are entry conditions. You should hire me because I’m fun”.

The subsequent silence was very awkward...

Still think that’s a great answer though...

likefunny

I did not get the job, ended up at a different US firm. And based on the industry hearsay, I may have dodged a bullet by not getting a job there.

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1L interview at big firm in my mid-market city, I was asked where I see myself in five years. I said happy... I then made statements about wanting a job that was fulfilling.

They did not call back as you can imagine.

likefunny

An interviewer asked me what my hobbies were and I said “napping” ... I did not get the job

likefunny

Story time. Not me, but my wonderful husband.

During an OCI interview call back, my now husband was asked to do a lunch interview. Now, the guy before him had apparently ordered a beer as his first salvo at his interview (also a bad move). So, my husband laughs about this with the interviewers, and proceeds to order an iced tea and a beet salad. Now, beet salad you’d think would involve salad, right? With maybe some cheese and chunks of beets. Not this salad.

As they’re all chatting and the interview seems to be going well, everyone’s lunch arrives. The beet salad, it turns out, is just a sparse bowl of warm chunks of beet with nothing else. As he tells it, everything got awkward and quiet as he stared in confusion at his food. He soldiered onward, ate his beets, and finished the interview. But it seems to have made the whole thing awkward. Needless to say he did not get an offer from there. It all worked out and he ended up elsewhere and was ultimately happier. But lesson learned - being the weirdo who orders a bowl of warm beets as his only food does not a good interview make.

likefunny

Second story - a female partner interviewed me in my 20s and saw my undergrad and sports team I was on. Her eyes lit up because her husband went to the same school and also played on the same team. She called him during the interview and we traded inside jokes/quotes from our coach and war stories for about 20 minutes. This woman was basically (platonically) smitten with me, barely asked any questions, and I got the job.

likefunny

That’s great

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