DISTINGUISHING YOURSELF AT A LEGAL INTERVIEW
You have spent seven years in college and law school with one single goal in mind: to achieve your dream of becoming a legal practitioner. You started at the bottom, now you’re here, sitting in the lobby, dressed to impress, surveying other applicants beside you, all with the same of similar experience as you: nights of studying, dealing with papers, reading for hours on end, and passing up countless opportunities to have fun in lieu of studying. So, if they have the same degree and experience as you, what makes you different? The answer: Many things. The only problem is you do not know how to sell it to your interviewers…YET. Let us help you do that.
Do what everyone else is not doing
Everyone in the world is concerned about themselves. That includes the company looking to hire new legal practitioners. They know hundreds of people are running around with a degree, looking for employment, so they don’t pay particular care to yours. What they really care about is how you can help serve the vision of the company. Period. So what you have to do is forget about your degree for a while (I know it’s hard) and pick up a new interest in their company. Research the company and their vision until it is ingrained in your philosophy. Highlight how your experiences can better position you to solve their problems. If you dedicated time in school learning how to research, then this will not be a problem for you. Think more about them, them, them, and less about how much you need the job. That’s what everyone is not doing.
Be Confident
Every legal client seeks lawyers who will represent them with confidence, even in the face of defeat. Confidence is probably the most important emotion a lawyer must have, and the law firm interviewing you is looking out for it. Make your presentation without fear and you will stand a better chance of landing the job.
Make your resume stand out
Adjust your resume to fit the company’s vision and emphasize the most important professional qualifications required for the job. Ensure that you have fine tuned your resumé. Don’t just submit a generic resumé, like everybody else. If needed, hire a professional to help build an impactful resumé that looks great in every aspect.
Dress and look the part
Dress like the professional you aspire to become. Invest in a sharp, professional looking interview wardrobe. Present a clean and conservative appearance, but do not overuse perfumes or colognes. Half of the job is to present the right emotion to the interviewer, and the right emotion usually is “I look exactly like the person you seek to represent your firm.” This can be achieved with the right look and air of confidence.
One more important point
Doing all these things does not guarantee you will get the job. No one offers that guarantee. However, these tips will increase your chances every single time you employ them. So, if they don’t work the first time, have faith, look for another opportunity and try again. Good luck!