Ace the Interview

ACE THE INTERVIEW

By: Filipe Rodrigues Legal Recruiter, Plona Partners

This article provides an overview of the critical factors that need to be considered by candidates when in the interview process. Personal and Professional brand recognition is everything when in the job search. Highlights of the process include the benefits of Preparation, Presentation, and Execution.

Preparation:

Company Research – Check out the company website, LinkedIn page, Google News, and platforms that share their details on their firm. Legal job seekers can check out; The Legal 500, FirstHand Legal, Glassdoor, etc..)

Talking Points Include:

• Press Releases
• Major Cases
• Key Hires
• Top Clients
• LinkedIn Analytics

Interview Contact Research – Check out their biography on the website, LinkedIn page, and type their name into Google. We recommend checking contacts LinkedIn activity to learn more about what type of LinkedIn content they have been sharing/liking.

Talking Points Include:

• LinkedIn Group Membership
• Tenure/Growth Experience
• Profile Recommendation Feedback
• Mutual Connections
• Activity Reference

Skill Set Research – Check out who holds or has held the position you are interviewing for on LinkedIn or within company biographies. Evaluate how closely their description or experience aligns with the job description, analyze what tools they use, and if any contacts have been promoted into or from the position.

Talking Points Include:

• Diversity and Inclusion
• Size/Location of the team
• History of growth and promotion
• Professional background of team members

Presentation:

Making a solid first impression is key! Effectively planning for everything from the best interview outfit to the logistics of your commute to that final round will help you land the position you aim for.

Helpful Tips Include:

15 Minutes Early

• Arriving early enough to see the work environment and build pre-interview rapport with interviewers or other personnel is a great way to get a feel for the firm. Showing that you are punctual and can control the "controllable" is a trait managers want to see at every level.

CV on Resume Paper

• Resumes should be properly formatted for spacing, grammar, punctuation, and consistency with font and size. "Be the best version of yourself on paper ." Having your VC on resume paper already differentiates you from more than 25% of applicants and helps your profile stand out when managers are reviewing final-round candidates.

Dress Professionally

• Showing up as the most polished version of yourself will allow the manager to envision you in front of senior management, clients, or networking events. Most hiring teams want to see candidates who take pride in representing themselves and their teams in the best ways possible.

Pen & Pad for Notes

• Bringing note-taking materials shows your professionalism during the interview process. We want the interviewer to see that we are engaged and taking notes we plan to review following our meeting to determine whether the opportunity is for us.

Positive Energy

• "A smile is worth a million dollars." Good managers hire good people and want to see you embody positive energy that can be shared with the team and contribute to the group's morale. Be eager to build rapport and speak highly of your experience and possible career prospects.

Execution:

Story Telling – Your professional background should not be described as a list of responsibilities you have had in your career, but how you arrived at each destination and how it has built you into the professional you are today.

Talking Points Include:

• How/Why you got into the industry
• What you learned in each position
• High-level contributions
• Dynamic with senior partners and clients
• The appeal the next position presents to your career

Positioning the interviewer to paint the picture – the only way you will understand if the role is really for you is by asking effective questions. This will allow you to better understand the environment and expectations of the positions you are interviewing for.

Talking Points Include:

• What is the structure of the team?
• How many people are in the office?
• What tools are they currently using?
• What challenges is the team currently facing?
• What are the responsibilities/expectations for this opportunity?

Closing the deal – Most candidates do not have a recruiter advocating for them throughout the interview process and are left to their own closing skills. Leaving an impression can be done effectively even after the interviews are completed.

• Connect with the manager/interviewers on LinkedIn
• Send a thank you letter referencing the notes taken during the interview
• Discuss the scope of the position; Compensation, Responsibilities, Brand Equity, and Benefits with a Mentor