According to an interesting piece recently published over at Above The Law, preparing for interviews can be an area where working with a legal recruiter can give lateral hiring candidates a real advantage. Legal recruiters can help in articulating your story, anticipating questions, and preparing for any unexpected obstacles.
The article asserts that interviews for lateral hiring are more substantive than summer associate interviews, and a candidate should be ready to demonstrate their legal knowledge and grasp of legal concepts. Paramount importance is placed on candidates’ ability to commit their legal experience and group specifics to memory.
From the article, we gathered a list of tips for lateral hiring interviews:
- Understanding your resume and deal history, as well as having the ability to talk intelligently about them is critical. Confidentiality matters, so be aware not to share information that could be confidential.
- Do thorough research on the firm and your interviewers. This will not only help guide you in formulating specific and relevant questions, but it will also signal to your examiners that you’ve done your due diligence.
- Maintain a positive demeanor about your current firm, and if asked why you want to leave, shape your responses in a way that highlights why you would be a good fit for the new group, as opposed to citing the negatives of your current situation.
- Clearly articulate why you would want to join the firm or group specifically, and not just any other firm.
- Have answers ready if you’re trying to relocate to a different city. Be prepared to explain your reasons and any ties you have to the new city.
- Remain authentic during the interview; however, it might be helpful to display a certain level of enthusiasm and energy.
- Remain positive about your experiences and interests. If you don’t know something, it’s acceptable to admit, but follow it up with an articulate response about something you do know.
- Memorize a few questions to ask your interviewers. While it’s important to ask questions you genuinely want answers to, this also gives you an opportunity to prove you’ve done your homework on the firm.
- Be professional and polite during the interview, maintaining eye contact, not interrupting, and remembering to smile.
- Embrace formality and avoid being excessively chatty. While developing a rapport with the interviewer can be helpful, it’s crucial not to misinterpret it as a job offer guarantee.
- Practice interviews, and consider a mock interview with your legal recruiter or friends. The goal should be to seem all set, not rehearsed.
- Draw up a list of general interview questions and those specific to your resume and agreement details, and discuss these with your legal recruiter to figure out the best responses.
The overarching premise remains that while the interviewer may control the format, the control of the message lies in the hands of the interviewee. This goes a long way in not only setting a standard of expectation but also amping up the preparation required for an effective lateral interview.