When it’s job-hunting time, one recruiter says it’s important to understand why you’re asked some questions.
What makes a great interview? As a legal recruiter in the Washington metro area, I speak nearly every day with experienced attorneys seeking to make lateral moves between firms or to leave firm practice altogether to work directly for a company as in-house counsel. I also speak routinely with hiring lawyers in law firms and companies about their hiring needs generally and about individual attorneys. Out of these conversations, I have developed a better understanding of the type of information interviewers really want to know when they ask fairly common questions. This information is useful to any lawyer about to embark upon an interview. While direct eye contact, a firm handshake, and thorough preparation are all wisely touted as the basics of strong interviewing skills, another important tool is a working knowledge of the questions the interviewer is likely to ask. Gaining this understanding before the inter- view will let you use the questions to your best advantage. When you appreciate why law firm partners or a general counsel are asking you certain questions, you can provide them with a targeted and effective answer and make a lasting and favorable impression.
Ask Me Anything
Here are some of the common questions that you’ll hear in a legal interview. As you decide what to say to your next potential employer in the interview, keep these interpretations in mind:
Tell me about yourself. Interviewers typically use this question to get you talking, and what they want is to get a sense of how well you immediately present yourself. In short, they want to see you in action. How do you come across; how articulate are you; do you speak with confidence, poise, authority?
It’s best to hit this with some punch, and then stop. You will no doubt lose the impact of a strong impression if you make a brilliant splash and then continue on with a 20-minute recitation of your résumé. Instead, respond by providing three examples of transferable experience that are relevant to the position for which you are interviewing.
For example, identify the scope of your participation in a transaction or in a case you have handled, how you facilitated an aspect of that transaction or case, and your ongoing desire to build upon that experience. Remember to smile occasionally as you speak, and keep your answer to less than three minutes. Things are just getting started. You will have plenty of opportunity to elaborate as the interview progresses.
Why are you interested in this opportunity? The interviewer wants to know what you know about the job and about the practice group or the firm. This matters a great deal. Your answer demonstrates, or fails to demonstrate, your interest in this particular job and this particular employer. And, on a larger scale, it reinforces the idea that you approach the interview (and the use of others’ time) in a professional way. View this question as an opportunity to share your understanding of the position and to invite discussion about it. In other words, do some research on the specific practice group within the firm or on the lawyers within the company or firm. What are the attorneys doing there, and how will you enhance (versus merely duplicate) their expertise?
If you are uncertain about this position, develop questions ahead of the interview to ask to gain a better understanding of the practice. Ideally, you will leave your potential employer with the impression that you have given this opportunity considerable thought and that your experience and skills mesh with the company’s need.
Tell Me About Yourself: The Best Interviews, continued.....