5 Key Tips to Set Yourself Apart During a Law Firm Interview
There are several important steps you can take to improve your chances of getting a job offer at a law firm in Florida. The five tips listed below won’t guarantee a job offer, but they will improve your chances and help set you apart from the rest of the pack.
1. Prepare, Prepare, and Prepare Some More
When you enter a job interview prepared, you are much more likely than not to be a serious contender for the open position (and you would be surprised by how even the most basic research and prep work can separate you from the pack). There is no doubt that preparation is the most important element for any successful job interview. Find out as much as possible about the organization’s operations, market niche, and corporate culture. When fully prepared for a job interview, you can enter that conference room, partner’s office, or another professional setting with a more focused frame of mind.
Since your level of preparation will likely determine how successful you are, be sure you start getting ready for each interview several days in advance. The extra time will enable you to focus on researching the law firm, what your role might be initially, and what you ultimately want it to be in the long run. Furthermore, when you fully prepare, you’re more likely to pose intelligent questions to your interviewer(s).
2. Know Your Strengths and Do Not Be Afraid to Highlight Them In Your Responses
Many people have difficulty responding to the common job interview question, “What are your biggest strengths?” To help set yourself apart, create a brief list of approximately five or six of your strongest selling points related to the job (e.g., prior work experience, academic achievement, clerkship, law journal experience, etc.). This list should reflect your most notable legal achievements to help distinguish you from the other candidates.
3. Understand the Importance of the Screening Interview
The screening interview is the first interaction between you and someone affiliated with the firm. This is a crucial interaction since it often determines if you will be selected to move forward to the “full round” of interviews with firm senior associates, partners, etc.
The level of importance of this interview will depend primarily on the specific position you are applying for. If, for example, you are a junior associate, you will likely be screened to give the interviewer a general feel for your background and personality. The screening interviews conducted by law firms are usually handled by a hiring partner of the firm or by a member of the recruiting committee.
The questions asked most often are related to the junior associate’s work and responsibilities. At this early stage, it is important to avoid asking numerous questions about salary, vacation, and benefits. The junior associate’s job is to leave the hiring organization with the impression that they are hard-working, dedicated to the practice of law, easy to get along with and mature. You need to make a positive first impression at this screening interview. You want the firm to believe they can have confidence in you as an excellent advocate working on their behalf.
If, on the other hand, you are applying for a more senior position within the firm, such as a senior associate or partner, then the screening interview will be different. Many law firms are very careful about interviewing senior associates and potential new partners. The firm will generally expect you to ask various intelligent, probing questions during the interview. Make sure to ask questions about the individuals you will be working with and what your specific responsibilities include to determine if you will be comfortable in this senior position.
4. Show Your Excitement and Interest in Joining the Firm
The applicants who most consistently land jobs are those who put their best foot forward in an interview and display legitimate enthusiasm for the opportunity that is before them. Thus, you need to ensure you can keep yourself in a positive state of mind throughout each stage of the interview process. Enthusiasm involves more than simply indicating your desire to work for a particular firm. Most firms seek attorneys who are easy to work with and have a positive, can-do attitude. However, many attorneys applying for a job tend to default to a level of circumspection and caution during an interview. Do not make this mistake.
When you project the right demeanor, you indicate that you can do the job. If you miss the boat here, you risk blowing the interview and losing a great job.
5. Practice Makes Perfect
Interviewing effectively is not something that comes naturally to many people. This is why it makes sense to practice your interviewing skills. Consider asking a loved one or good friend to sit down and ask you the most difficult interview questions you believe might be asked during the interview. Be sure you practice your interviewing techniques before going to the actual interview. Your accomplishments have gotten you in the door. The interview is the last hurdle. Treat it with the importance and respect it deserves.