Interviewing

Today was the second day I interviewed with partners of firms. Yesterday, I met with three partners of a small firm and today with two partners of a large firm. It was my first large firm interview and I was not disappointed. Everything I have come to understand about large firms was true -- the resources, the work, the billable hour targets.

I believe I did reasonably well in both interviews (better in the first than the second, but you never know about these things). I hope to hear back from one or both in the near future and, in the meantime, am checking a bunch of to-dos off my list. When I received the news that I would not be hired back, I thought I would have lots of downtime to work out, run errands, contemplate life. While I am thrilled to have offers of job shadows and interviews to keep me busy, it has also kept me from making doctors appointments and just generally getting my life and health in order. There are so many things to do, so many things I could feel anxious about. Like my interviews!

But I am not going to do that. Instead, I will be grateful for the opportunities I've had, and make time in my schedule to set up doctors appointments this week (as well as run, write thank yous, organize my job search, workout, plan tomorrow's menu for the hockey game, read, and clean.)


Since this is a time of transition for me, the season of commencement addresses take on special meaning. Here is one of my favorites of the year, Conan O'Brien at Dartmouth.



"The point is this: it is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It is not easy. But if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst to profound reinvention." - Conan O'Brian's Dartmouth commencement speech."