Interview Stories, Job Searches, Small Law Firms, Solo Practitioners

During A Job Interview, Be Mindful Of The People You Are Talking To

And remember that you were invited to interview for a reason.

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Manager interviewing a male applicantWhenever I am invited to a job interview, I treat it very seriously and prepare accordingly. I always refresh myself on the proper interview procedure. Prior to the interview, I research the company and the position I am applying for.

Whenever possible, I look up the people interviewing me online and see if they have any particular shared interests that we can discuss. And I try to remember every item on my résumé and the reasons why I put it there.

Despite all of the preparation, I am still nervous when I meet the interviewers. This is because there is a lot at stake. I also worry about my competition, applicants who are also equally talented, if not more so.

But I have to remind myself that I was invited for a reason.

Over the years, I have interviewed with many firms, and it gave me the opportunity to observe how they interview candidates. While no interview is the same, I noticed that they followed certain procedures. Solo practitioners and small boutique firms tend to have short and informal interviews. When I interviewed with larger law firms and some high-end companies, many follow certain protocols that involve multiple interviews.

Sometimes, I interview with a middleman. These people are recruiters, or owners of a staffing agency who act as gatekeepers to the decision makers. Most of the time they interview over the phone but if they have a local office, I try to meet in person.

When interviewing with middlemen, I have generally had success by sticking with safe, scripted answers. Their job is to filter out candidates, so your goal is to meet their criteria to advance. Because of this, I have no problem telling middlemen everything they want to hear when they ask speculative questions. But I try to show proper deference and not come off as arrogant and uncaring.

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When it comes to interviewing the person who will be my direct superior, I see it as a chance to have a meaningful conversation. I try to minimize the ping-pong of questions and answers, which can get awkward and boring. Instead, we share stories, strategies, and setbacks. And have a few laughs whenever possible. Since we will be working with each other on a regular basis, I want to make sure that we are able to get along and see eye to eye on the important things.

I’ve been told to ask questions at the end of the interview. I always ask a few questions, but only because I really want to know the answers. I think asking questions for the sake of showing interest (or worse, humblebragging) is a waste of time for everyone. Also, assuming I left a good impression with the interviewer, I would like to leave it that way instead of asking fluff questions that may make me look stupid.

Some of my interviewers have became mentors, occasionally sending overflow referrals and contract work my way from time to time. They have been happy with my work, so that can also open doors for other opportunities in the future.

If I can offer any advice based on my above experiences, be mindful of who is interviewing you and the answers they expect. Despite all of the tips and tricks available, there really is no predictable pattern to mastering job interviews. You ultimately want to leave a positive impression in case the interviewers want to invite you back or work with you in a different capacity.

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In any case, remember that you were invited for a reason.

Shannon Achimalbe was a former solo practitioner for five years before deciding to sell out and get back on the corporate ladder. Shannon can be reached by email at sachimalbe@excite.com and via Twitter: @ShanonAchimalbe.

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