Before you enter the interview room you should know a good deal about the firm or company which you are prospectively joining, the role you're applying for and the people who are interviewing you.
You should also feel confident that you can describe both your technical skills, and demonstrate your suitability for the position you are being interviewed for. If you can achieve these goals, you will be well prepared and able to give the best account of yourself.
Information about the employer can be collated from sources such as the firm's website, legal publications (like the Legal 500, Chambers & Partners), The Business Desk, Linked In and general Google searches. When examining these sources, remember that you are aiming to provide yourself with an overview of the firm, its style, ambitions and key values as well as specifically the nature of the department you could be joining. Alongside this, your Sacco Mann consultant will be able to provide a more up to date and often more topical viewpoint on your research. Often we will know people (either personally and / or professionally) within the firm and the team, particularly if we have recently acted for them on other appointments.
The role of each interviewer within the organisation. This is important information and should typically be provided by your consultant who will also be able to give you some insight into the interview styles that you will encounter from each interviewer. There will typically be two people at first interview, although this can vary: your consultant should be able to advise.
Specific details on the role are often difficult to obtain. Some positions will come with a comprehensive job description (but even these are subject to change), some will not. In the latter situation the description of the role can often be rather vague, becoming more specific as the skills, attributes and desires of potentially suitable candidates are taken into account.
Your consultant will be a useful source of information. They can not only provide technical information on a client but should also offer insight into the character of the firm and department, the areas of expertise the team has, the reason why they are recruiting and why you are of interest.
SELF ANALYSIS
This is the most important part of interview preparation.
Spend time examining your CV focusing on your own experiences and have a clear understanding of the levels of legal expertise you have in the areas likely to be discussed. Think through some significant and relevant cases or matters that you've been involved in and refer to them when you're trying to demonstrate particular experience or responsibility.
Spend time considering the core skills that make you a success in your current position. Don't be afraid to emphasise your strong points; it is important for an interviewer to be able to visualise the strengths you offer (both for the firm and for their clients). Identifying these skills to yourself in advance will help you to bring them out more naturally and comfortably in the meeting.
An interviewer does not expect a candidate to know everything, but will be impressed by a candidate who can articulately and concisely give a confident and accurate account of their abilities.
ANTICIPATE QUESTIONS FROM THE INTERVIEWER
Read your CV, again! You must be familiar with it and be able to answer honestly and concisely any questions that may be asked on the information the interview has in front of them.
Think about why you are looking to move on. Whatever you’re level of qualification, whatever the reason, it is important not to be overly negative about your current employer. Once you have considered possible questions make your anticipated answers specific to that firm. If you are a trainee there may simply be no role on qualification, but you should also have a positive reason for applying to that particular firm. For example, if you are interviewing with a national practice and refer to their training programme as being a particular attraction, try to find out and include something specific to their training programme and not just common to the training at all national practices.
TYPICAL QUESTIONS ASKED
Below is a list of questions that you could be asked at interview. Thinking about these and how you would reply to them, in advance of any interview, will help your preparation, significantly.
Interview questions relating to the new job / firm
• Why do you want this job?
• What qualities do you think will be required for this job?
• Why do you want to work for this firm?
• What do you know about this firm?
• How ambitious are you?
• Why are you looking for in a new role?
• What would you like to avoid in your next role?
Interview questions relating to your current / previous job
• What do you think of the last firm you worked for?
• Why did you join your current firm?
• Why are you leaving now?
• Do you feel you progressed satisfactorily in your most recent job?
• What problems did you encounter in your last job?
• Explain your previous career moves
• What do you currently bill in fees/what is your billing track record? What is your charge out rate?
• How good are you at, and can you think of examples of your experience in:
Time recording
Dealing with targets
Prioritising
Delegating
Marketing/Business Development
Career related interview questions
• Why did you choose a career in law?
• What are your career goals?
• What will your referees say about you?
Interview questions relating to you
• How would you describe yourself?
• How would others describe you?
• Do you consider yourself successful?
• What has been your greatest success in your current role?
• What has been your biggest failure so far?
• How could you improve yourself?
• How do you handle criticism?
• What do you think makes a good manager?
• Do you need other people around to stimulate you or are you self-motivated?
• Can you act on your own initiative?
• What motivates you?
• What management style gets the best results out of you?
• Are you competitive?
• Can you work under pressure?
• Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years' time?
• What do you do outside of work?
QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER
Interviews are a two way process. Prepare a few (not too many!) questions that you may have. Don't be afraid of writing them down and taking them into the interview. Such preparation will reassure the interviewers that you have thought about the meeting beforehand and that your career matters to you. It should also ensure that you have the information that you need as and when and if the recruitment process moves forward.
Some examples of questions are listed below;
• How has the opportunity become available?
• How do you appraise the performance of your staff?
• How many files will I be expected to handle?
• Does the department encourage marketing and business development?
• What is the culture of the practice?
• What is the strategy for the practice's / department's development?
• What are the personalities like within the team? What are their backgrounds?
• What is the training / development programme like for both within the practice and the specific department?
• Do you have Professional Support Lawyers (PSL's) within this department?
• What are the prospects for this role?
• What are the opportunities like for getting involved in marketing / business development?
• How much administrative support do your lawyers get in relation to IT, Time Recording, Secretaries etc?
• What IT systems are in place? Do you have a case management system?
• How are your lawyers targeted and/or reviewed?
• Is there the need / opportunity to work from other offices / travel to see clients?
• When are you hoping to decide upon this appointment?
• Who do regard as your main competitors?
• Is there a bonus structure?
• What type of benefits package do you offer?
• What is the next step?
AND FINALLY
When you arrive at the interview you should greet the interviewer with a handshake and good eye contact.
DONT’S
Fidget, yawn or look bored.
Give rambling answers avoiding answering the question.
Reply with just a yes or no.
Mention any concerns or reservations at this stage - what may seem an issue right now rarely will be at a later stage in the recruitment process.
DO’s
Look professional and well groomed; appearance does count.
Demonstrate your knowledge of the firm and your enthusiasm for the career opportunity.
Appear relaxed but always behave professionally and politely.
Maintain eye contact with all interviewers not just one.
Leave the interview with a handshake and thank the interviewer/s for their time.
Once you have undertaken the steps above you will be well prepared for interview, giving yourself the best possible opportunity to respond confidently and articulately to most of the questions presented. This will ensure your full range of skills are demonstrated to the interviewer.
Make use of your consultant - they will be able to use their considerable experience to guide and assist you in anyway they can.
