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Togni & Zhao Ltd. – Legal Recruitment – Interview Tips

Interview Tips

No two interview situations are exactly the same and it isn’t possible to anticipate every question or topic that will come your way. However, focusing on the themes that often recur during the interview process and being prepared to address them will go a long way in helping you to field actual questions at the interview.

Start by putting yourself in the shoes of the interviewer. What will be your relationship with the interviewer if you get the job? Is he or she a team member, or team leader? What will he or she want to know about you?  Focus on what interests the interviewer.

First, the interviewer will want to be confident that you have the skills, technical and personal, to perform the role.  You should have a 60 second presentation prepared starting with a brief background introduction and focusing on your most recent experience and explaining what you have been doing that makes you the best person for the position. You will be able to use this in response to a number of different questions. For example, you could use it if the interviewer asks an open-ended question such as “tell me about yourself.” You could also tailor the response to specific questions such as “what qualifies you for this role” or “discuss two or three skills that are relevant to the job and how you would use them.”

In preparing your “sell” remember that your recent experience tends to be the most relevant, so focus on recent examples of your work and experience. Show the interviewer that you understand the role and know what is relevant to it, rather than taking him or her on a lengthy walk through the entire resume.

With these themes in mind, here is a list of possible interview questions that you can use to refine and expand your 60 second “sell”.   Remember, this list is by no means exhaustive.

What is your greatest weakness? Give a brief but honest answer and show how you are working on the weakness.

What interests you about our organization? About this position? This is an opportunity to show that you have knowledge about the organization and some understanding of the role.

If you could design the perfect job for yourself, what would you do? Why?

As a professional, how would others describe you? How would your boss describe you?

What do you like about your current job?

What are your three biggest accomplishments in your current job? In your career?

Describe a work situation in which you had to delegate responsibility. How did it turn out?

Describe a time when you took initiative with respect to a particular project at work.

What is the best constructive criticism you’ve ever received? Why?

Tell me about a time when you made what you consider a mistake or bad decision on the job. How did you handle it?

Can you describe a time when you went above and beyond the call of duty for a client?

Imagine it’s six months after you started this job. On what criteria will you rely to determine you’ve made the right choice?

In addition, don’t forget to prepare for technical questions on your deal experience.  Everything on your resume is fair game in an interview.  You should know the details of your deal sheet cold.  Be prepared to discuss one or two interesting legal issues you have dealt with and use it as an opportunity to highlight a personal attribute, such as your ability to deal with difficult situations or your effectiveness in managing clients.

Second, and equally important the interviewer will be assessing how you would fit on the team. Will you be reliable? What will you be like to work with? Will hiring you make his or her work life better? Use recent examples from your work that show you as pro-active, and as a team player.

Ask good questions: Towards the end of the discussion the interviewer will give you an opportunity to ask questions. You may have time for 3-4 good questions aimed at providing more information about the role and the organization.  You may want to ask the interviewer about his or her career and experience with the organization.  Save direct questions about compensation and working hours for later in the process or until after you have received an offer.

The key to successful interviewing is preparation – and more preparation.  Taking the time to organize your thoughts and then practicing aloud with your recruiter, a friend or even by yourself will enable you to deliver your responses smoothly and with confidence at the interview.

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