Related Posts
Thoughts on the new Chase Freedom Flex?
I had my interview with Cognizant last month. HR round and salary discussion was completed on 27th September. The HR said offer letter would be released within 2weeks. Now it's already 2weeks. But I didn't hear back from the HR. What shall I do?Accenture Accenture India Tata Consultancy Capgemini
Additional Posts in Big Law
Mentor
Coach
Enthusiast
Mentor
Community Builder
Enthusiast
Kleinberg Kaplan thoughts anyone?
Mentor
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Subject Expert
Internal referral > recruiter > cold application
Very recruiter specific. Also very candidate specific. If there’s a spot you would be interested in heading to and know folks decently enough; reach out. Otherwise, consider a recruiter but vet heavily.
I lateraled four times (senior now).
Each time I tried going through someone inside I know, a mix of several different recruiters, and direct submission.
Based on that experience, I’d say insider >>>> direct >>>>>>>>>> recruiter.
Insiders will send the resume to the pertinent partner in that group or at least to HR who will then send and be more receptive.
Direct submission to the HR person (some firms have their emails listed) is better than website submission. Website submission is like a blackhole. But so is recruiter submission on the website.
Recruiters only add value if: (1) you are billing 3000 hours and have no time to do anything else, and/or (2) you are fairly senior in a coveted area trying to get a bump in title (counsel or NEP) with the lateral. Otherwise, just direct submit. All the comments about “exclusive listing” etc tend to be lies (I’ve had multiple recruiters say they are exclusive on the same position lol). For some inhouse positions, it is true they can be the exclusive recruiter (I asked the folks I was interviewing).
In my experience, Major Lindsay was generally good (helped a lot with my business plan, etc.). On the other end of the spectrum, Kinney Recruiting was hellacious and would avoid at all costs (especially this Chin lady).
Like everything in life, there are pros and cons. Here’s my approach:
If you have an internal source that will advocate for you or that has personal experience working with you, use that source. Otherwise, find a few good recruiters (ask people for referrals, and then interview them to make sure they don’t sound like used car salespeople) and ask each to send you just two or three firms that they think you are a strong candidate for. Tell them you don’t want a full list of job openings. Naturally, they’ll send you the two or three firms where you fit and they have the best connections. Use each recruiter for just for those positions (assuming you want to apply to those positions). Of course, there are exceptions but this approach has worked well.
Recruiter if you’re lazy. Internal referral or direct apply otherwise. Recruiters have their own interests in mind, not yours.
It depends. I’ve only ever worked with one, but she also is former biglaw and acted as an interview/negotiation coach (and we’ve become friendly since). I think it’s understood that internal referral is better, but if you don’t have a contact in the firm it’s probably superior to blind submit if that recruiter knows the firm.