[This article was written by Miguel Escobar. Miguel is a Director in Lateral Link’s New York office.]

You’ve done it! You’ve landed that coveted interview you first envisioned when entering the lateral market. Following up on previous “Ask the Experts” columns discussing the importance of thorough and meticulous interview preparation, let’s now address some common pitfalls to avoid during this potentially career-making interview. We’ll highlight 5 this week and 5 more next week.

(1). Dissing Your Current Firm. Do not focus on negative feelings you may have about your current firm, its Partners or your fellow Associates. Never make your desire to transition into a personal issue. Focus instead on your substantive reasons for wanting to make a lateral move. Some good reasons to move to another firm include: a desire for more hands-on responsibility and sense of ownership over your caseload, a desire for more growth opportunities and interaction with clients, a desire to focus or specialize in a particular field or even a desire to join the more tight-knit atmosphere of a smaller boutique. Be humble and stress that you have learned a great deal at your current firm but are now simply ready for the next step in your career.

(2). Mentioning billable hours. It’s entirely possible that your current job demands 2600 billable hours per year. It’s also entirely possible that this is your main (and rather understandable) reason for seeking a new position. Nonetheless, do not make the critical mistake of mentioning a desire for better hours as your motivation for choosing a new firm. While your desire for less demanding, “lifestyle” hours may be entirely reasonable, Hiring Partners aren’t eager to hire Associates who complain about their difficult hours.

More after the jump.

(3). Mentioning compensation. As with billable hours, compensation is an absolutely taboo topic during an interview. Do not mention it. It’s a topic to be addressed once an offer has been made, not at the interview stage of the hiring process. In short: don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

(4). Speaking Only in Vague and Abstract Terms. Always answer interview questions with the use of detailed anecdotes from your work experience. Don’t provide answers filled with abstract or vague generalizations. You want the interviewer to clearly envision you as the new Associate on his team by relating anecdotes about your prior experience. Your goal is to leave the interviewer with a few memorable stories that will stick in his or her mind so they can visualize you as the solution to their hiring needs and as the necessary component missing in their team.

(5). Failing to Listen to the Question Asked. Don’t annoy or frustrate your interviewer by failing to listen to the questions asked during your interview. Pay careful attention to each question, pause briefly after a question to collect your thoughts if necessary and answer the question asked while simultaneously addressing the essential points from your interview preparation.