Rosy-fingered dawn was smooth and heavily shaded with orange today. Beautiful, of course.
Practice interviews start this week. That means I have to print out the list of interview-type questions and actually think through some answers. I'd prefer to do something a little more fun, such as plucking every hair from my eyebrows, but I don't think that would get me very far in my interview preparations.
I wish I could go into the interviews and say,
"Look here. Yes I'm older than anybody else you're seeing. I'm also done having kids, so you won't have to worry about maternity leave or that I'll suddenly decide that fulfilling my destiny means staying at home and making cupcakes. Been there, done that, enjoyed it -- but it's time to move on. Being older also means that I know a thing or two about what working for a living is like. I don't expect fun and games, I don't think it's my god-given right to leave work at 5:00 every day, and I won't freak out at the idea of working over a weekend.
"Do I have the stamina of a 24-year-old trixie? Probably not, but I won't be wasting what stamina I do have by staying out until 4 am on a work night. At least, not very often. Besides, I'm a work horse. I'll work my tail off for you and stamina or no stamina, I'm pretty darn efficient so what does it matter?
"So ignore my age. (Ignore my first quarter grades too, please, and just feast your eyes on Property. Thanks.) Don't assume that I want a cushy job for the next few years and then I'll retire to do good works or knit or something. I don't need to retire to do those things. I have no intention of retiring until I'm really really old, and I come from a long-lived family."
And if they have the nerve to ask me to describe myself in three words, perhaps I'll just borrow TFL's response:
I. Kick. Ass.
i think you should do it. Cut through all the crap, and just make your speech.
Although, what I found the problem to be during OCI is that quite a few firms sent their younger associates out to the law schools, who then did a wee bit of "peer shopping." They were looking for the cool kids who WOULD go out drinking with them until 4 a.m.
Another thing I found during last year's OCI -- "interview prep" is largely designed for people who have gone to law school directly from undergrad, and have not ever ever interviewed in their life.
i wish you the best of luck!! Are you only interviewing with local firms? Or is relocation a possibility for you guys?
Posted by: zuska | August 15, 2006 at 09:16 AM
I was very frank in my interviews about my situation. I didn't hurt me. I think you should be frank. It will save you a lot of angst later.
My experience was different than Zuska's, though. I interviewed mostly with senior associates or partners.
Posted by: transmogriflaw | August 15, 2006 at 06:42 PM
You can actually say that, in not so many words. To the right firm, it will be music to their ears.
Posted by: Jill | August 16, 2006 at 08:15 AM
You can actually say that, in not so many words. To the right firm, it will be music to their ears.
Posted by: Jill | August 16, 2006 at 08:15 AM
You should absolutely say that. I used a gentler version of those same words to help get my doddering self accepted into graduate school.
Posted by: Pat | August 16, 2006 at 11:56 AM