Interview Advice

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10 Steps to Interview Success

Preparation

Being prepared is the most important component of a successful interview. You need to start your preparation several days in advance of the interview to ensure you have time not only to research the firms practice areas, culture and staff but to think about how you can fit into the organisation and which attributes you have that match those of the firm.

You should research several aspects of the firm - their corporate structure and culture, their market niche, their future plans, their clients, their current financial situation. Make sure you check the news and events sections on their site for the latest updates and research the people you will be meeting.

The level of preparation will often determine how successful you will be and will also enable you to go into the interview in a confident and focused frame of mind.

Always give examples

When asked a question in an interview, try and have a range of prepared answers and examples that you can use. When giving your answer explain what evidence there is to support it. For example, if you tell an interviewer that you are hard working, what makes you hard working? Is it because you take on extra study in your spare time? Or join extra business networks and forums to improve knowledge?

Whilst an interview is designed to match candidate to employer, it is important that you can remain focused on the needs of the business. Whilst your indirect experience can be interesting for an employer. It is crucial to explain the parts of your experience that relate most to the role you are applying for.

Always talk specific not general

When explaining skills and experience try and list specific details and go into depth for a handful of specific points rather than cover everything in general. If you worked on improving internal best practice, explain when and why.

When asked what questions you have, try and be creative

When an interviewer asks if you have any questions, they are usually testing to see what you are currently thinking about. Take this opportunity to be creative and give a more thought provoking question rather than something basic.

The questions you ask can set you apart from other candidates and also show you have put in the necessary level of preparation for the interview. You should prepare up to 10 questions as some of those you plan to ask may already have been covered in the interview.

Some examples are:

  • Why should I join your firm?
  • What is your business plan?
  • How do you generate new clients? What is your marketing strategy?
  • How do you see the latest IT and technology developments changing the way the firm operates in the next 2 years?

When asked what your strengths are always name three

This relates to question number one, when asked about your strengths mention three with examples of your qualities. You should prepare a list of 5 to 10 in advance that are specific to the role and the organisation. You can then tailor the response to the areas you have discussed and pick the mos appropriate.

When asked for a weakness don't try and avoid the question, no one is perfect, but pick a weakness that can be worked on and improved.

Get plenty of sleep the night before

This might be an obvious one but it is important to be well rested so that your mind can stay focused and answer accurately and effectively. If you stay up all night working or practising then you may start to lose concentration when it comes to the real thing.

Passion and enthusiasm will set you apart

Whether you have 20 years experience or every qualification possible, it will always be your personality that sets you apart. Let interviewers see your passion and drive. Motivation is the key to success so make sure you relax and confidently let your passionate personality shine through.

Adjust your tone to the people you are dealing with

If you are interviewing with a large law firm then you will be interviewed by a HR specialist who will have a career around people, however if you apply for a job in a smaller firm there is a good chance you'll be interviewing direct with the partners.

You will also meet different people at each stage of the interview process and all will be interested in different attributes. Try and consider what each person is most interested in when you do your preparation.

HR will usually be gathering more general information on a candidate to do with your existing work and responsibilities. They will be interested in your ability to manage or work in a team. At this stage, you want to leave the interview with the impression you are hard working, dedicated to law, easy to get along with, mature and that you would be an excellent advocate of the firm.

At a higher level, with Partners, or at second or third stage interviews, you will need to convincingly sell your client management skills as they will probably be more interested in bottom line contributions and performance information. They will want to know if you will be a fit with their corporate culture and will expect you to ask intelligent and probing questions and be confident to voice opinions on the latest industry developments.

Where possible show documentation / evidence of work

It is good to show examples of work where possible. This can help to connect examples and show progression through different evidence. You may want to show off a unique analysis tool that you use in your work. Using visual aids can be a great way to break up a long period of talking.

Enjoy yourself!

Try not to place too much pressure on yourself. Just focus on what you know and answer honestly. Don't be afraid to pause for a few moments before you answer to gather your thoughts and prepare your answer in your head.