4 Ways for Attorneys & Law Students to Conquer Pre-Interview Jitters You just picked up your good suit at the cleaner's; it's as wrinkle-free as a Beverly Hills housewife's new face. Your dress shoes are gleaming; you've got them so well shined. Your watchband matches your belt, and your hair is perfectly coiffed. Take a look in the mirror: You're ready for that interview. (32 views)
How to Avoid Bringing Salary Up Too Soon in a Legal Job Interview There's no telling when the salary discussion may come up in an interview, but bringing up your desired salary too soon could be a risky move. It's important that you are able to present yourself, your abilities, and what you can contribute to the company before your price tag. (32 views)
Checklist for Handling Job References - A Comprehensive Guide for Job Seekers Reputable law firms WILL want to hear from your past employers. Our recruiters discuss how to avoid getting burned in what is often the last step of the hiring process. (29 views)
How to Conquer Pre-Interview Jitters for Law Students and Attorneys You just picked up your good suit at the cleaner's; it's as wrinkle-free as a Beverly Hills housewife's new face. Your dress shoes are gleaming, you've got them so well shined. Your watchband matches your belt, and your hair is perfectly coiffed. Take a look in the mirror: You're ready for that interview. (29 views)
Listen Up: How to Use Your Ears in a Legal Job Interview Plenty of law students spend their time in the back of a classroom, tuning in and out of hour-long lectures. While this may be good for catching up on sleep, it does nothing to hone your listening skills. In fact, it’s quite the opposite of the kind of listening needed to ace an interview. (28 views)
Balancing Ambition with Commitment: Addressing Mentorship and Training in Legal Interviews The legal profession is a dynamic and challenging field that demands a unique combination of ambition and commitment. For aspiring lawyers, securing a position in a reputable law firm or legal organization is a significant milestone, often attained through a rigorous interview process. While ambition drives us to aim high and chase our dreams, commitment is the steady... (26 views)
Understanding Uncertainty in the Legal Job Interview Process Job interviews tend to elicit many emotions from the interviewee — but rarely is certainty one of them. While everyone experiences at least some level of insecurity during the interview process, not allowing yourself to totally succumb to it is important to the success of your job search — and to your sanity. (24 views)
Legal Job Interview: How Not to Conduct It You have now passed the preliminary hurdles in interviewing process. You have researched the employer and the interviewer(s), you have a long list of questions which you have carefully memorized, and you have done something (such as answering an advertisement, contacting a headhunter, or signing up in your law school placement office) that has made the employer want to... (24 views)
Assess New Fields and Positions with an Informational Interview The informational interview is one of the best ways to learn firsthand about positions that you think you are considering. Remember again, that this is not where the process begins. There are many ways to narrow a broad career field before you begin to utilize the time of busy professionals. (24 views)
How to Explain Your Recession Lay-Off: The Do’s and Don’ts for Attorneys Summary: Have you ever been laid off before? It’s pretty common to go through a mass layoff. Here’s how you handle your layoff experience during an interview. (24 views)
The Perfect Form for Law Students and Attorneys: Your Interview Body Language In all likelihood, a legal recruiter won't browbeat you, torture you, or threaten you with jail time, but that doesn't mean the on-campus interview won't feel a bit like an interrogation. The room is usually cramped and Spartan. Every word echoes, every movement is accentuated. It's enough to make a candidate forget about a job and start thinking about an alibi. (23 views)
How to Ask for Feedback After a Failed Attorney or Law Student Interview One of my favorite career bloggers, Alison Green of Ask Manager, often answers questions about whether candidates should ask for feedback after an interview. Alison’s take is yes, you should be asking for feedback so you can improve your interviewing skills/candidacy for future job interviews. (23 views)
Interviewing — Part I: Preparation Interviews, in and of themselves, are almost as complicated and detail-oriented as the documents that get you them in the first place. Between questions of dress, conduct, question responses, and materials, there are so many ways a person can take a wrong turn on the path to employability. However, there are also more ways to drive that incredible first impression home... (21 views)
Mending Job Interview Muck-Ups It can happen to the best of us. MapQuest did you wrong. You forgot your portfolio. You gave the wrong impression. The list of mishaps that can take place on the day of a job interview goes on and on. But don't sweat it—the most important thing to do in these situations is to handle the flop with grace. (21 views)
Interviewing Styles and Tough Questions An interviewee who is alert enough to ascertain the interviewer's approach to the process can "key" on the interviewer in phrasing answers to questions. Differences in personality account for some differences in interviewing style. Although the following synopsis is an oversimplification, it may be useful to think about interviewers in terms of a number of distinct... (19 views)
One-site Interview: How to Deal with Non-lawyer Staff While attending the “one-site” interview, read carefully a few words about those associates on the Committee and the non-lawyer staff person who walks you around from interview to interview. It is very tempting in an "one-site" interview to save your best performances for the partners you are meeting, and "relax" a bit more when talking to the associates. I believe... (19 views)
Striking a Balance: The Significance of Personal Stories in Legal Interviews In the high-stakes world of legal interviews, where candidates often showcase their credentials, knowledge, and expertise, a powerful yet subtle tool can set you apart from the competition – personal stories. While resumes and transcripts provide the framework of your qualifications, personal narratives often breathe life into your application, demonstrating not just... (19 views)
Interview Success Strategies: Ace Your Legal Job Interview with Confidence In the intricate tapestry of the legal profession, job interviews hold unparalleled significance as pivotal junctures that can either propel or redirect the trajectory of a legal professional's career. Beyond a mere assessment of qualifications, these interviews serve as comprehensive evaluations, probing into an individual's capacity to navigate complex legal scenarios,... (19 views)
How to Sell Yourself on Interviews, Part Two It is very important to remember that you cannot sell yourself until you know what the interviewer needs. Therefore, the interviewer speaks first. The smart strategy is to listen well and then match his or her needs. (17 views)
12 Ways Law Students & Attorneys Make a Bad First Impression and How to Recover In the book You Are the Message, media executive Roger Ailes wrote that you only have seven seconds to make a first impression. With a job on the line in an interview, the pressure to immediately impress is even more intense. No wonder we get flustered. (17 views)
Answering the Question of Your Practice Area as a Law School Student and Teacher As a law school student, answering the question of your practice area can be challenging because you may need a clear idea of what area of law you want to practice in. However, it's important to have some idea of what you're interested in so that you can start planning your career and taking courses that align with your interests. (16 views)
Balancing interest and inquiries while not overwhelming the interviewer is crucial In the dynamic arena of job interviews, a critical aspect often overlooked is the art of striking the right balance. It's not just about having the right qualifications or answering questions correctly; it's about harmonizing a delicate equilibrium. In this article, we explore the paramount importance of achieving this balance in interviews, specifically focusing on... (16 views)
Navigating Interviews After a Less-Than-Perfect Departure: Mastering References and Resume Checks In the competitive landscape of job interviews, references and resume checks hold significant weight. These elements play a pivotal role in an employer's decision-making process, as they provide valuable insights into a candidate's past performance, character, and suitability for the role. References offer a glimpse into your professional reputation and interpersonal... (15 views)
Interviewing — Part II: Conduct For the past couple of weeks, we have covered the ins and outs of physically preparing for an interview. However, we have not begun to cover the territory of mental preparation. Every interview, just like every cover letter, should be approached with a specific intention that is tailored to the employer and the position. Your interview is the first face-to-face interaction... (14 views)
Dating the Interviewer Forgive me now for the comparison I am about to make, but interviews are, in a lot of ways, no different from blind dates. Think about it. Each person involved asks empty, detail-oriented questions in an attempt to gain as much information as possible about the other before their time together comes to an end. (12 views)
The Night Before It's 10:00 p.m. on a Sunday night. You're just sitting down to watch TV with your significant other when it hits you. Dang it! You forgot that you have a job interview tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. What a way to kill the night. (12 views)
5 Common Mistakes Made by Legal Professionals Prior to Their Job Interview Sure, it’s hard enough for attorneys and law students trying to get through the actual interview without making a mistake but what about before the interview? While big blunders may not take place until you’re sitting in front of an employer, your attitude, along with the preparation that happens in days leading up to the interview can affect the outcome even before... (12 views)
How to Sell Yourself on Interviews, Part One Your resume was posted among thousands of competing resumes, and to your surprise, you were chosen for an in-person interview. Congratulations! But wait...what are those voices in your head saying? Are you really going to be able to compete against the top candidates? (11 views)
When a Legal Professional is Called for an Interview in another City On many interviewing trips, you exist in a city for three days with no focus but the interviews and not much energy in the evenings. This condition is accentuated if the city holds no acquaintances of yours. Because interviewing and traveling exhaust the hardiest applicants, evenings consist often of dinner and sleep. More difficult to fill are long afternoons without an... (10 views)