Can I please have a job, sir?

October 12, 2007 7:42 PM

Legal job filter: I think a firm is sitting on my resume until they hear back from their first round of offerees, is it presumptuous to send an email?

I had 3 callback interviews for law firms in 3 different cities, I received 2 rejection letters within a few days of the interview. The third one has been almost 3 weeks now with no contact. I know that firms may extend one round of offers and sit on some resumes waiting to see how many of their first choices actually accept before extending another round of offers to their 2nd choices. Since its been so long, I'm thinking this firm is holding my resume.

Basically the question is would it be acceptable/appropriate to contact the recruiting coordinator and reaffirm my interest in the firm? Has anyone done this? I'm thinking it's analogous to being on the waitlist for a school, and I've known people who contacted the school and told them it was their first choice, Ill die if I don't get in, whatever. I don't plan on telling them this is the last potential job offer I have outstanding...but it's the last one and Id really like to get it. Any suggestions?

posted by T.D. Strange to law & government (10 comments total)

During your last communication with them, did they give you an indication on when they would be in touch with you?
posted by mmascolino at 7:47 PM on October 12, 2007

I definitely know people that have done it, I've heard mixed opinions, but after three weeks I don't think it's a bad idea. Firms like to know that if they make you an offer you'll accept, but make sure you aren't pushy.
posted by whoaali at 7:48 PM on October 12, 2007

an e-mail or call back is always a good idea

call back is better in my opinion, shows fortitude

dood, after three weeks, there's a fair chance your resume may be old news and long gone, make the call
posted by Salvatorparadise at 8:03 PM on October 12, 2007

yeah, i don't think you have anything to lose by it. i would assume after 3 weeks of no contact that i had been passed over, but i don't work in the legal field, so i don't know what kind of timeline is normal for the field.

as long as you aren't whiny, i don't see how it can hurt. i would call the human resources department and ask about the status of the job you interviewed for. if it's been filled, you know they've moved on. if it hasn't, then it's a good sign they're still considering you. in which case, a brief call or email to the manager might work.
posted by thinkingwoman at 8:08 PM on October 12, 2007

Im not that worried about being completely out of the running. If they rejected me outright I should've got a letter by now...I think. It's standard practice in legal recruiting to send a rejection letter if they turn someone down.

After the interview they said "the recruiting committee will be meeting [next Wednesday], we should have an idea where we stand with everyone then."
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:02 PM on October 12, 2007

I'm almost in the same situation and am pretty sure that you're right. I would send an e-mail or call. I really think you have nothing left to lose at this point, especially since you were apparently told that they'd be in touch by a certain time and that time has past. A simple e-mail or call stating that you haven't heard back and are still interested in the firm would be appropriate in my opinion.
posted by harrumph at 11:02 PM on October 12, 2007

Call them. Show them your interest.
posted by caddis at 6:32 AM on October 13, 2007

nthing the "call them" response. The handy book of guidelines I got from the career services office at my school says anything after 2 weeks is legit cause to touch base. Granted, I think our career services office is run by a bunch of chuckleheads, but that advice still stands.

FWIW, I got an offer from an NYC firm something like 5 weeks after interviewing with them. (They called after a month, and well after I had given up, to say "yeah, we're still searching out candidates, we haven't forgotten you...") So in other words, don't write yourself off entirely just yet.
posted by theoddball at 10:23 AM on October 13, 2007

OK, thanks, Im going to call them on Monday after class.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:15 PM on October 13, 2007

Keep us posted, I'm in a similar boat with two firms, and I've dropped them both emails just asking for a timeline. I only got a response back from one so far, and it amounted to "there's been one cut of callback candidates and you weren't dropped; we should be able to let you know next week."
posted by craven_morhead at 9:46 AM on October 14, 2007