Bad Interview Moments Forum

[Anonymous User]

"So, what sets you apart from your peers that we're interviewing?"

"Well, I'm the good looking one..."

No CB.

[pertristis]

"So, what sets you apart from your peers that we're interviewing?"

"Well, I'm the good looking one..."

No CB.

I take it you weren't interviewing for DPW.

[pertristis]

"So, what sets you apart from your peers that we're interviewing?"

"Well, I'm the good looking one..."

No CB.

I take it you weren't interviewing for DPW.

... I say that, but I just remembered that my DPW screener did ask what set me apart from my peers.

[fraught]

At another interview, I swore. The entire panel laughed. (Got a CB)

I had an interviewer swear and then proceed to apologize profusely.

I had a male interviewer tell me I was "just lovely." Thanks, but in this context I'd prefer you think I'm a homely genius.

[Anonymous User]

"So, what sets you apart from your peers that we're interviewing?"

"Well, I'm the good looking one..."

No CB.

I take it you weren't interviewing for DPW.

Sorry, totally off topic, but is DPW known/not known for having attractive people?

[Anonymous User]

"So, what sets you apart from your peers that we're interviewing?"

"Well, I'm the good looking one..."

No CB.

I take it you weren't interviewing for DPW.

Sorry, totally off topic, but is DPW known/not known for having attractive people?

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/07/davis-po ... e-hotties/

[Anonymous User]

"So, what sets you apart from your peers that we're interviewing?"

"Well, I'm the good looking one..."

No CB.

I take it you weren't interviewing for DPW.

Sorry, totally off topic, but is DPW known/not known for having attractive people?

http://abovethelaw.com/2009/07/davis-po ... e-hotties/

Ahh, thank you

[spets]

I had an OCI interview with the managing partner of a firm office who is a very famous alum from the school so I was a bit nervous for the screener. When asked lit vs. corp, my answer was

Well I'm leaning pretty heavily toward litigation. My summer job exposed me to a lot of the litigation process and really enjoyed it. I also found it played to my strengths such as reading, researching, and writing.

played to my strengths such as reading, researching and writing

strengths such as reading

I felt like such an idiot.

No callback.

I laughed really hard. Good use of font.

[EveningKid]

At a screener with Cozen O'Connor:

Me: I'm really interested in white collar litigation [based on my work experience], and I know Cozen O'Connor has the strongest white collar practice in Philly.

Partner: Well, I don't think Dechert would agree that we have the best white collar practice in Philly.

Me: Yes, sir, I doubt they would, but I'm sitting in this room right now. [Partner laughed for a solid 30 seconds.]

No CB.

[harrijust86]

Interviewer: Are you trying to F*** us over?

Me: *Not sure how to respond* Umm... err... I'm not sure what you're asking?

Interviewer: Why didn't you just say no?

This gave me a good laugh. Thanks for this.

+1

Interviewer: "So, I see you're interested in healthcare law"

Me (resume SCREAMS it): "Yes I am"

Other Interviewer: "You do know our entire health care section just left in April"

Me dumbfounded b/c the website hadn't been updated with that relevant news "err, yes?"

Something similar happened to me on my first OCI interview. A 20 minute scheduled interview lasted 5 minutes. Great way to start the week.

To be fair, You did decide to walk out...

[Old Gregg]

A lot of these aren't really awkward or faux pas, but overanalytical paranoia.

FWIW, to the guy who said his alarm clock wakes him up in the morning, I'd have called you back in a second.

[Anonymous User]

My second to last screener (I already had a few CBs and I didn't really want to be at this firm)

Interviewer: "What's your greatest strength"

Me: "Answering behavioral interview questions"

-Definitely caught him by surprise. No CB, but it still makes me laugh lol.

[Anonymous User]

1) Had a screener with a partner and an associate. The partner farted and both looked over at me. I was flustered at that point so I just apologized profusely. It really stunk too. Got a CB.

2) Had a CB with a partner in a large conference room overlooking the bay. A ton of ships are moving behind the partner while he is talking to me. About 10 minutes into the interview he asks, "There was a large cargo ship with COSCO painted its side. What color was it?" I sat there dumbfounded for two minutes. I told him I did not know. He congratulates me for not having ADD.

3) CB. The last interviewer is a partner. He comes in late and goes sorry I have to take this call. I mention I'd be willing to wait until he's done to meet with him. He says "Yeah, sure." We stare awkwardly at each other for a minute and he tells me I need to get out because he needs the room.

[Anonymous User]

Last interviewer of the last CB of a 6 CB week. Interviewer asks me a bunch of math brain teasers. I got 1/3 right, but asked for more. Then the interviewer asks me about Pennoyer. Flubbed that too. Got an offer.

[Anonymous User]

1) Had a screener with a partner and an associate. The partner farted and both looked over at me. I was flustered at that point so I just apologized profusely. It really stunk too. Got a CB.

1.) Had a screener scheduled through OCI. Showed up at my appointed time, 4:00pm, and the person who had the 3:40pm slot was still waiting. At 4:05pm, interviewer came out, apologized, and brought the 3:40 in. I went over to the hospitality suite to verify when to knock, and they told me to knock at 4:15pm to give the 3:40pm 10 minutes. I knock at 4:15. I knock again at 4:20. At 4:20, 4:20pm person shows up. Then I knock at 4:25pm. Finally, around 4:30pm, Mr. 3:40 is released. The interviewer apologizes, brings me in, looks at my resume, and then says, "I have something important I really have to do, and I'm running behind schedule with these interviews. Could you please go over to the hospitality suite to ask them whatever questions your were going to ask me? Thank you so much for your interest!" For some reason, I still went back to the hospitality suite to chat. I received a ding e-mail within two hours from the firm.

2.) At a CB: Partner asks why I transferred. I give the same response probably every transfer gives. Partner responds with, "WRONG. I HATE LIARS. You transferred to xyz school because it was probably the best one you could get into. I bet the better schools rejected you, so you went to xyz because you didn't care about the stats or location of the particular school, just the ranking. You probably had a horrible LSAT score, mediocre GPA, and unimpressive resume and couldn't get into a decent school the first time around. I don't know where your 1L school is located, and I doubt anyone at our firm graduated from there. Why are you even here?" I just tried smiling, nodding and waiting for his next question.

3.) During a screener with a younger associate, I noticed he would never once look up to my face. I was worried I had some weird makeup faux paus or booger or something. Ran to the bathroom before my next screener to find that a button had come undone on my shirt, and you could see my lacy bra. I will never wear a button-up ever again. Also, no CB, damnit.

4.) During screener, interviewer notices I'm on LR. "How did a T3 transfer even get on LR? No offense, but I didn't think that was allowed. Do you think a lot of transfers didn't bother to do the write-on?"

[Gettingstarted1928]

Interviewer said his firm was expanding globally, and he joked they were aiming for world domination.

I respond, "Like Pinky and the Brain?"

One interviewer laughed, because he got it. Other was deadpan. No callback.

LOL Would be even better if one was really fat and the other really lanky.

[Rocío]

2.) At a CB: Partner asks why I transferred. I give the same response probably every transfer gives. Partner responds with, "WRONG. I HATE LIARS. You transferred to xyz school because it was probably the best one you could get into. I bet the better schools rejected you, so you went to xyz because you didn't care about the stats or location of the particular school, just the ranking. You probably had a horrible LSAT score, mediocre GPA, and unimpressive resume and couldn't get into a decent school the first time around. I don't know where your 1L school is located, and I doubt anyone at our firm graduated from there. Why are you even here?" I just tried smiling, nodding and waiting for his next question.

Wow. I have put up with some rude interviewers, but in that situation I would be tempted to smile, say, "thank you for your time," and just get up and leave.

[Gettingstarted1928]

2.) At a CB: Partner asks why I transferred. I give the same response probably every transfer gives. Partner responds with, "WRONG. I HATE LIARS. You transferred to xyz school because it was probably the best one you could get into. I bet the better schools rejected you, so you went to xyz because you didn't care about the stats or location of the particular school, just the ranking. You probably had a horrible LSAT score, mediocre GPA, and unimpressive resume and couldn't get into a decent school the first time around. I don't know where your 1L school is located, and I doubt anyone at our firm graduated from there. Why are you even here?" I just tried smiling, nodding and waiting for his next question.

Wow. I have put up with some rude interviewers, but in that situation I would be tempted to smile, say, "thank you for your time," and just get up and leave.

This, but I think he/she has got to be exaggerating. If the story is true, I would have insulted him right back and left.

[Gettingstarted1928]

1) Had a screener with a partner and an associate. The partner farted and both looked over at me. I was flustered at that point so I just apologized profusely. It really stunk too. Got a CB.

2) Had a CB with a partner in a large conference room overlooking the bay. A ton of ships are moving behind the partner while he is talking to me. About 10 minutes into the interview he asks, "There was a large cargo ship with COSCO painted its side. What color was it?" I sat there dumbfounded for two minutes. I told him I did not know. He congratulates me for not having ADD.

3) CB. The last interviewer is a partner. He comes in late and goes sorry I have to take this call. I mention I'd be willing to wait until he's done to meet with him. He says "Yeah, sure." We stare awkwardly at each other for a minute and he tells me I need to get out because he needs the room.

This is hilarious. The partner had to give you a CB for taking the blame. Maybe it was all an elaborate plan to see if you would be willing to go down for your superiors in case they are ever investigated.

[Anonymous User]

2.) At a CB: Partner asks why I transferred. I give the same response probably every transfer gives. Partner responds with, "WRONG. I HATE LIARS. You transferred to xyz school because it was probably the best one you could get into. I bet the better schools rejected you, so you went to xyz because you didn't care about the stats or location of the particular school, just the ranking. You probably had a horrible LSAT score, mediocre GPA, and unimpressive resume and couldn't get into a decent school the first time around. I don't know where your 1L school is located, and I doubt anyone at our firm graduated from there. Why are you even here?" I just tried smiling, nodding and waiting for his next question.

Wow. I have put up with some rude interviewers, but in that situation I would be tempted to smile, say, "thank you for your time," and just get up and leave.

This, but I think he/she has got to be exaggerating. If the story is true, I would have insulted him right back and left.

Well, I sat there for the entire 45 minutes of that particular interview because I guess I am a big, fat pussy. Every answer I gave was butchered in that fashion. Every time, the partner would tell me that I was lying and what I should have said. It was the first interview of the day, and the other five went really well. However, that was a week ago, so I'm sure I have been dinged now.

[Gettingstarted1928]

2.) At a CB: Partner asks why I transferred. I give the same response probably every transfer gives. Partner responds with, "WRONG. I HATE LIARS. You transferred to xyz school because it was probably the best one you could get into. I bet the better schools rejected you, so you went to xyz because you didn't care about the stats or location of the particular school, just the ranking. You probably had a horrible LSAT score, mediocre GPA, and unimpressive resume and couldn't get into a decent school the first time around. I don't know where your 1L school is located, and I doubt anyone at our firm graduated from there. Why are you even here?" I just tried smiling, nodding and waiting for his next question.

Wow. I have put up with some rude interviewers, but in that situation I would be tempted to smile, say, "thank you for your time," and just get up and leave.

This, but I think he/she has got to be exaggerating. If the story is true, I would have insulted him right back and left.

Well, I sat there for the entire 45 minutes of that particular interview because I guess I am a big, fat pussy. Every answer I gave was butchered in that fashion. Every time, the partner would tell me that I was lying and what I should have said. It was the first interview of the day, and the other five went really well. However, that was a week ago, so I'm sure I have been dinged now.

Yeah, I often look back at situations and wish I would have reacted a certain way.

The problem is that interviewers know how much power they wield. That guy needs to be put in his place, though. Has no idea how to treat people.

[Anonymous User]

Last interviewer of the last CB of a 6 CB week. Interviewer asks me a bunch of math brain teasers. I got 1/3 right, but asked for more. Then the interviewer asks me about Pennoyer. Flubbed that too. Got an offer.

OMG, I also had an interviewer ask me about Pennoyer. After a minute of verbally teasing out the fact pattern I finally remembered. Were his initials, per chance, AL?

[Anonymous User]

I had several interviewers during a CB ask "so, who was your screener with?"

Haven't heard back, but not exactly filled with confidence.

[Anonymous User]

Last interviewer of the last CB of a 6 CB week. Interviewer asks me a bunch of math brain teasers. I got 1/3 right, but asked for more. Then the interviewer asks me about Pennoyer. Flubbed that too. Got an offer.

OMG, I also had an interviewer ask me about Pennoyer. After a minute of verbally teasing out the fact pattern I finally remembered. Were his initials, per chance, AL?

Haha nope! Popular subject I guess

[Anonymous User]

I had several interviewers during a CB ask "so, who was your screener with?"

Haven't heard back, but not exactly filled with confidence.

Do you think they know the answer? I was asked that today and remembered only the name of the partner, so I mentioned his name and never even brought up the forgotten associate.