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Yes, you should. A prudent man would also take a bundt cake with him.
I can’t tell if that was facetious–seriously, a blunt cake?
Can we get an answer on this? Is this really appropriate?
I’m going on record with my guess that the last three posters are the same. Mods, feel free to publicly announce the results of my wager.
You’re damn right it’s appropriate. You would be shunned if you didn’t do it. Additionally, it is customary to bring approximately 4 pounds of cured meats to this sort of meeting.
While I originally suggested taking a bundt cake with you, taking a blunt cake might prove itself an even better idea. Unless, of course, the firm in question is Gibson Dunn. Don’t you dare stroll into GDC with a blunt cake. Ever.
I’m assuming this is a serious question. Bring a resume. Make it look good. Don’t bust it out unless its asked for. Or, if you’re smooth and confident, bust it out at the end if the mood feels right. Something like, “Hey, I’m not looking for anything at the moment(/I know you’re not hiring right now), but I’d be happy to leave a copy of my resume for future reference, if you don’t mind.” But only if they really like you and you’re sure there’s chemistry.
There’s no need to give them a resume in an informational interview. It turns it into a cheap date. Let the relationship grow naturally. The other person knows what you want. Eventually, you’ll be able to give it to them and it won’t be awkward.
(Editor’s note: I kind of got carried away with the innuendo, but I think this is the patient and strategic way you have to approach it.)
Echo this. Let them pretend for awhile that you actually care about what they do and aren’t just looking for a job. People like to feel important/admired.
I did about 60 informational interviews over last summer. Several lawyers told me in their initial responses to schedule that this was NOT a job interview and that they could NOT help me get into their firm. I purposefully brought a pad of paper too small to have a resume in it just to avoid signaling that I was there only to sneak in for a job. Of the 60, 2-3 asked for my resume and were happy when I emailed it to them when I got home. No offers, but I wasn’t a stellar candidate to begin with on GPA.