Nitai Ben-Shach (3L)
OCIs are fun. Keep repeating this mantra to yourself from now until October 8 and you may just come to believe it. In actuality, they aren’t that bad. Everyone meeting you already thinks you’re at least kind of cool. They like something about you. So go in and wow them! This article won’t tell you what to say and do. That’s for the endless rounds of CDO panels. This article will give some helpful tips, broken down into six simple steps, that will help you live out your mantra…OCIs Are Fun!
Step 1: First rule of OCIs is don’t talk about OCIs
Some of you will have 20 OCIs. Some of you will have one. It doesn’t matter. All you need is one interview and one offer. Anything else is just fodder for you to spit out at the following pub night and begin the process of alienating you from all of your friends. No one cares how many interviews, dinners, compliments, or offers you got. Keep it to yourself. Tell your parents. Write it in your diary. Keep that s#!& personal.
Seriously though: don’t talk about your other firms, especially with the firm you are interviewing with. Imagine going on a date with someone, telling them how badly you want to date them and then saying: sorry, I have six other dates this week that I might like more. Are you free February 2019? Good luck getting any “Netflix and Chill” out of that date. Take the same approach with firms. Show your interest. Get your priorities in order. This is step one to eventually going to that firm you want for Netflix…and ending up totally ignoring for the entire first season of Narcos.
Step 2: Prepare yourself
Your schedule is set. Your suit is pressed. Your lucky underwear from grade four with the hole in the side and the stretched elastic band is sitting neatly folded beside your new expressive yet still tame socks (or your nude stockings). This is the physical. But what about you gurl/boi? Are you ready?
The best way to answer the #deep question of whether or not YOU are ready is to practice. Practice answering everything from “What do you do for fun?” to “Is there an area of law that interests you?” You don’t need to have a Sean Penn Oscar speech for each one. What you do need is to have a basic idea of what you want to say and how you want to the interviewers to see you. Work with a friend! I recommend Pat Chapman. Seeing as he is on exchange in Ireland, feel free to bombard him with Skype/Facebook/FaceTime conversations.
Another key tenant of preparation is “Know Thine Enemy.” Um, I mean employer. This doesn’t mean know everyone’s names. Interviewing at Dentons? Know they are now the biggest firm in the world. Interviewing at Cassels? Know that, sadly, they are in Scotia Plaza and not, as their name negligently misrepresents, spread out over a wide array of Chateaus. Interviewing at Torys? Tell them you know Pat Chapman. Knowing your employer shows a genuine interest above and beyond seeking employment so that the thought of debt repayment doesn’t keep you awake for the next 35 years.
Side-note: if anyone throws you a curveball like “what animal would you be?” or “what fruit best describes you?” go with something light-hearted. No one asks those questions expecting a serious answer. When asked what fruit I would be, I answered “Kiwi. Because I am fuzzy on the outside and delicious on the inside.” I will be articling with that firm come August, 2016. Just be you!
Step 3: Cheat codes
If at any point throughout the day you feel tired, worn out, exhausted, defeated, deflated, inflated, infuriated, defuriated, or refuriated, then just try using this code:
↑,↑, ↓, ↓, ←, →, ←, →, B, A, start, select
If it doesn’t work, at least you tried.
Step 4: A strong handshake, etc…
This is where my Bar-Mitzvah first paid off dividends. All that practice of shaking old wrinkly hands gave me the confidence to judge exactly how firmly to grip the hand that was offered to me. This is KEY! There is nothing less appealing than a “limp fish” handshake. The grip should be firm but not vice-like. Your hand should be dry but not rough. Your shake should be strong but not “elbow dislocating.” Above all else, for the love of God, Buddah, Allah, Christ and whatever Tom Cruise prays to, MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT when you shake hands! A smile is also nice.
Step 5: “Thx Bae!” or “The Art of Being Nice After You’ve Been Nice”
I am proud of this section because it is really two points in one, like 2-in-1 conditioner/shampoo. Except this will leave your level of class “silky and smooth” (this article has been paid for by Pantene Pro-V).
- Take a business card from EVERY SINGLE person you meet. Easy? Good. Don’t forget.
- Having obtained said business card, send a thank you email as soon as you have time. Do not delay. Do not dilly dally. It is true that these emails will never be read. They are, however, another check on the giant sheet of things all firms are looking for. Better to spend five minutes sending an email than to lose out on your dream job because you didn’t write one. Do not send a template email to everyone at the same firm you lazy slob. It’s two days of interviews and work. Just do it.
Step 6: Breath (or drink…)
That’s it! You’re done! Take a load off. You’ve earned it. Celebrate, cry, sleep, call your grandmother. Remember though, there are people in all different types of positions. Some have them now. Some will get them later. Whatever happens on that fateful Wednesday in November, keep your darn mouth shut. Be humble, be happy and like you have been throughout the entire interview process, just be you! Or be Pat Chapman…he’s good at these things.
