Attorney Interviews: Wrapping Things

The Importance of Interview Notes & Follow-Up Letters

EVALUATING THE INTERVIEW


Evaluating your interviews will assist you in making a decision about whether or not to accept a job. It will also help you to recognize ways you can improve future interviews.

Make notes immediately after each interview. Your notes should be specific, containing information about the organization of the firm or company, description of job responsibilities, paralegal program structure, career growth opportunities, and benefits and compensation plan. List the clerical and technical support that will be available to you. Also include your impression of the firm culture, working environment and physical facilities. Organize an "Interview Evaluation Form." This form should help you organize your thoughts and impressions.

File your notes in your placement file for future reference. They will refresh your memory if you are participating in numerous interviews. If you receive more than one job offer, your notes will be invaluable in helping you choose a firm, because you will have already considered most of the important issues. How To Land Your First Paralegal Job
 
Once you have accepted a position, you are in! Congratulations! Your hard work and patience have paid off. Do not throw away your placement file, however. Your interview evaluation notes will be helpful if you decide to seek another position a few years down the road.

THANK YOU LETTERS ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARKETING

After an interview, write a thank you letter to everyone who interviewed you. This letter reminds the employer who you are and can serve as another writing sample. It can also be used to furnish references or any other information that may have been forgotten or requested during your interviews. This letter is your last effort to sell yourself.

HOT TIP: Always try to tie in something that was discussed in the interview with how your skills fit in. This is generally accomplished in the second paragraph.

The letter should be professional in tone, and typewritten on stationery that matches your resume. Even if you have been asked to address the person who interviewed you by his or her first name, it is wise to use full names in any correspondence. Call the receptionist for information if you are unsure of the spelling or title of anyone with whom you interviewed.

The letter lets the employer know that you want the position and encourages the firm to seriously consider you. It is also quite appropriate to make a follow-up telephone call a week or so after you've mailed your thank you letters if you are interested in a position and have not yet been contacted. Remember that law firms are somewhat slower to make hiring decisions that other organizations, so it may take some time before you hear the final results.

Several sample thank you letters follow. Be sure to spell names correctly, use the right title, and remember, this is a marketing opportunity!

HOT TIP: You may be in a situation of interviewing for a position, which for various reasons, you are not interested in at this time. Write a follow-up letter to the employer stating why you are not interested. This can leave a favorable impression with the interviewer, who is potentially a valuable contact for other positions in the future.