Are Applications (Informally) Confidential? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Hi all -- I have reached the end of my mental string with big-law and have decided to start applying to all sorts of jobs that I'm coming across. Some of these are definitely not that realistic, but I'm kind of at a "f- it, worst thing is they never respond" place right now. Which made wonder, is there an actual worse thing that I'm not considering. In TLSers' experiences, do companies/schools/etc. treat applications as confidential? I know they don't need to, but what are the chances of my cover letter being passed around by a group of people laughing that this idiot thought he could get this job and then eventually getting out beyond the company? I feel like I'm being paranoid, but also will be more humble with these applications if there's a real risk of lasting reputational harm.

[cavalier1138]

what are the chances of my cover letter being passed around by a group of people laughing that this idiot thought he could get this job and then eventually getting out beyond the company?

I think the risk of that is pretty low. A more realistic concern is that if you list any references at your current job, they might get calls before they were aware you were looking for new work.

But tons of people apply for these positions. Trust me: no one remembers someone that they didn't pass up the chain for further consideration.

[Anonymous User]

I can't speak to the cover letter (although I doubt you have a credible fear) but I definitely encourage you to be bold when applying.

I'm at a very low prestige clerkship, with middling grades out of MVPN, and I've been shocked that I've somehow been getting screeners/callbacks (too early in the season for offers I think) at a bunch of the top tier lit boutiques that I really didn't think I had a shot at. I mostly applied (with very generic cover letters) because I was bored one night.

[QContinuum]

what are the chances of my cover letter being passed around by a group of people laughing that this idiot thought he could get this job and then eventually getting out beyond the company?

I think the risk of that is pretty low. A more realistic concern is that if you list any references at your current job, they might get calls before they were aware you were looking for new work.

But tons of people apply for these positions. Trust me: no one remembers someone that they didn't pass up the chain for further consideration.

Agree. Unless you're sending folks something like Elle Woods' video application to Harvard, the worst that's gonna happen is your resume never makes it out of the pile.