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I was in the final stages of an interview with Microsoft two weeks ago, in partner marketing. Then the recruiter told me they were putting the hiring process on hold to assess the need for the role. Well, then we heard about Microsoft layoffs last week. Seems like most were in Xbox and Project Alpha but there’s not a lot of information out there. Should I hold out any hope that I’m going to get this job? Any insights on how much these layoffs have impacted the marketing org and/or new hiring?
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Why do I feel so attacked? 😭😭
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hey joined wipro this feb. its a new client account and project contract is till 2024.im thinking if i start looking for switch in 2023 and show that to wipro as a counter offer, would they retain me and match with an offer?band b3, 8.8 YOE, 26.5 CTC, skill Business intelligence consulting (business analyst)
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Chief
How hard is the path from lit to GC?
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I've not been in your position, so, grain of salt, but there are tons of reasons you'd take a break between school and a job. I wouldn't say a word about failing during interviews. You're going to be licensed soon enough, and that is what matters.
Good luck!
Everybody is different, but I personally have a lot of respect for those that take the bar multiple times. It shows dedication, and a willingness to achieve your goals. So many people give up after one or two failures. Right now you should just focus on the exam, don't worry about what to say to employers after. Hopefully you pass this time around, but even if you don't, just keep going! Take things one step at a time and you'll get to where you want to be.
Also, I feel that it everyone mostly agrees that the bar exam is a really poor judge of how great of an attorney you will be. Don't let your failures embarrass you. Chin up, and be proud of your accomplishments - and yes, the willpower to retake that exam again is 100% an accomplishment
Love this comment! You can’t change the fact that you have to re-take it but you can spin it into something positive, use it to display your commitment and will power. I screen candidates at our firm, and I would never shy away from inviting an attorney who had to retake the bar to an interview. It shows that you can keep a cool head and work through a difficult situation. Focus on the bar, you will be a great attorney.
Chief
I wouldn't offer it unprompted. If someone asks about the gap between graduation and licensure, you should have a somewhat canned answer explaining you didn't test well/had external issues/whatever but you addressed it and passed in (month) 2020. Focus on your accomplishments! The bar exam is a random arbiter of ability to practice law and in reality has little bearing on your career (aside from the whole mandatory thing). Good luck in your searches and your career!
Chief
Just, not such
Hang in there OP. I took the CA bar 5 times. I passed on my 6th attempt. I was able to gloss over the gap in job interviews with random volunteer clerkships with legal NPOs but more than anything the whole thing really took a toll on my confidence. I’m now doing really well at my second firm and am trying not to look back.
Here are a few things I learned the hard way that may help you.
- I avoided focusing on the areas I struggled to learn (ex. Corporate, evidence, property).
- i avoided practice essays and performance tests and instead took lots of multiple choice exams because they were less exhausting. Bad move.
- I struggled with major anxiety and lack of confidence after failing a few times. I didn’t deal with these feelings in healthy ways and they compounded leading me to fail again and again.
- I didn’t pass until I started taking my mental health more seriously, dealt with my stress, started taking care of myself and faced the parts of the exam I needed to master.
- for my, failing so many times was 100% mental and not related to not being smart enough or knowing enough. The test became a monster it took a lot of mental work to be mindful and have perspective.
Good luck, you CAN do this and you will soon forget it even happened.
Thank you
For anyone curious, my firm didn't rescind the job offer after the second failure per se, I just quit before they could take it back mostly out of embarrassment.
You will find there are plenty of accomplished lawyers who did not pass the bar the first time, who are now in the position of hiring associates for their successful firm. Perhaps not in Big Law. You don’t have to put it on your resume per se but if it comes up in an interview just own it, talk about how you learned from your mistakes and used that experience to improve as a student/attorney. I failed once and when it came up on my interview, I told them I know I have to work twice as hard as my peers that passed the first time to prove myself. I got the job. Little did I know my boss took the bar three times!
If you have good references from previous internships, tell them you stand by your work and encourage your potential employers to call your references. That can really make the difference.
Good luck and don’t let temporary setbacks dissuade you!
Nobody cares and will have no idea (aside from your current firm). This may be reason enough to eventually move on after you pass and get some experience. However, I think this is also good advice for any attorney who clerked/summered at their first firm. Many people will only ever see you as the young know-nothing, so it can be beneficial to start fresh with people who view you competently from day one.
Best wishes on the exam next week! I failed the bar the first time I took it. It really sucked and felt like such a giant career setback at the time. I was worried it would become an issue in interviews or be something that would follow me forever (like the C I got in Crim Law), but I’ve never been asked about it in an interview.