Help & Advice
Research and preparation is the key to a successful interview. Employers are looking for ‘the best’ person for the job and the decision will be based on this brief meeting. Ensure you speak confidently about the post and know some background to the company.
Preparation and research help to minimise interview fears, thus allowing the candidate to concentrate on a productive meeting.
- First of all, confirm where the interview is being held and double check the date and time.
- Plan your route in advance and allow plenty of time in case of traffic or misdirection. If necessary contact your Consultant at recruitforlaw.com for direction information.
- Make sure you know the name and position of the person conducting the interview. If necessary, ring the company or recruitforlaw.com to clarify.
- Take the appropriate telephone number with your other directions. recruitforlaw.com will supply telephone numbers for your convenience.
- Research the company background and the position you are applying for. Knowledge of the company will show genuine interest and help you to gain an insight into the day to day running of their affairs. Should you have difficulty obtaining any information, your Consultant at recruitforlaw.com will provide you with some information about the prospective client, but you should carry out some further research:
- Check the company website. It will provide an array of interesting and relevant materials including publications (some on your specialism), press releases and literature regarding the company ethos, its' vision and policies.
- Obtain an annual report or any company brochures.
- Telephone the relevant department and discuss the position you are applying for.
- Consider what questions you may be asked at the interview.
- Read and re-read your CV. It is vital you are familiar with the content. Your CV will be the basis for discussion at the interview and you could be questioned on any aspect. Take several copies with you and review the CV whilst waiting to be seen.
- Consider dress code. Your appearance should be smart, even if the company is quite informal. A first impression is a lasting one. Wear a suit to suggest a professional and formal approach. Allow adequate time for personal preparation and do not overlook anything that will enhance your appearance.
- Ensure you have prepared some pertinent questions to ask during the interview. Your research will highlight areas for discussion.
First impressions are lasting. Your CV has appealed to the employer and all agree that your skills and experience are well matched to the position. The interview will last no more than an hour or so and during this time you must show why you are the best personality for the job.
Ultimately, be yourself to be successful.
recruitforlaw.com has compiled a list of useful tips to consider during the interview:
- Never be late. It is unprofessional and will make the wrong first impression.
- Enter the room with a smile and a positive attitude.
- Shake hands firmly, try to appear calm and maintain eye contact.
- Always be natural during the interview.
- Be alert, sit up in your chair and show you are interested. You convey meaning through how you hold yourself, so be aware of your body language and of the interviewer.
- Answer questions clearly and precisely.
- Be confident when discussing your strong points. Identify weaknesses to show you are aware of them.
- Try to ask questions you have prepared and show a genuine interest.
- Never be negative about a past employer.
- Never discuss remuneration at a first interview unless asked. Financial negotiations and considerations can be discussed with your Consultant at recruitforlaw.com.
Thorough preparation is the key to a successful interview and a positive attitude reflects well on the candidate.
Questions that you might be asked at the Interview:
- Tell me about yourself?
- Why would you like to work for our company?
- What do you know about our company?
- Why did you choose a career in law?
- Tell me about your specialism?
- What are your major strengths and weaknesses?
- Can you discuss some of your achievements?
- What has been the hardest point of your career and how did you cope?
- When and how have you shown initiative in your current position?
- What are your goals in life? How will this position help you achieve them?
- What have you done that shows initiative in your career?
- How do you work under pressure and tackle difficult and sensitive situations?
- How effectively do you work with a team?
- Can you describe your relationship with your colleagues?
- How do you prioritise your workload?
- Do you delegate? Can you give an example?
Questions you could ask at the Interview:
- What are the career prospects?
- Why has the position arisen?
- What is the structure of the department?
- How will I be appraised?
- What will the first 6 - 12 months involve?
- Are there training and development opportunities?
- What is the probability of working abroad?
- What are the main company objectives?
At the close of interview, shake hands with the interviewer and express your thanks for their time and for the meeting. Be positive and leave a pleasing impression.
Enquire about the next stage of the overall process if you feel it is appropriate and ensure they know you are still interested in the position.
After the interview write down your immediate conclusions. You may comment on your interview techniques, or note any questions you would like to ask another time. Use this information when you call your recruitment Consultant at recruitforlaw.com with your feedback.
It is advisable to send a letter or email to the company to thank them again for their time and also to reiterate your interest in the position and company.
Your Consultant will immediately contact the company to discuss their reaction and you will receive constructive feedback based on this.
If you are successful, your Consultant will discuss the next stage of interviews and will assist you with accepting the offer.
If unsuccessful, your Consultant will discuss feedback from you and the client, highlighting strengths and weaknesses, deciding a successful plan of action.
Who should I turn to?
There are a multitude of agencies offering recruitment solutions, pledging to find suitable employment for everyone. Choosing the right consultancy and knowing how many to register with can be an overwhelming experience for candidates.
Should I register with more consultancies to improve my chances of success? No
Choose only a few recruitment firms that specialise in your area. Build strong, honest relationships with a few Consultants so they can work effectively on your behalf.
Ensure your consultancy asks your permission before submitting details. As a professional in the legal sector, you should expect a high level of confidentiality. Clients do not wish to receive multiple copies of the same CV and this generally happens when you are committed to numerous consultancies.
recruitforlaw.com provides a premium recruitment service that is undemanding and straightforward. We are a delivery driven company that offers impartial, constructive advice to clients and candidates free of charge.
We aim to forge sound relationships, and whenever possible, to meet the clients and candidates personally, to discuss and determine the best recruitment solution.
We listen carefully to the brief and from this decide an ideal method to recruit the best person. The client is always well informed and involved.
All CV's received by recruitforlaw.com are thoroughly examined for professional and personal suitability. An initial telephone conversation with potential candidates is followed with an in-depth interview held at our offices if geographically possible.
Our candidates are methodically screened to determine their personal details; profile of work, education and employment history and all employer and personal references are rigorously checked. During this process we will determine personality, interests, interpersonal skills, attitudes to work, career goals and objectives.
recruitforlaw.com will always consider levels of seniority and remuneration before recommending candidates. We will compile a shortlist and liaise with the client to arrange interviews. We will ensure that candidates are well prepared and informed about the schedule.
Your consultant will discuss each candidate with you after interviews, collaborating on the best course of action.
How to answer interview questions
There are some common interview questions and you should prepare your answers before-hand. The key thing to remember when responding to interview questions is to keep your answers brief and to the point. If you are faced with a difficult question, make sure you stay calm, don't get defensive, and take a moment to think about your response before you answer.
Remember, the answers below are only suggestions. Try to personalise your response as much as possible.
Click on the headlines below to reveal the answers to the questions:
Q: Tell me about yourself.
A: Identify some of your main attributes and memorise them. Describe your qualifications, career history and range of skills, emphasising those skills relevant to the job on offer.
Q: What have your achievements been to date?
A. Select an achievement that is work-related and fairly recent. Identify the skills you used in the achievement and quantify the benefit it had to the company. For example, 'my greatest achievement has been to design and implement a new sales ledger system, bringing it in ahead of time and improving our debtors' position significantly, saving the company £50,000 a month in interest'.
Q: Are you happy with your career-to-date?
A: This question is really about your self-esteem, confidence and career aspirations. The answer must be 'yes', followed by a brief explanation as to what it is about your career so far that's made you happy. If you have hit a career plateau, or you feel you are moving too slowly, then you must qualify your answer.
Q: What is the most difficult situation you have had to face and how did you tackle it?
A: The purpose of this question is to find out what your definition of difficult is and whether you can show a logical approach to problem solving. In order to show yourself in a positive light, select a difficult work situation which was not caused by you and which can be quickly explained in a few sentences. Explain how you defined the problem, what the options were, why you selected the one you did and what the outcome was. Always end on a positive note.
Q: What do you like about your present job?
A: This is a straightforward question. All you have to do is make sure that your 'likes' correspond to the skills required for the job on offer. Be enthusiastic; describe your job as interesting and diverse but do not overdo it - after all, you are looking to leave.
Q: What do you dislike about your present job?
A: Be cautious with this answer. Do not be too specific as you may draw attention to weaknesses that will leave you open to further problems. One approach is to choose a characteristic of your present company, such as its size or slow decision-making processes etc. Give your answer with the air of someone who takes problems and frustrations in your stride as part of the job.
Q: What are your strengths?
A: This is one question that you know you are going to get so there is no excuse for being unprepared. Concentrate on discussing your main strengths. List three or four proficiencies e.g. your ability to learn quickly, determination to succeed, positive attitude, your ability to relate to people and achieve a common goal. You may be asked to give examples of the above so be prepared.
Q: What is your greatest weakness?
A: Do not say you have none - this will lead to further problems. You have two options - use a professed weakness such as a lack of experience (not ability) on your part in an area that is not vital for the job. The second option is to describe a personal or professional weakness that could also be considered to be a strength and the steps you have taken to combat it. An example would be: "I know my team think I'm too demanding at times - I tend to drive them pretty hard but I'm getting much better at using the carrot and not the stick".
Q: Why do you want to leave your current employer?
A: State how you are looking for a new challenge, more responsibility, experience and a change of environment. Do not be negative in your reasons for leaving. It is rarely appropriate to cite salary as your primary motivator.
Q: Why have you applied for this particular job?
A: The employer is looking for evidence that the job suits you, fits in with your general aptitudes, coincides with your long-term goals and involves doing things you enjoy. Make sure you have a good understanding of the role and the organisation, and describe the attributes of the organisation that interest you most.
Other common interview questions to consider:
- How does your job fit in to your department and company?
- What do you enjoy about this industry?
- Give an example of when you have worked under pressure.
- What kinds of people do you like working with?
- Give me an example of when your work was criticised.
- Give me an example of when you have felt anger at work. How did you cope and did you still perform a good job?
- What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?
- Give me an example of when you have had to face a conflict of interest at work.
- Tell me about the last time you disagreed with your boss.
- Give me an example of when you haven't got on with others.
- Do you prefer to work alone or in a group? Why?
- This organisation is very different to your current employer - how do you think you are going to fit in?
- What are you looking for in a company?
- How do you measure your own performance?
- What kind of pressures have you encountered at work?
- Are you a self-starter? Give me examples to demonstrate this?
- What changes in the workplace have caused you difficulty and why?
- How do you feel about working long hours and/or weekends?
- Give me an example of when you have been out of your depth.
- What have you failed to achieve to date?
- What can you bring to this organisation?
|
