Interview Advice

The top mistakes are:

A bad first impression

Many interviewers will have made up their mind about a candidate within the first 2 minutes of the interview. You must not underestimate the importance of a smart appearance. You should always wear a suit and men should ensure their shirt and tie are suitably sober. The firm will be looking for someone who can interact comfortably with their clients, who may be multinational companies, so you need a smart corporate image. Dark colours probably fit into the law firm environment more than a light coloured summer suit. All clothes should be clean and pressed. The importance of clean and tidy hair and nails and shined shoes should not be underestimated. Women should be careful not to wear too much make up.

You should stand to greet your interviewer and offer them a firm handshake and a smile. They will be looking for someone who is confident but not arrogant and who will be able to meet a client and make them feel at ease.

Lack of professionalism

It is easy to think the interview begins when you sit down with your interviewer but actually it begins the moment you walk into the building. Make sue you treat everyone - from the security guard to the receptionist with courtesy and respect.

You should always plan to arrive at the building at least 20 minutes in advance of your interview time. It looks very unprofessional to turn up rushed and sweaty and even more so, to be late. You should come in to the building no more than 5 minutes before the interview as someone who is excessively early can create an equally bad impression by forcing the interviewer to break from their schedule.

Failing to prepare.

Nothing can put you out of the running faster than a lack of knowledge about the company and position for which you're applying. Take the time to research the company, its economic climate and the position you have applied for. When they ask you what you know about the firm, a well prepared and considered answer will convey that you are good at what you do.

It is equally as important to understand how you can fit in to this culture and what you can bring to the role and have examples ready to illustrate this. Identify the attributes you have that match their company culture and ethics. Look at your CV from the interviewer's perspective.

Take time to research your interviewer so that you present the relevant experience to them. An interview with HR requires different preparation to an interview with the Senior Partner.

Being too focused on the salary package

Asking too soon about benefits and financial information can create a bad impression, From research you can know roughly what to expect from the firm in terms of salary and benefits, these are often listed on their websites. You need to focus on selling yourself and showing your relevance for the role and then, once you have an offer, can worry about compensation.

Negative comments

You should never speak negatively about your previous companies, colleagues or clients. This creates a disloyal and unprofessional impression. If there are problems with these relationships, then plan carefully in advance how you can address these in the most positive and upbeat manner.

Never speak in detail about a client's case - the interviewer wants to know you can be trusted with their clients and will protect their confidentiality.

Failure to sell yourself

There are two aspects to the interview, one is for you to find out about the firm and the position to determine whether the company is a good fit, and the other is to sell yourself to the prospective employer to convince then you are the best candidate for them. One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is to go in and concentrate on the first, thinking the employer will be impressed with their interest, and then neglect their sales role. Your research can tell you about the firm and the interview is the time to sell yourself. This is your one opportunity to convince the company to make an offer to you.