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Have you made these interview mistakes?
Lawyers are known for〞 good communication, confidence and solid technical skills. Why then, do they fail so many times in their own job interview? They make mistakes in the interview.
Here are 10 common mistakes lawyers make in job interviews.
Not researching the employer. Lawyers often spend a lot of time considering what they want in a job (inward focus). Too little time is spent studying the target employer (outward focus). To successfully present herself during an interview, a lawyer MUST understand the employer's business, culture and how the employer's platform differs from other employers of legal talent. TIP: Alumni are excellent sources of information about employers.
Sending a ※one-size-fits-all§ resume. An interview provides a very short time to ※warm up§ the communication. Smart lawyers modify their resume for each employer to better catch the eye of the employer. This facilitates more productive communication during the interview. TIP: Study carefully the position requirements.
Not providing honest and ethical responses. Interviewers ask questions to learn the facts〞and observe how a lawyer handles the question. For example, a common question is why the lawyer wants to leave his current position. A lawyer who gives negative comments about his current employer and colleagues, who discloses confidential information about his current employer's business, is unlikely to get an offer. While he answers truthfully, he demonstrates his lack of professionalism and loyalty. TIP: Before answering, ※change seats§ and consider how an answer will be received by the interviewer.
Focusing too much on showing technical expertise. When a lawyer is invited to an interview, the employer has already made a decision that the lawyer is most likely a ※technical fit§ for the position. Confirmation of technical skills often comes from testing and a lawyer's deal list. In the interview, lawyers must demonstrate analytical skills, communication skills, business sense and a career plan for themselves. It's not enough to quote law and regulations; an interview is not a memory exam. TIP: Role play is a valuable learning technique; practice describing your career development path to a close friend or relative.
Only thinking ※job.§ The best lawyers are managing their careers〞not simply searching for the next job. Effective career management requires a lawyer to match market trends with his/her skills, personal interests and characteristics (strengths and limitations). No doubt all lawyers would like to earn the high salaries paid by Magic Circle firms and top US firms. But, all are simply not strong enough to take the heavy work load. A lawyer who demonstrates she knows herself and is managing her career, provides good evidence she can manage projects for her clients. TIP: Ask questions about your career path with the employer if you join the employer.
Failing to listen and answer the question. An impressive question response results from (1) active listening, (2) forming the response after some thought, (3) concise delivery/not talking too long. A lawyer describing his work experience does not impress an interviewer when he recites his resume. Interviewers can read. TIP: Be thoughtful; don't fear pausing to consider the best answer to a question.
Focusing too much on salary. Employers are impressed when lawyers pay attention to non-financial benefits of the position〞such as career growth and opportunities for learning. TIP: Ask questions about the employer's non-financial benefits of employment.
Failing to dress/act as a lawyer. As professionals, lawyers must look the part and act the part; appearance and demeanor are critical attributes of successful lawyers. As preeminent communications lawyers must know that a large part of communicators is non-verbal. In the interview, lawyers should be passionate, energetic and engaging. Engaged lawyers are focused on the other party, not too relaxed in manner, show good posture and do not move feet or hands in inappropriate ways. TIP: Present yourself in an interview at same high level as you would present to a favored client.
Not observing time sensitivity. The legal work process makes lawyers acutely aware of time. Arriving on time, wrapping up the interview promptly are well noted by interviewers. TIP: Mark calendar to allow adequate time to arrive expecting some traffic delay.
Telling interviewer a different story from recruiting consultant. Good recruiting consultants educate employers with full details of a candidate. When an interviewer learns something in the interview that is different from the consultant's report, this results in a lack of confidence in the lawyer. TIP: Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
These 10 interview mistakes are discussed briefly. Much more may be said. Preparation for a successful interview requires significant commitment of time. Lawyers should consider building a relationship with a good legal recruiting consultant. A good consultant knows the industry, the employers and shares details in support of the job process〞all saving the lawyer's time and improving interview performance.
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