Interviews are a fantastic opportunity for you to showcase your talent to prospective employers and potentially make the next step in your legal career.
We’ve put together a very concise but helpful list of our best interview tips for candidates attending their next legal interview.
From the way you enter the room through to the questions you ask your prospective employers, there are certain things you can do to give yourself the greatest chance of success in your interview.
Here are our top four tips at TSR Legal:
Tip 1 – Dress Correctly
It goes without saying that first impressions are everything. How you dress for your interview can set the tone for your meeting. Here are some suggestions for you to consider:
- Wearing a well-fitted suit
- Wearing long sleeve shirts rather than short sleeves
- Ensure your shoes are appropriate, clean and polished
- Use a briefcase rather than a rucksack to carry any items to the interview
- Make sure you hair is well-groomed and doesn’t cover your face
- Have clean nails
- Take an umbrella just in case!
Tip 2 – Preparing Answers In Advance
Although it can be hard to prepare for every question in an interview, you can give yourself a real chance of coming across as ultra-confident and avoid the heart-sinking feeling when you have no idea how to answer a question by simply preparing.
Interviewers often have a set of stock questions they ask all candidates. How you answer these questions and the manner in which you answer them will create an overall impression of you when a final decision is made.
Here are some regularly used questions, which you can prepare for before the interview:
• Why do you want this job?
• What would you expect to accomplish here?
• Where do you want to be in five years time?
• Do you consider yourself to be a natural leader?
• What attracts you to this role?
• What does success mean to you?
• What are your career aspirations?
• What have been your major accomplishments?
• How would members of your team describe you?
• What really motivates you?
• What special skills do you have?
• What is your greatest strength?
• What do you do on your days off?
You can take a lot of the pressure off yourself simply by preparing for some of these questions in advance. Not only does this make the interview a lot less stressful but it also helps you to come across as confident and articulate.
Tip 3 – Confident Body Language
We all know that first impressions count and that more often than not people make snap judgments based on your initial greeting. That’s why we think it’s really important you demonstrate, positive, strong and confident body language when you attend an interview.
Below are a few simple strategies you can use to come across as the right fit for the role
If you’re waiting to go into an interview, remember to sit with strong upright posture
Upon meeting the team of interviewers, make eye contact with everyone in the room and ensure your greet all interviewers with a strong and confident handshake
Remember to give positive answers without any negatives attached and try and stay away from personal information or derogatory remarks about your existing employer.
The overall effect should be one of someone who is professional, positive, and approachable, with good judgment and an effective business-like manner.
Tip 4- Preparing Great Questions
At the stage in the interview when the interviewer asks you if you have any questions, you now have another chance to shine. By deciding the questions you’d like to ask in advance, you will be able to add to an already impressive performance. Here are some great ones to ask. They will demonstrate that you have an enquiring mind and have a genuine interest in the firm:
• Why has this vacancy arisen?
• How was the job handled in the past?
• What would you expect of me in the first six months?
• What do you see as my key long-term challenges?
• What is the expected career path for this position?
• Do you expect me to develop new expertise in any areas?
• What are the characteristics of successful people in this firm?
• Where would I fit into the overall structure?
• Will anyone report into me?
• What is the firm’s long-term strategy?
• What is the largest challenge facing the firm at the moment?
• How would you describe the firm’s values?
The Follow Up
Just remember, after your interview a follow-up can pay dividends. As soon as you’ve finished your interview, call your consultant.
It’s an opportunity to provide early feedback on how you felt the interview went. Mention where you felt it went particularly well as these can be strengths you can build on. It’s also worth making notes to remind you of any aspects that could have been dealt with better. After all, some jobs require a second interview!
Importantly, don’t let any failure deter you. There can be a host of unrelated reasons as to why you weren’t chosen for that vacancy. Instead look on it as an opportunity to hone your interview techniques and skills. Practice makes perfect, and it shouldn’t take too long before you land the legal job you really want.
We take real pride in ensuring that you are totally prepared for the right interview. If you’re thinking about making a transition in your legal career, just give us a call on: 02920 388100 or alternatively email us via: info@tsr-legal(dot)co(d0t)uk and we would love to help.
