Luke Welmerink (JD 11)
Like many of you, I was eager to find a legal internship in the private sector. I tried a lot of different approaches and I have lots of stories to tell about the experience, but I wanted to share one in particular in case it might help some of you as well.
I found an opportunity for a position working with in-house counsel at a Bay Area software company. I reached out to them and had a really positive phone interview, at the end of which I was told I was a “promising candidate” and would hear from them “in a few days” regarding scheduling a face-to-face interview. A week went by without response from the company. I sent a follow up email to re-emphasize my interest in the position, and asked them to schedule me for an appointment whenever they could fit me in.
Another week went by without response, and I sent a second email to follow up with the recruiting director. I asked if there was any additional information I could send to them that would assist in their decision-making process. Two weeks later, I still received no response.
Most people would have given up at this point, concluding that the job had gone to someone else. After six weeks of hearing nothing, that’s exactly what I thought, as a matter of fact. Nevertheless, I sent an email to the company to ask “a few follow up questions that will help me along my career path.” I was hoping for constructive criticism about how I might improve to make me a better fit in my future job searches.
The next morning, I received phone calls from both the recruiting director and the General Counsel. Both men apologized profusely for dropping the ball with communication, and both were extremely interested in bringing me into the office for an interview. Although I had already committed to other summer plans, I am now in the process of interviewing with the company for a fall internship, and potentially a post-bar job!
Had it not been for my diligent follow-up, and a little humility in asking for feedback, I likely would have been forgotten by this company. Networking is not always fun, and job opportunities don’t always proceed in the way you expect, but perseverance pays off in due time. And remember, don’t take it personally when employers don’t get back to you, and don’t be afraid to gently follow up in search of constructive criticism. You never know what rewards those efforts might reap.
In Your Own Words is an opportunity for GGU School of Law students and alumni to share the wisdom they have gained from experience. If you would like to contribute a blog entry regarding your job and/or externship experiences or your job search, please email us or call 415 442-6625.
